U.S. Urges China to Prevent Iran from Closing Strait of Hormuz amid Rising Tensions

U.S. Urges China to Prevent Iran from Closing Strait of Hormuz amid Rising Tensions

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged China to dissuade Iran from blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route, in response to recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites. About 20% of global oil flows through the strait, with China being Iran's top oil buyer. Iran's parliament has voiced support for a blockade, though the final decision rests with the national security council. Analysts warn a prolonged disruption could push oil prices above USD 100/bbl. While the U.S. Navy is expected to respond swiftly, experts caution that any closure may last weeks and severely impact global energy markets. (CNBC)

 

BCAS: ACES IJ – May-25 SSSG Improved, Recovery Still Limited

- ACES SSSG in May-25 stood at -4.6% , recovering from the double-digit decline in Apr-25 (-14.1%). The rebound was supported by the start of the annual Boom Sales campaign, which runs through 24 Jun-25. Signs of recovery were visible across regions, particularly in Ex-Java areas which posted positive growth. This brought 5M25 SSSG to -2.7% , still below the Co.'s ≥1% full-year target.
- May-25 gross sales reached IDR 701bn (-0.1% MoM, +1.9% YoY) , bringing 5M25 cumulative sales to IDR 3,553bn (+3.7% YoY) . Despite the improvement, overall recovery remains soft, as purchasing power especially among middle-to-upper-income segments remains under pressure amid continued macro uncertainties.
- The Co. remains cautious on the outlook for consumer spending, as the current run rate remains below its ≥5% sales growth guidance . To lift performance, the Co. continues to focus on engaging marketing initiatives, refreshed product offerings, and disciplined expansion in Ex-Java regions, while also hoping that Govt. stimulus can help support a recovery in consumer demand.