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Central banks’ decisions loom amidst global uncertainty, Octa Broker offers its view
However, this week’s announcements arrive amidst a backdrop of considerable global uncertainty, stemming from the flared-up conflict between Israel and Iran. This geopolitical tension in the Middle East has already exerted an upward pressure on oil prices, leading to increased concerns about inflation and raising the probability of a global economic recession. Consequently, investors might be surprised by the tone and content of the upcoming policy statements. While the prevailing market assumption is that most central banks (with the notable exception of the SNB) will maintain their current interest rates, the escalating inflation risks could prompt some central banks to adopt a more hawkish stance than anticipated, potentially leading to unexpected shifts in their monetary policy outlooks. This makes it more crucial than ever for market participants to closely monitor all announcements, accompanying policy reports, and subsequent press conferences for any clues regarding future policy trajectories.
Bank of Japan
BOJ’s decision will hit the wires in the early hours during the Asian trading session on 17 June. Unlike other major banks, BoJ has embarked on a path toward monetary tightening. Last year, it concluded its yield curve control (YCC) policy and initiated a gradual reduction of its substantial bond purchases. These actions were part of an ongoing effort to transition the Japanese economy away from a decade of significant stimulus. Furthermore, the BOJ increased short-term interest rates to 0.5% in January, based on the assessment that Japan was progressing towards sustainably achieving its 2% inflation target.
However, potential risks to Japan’s export-dependent economy stemming from U.S. tariffs have led to a revision in market expectations regarding the timing of the BOJ’s next rate hike. In addition, the Japanese bond market has been under severe stress lately, as long-term yields reached record high. Specifically, in Japan’s 20-year government bond auction on 20 May, the demand was very weak and the bid-to-cover ratio fell to just 2.50, its lowest point since 2012.
Consequently, market attention is currently focused on whether the BOJ will maintain or reduce the pace of its current bond tapering. Investors are also keenly awaiting any signals from BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda concerning the potential resumption of rate increases. The general expectation is that the BOJ will largely stick to its current tapering plan for now, but it may consider a slower pace of reduction starting from the next fiscal year.
‘I believe the BOJ may not be able to delay rate hikes for an extended period due to inflationary pressures from elevated food costs, particularly for staple rice, so I think Governor Ueda may deliver a more hawkish tone that the market currently expects’, says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa broker. Indeed, Japan’s core inflation has exceeded the BOJ’s 2% target for over three years, reaching a more than two-year high of 3.5% in April, largely driven by a 7% surge in food prices. Moreover, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East poses a risk of further increasing Japan’s import costs.
Kazuo Ueda is expected to hold a news conference at 6:30 a.m. UTC on 17 June to explain the BOJ’s policy decision.
Federal Reserve
The Fed will issue its monetary policy updates at 6:00 p.m. UTC and hold a press conference at 6:30 p.m. UTC. The decision—especially the accompanying Statement—and the latest Economic Projections by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) may potentially surprise the market, resulting in above-normal volatility.
Traders expect the Fed to leave its policy rate unchanged in the range of 4.25–4.50%. However, the market usually moves not because of the decision itself, but rather the new details revealed in the FOMC Statement as well as during the press conference. In addition, traders will be paying close attention to the Fed’s economic outlook and the so-called ‘dot plot’, seeking to understand the central bank’s policy trajectory. The FOMC dot plot is a chart that visually represents the projections of each FOMC member for the target range of the federal funds rate. It is updated on a quarterly basis and tends to have a major impact on financial markets, serving as a critical piece of forward guidance that can significantly influence bond yields, equity prices, and currency valuations as investors recalibrate their expectations for future interest rate movements and the overall trajectory of monetary policy.
‘It is not going to be an easy decision for the Fed’, says Kar Yong Ang. ‘They are balancing between a weakening labour market, still elevated inflation, uncertainty regarding trade tariffs—and now the Middle East crisis and the oil price shock. Overall, the market is positioned for a relatively dovish Fed, so traders will be waiting for hints about whether the Fed might be poised to lower rates in the coming months. And this is where the market may be disappointed’.
In other words, there’s a significant risk that Jerome Powell, the Fed Chairman, could adopt a more hawkish stance than the market anticipates. This would likely lead to considerable downward pressure on equity prices and present substantial upside risks for the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY). At the same time, even if the Fed does deliver a hawkish message, gold (XAUUSD) is unlikely to see a significant downturn, as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran will almost certainly sustain strong safe-haven demand, counteracting any typical negative pressure from a hawkish Fed.
Swiss National Bank
SNB is due to make its policy decision on 19 June. It is the only central bank whose rate cut is almost 100% guaranteed. The debate is not whether the SNB will cut the rates, but to what extent. Recent disinflationary pressures within the Swiss economy have led markets to anticipate a larger-than-usual 50-basis point (bps) reduction in rates.
‘Despite the Swiss headline CPI [Consumer Price Index] recently turning negative, I think the SNB will still opt for a smaller, 25-bp cut. Inflation shock coming from the Mideast conflict and policymarkers’ recent rhetoric suggest that the SNB will be careful not to overshoot with policy easing’, says Kar Yong Ang. Indeed, SNB board member Petra Tschudin recently highlighted that achieving medium-term price stability is more critical to their policy choices and that a single data point (i.e., latest inflation report) is not substantial enough to alter the current policy outlook. Moreover, with the SNB’s policy options being quite narrow now (the deposit rate bottomed out at -0.75% during the previous rate-cutting cycle), a 25-basis point rate cut looks like the most sensible choice for now.
On balance, the most probable outcome remains a 25bp rate cut. While the Swiss franc (CHF) might experience an initial sharp rise as the market corrects its 50bp cut predictions, this reaction would likely be fleeting. The central bank’s accompanying dovish commentary would likely ensure that any strengthening of the franc is quickly reversed.
Bank of England
BoE will announce its monetary policy decision on 19 June, a few hours after the SNB. At its previous meeting in March, the BoE kept its key rate at 4.50% with only one Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member calling for a rate cut. In its guidance, the BoE stressed that it was taking a ‘gradual and careful approach’ to rate cuts due to a lack of visibility about the inflation outlook because of the rise in trade tensions. Since then, however, the U.S. and the U.K. agreed to a new trade deal, but the U.K. CPI continued to rise, while GBP/USD reached a fresh three-year high.
‘The latest U.K. CPI figures will be released on Wednesday, before the BoE decision, and I actually think that they will have a much bigger impact on the market than BoE’s verdict itself’, says Kar Yong Ang, adding that if the CPI report indicates a slowdown in inflation, the optimal strategy would be to go long EUR/GBP.
Overall, the BoE is expected to keep interest rates unchanged, especially considering that ongoing hostilities in the Middle East have introduced new long-term inflation risks. Indeed, according to the latest interest rate swaps market data, investors are pricing in only a 10% chance of a 25-bp rate cut by the BoE this Thursday. However, traders are advised to monitor any shift in BoE’s MPC rate voting. Previously, eight members voted to hold the rates unchanged, but this week’s decision may feature more doves than hawks.
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Disclaimer: This press release does not contain or constitute investment advice or recommendations and does not consider your investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. Any actions taken based on this content are at your sole discretion and risk—Octa does not accept any liability for any resulting losses or consequences.
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Octa
Octa is an international CFD broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools.
The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including improving educational infrastructure and funding short-notice relief projects to support local communities.
In Southeast Asia, Octa received the ‘Best Trading Platform Malaysia 2024’ and the ‘Most Reliable Broker Asia 2023’ awards from Brands and Business Magazine and International Global Forex Awards, respectively.
At this year’s awards ceremony, Academician Zhang Boli of the Chinese Academy of Engineering received the Global Chinese Lifetime Achievement Award, while actress Sylvia Chang received the Global Chinese Special Tribute Award. Academician Pan Jianwei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lu Chaoyang, Chair Professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, picture-book illustrator Cai Gao, Chinese freestyle skier Xu Mengtao, Gao Du, professor at the Beijing Dance Academy, and actress Xin Zhilei received the Global Chinese Award.
In his speech, Xu Wei, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Phoenix TV, said: “Each generation of Chinese people has its own responsibilities. The older generation worked hard with their roots in their homeland, while the younger generation embraces innovation and the world, becoming connectors between different cultures.” Phoenix TV will continue to serve as an on-the-ground reporter of major global events, an international storyteller of Chinese culture, and a platform builder for international exchange, enabling audiences around the world to see more of the vibrant and diverse achievements of Chinese people.
The tribute section of the ceremony opened with an immersive children’s picture-book theatrical performance based on classic works including The Story of the Peach Blossom Spring and Bao’er. Both works were created by Cai Gao, who received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration in April this year. During the ceremony, the host recalled the children’s song Cai sang at the Andersen Award ceremony, prompting her to smile and sing “The Cuckoo” once again.
Upon receiving the Global Chinese Award, Cai Gao said that the splendid and outstanding artistic heritage of China has been a source of inspiration for her work, and that she has a deep love for the culture of this land. Seeing so many Chinese people achieve remarkable accomplishments in different fields has also given her spiritual strength. Quoting the phrase, “As long as life goes on, the struggle continues,” she encouraged herself to keep creating with passion and curiosity. “Life and creation require dedication and perseverance. I am willing to devote myself to them, as I always have.”
Joining the ceremony via video link, Lu Chaoyang shared his joy and said that the honor belongs to all Chinese researchers who have climbed, generation after generation, along the long and steep road of quantum science. Looking to the future, he offered this message: “The quantum world is very small, so small that it cannot be seen with the naked eye; but China’s dreams in science and technology are immense. Through fundamental innovation, we should illuminate a farther future for human civilization.”
In her acceptance speech, Xin Zhilei said she particularly liked the phrase “YOU BRING CHARM TO THE WORLD.” “Everyone is a unique ray of light in this world. Through our efforts and down-to-earth dedication, we each make our own small contribution to the beauty of the world. As an actress, what I can do is put my heart into every role and bring to the world a little bit of the unique color that belongs to me.” Lu Yang, director of Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield, also sent his congratulations via video, expressing hope for continued collaboration and for the creation of more outstanding Chinese-language stories.
“If the dance steps of a people disappear, that chapter of history will also lose its voice.” Over the past 50 years, Gao Du and his team have traveled across more than 20 provinces and autonomous regions throughout China, venturing deep into remote mountains and visiting people’s courtyards and fireside gatherings. They learned from local communities dances that had no names, no stages and sometimes not even an audience, devoting themselves to the creation of the Chenxiang series.
Gao Du said he would continue dancing, both in the classroom and on larger stages, bringing folk dance traditions rooted in the land to the world and fostering dialogue among different cultures, so that the world can see the beauty of the East.
Wu Qingcai, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China News Service, presented Xu Mengtao with the Global Chinese Award. Xu shared that August 13, 2026, marked exactly 24 years since she began competing in the aerials discipline of snow sports. She hopes everyone can create something extraordinary through perseverance and dedication. “In the future, I will once again stand on the starting platform and set off again. See you again at the summit.”
As one of the creators of the song Tomorrow Will Be Better, Sylvia Chang said that she and fellow Chinese-language singers hope to use music to build a bridge for peaceful communication. She expressed gratitude for being able to continue pursuing a career she loves and for having a wonderful family. “I hope to share this gratitude and these blessings with everyone.”
At the ceremony, the host recounted the eight-character motto that Academician Zhang Boli has followed throughout his life: “Uphold virtue to broaden its influence; use medical skills to serve humanity.” Now approaching 80, Zhang Boli continues to see patients at a clinic every week. When patients have difficulty walking, he takes the initiative to go downstairs and see them in their cars.
Zhang Boli said that the concepts of traditional Chinese medicine—including health preservation, wellness and preventive treatment—represent one of the best practices of “proactive health management.” Looking to the future with the compassion of a physician, he said: “Let traditional Chinese medicine benefit Chinese people around the world, and let traditional Chinese medicine benefit people everywhere. The world will be healthier because of traditional Chinese medicine.”
It is reported that the “YOU BRING CHARM TO THE WORLD — Global Chinese Awards” was initiated by Phoenix Media Group in collaboration with China News Service and numerous Chinese-language media organizations in China and overseas. Together, they select and honor outstanding Chinese people who have achieved excellence and made a global impact in different fields, helping to amplify the achievements of exceptional Chinese individuals and inspire more generations to come.
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NINGJI Takes Centre Stage at KLCC, Strengthening Its Position as a Benchmark for Southeast Asian Expansion Through Five Key Localization Strategies
During the event, Dato’ Liew Bin, President of the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA), visited the NINGJI booth. The two parties exchanged views on NINGJI’s brand development, product offerings and expansion plans in the Malaysian market.
Backed by a proven store model and a comprehensive overseas support system, NINGJI attracted strong interest from high-quality investors throughout the event. Over the three-day exhibition, the brand successfully signed agreements for 20 new stores, bringing its total number of contracted stores in Malaysia to 82. Potential partners across multiple regions also expressed interest in establishing strategic partnerships with the brand, demonstrating NINGJI’s growing appeal in international markets.
Through product tastings and immersive interactive experiences, NINGJI also strengthened its connection with local consumers. The event generated several thousand new member registrations, building a valuable base of first-party customer data for future localized marketing initiatives.
As one of China’s leading new-style tea brands, NINGJI began its global expansion at the end of 2024. To date, the brand has signed agreements for more than 150 overseas stores across Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and other markets.
In Malaysia, NINGJI currently operates nine stores, with more than ten additional locations in development. Its network is steadily expanding across key commercial districts, while the brand continues to strengthen its influence throughout Southeast Asia.
Five Localization Strategies for Malaysia, Ningji’s Anchor Overseas Market
With its young and diverse population, well-established food and beverage sector, and year-round tropical climate, Malaysia provides highly favourable conditions for refreshing fresh fruit and lemon tea beverages.
Against this backdrop, NINGJI has identified Malaysia as one of its core overseas markets and is systematically advancing its localization strategy across five key areas: store network development, supply chain infrastructure, product portfolio, organizational capabilities and brand marketing.
Expanding Across Key Commercial Districts and Empowering Every Store Through Digital Intelligence
NINGJI will use Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru as two strategic hubs, drawing on its proven store operating experience to establish a more refined system for site evaluation, store development and project management.
The brand has built strong digital capabilities, including an end-to-end digital system covering site selection and daily operations, as well as four AI-powered agents that provide franchise partners with integrated, data-driven support.
While steadily expanding its store network and market coverage, NINGJI remains equally focused on store-level operating quality and long-term profitability. The brand aims to build a high-quality retail network that reaches a diverse range of commercial districts and serves a broad customer base.
Strengthening the Local Supply Chain with a Forward Warehouse in Malaysia
Supply chain capability is the lifeline of any new-style tea brand. In China, NINGJI operates seven warehousing centres, manages more than 2,000 mu of lemon orchards. These capabilities have laid a solid foundation for the brand’s continued expansion.
NINGJI believes that genuine localization means combining the capabilities of its headquarters with local market resources. The brand plans to establish a forward warehouse in Malaysia by the end of the year.
Once operational, the facility will enable efficient “T+1” delivery across Malaysia’s key regions, helping stores reduce the risk of stock shortages while significantly lowering the amount of capital franchise partners need to commit to inventory. It will also provide strong logistical support for the continued expansion of NINGJI’s store network.
Balancing Classics and Innovation to Create Products for Local Tastes
NINGJI’s menu centres on fresh fruit lemon beverages paired with whole-leaf tea. Its use of fresh ingredients and made-to-order hand-shaken preparation gives the brand strong cross-cultural appeal and makes its products naturally suited to international markets.
In Malaysia, NINGJI has chosen not to simply replicate its existing menu. Instead, the brand has adopted a “signature products for customer acquisition plus localized innovation” strategy.
On the one hand, proven bestsellers led by Superior Taste Award-winning YaShiXiang Lemon Tea have launched in Malaysian, on the other hand, NINGJI continues to refine its ingredient transportation and storage solutions while developing products tailored to local flavour preferences and market conditions.
In addition to its consistently popular core products, NINGJI has already launched its new pineapple series in Malaysia. The well-received Lemon Milk Series is scheduled to make its official debut in October.
Moving forward, the brand will maintain a quarterly product launch cycle and continue using localized flavours and product innovation to energize the market.
Establishing a Regional Headquarters and Building a Professional Local Team
Local talent is essential for any brand seeking to establish deep and lasting roots in an overseas market.
NINGJI has already assembled a professional team in Malaysia covering local site selection, store development and operational management, and the team continues to grow. This will further enhance the brand’s responsiveness throughout the entire store development journey, from preliminary site selection and opening preparations to daily operations.
NINGJI also plans to establish a regional headquarters in Malaysia and further strengthen its partner support system across staff training, marketing and operational management.
By working alongside local franchise partners who share its commitment to long-term growth, NINGJI aims to expand the market and create greater opportunities together.
Communicating Across Cultures Through Localized Design and Marketing
NINGJI aims to become part of the everyday lives of Malaysian consumers.
In terms of visual presentation, the brand retains its signature yellow and green colour palette while incorporating local aesthetic preferences. Through its “one store, one design” approach, NINGJI creates open and comfortable social spaces tailored to different locations and communities.
From a marketing perspective, the brand will continue to engage with local festivals and cultural trends while collaborating with Malaysian KOLs and KOCs. By connecting social media content with offline experiences, NINGJI seeks to build an emotional relationship with consumers that goes beyond the products themselves and genuinely become part of the local lifestyle.
During its Kuala Lumpur market launch, for example, NINGJI invited Elyn Leong, a Malaysian member of the girl group Gen1es, to serve as “Store Manager for a Day.” Supported by extensive social media promotion, the “Lemon Tea for the Whole City” campaign generated more than one million views and tens of thousands of user-generated interactions across Xiaohongshu, Instagram and Facebook.
Committed to Long-Term Growth, NINGJI Creates Multidimensional Cultural Dialogue Through Localization
NINGJI believes that true globalization is not about simply replicating an existing model. It is a process of deep integration, continuous learning and ongoing refinement.
The brand continues to adapt its products, operations and communications to the consumer characteristics of each market, moving beyond simply “going global” towards becoming genuinely embedded in local communities.
A representative of NINGJI’s overseas business division said:
“Malaysia has a young, diverse and dynamic consumer market and is an important part of NINGJI’s international growth strategy. In the second half of 2026, while steadily expanding our store network, we will further advance the localization of our products, operations and brand communications. We will also continue strengthening our local team and supply chain infrastructure while building long-term relationships with more partners who understand the Malaysian market.”
Looking ahead, NINGJI will continue to build on its product strength and in-store experience while exploring diverse forms of collaboration with local business organizations, content creators and industry partners.
Starting with a cup of fresh fruit lemon tea, NINGJI aims not only to become part of Malaysian consumers’ everyday lives, but also to work alongside local partners to unlock new growth opportunities in the freshly prepared beverage market.
Hashtag: #NINGJI
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About NINGJI
NINGJI, a leading new-style tea brand featuring fresh-fruit lemon and original-leaf tea, dedicated to multi-category beverage R&D, digitalized management and operations.
NINGJI opened its first store in Changsha, China, on 8 February 2021. July 2021, the company completed a Series A financing round worth tens of millions of RMB, with investment from ByteDance and Shunwei Capital.
January 2022, NINGJI completed a Series A+ financing round worth hundreds of millions of RMB, led by Tencent, with existing investors also oversubscribing.
Through its distinctive contemporary design and refreshing tea beverages, NINGJI communicates a youthful, flavourful and playful brand philosophy, as well as a more creative and trend-driven approach to everyday life. This positioning has earned recognition and support from consumers across different age groups.
NINGJI began its global expansion at the end of 2024. To date, the brand has signed agreements for more than 150 overseas stores across Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and other markets.
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Powering the Future – Greenworks Power Takes Center Stage at North American Dealer Meeting, Opening a New Chapter in Global Battery-Powered Tools
Rather than a product line, Greenworks Power strategically unifies products, technologies, applications and global capabilities.
From Tools to a Broader Energy Ecosystem
Greenworks is expanding “Power” from outdoor equipment to power tools; from residential to professional and commercial markets; and from conventional products to intelligent automation, electric mobility and energy solutions. Its unified technology foundation turns product innovation into scalable platform capabilities.
“Greenworks Power marks our evolution from product innovation to a platform-based ecosystem. With clean-energy and intelligent technologies, we will expand product and application boundaries, connect more products, scenarios and users, and create long-term value for global markets,” said Yin Chen, CEO of Greenworks.
24V PowerAll Pro: Redefining Professional Platform Value
For professionals, 24V PowerAll Pro unites more than 200 power tools and lawn and garden products in one battery ecosystem. From construction and maintenance to landscaping, one platform supports more products and tasks. Performance, quality, efficiency and ecosystem breadth deliver wider applications and greater long-term value.
New Products Expand Application Boundaries
Greenworks launch the all-electric Optimus UTV, extending its new-energy power systems into utility vehicle applications, while Optimus CUBE expands battery technology into energy storage, supply and management. Meanwhile, AiMowbot combines RTK positioning with wire-free intelligent mowing for mapping, navigation and autonomous operation.
Technology and Channels Support Global Growth
The ecosystem is supported by Greenworks’ battery, motor and electronic-control expertise, plus innovations including GaN charging. Greenworks integrates global R&D, smart manufacturing, supply chain, channel and brand resources. Retail, dealer, professional, e-commerce and DTC channels connect users and partners worldwide, while consistent brand messaging and localized offerings address regional needs.
From North America to global markets, Greenworks Power strengthens channel collaboration, brand momentum and long-term growth, expanding the boundaries of “Power” to create value for users and the industry.
Greenworks Power — Powering the Future.
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