KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial markets in 2026 face several key influences, including geopolitical risks, energy price swings, interest rate expectations, and uneven economic growth. According to IMF estimates, global GDP will grow by 3.0% in 2026, while energy importers, exporters, and countries benefiting from the technology cycle will face divergent market conditions.
With such changes occurring in the financial markets, traders increasingly focus on different asset classes: currencies, commodities, and indices. In Asia-Pacific, regional currencies, monetary policy, technology, and equity markets are among the key areas shaping trading activity.
Regional Currencies Reveal Diverging Economic Contexts
There is a clear example of Japan's economy. According to the Bank of Japan, underlying inflation will gradually rise to levels that are compatible with its target of 2%. The BoJ will keep on fine-tuning monetary accommodation depending on changes in economic activity, prices and financial conditions. The Bank also mentions foreign exchange rate movements, crude oil prices and AI-related demand as key factors.
However, the economy of China looks different. Based on official estimates, China's GDP grew by 4.3% year on year in Q2 2026, compared to 5.0% in Q1. Year-to-date growth was estimated at 4.7%.
Changes in economic growth estimates can influence the yuan's rate, as well as sentiment among the economies associated with Chinese trade and commodity demand.
Indices Reflect Growth and Technology Trends
Regional stock indices offer traders another perspective on these trends. Indices in Japan, China, Hong Kong and other APAC markets may reveal changes in the expectations of growth, exports, consumer spending, manufacturing and technological progress.
The latter becomes especially relevant. According to the IMF, AI-driven demand supports the economies integrated in the technology production chain. Furthermore, the Bank of Japan highlights growing AI-related demand as a positive contributor to domestic economic activity.
Commodities Are Still Important
Both gold and oil belong to the APAC story. Rising energy prices may increase the cost pressure for importing economies, whereas Asia still plays a major role in the gold market.
World Gold Council expects investment activity in APAC to make a bigger contribution to gold-demand growth in H2 2026. During the first six months of the year, gold ETFs in Asia posted net inflows of 70 tons.
For APAC traders, Forex tends to reflect differences in monetary policies, indices highlight shifts in growth and technology, while commodities often tie back to global inflation and geopolitics.
Trade Across Markets with JustMarkets
Different conditions require different strategies, so traders should pay as much attention to flexibility as to the choice of assets. This is where JustMarkets comes in. It's a global multi-asset broker providing access to more than 260 CFD instruments across Forex, gold, oil, indices, stocks, and other markets within one trading environment.
This broad access allows traders to adjust their focus as market conditions change. With MT4, MT5, Web Terminal, and the JustMarkets Trading mobile app, traders can enter these markets through the platform that best fits their trading style.
Risk Warning: Trading financial instruments involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Market conditions can change rapidly, and losses may exceed deposits. Ensure you understand the risks involved and trade responsibly.
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Gold, Oil or Forex: Which Markets Are Attracting Traders' Attention Today?
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HONG KONG, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The fast pace of modern life and an aging population drive demand for mental health and non-pharmacological holistic wellness. In alignment with the health development priorities of the national 15th Five-Year Plan and the Healthy China Initiative, the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) held the launch ceremony for its Centre for Music Therapy Research (CMTR) at the Sky Concert Hall in Shenzhen on 16 September. The launch aims to address the demand for innovative healthcare talent while fostering Guangdong-Hong Kong integration.
The event gathered prominent leaders across government, business, higher education, and technology sectors, including Mr Paul CHONG Kin-lit, BBS, MH, Vice Chairman, THEi's Board of Governors; Professor Alan LAU Kin-tak, President of THEi; Ms LIU Ying,
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Digital Innovation and Technology, THEi and
Director of Centre for Music Therapy Research, THEi; Mr YANG Pengda, Education Entrepreneur and Deputy Director of Centre for Music Therapy Research, THEi; Mr WAN Kun, Deputy Director-General, Development and Reform Bureau of Futian District, Shenzhen Municipality; Ms MA Hui, Director of Tchaikovsky Conservatory (China) International Exchange Centre; Dr CAI Yuejun, Key Laboratory of AI-Enabled Music Therapy, Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Dr PANG Yan, Associate Research Professor, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Doctoral Supervisor, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS).
The event featured strategic partnership signing ceremonies and a cross-industry networking reception, alongside an immersive "Emotional Healing Show" concert performed by celebrated musicians, including winners of 'Golden Bell Awards' and 'Wenhua Award', as well as former members of the renowned Twelve Girls Band. A key highlight was the live instrumental and choral performance of the iconic pop song Beneath the Lion Rock, which resonated with the Centre's positioning of "Hong Kong's International Connectivity"—marking a major milestone of advancing interdisciplinary mind-body wellness in the GBA.
Empowering Big Health with Applied Sciences: Nurturing "Work-Ready" Professionals in the GBA
Mr Paul CHONG Kin-lit, BBS, MH, Vice Chairman, THEi's Board of Governors, delivered opening remarks, stating: "As an applied discipline bridging art, science, and medicine, music therapy plays a pivotal role in tackling mental stress, broader wellness demands, and specialised healthcare needs. Guided by our education philosophy of 'applied science and immediate application,' THEi drives industry-academia-research integration. By extending the reach of our Centre to Shenzhen, we leverage the GBA's innovative ecosystem and expanding demand to pair global music therapy standards with cutting-edge technology—building a premier hub for scientific research, practical application, and community service."
Professor Alan LAU Kin-tak, President of THEi, emphasised in his keynote that higher education must stay attuned to modern trends and national developments: "Music is undergoing a redefinition where sound, emotion, and AI intersect. As a pioneer in applied science and work-ready education, THEi sees growing demand in the GBA for expertise in non-pharmacological therapies, mental wellness, and the silver economy. By launching the Centre in Shenzhen, we fuse academic research with regional innovation. Through short-term and professional training programmes, we aim to fast-track market-ready, multidisciplinary talent equipped with technological, clinical, and commercial expertise to directly address key social needs.
Top Academic Talent Joins Forces
The newly launched Music Therapy Research Centre is directed by Ms LIU Ying, Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Digital Innovation and Technology at THEi. A distinguished expert in Chinese traditional music, Ms LIU leads the Centre's core content strategy, backed by international innovation expertise from Dr PANG Yan, Associate Research Professor, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Doctoral Supervisor, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and his team.
As the champion of the Guzheng category at the 9th Chinese Music 'Golden Bell Awards', and the exclusive recipient of the gold, silver, and bronze awards in this category. Ms LIU noted that the Centre maximises synergy between Hong Kong and Shenzhen by pairing "Hong Kong's global perspective with Shenzhen's development speed" to construct a regional cross-disciplinary hub. Guided by the vision of "medical treatment in hospitals, healing in daily life," the Centre uses Five-Tone theory and AI-based EEG technologies to deliver non-clinical wellness solutions. She stressed that with a clear focus on problem-solving over sheer size, the Centre will advance practical training programs, therapeutic products, and industry benchmarks through the integration of arts, science, and commercialisation.
Mr YANG Pengda, Education Entrepreneur and Deputy Director of Centre for Music Therapy Research, THEi, underscored his belief that "investing in education is a high-value commitment, not a cost," – a vision driving his multi-year support for THEi's research centres. Praising THEi's work-ready degree's programmes - which features a 100% internship placement and over 95% graduate employment, he noted that the Institute's programmes are tailored to industry needs. He emphasised that the new Centre is grounded in societal demand, tackling issues like sleep disorders affecting 300 million individuals and elder care for 320 million seniors—effectively leveraging technology and humanity to improve the quality of lives.
The Centre signed strategic MoUs with Key Laboratory of AI-Enabled Music Therapy, Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Tchaikovsky Conservatory (China) International Exchange Centre The partnerships will foster deep collaboration across music arts research, professional talent training, and international exchange, laying a solid artistic foundation for the Centre's ongoing development.
Moving ahead, the Centre will focus its efforts on four core strategic pillars: advancing AI-assisted music therapy research to improve personalised non-pharmacological treatments; exploring traditional Chinese music to unlock its therapeutic emotional benefits; delivering arts-based healing to support seniors and individuals with special needs; and integrating digital music with immersive technology to drive music therapy beyond traditional stages into a smart, holistic era of care.
Following the official launch of the Centre and its upcoming professional training programmes, THEi is set to reinforce its leadership in regional applied science education—accelerating sustainable innovation to support high-quality development across the GBA and nationwide.
About the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Technology
The programme places a strong emphasis on cross-cultural exchange, covering three major professional domains: game music design, contemporary music composition, and film scoring. By integrating artificial intelligence and augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies into practical learning, the programme equips students with professional mastery in audio engineering and sound design, enhancing their ability to combine artistic creativity with technological innovation.
About Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi)
Founded in 2012, the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) is a member institute of the Vocational Training Council (VTC). THEi offers over 20 professional "Applied Science-Oriented" undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes across seven academic areas: Product and Fashion Designs, Sports and International Events Management, Digital Construction and Building Services, Horticulture, Arboriculture and Landscape Management, Chinese Medicine and Food Science, Hotel Management and Culinary Arts and Technology, and Digital Technology and Innovative Business. The programmes integrate theoretical knowledge with practical applications, and cover industries with growth potential in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring that students can apply what they learn effectively.
THEi's undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes are accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications. The curriculum emphasises the practical application of applied science, aligning with the latest developments in business and industry. The undergraduate degree programmes offer 100% work-integrated learning training to support students in building their career paths at an earlier stage.
THEi Chai Wan Campus was awarded the "Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance Award - Institutional" of the Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards presented by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) in 2020.
Media Contact:
Ms Janice Lam
Tel: (852) 3890 8227 / (852) 9718 0817
Email: janicelam@thei.edu.hk / media@thei.edu.hk
Ms Rainbow Chiu
Tel: (852) 3890 8520
Email: rainbowh@thei.edu.hk / media@thei.edu.hk
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When Music Reads Emotion: THEi Launches Centre for Music Therapy Research to Deepen Guangdong-Hong Kong Integration and Leverage AI to Fill the Healthcare Talent Gap
When Music Reads Emotion: THEi Launches Centre for Music Therapy Research to Deepen Guangdong-Hong Kong Integration and Leverage AI to Fill the Healthcare Talent Gap
