Posts by Mark Darwin
Asia: Stocks lifted by hopes for US-China talks after UK deal
[HONG KONG] Most Asian equities rose on Friday (May 9) on growing optimism that the worst of US President Donald Trump’s trade war is past after he reached a deal with Britain and suggested he could lower tariffs on China as officials prepare for high-stakes talks this weekend. The mood among investors has improved substantially…
Read MoreNissan drops plan for Fukuoka battery plant to focus on recovery
The company is betting on a broad restructuring and new leadership team helmed by chief executive officer Ivan Espinosa, who took office in April and pledged to turn things around Published Fri, May 9, 2025 · 12:08 PM [TOKYO] Nissan Motor has abandoned plans to build a battery plant in Fukuoka, Japan to focus its…
Read MoreF&N H1 net profit rises 0.3% to S$84.1 million as F&B sales grow
[SINGAPORE] Fraser and Neave (F&N) posted a 0.3 per cent rise in net profit to S$84.1 million for its first half ended Mar 31, from S$83.8 million a year earlier, the food and beverage (F&B) group said on Friday (May 9). Revenue for H1 rose 13.2 per cent to S$1.21 billion, from S$1.07 billion in…
Read MoreFrasers Property H1 profit rises 147.6% to S$142.2 million on tax reversal; revenue rises 2.7%
[SINGAPORE] Frasers Property posted a 147.6 per cent jump in net profit to S$142.2 million for the first half ended Mar 31, 2025, from S$57.4 million in the year-ago period. The surge was largely due to a net tax credit of S$6.1 million, reversing a tax expense of S$117.5 million in the prior year, the…
Read MoreFrasers Property H1 profit rises 147.6% to S$142.2 million on tax reversal; revenue up 2.7%
[SINGAPORE] Higher contributions from residential projects in Singapore, as well as a one-off reversal of tax provisions, pulled up Frasers Property’s first-half earnings – but the group said it will continue zeroing in on optimising capital efficiency. Speaking at an earnings briefing on Friday (May 9) morning, Frasers group chief executive Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi said: “The…
Read MoreStocks to watch: OCBC, ST Engineering, Frasers Property, F&N, Far East Orchard, DHLT, Marco Polo Marine
[SINGAPORE] The following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Friday (May 9). OCBC: The bank’s net profit for the first quarter fell on lower net interest income and higher operating expenses. Net profit for the three months ended Mar 31, 2025, stood at S$1.88 billion, compared with S$1.98 billion…
Read MoreOCBC Q1 profit falls 5% to S$1.88 billion; beats expectations
[SINGAPORE] OCBC’s net profit for the first quarter fell on lower net interest income and higher operating expenses. Net profit for the three months ended March 31, 2025 stood at S$1.88 billion, compared with S$1.98 billion from the year-ago period, it said on Friday (May 9). The earnings beat the S$1.86 billion consensus forecast in…
Read MoreUS: Stocks rise after Trump announces UK trade deal
Published Fri, May 9, 2025 · 06:06 AM [NEW YORK] US stocks finished firmly in the green on Thursday (May 8) after US President Donald Trump unveiled a “breakthrough” trade agreement with the United Kingdom. The deal reduces tariffs on British cars, steel and aluminium, while in return Britain will open up its markets to…
Read MoreHow advisers can augment the board
ONE of the expected roles of the board of a company is to provide strategic guidance by drawing upon the diverse experience and expertise of its directors. Indeed, much of the discussions around the need for board diversity is precisely in response to this. There are however, limitations in developing cognitive diversity through just the…
Read MoreBank of England cuts rates to 4.25% as it sees tariff hit to growth
[LONDON] The Bank of England cut its main interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.25 per cent on Thursday, despite an unexpected three-way split among policymakers as US President Donald Trump’s tariffs weigh on global economic growth. The BOE’s Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-4 in favour of the decision to cut rates by a…
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