Posts by Mark Darwin
Bank of Japan to keep hiking rates if economy rebounds from tariff hit: deputy governor
Published Mon, May 19, 2025 · 11:10 AM [TOKYO] The Bank of Japan will continue to raise interest rates if the economy rebounds from an expected hit from higher US tariffs, the central bank’s deputy governor Shinichi Uchida said, while warning of a highly uncertain outlook. Japan’s underlying inflation will stay around the BOJ’s 2…
Read MoreMicrosoft wants AI ‘agents’ to work together and remember things
[REDMOND, Washington] Microsoft envisions a future where any company’s artificial intelligence agents can work together with agents from other firms and have better memories of their interactions, its chief technologist said on Sunday ahead of the company’s annual software developer conference. Microsoft is holding its Build conference in Seattle on May 19, where analysts expect…
Read MoreGoldman Sachs leads in a patchy year for foreign banks in Japan
[TOKYO] Goldman Sachs was among the major global banks to post a lower profit in Japan last year, pulling back from a bumper 2023. Net income at Goldman Sachs’s local securities arm fell 30 per cent in the year ended Dec 31 to 27.6 billion yen (S$247 million), down from a 14-year high marked…
Read MoreMorningstar eyes growth through AI and public-private market convergence
[SINGAPORE] Investment research and management company Morningstar is strategically positioning itself to capture opportunities arising from the convergence of public and private markets. Having embarked nearly 10 years ago on a mission to bring transparency to public markets, the Nasdaq-listed multi-asset data analytics and research provider now seeks to replicate that success in the private…
Read MoreParis airport chaos to enter second day after air traffic breakdown
[ORLY, France] An air traffic control breakdown at Paris-Orly airport caused the cancellation and delay of hundreds of flights and the aviation aviation authority said the chaos would extend into Monday. The breakdown hit on Sunday and has affected thousands of passengers with some already sat in planes at the French capital’s second biggest airport…
Read MoreGreenback rises to fourth straight weekly gain on latest US economic data
THE dollar strengthened on Friday (May 16) after the latest round of economic data showed a rebound in import prices while consumer sentiment remained subdued as tariff worries jumped, putting it on pace for a fourth straight weekly advance. The US Labor Department said import prices gained 0.1 per cent last month after dropping 0.4…
Read MoreOCBC remains bullish on investment outlook despite US credit downgrade by Moody’s
[SINGAPORE] Local bank OCBC remains positive about the investment outlook for the next one year, despite Moody’s downgrade of the United States’ credit rating on Friday (May 16). The ratings agency downgraded the US from “AAA” – the highest rating for credit reliability – to “AA1”, citing rising fiscal deficits and higher interest payments. Nevertheless,…
Read MoreHealthcare S-Reits outperforming broader S-Reit market and sub-segments so far this year
HEALTHCARE S-Reits have been the top-performing Reit sub-sector this year, offering an average total return of 6.2 per cent against a 1.1 per cent decline in the iEdge S-Reit Index. The sub-sector also outperformed other Reit sub-sectors over the one-year and three-year periods, clocking average returns of 16.8 and 6.2 per cent, respectively. The two…
Read MoreTrust Yourself: The Antidote to Imposter Syndrome
Trust Yourself: The Antidote to Imposter Syndrome Trust yourself. This simple yet powerful advice has been my guiding light throughout my entrepreneurial journey. As someone who’s built and sold multiple businesses, I’ve faced countless moments of self-doubt, wondering if I truly belonged at the table or if I was just lucky to be there. We…
Read MoreOil posts weekly gain but remains under supply hike pressure
[HOUSTON] Oil settled higher on Friday (May 16), notching a second straight week of gains on easing US-China trade tensions, although prices were held back by expectations of higher supply from Iran and Opec+ (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). Brent crude futures settled up 88 US cents or 1.4 per cent at US$65.41 per…
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