Posts by Mark Darwin
Chinese EV makers sell more plugin-hybrids in the EU to avoid tariffs: research firm
CHINESE carmakers including BYD and Chery are selling more plugin-hybrids in the European Union to avoid import tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars, data released on Friday showed. The two brands sold 3,269 and 757 plugin-hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), respectively, in the bloc in March, up from near zero sales in July 2024 when provisional tariffs were…
Read MoreiFast receives MAS trust business licence, enhances wealth management capabilities
[SINGAPORE] iFast Corp announced on Friday (May 2) that its global trust, a Singapore-incorporated entity within the group, has been granted a trust business licence by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. This development expands iFast’s wealth management capabilities by enhancing its platform to support clients across the entire wealth lifecycle, from accumulation and growth to…
Read MoreAutomakers could still face up to US$12,000 impact per car from tariffs
[WASHINGTON] A Michigan-based economic consulting group said on Thursday that automakers will still face a US$2,000 to US$12,000 tariff impact per vehicle despite the White House moving to soften trade levies on imported auto parts. Anderson Economic Group said US assembled vehicles like Honda’s Civic and Odyssey, the Chevy Malibu, Toyota Camry Hybrid, and Ford Explorer faced…
Read MoreXbox joins PlayStation in hiking console prices amid US tariff pressures
Published Fri, May 2, 2025 · 06:31 AM MICROSOFT’S Xbox is hiking the prices of its gaming consoles, controllers, first-party titles and other accessories, following similar moves by competitors due to US tariffs impacting global supply chains. In a blog post on Thursday, Xbox said it will raise prices of its products in the United…
Read MoreMastercard profit beats expectations on resilient consumer spending
MASTERCARD beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit on Thursday as customers kept up spending on its card network despite the economic uncertainty sparked by US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Executives said the fundamentals supporting consumer and business spending remained solid despite sentiment taking a hit from tariff-driven turmoil and geopolitical tensions. “While there is…
Read MoreEmployee Exit Emails That Don’t Burn Bridges
Leaving a job can be a bittersweet experience. Whether you’re moving on to new adventures or just need a change, the way you say goodbye matters. A well-crafted employee resignation announcement can help you maintain relationships and leave a positive impression. Here’s how to write a farewell email that keeps the doors open for future…
Read MoreHSBC to lose Asia expert as chairman Mark Tucker announces retirement
[LONDON] HSBC said on Thursday (May 1) that chairman Mark Tucker will retire by the end of this year, after nearly eight years in the role at Europe’s biggest bank presiding over its dramatic shrinking and navigating of Sino-US tensions. Tucker, the bank’s first ever externally-recruited chairman, will remain as a strategic adviser to CEO…
Read MoreBig Tech’s fortunes diverge as AI powers cloud, tariffs hit consumer electronics
[BENGALURU] The fortunes of Big Tech are diverging in a rapidly changing business landscape, as demand for artificial intelligence fuels growth in cloud and digital ads while consumer electronics take a battering from President Donald Trump’s global trade war. AI came to the rescue of earnings at Microsoft and Google-parent Alphabet in their March quarter,…
Read MoreTesla sales sink again in France, Denmark amid anti-Musk protests
[PARIS] Tesla sales fell in France for a fourth straight month in April and also dropped in Denmark, data showed on Thursday (May 1), the latest sign Elon Musk’s EV brand continues to struggle as Europeans buy more Chinese cars and some protest against his political views. In France, Tesla sales tumbled 59.4 per cent…
Read MoreA month after Trump’s tariff madness, shockwaves still being felt around the world
If US President Donald Trump’s sole intention was to tank the US economy, he could not have done a more efficient job of it than his recent actions that have effectively caused a global trade war. US stocks and bonds immediately went into a tailspin after Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Apr 2, and have been…
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