Posts by Mark Darwin
Asia: Markets struggle as trade war hits China factory activity
[HONG KONG] Stocks started limply on Wednesday as investors struggled to match Wall Street’s rally, with data showing Chinese factory activity contracted this month at its fastest pace for nearly two years as Donald Trump’s trade war kicked in. While markets have recovered some of the losses suffered after the US president’s “Liberation Day” tariffs announcement…
Read MoreGrab raises full-year adjusted Ebitda guidance after posting US$24 million profit in Q1
[SINGAPORE] Grab on Wednesday (Apr 30) reported net profit of US$24 million for the first quarter ended Mar 31, 2025, reversing from a US$104 million loss in the previous corresponding period. The turnaround was driven by higher revenue across all segments, improved operating loss and higher net finance income which included US$33 million in foreign…
Read MoreGold prices steady as investors await key US data, tariff updates
Published Wed, Apr 30, 2025 · 09:18 AM [BENGALURU] Gold prices held their ground on Wednesday (Apr 30) as investors awaited potential trade developments between the United States and its trading partners and also key US inflation data for clues on the Federal Reserve’s policy path. Spot gold was steady at US$3,318.79 an ounce, as…
Read MoreSamsung Electronics operating profit rises slightly in Q1
Published Wed, Apr 30, 2025 · 08:54 AM [SEOUL] Samsung Electronics reported on Wednesday a small rise in first-quarter operating profit as customers concerned about US tariffs rushed to purchase smartphones and commodity chips, mitigating the impact of its underperforming artificial intelligence chip business. Samsung did not give its earnings outlook for the current quarter,…
Read MoreCDL Hospitality Trusts Q1 NPI slides 14.2% to S$30 million on lower revenue
[SINGAPORE] Net property income (NPI) for CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDLHT) fell 14.2 per cent to S$30 million for the first quarter ended March 31, from S$34.9 million in the year-ago period. Revenue slipped 2.8 per cent to S$63.4 million on the back of lower contributions from all markets aside from the UK and Japan, the…
Read MoreFar East Hospitality Trust Q1 net property income falls 8.3% to S$23 million
[SINGAPORE] Far East Hospitality Trust’s (FEHT) net property income fell 8.3 per cent year on year to S$23 million for the first quarter ended March, from S$25.1 million. Gross revenue for Q1 FY2025 decreased 6.8 per cent to S$25.2 million from S$27.1 million. The fall was mainly due to lower master lease revenue from the…
Read MoreVisa earnings top estimates as spending on network stays strong
The company also says at the investor day that it expects its value-added services to account for more than half of total revenue in coming years Published Wed, Apr 30, 2025 · 06:58 AM [NEW YORK] Visa’s fiscal second-quarter earnings beat analysts’ estimates as spending on its payment network remained resilient despite macroeconomic uncertainties. Net…
Read MoreFlexible Workspaces Fueling Productivity Across London
The way professionals approach work is evolving quickly. Traditional offices are being replaced by modern spaces that blend convenience, community, and thoughtful design. In cities like London, where innovation, creativity, and international business intersect, flexible workspaces are becoming an increasingly integral part of everyday professional life. These environments offer more than just Wi-Fi and desk…
Read MoreEurope: Earnings-driven moves take Stoxx 600 to sixth consecutive daily gain
EUROPEAN shares extended gains to a sixth session on Tuesday, with financials giving support following earnings from HSBC and Deutsche Bank, though focus was on how companies are assessing the implications of US tariffs. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index ended 0.36 per cent higher at 525.09 points, with the aerospace and defence index leading gains. Rheinmetall jumped…
Read More“Diamonds in the rough”: New types of M&A players eye smaller SME deals in Singapore, Asean
[SINGAPORE] New types of buyers are emerging for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Unlike traditional private equity (PE) firms, these niche players are open to smaller deals and have longer, flexible investment horizons to find and polish these hidden, diamonds in the rough. SMEs tend to be overlooked in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) space.…
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