Posts by Mark Darwin
OCI is said to put brakes on Malaysia IPO plan on market turmoil
The polysilicon industry has struggled with a huge surplus, with far too much capacity built relative to demand, resulting in prices of the solar grade material tumbling more than 80 per cent over the past two years [KUALA LUMPUR / HONG KONG] OCI Holdings’ financial advisers have paused work on the potential listing of its…
Read MoreIndonesia’s foreign reserves hit record high despite rupiah rout
Domestic concerns, such as the fiscal outlook and slowing economic growth amid President Prabowo Subianto’s shuffling of policy priorities, are also weighing on market sentiment [JAKARTA] Indonesia’s foreign exchange reserves gained US$2.6 billion last month to reach another record high even as the global markets turmoil battered the rupiah. The stockpile climbed to US$157.1 billion…
Read MoreGold dips as Trump eases trade tensions with tariff exemptions
[BENGALURU] Gold prices dropped on Monday (Apr 14) as US President Donald Trump eased trade tensions by granting tariff exemptions on smartphones, computers and other electronics primarily imported from China. Spot gold was down 0.4 per cent at US$3,223.67 an ounce, as at 0036 GMT. Bullion hit a record high of US$3,245.28 in the previous…
Read MoreOng Beng Seng to step down as managing director of Hotel Properties
[SINGAPORE] Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) announced on Monday (Apr 14) that managing director Ong Beng Seng will be stepping down from the position to devote more time to manage his medical condition. The company said in a bourse filing that Ong, 79, will not be putting himself up for re-election as a director as well.…
Read MoreStocks to watch: Olam, EC World Reit, Hotel Properties Limited
[SINGAPORE] The following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Monday (Apr 14). Olam: The agribusiness giant on Monday said it expects to fund the reorganisation of its business using divestment proceeds from the sale of both its remaining 64.6 per cent Olam Agri stake as well as its assets and businesses…
Read MoreAsia, Europe, gold, private markets: Where investors can seek refuge as US exceptionalism is cast into doubt
[SINGAPORE] The turmoil and volatility in global financial markets, where trillions of dollars were wiped off US equities since “Liberation Day”, are leading investors to lean towards the idea that American exceptionalism may be nearing its end. Earlier, the shock that Chinese startup DeepSeek delivered in January led the likes of JPMorgan Chase to issue…
Read MoreApple was on brink of crisis before Trump tariff concession
[LOS ANGELES / WASHINGTON] Apple has managed to dodge its biggest crisis since the pandemic – for the moment, at least. Donald Trump’s 125 per cent tariffs on goods produced in China threatened to upend its supply chain as seriously as the Covid snarls did five years ago. On Friday (Apr 11) night, the US…
Read MoreRequired Licenses: Don’t Get Shut Down
When starting a business, one of the most critical steps is understanding the licensing requirements. A business license is essentially a legal permission that allows you to operate within your specific industry and location. Ignoring these requirements can lead to serious repercussions, including hefty fines and even the closure of your business. In this article,…
Read MoreApple India produces US$22b of iPhones in shift from China
Apple assembled US$22 billion worth of iPhones in India in the 12 months ended March, increasing production by nearly 60 per cent over the previous year in a sign of continued diversification away from China. The Cupertino, California-headquartered company now makes 20 per cent, or one in five, of its prized iPhones in the South…
Read MorePunch-drunk traders across Asia ready for another week of drama
After a week in which Asian stocks posted both their biggest-ever plunge and their largest one-day gain since 2008, investors in the region are working weekends, skipping sleep, interrupting business trips, poring over social media and focusing on short-term trades, alert to the fact that one man at the furthest point away from them on…
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