Posts by Mark Darwin
BlackRock misses long-term flow expectations amid Asia outflows
[NEW YORK] The world’s largest asset manager BlackRock pulled in a less-than-expected US$83 billion of client money to its investment funds in the first quarter, which ended just days before President Donald Trump unleashed tariffs that stoked extreme volatility across stock and bond markets. Investors added US$107 billion to exchange-traded funds and US$38 billion to…
Read MoreEBITDA Explained: Beyond the Buzzword
EBITDA, short for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization, is a term that gets thrown around a lot in finance. But what does it really mean? In this article, we’ll break down EBITDA, why it’s important, and how to calculate it accurately. We’ll also look at its role in financial analysis, the adjustments that…
Read MoreIndonesia’s US$48 billion social security fund eyes doubling equities exposure
[JAKARTA] Indonesia’s US$48 billion social security fund BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, the country’s largest institutional investor, aims to raise the share of local equities in its portfolio to up to 20 per cent within three years, a top official told Reuters on Friday (Apr 11). Asked about this week’s local stock market tumble following the global turmoil…
Read MoreTop US pension funds suffer US$169 billion blow from tariffs shock
The total losses for the whole US public retirement system will likely be “significantly higher” [NEW YORK] The top 25 state and local US pension investment funds suffered an estimated paper loss of US$169 billion in public equities after US President Trump’s tariff announcement. The losses came in the four trading days between Apr 3…
Read MoreCapitaLand Investment bullish on healthcare’s real estate needs
[SINGAPORE] As South-east Asia’s population ages, more physical spaces are needed for the healthcare and wellness services that people will require in their senior years. And CapitaLand Investment (CLI) believes this presents a big opportunity for real estate players. The Singapore-listed global real asset manager is hoping to cash in on this gap with its…
Read MoreTokyo: Nikkei slumps on trade war worries, stronger yen
[TOKYO] Japan’s Nikkei share average slumped on Friday (Apr 11) in a brutal end to a volatile week as investors worried about the economic fallout from the rapidly escalating US-China trade war as well as a strong yen that has been lifted by safe-haven flows. The Nikkei ended 2.96 per cent lower at 33,585.58 after…
Read MoreShein gains UK approval for London IPO, awaits China nod: sources
[LONDON] Online fast-fashion retailer Shein has secured approval from Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for its planned initial public offering (IPO) in London, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. The FCA’s approval marks a significant step forward in the China-founded company’s pursuit of a London listing after it confidentially filed papers with…
Read MoreNovartis pledges US$23 billion US investment as tariffs loom
Trump has repeatedly said he intends to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals, citing the industry’s reliance on manufacturing sites around the world to supply the US market [NEW YORK] Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis said it would invest US$23 billion in the US over the next five years to ensure its key drugs for Americans are made…
Read MoreIndonesian coffee chain Fore says its IPO oversubscribed by 200 times
The seven-year old company is the first domestic coffee chain to list on the bourse [SINGAPORE] Indonesian coffee chain Fore said on Friday (Apr 11) its initial public offering (IPO) was more than 200 times oversubscribed, buoyed by a caffeine boom in South-east Asia’s largest and most populous country. The seven-year old company said it…
Read MoreUS dollar weakens against Singdollar as tariff uncertainty roils markets
[SINGAPORE] The US dollar fell to its weakest point against the Singapore dollar since November 2024, as markets continued to be volatile following continued global trade uncertainty. The greenback has fallen around 1.4 per cent against the Singapore dollar since the start of the week, weakening on Friday (Apr 11) morning by 0.3 per cent.…
Read More