Posts by Mark Darwin
Indonesia’s new Danantara investment fund readies for launch
A SWEEPING overhaul of how Indonesia runs its powerful state companies will create a multibillion-dollar investment vehicle that could give President Prabowo Subianto a major cache of funds to deploy in his effort to supercharge growth. Prabowo will launch the new body, Danantara, at 10 am local time on Monday (Feb 24). It will be…
Read MoreFranchise Dreams: 7 Steps to Clone Your Success
Thinking about franchising your business? It’s a big leap, but it could be the perfect way to grow your brand and reach new markets. Franchising isn’t just about selling a business model—it’s about creating a system that others can follow and succeed with. If you’ve been dreaming of seeing your business thrive in multiple locations,…
Read MoreOlam to sell remaining stake in Olam Agri for US$4 billion
OLAM’S wholly owned subsidiaries have entered into a conditional sales and purchase agreement with Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (Salic) for the proposed disposal of about 44.58 per cent of the issued and paid-up share capital of Olam Agri. This entails 1.5 million ordinary shares of Olam Agri, with the consideration for the…
Read MoreOlam to sell 44.58% stake in Olam Agri for US$1.8 billion
OLAM’S wholly owned subsidiaries have entered into a conditional sales and purchase agreement with Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (Salic) to dispose about 44.58 per cent of the issued and paid-up share capital of Olam Agri. This entails 1.5 billion ordinary shares of Olam Agri, with the consideration for the disposal set at about…
Read MoreChina’s local government bond rush worsens liquidity strain
CHINA’S local governments are rushing to issue bonds to refinance hidden debt, further tightening liquidity in the financial system. Regional authorities are set to sell 1.7 trillion yuan (S$313 billion) of bonds in the first two months of 2025, an unprecedented amount for the period, data compiled by Bloomberg show. About half of the issuance,…
Read MoreNasdaq soars to new heights: What investors should know
ON FEB 19, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 achieved record highs, climbing by 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent, respectively. Their upward movements occurred as investors assessed the minutes of the latest US Federal Reserve meeting and reacted to renewed tariff threats from US President Donald Trump. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also…
Read MoreMalaysia expects its palm exports to China to be ‘resilient’ amid price pressure
MALAYSIA-PALM/CHINA:Malaysia expects its palm exports to China to be ‘resilient’ amid price pressure Malaysian palm oil exports to China will “remain resilient” this year despite their premium over rival oils and Chinese consumers’ shifting buying patterns, the deputy commodities minister said on Sunday (Feb 23). Malaysia’s exports of palm oil to China declined in 2024…
Read MoreShein’s annual profit down by more than a third: report
Online fast-fashion retailer Shein’s profit dropped by more than a third last year, adding to its challenges ahead of a planned listing on the London Stock Exchange, the Financial Times reported on Sunday (Feb 23). Net profit was down almost 40 per cent at US$1 billion in 2024, the report said, citing two people with…
Read MoreWarren Buffett sounds warning to Washington as Berkshire reports record profit, cash
Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday (Feb 22) reported record annual profits and boosting its cash stake to US$334.2 billion, as Warren Buffett used his annual shareholder letter to caution Washington to spend money wisely and take care of those who get the “short straws in life”. Buffett’s admonition came as many investors worry that US lawmakers…
Read MoreBoeing’s chief aerospace safety officer set to retire, memo shows
BOEING’S longtime veteran and chief aerospace safety officer, Mike Delaney, will retire later this year, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Friday (Feb 21). The aerospace company in the next few weeks will appoint a successor to Delaney who has been working with Boeing for nearly four decades, company chief Kelly Ortberg told…
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