Posts by Mark Darwin
SIA ranked top airline, clinches 28th overall spot in Fortune’s list of world’s most admired firms
SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) has clinched the top spot as an airline and ranked 28th overall in Fortune magazine’s list of the most admired companies globally. The list, in its 27th edition, is based on a survey of 3,380 executives, directors and securities analysts from around the world, who were asked to select the 10 companies…
Read MoreSanofi plans 5 billion euro buyback, sees higher profit growth
SANOFI said it will repurchase five billion euros (S$7 billion) of stock and grow profits more quickly this year as the drugmaker pivots away from consumer health to focus on fast-growing drugs such as its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) shot. Earnings per share, excluding some items, are likely to increase by a low double-digit percentage…
Read MoreChatGPT at Work: Revolution or Risk?
ChatGPT is making waves in the business world, and it’s hard not to notice. Whether it’s drafting emails or brainstorming ideas, this AI tool is popping up everywhere. But with all this buzz, companies are split. Is it a game-changer or a potential problem? With everyone discussing ChatGPT for business use, it’s time to weigh…
Read More17 Types of Lawyers: Which One Do You Actually Need?
Ever wondered why there are so many lawyer specialties? The legal world is vast, and each type of lawyer has its own unique role. Whether you’re dealing with a divorce, setting up a business, or facing criminal charges, there’s a lawyer out there just for you. Let’s explore some key takeaways about the different types…
Read MoreLVMH’s subdued sales temper hopes for a rapid luxury rebound
LVMH’s sales of fashion and leather goods declined in the fourth quarter, casting doubt on the prospects for a quick recovery in luxury demand. Sales at the key unit, which includes the Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior brands, slipped 1 per cent on an organic basis as wealthy holiday shoppers remained cautious. Overall revenue at…
Read MoreAlibaba touts new AI model superior to DeepSeek and Meta
ALIBABA Group Holding published benchmark scores and touted what it called world-leading performance with its new artificial intelligence (AI) model release. The upgraded Qwen 2.5 Max edition scored better than Meta Platforms’ Llama and DeepSeek’s V3 model in various tests, according to figures in Alibaba Cloud’s announcement on WeChat. Alongside Tencent Holdings and Baidu, Alibaba…
Read MoreHSBC plans biggest investment banking retrenchment in decades
HSBC plans to wind down its M&A and some equities businesses in Europe and the Americas, the bank said on Tuesday (Jan 28), accelerating a shift to Asia in its biggest retrenchment from investment banking in decades. “Our intention is to move to a more competitive, scalable, financing-led model,” Michael Roberts, CEO of HSBC Bank…
Read MoreMicrosoft shares slide as cloud forecast, AI spending disappoint
MICROSOFT on Wednesday (Jan 29) forecast disappointing growth in its cloud computing business, sending its shares down more than 5 per cent as investors worry about big spending, elusive artificial intelligence (AI) revenue and growing competition from cheaper AI models from China. Azure results for the fiscal second quarter also fell below Wall Street expectations.…
Read MoreLas Vegas Sands misses profit estimates on weakness in Macau business
CASINO operator Las Vegas Sands missed analysts’ estimates for fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday (Jan 29), hurt by tepid performance of its Macau business. The Las Vegas, Nevada-based company had previously flagged that it was seeing slowing growth in its integrated resorts and casino business at Macau properties, including the Venetian Macao, which contribute a major…
Read MoreTikTok bidders to offer ‘significantly’ more than US$20 billion
A GROUP of American investors vying to buy TikTok with support from top YouTuber MrBeast has secured more than US$20 billion for their offer, according to Jesse Tinsley, the tech entrepreneur organising the bid. The group has also recruited two additional tech chief executive officers as investors, including Roblox co-founder and CEO David Baszucki and…
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