Posts by Mark Darwin
Bank of Korea cuts growth view on political instability, Trump impact – The Business Times
THE Bank of Korea (BOK) cut its growth forecast for this year as the political turmoil triggered by President Yoon Suk-yeol’s short-lived martial law declaration continues to ripple through the economy alongside concern over the potential impact of Donald Trump’s policies on trade. The central bank now sees the economy expanding between 1.6 per cent…
Read MoreChinese investors pile into Bridgewater-style funds, eyeing Trump return – The Business Times
CHINESE hedge fund managers are racing to launch products styled on Bridgewater Associates’ popular “All Weather” strategy, to meet hot investor demand for a cushion against expected volatility during Donald Trump’s second US presidency. Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio’s “All Weather” is a volatility-mitigating, multi-asset strategy that helped shield its Chinese clients from the brunt of…
Read MoreSingapore to play ‘pivotal role’ as financial flows shift to South-east Asia amid trade tensions: Citi – The Business Times
SINGAPORE is set to play a “pivotal role” as capital flows shift amid uncertainty, with the world grappling with potential trade tensions in a Donald Trump administration, Citi said in an outlook briefing on Monday (Jan 20). “We don’t know how it’s going to play out, whether it’s a negotiation tool, or whether (there are)…
Read MoreLME approves warehousing in Hong Kong, a gateway for metals to China – The Business Times
THE London Metal Exchange (LME) on Monday (Jan 20) approved Hong Kong as a warehouse delivery point, seeking to boost access to mainland China, the world’s biggest metals consumer. Approving warehouses in China to store LME traded metal has been a strategic goal since Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing bought the LME in 2012. The…
Read MoreSingapore listcos’ boards improve in age and gender diversity, but not cultural background mix: study – The Business Times
SINGAPORE-LISTED companies have improved in board diversity over the past five years on most fronts – such as age and gender mix – but not in cultural background and global experience, based on an index released on Monday (Jan 20). In the 2025 Singapore Board Diversity Index, which assessed 553 companies with a primary listing…
Read MoreMalaysia Airports buyout offer extended to Feb 4 – The Business Times
A TAKEOVER offer for Malaysia Airports Holdings by a consortium comprising the country’s sovereign wealth fund and BlackRock has been extended for a third time this month to Feb 4, a stock exchange filing on Monday (Jan 20) showed. The consortium, including Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, has now secured…
Read MoreYour Boss’s Body Language Could Be Killing Your Career
Ever feel like your boss’s body language is speaking a different language? It can be a real game-changer in the workplace. Understanding what those crossed arms or furrowed brows mean could be the key to unlocking a more successful career path. Whether they realize it or not, bosses send out messages through their body language…
Read MoreChinese soda maker Dayao is said to consider US$500 million Hong Kong IPO – The Business Times
CHINESE soda maker Dayao is gearing up for a Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) as early as the second half of 2025, sources familiar with the matter said, building on the city’s emerging recovery in new listings. The company, based in China’s Inner Mongolia, is working with advisers as it seeks to raise as…
Read MoreThailand hunts for central bank chief with ‘modern ideas’ – The Business Times
THAILAND has started the search for a new central bank governor with “modern ideas” who can work closely with the state, as the incumbent’s rocky tenure nears its end. Potential candidates are being discussed, Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira said. The five-year term for the current governor – Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput – concludes at the end of…
Read MoreRakuten billionaire justifies mobile arm losses with big AI bet – The Business Times
RAKUTEN Group’s chief dismissed sceptics who call the Japanese e-commerce pioneer’s mobile foray a mistake and said the telecom arm is central for future growth through artificial intelligence (AI). A decision to enter Japan’s cut-throat wireless market has saddled Rakuten with four years of losses, weighing on its cash-churning online shopping mall and finance operations.…
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