Posts by Mark Darwin
Ho Bee Land appoints Li Xiangrun as new CFO
[SINGAPORE] Ho Bee Land has promoted its current head of finance, Li Xiangrun, to chief financial officer effective Feb 1. The position is currently not filled, according to the property developer’s website. Li, 43, joined the company in June 2023 as head of finance. Prior to his tenure at Ho Bee Land, he spent a…
Read MoreHigh Court orders winding-up of TT International
The liquidation marks the end of a long and complex chapter involving the group and Big Box mall [SINGAPORE] The High Court has ordered consumer electronics trader TT International to wind up its operations, following an application by OCBC in November 2025. The order was granted on Jan 22, and announced by TT International in…
Read MoreASML reports big orders beat as AI drives chipmaker demand, to lay off 1,700
The orders beat comes as several of the chipmaker’s customers raise investment plans Published Wed, Jan 28, 2026 · 04:05 PM [AMSTERDAM] ASML reported stronger-than-expected bookings in the fourth quarter on Wednesday (Jan 28), with the world’s largest supplier of computer chip equipment receiving more orders as companies boosted investment in AI chipmaking capacity. Europe’s…
Read MoreChina to favour Brazilian soybean imports in H1 despite renewed US inflows
Published Wed, Jan 28, 2026 · 11:39 AM [SINGAPORE] China is expected to boost imports of Brazilian soybeans in the first half of 2026, as record production and competitive prices propel shipments, reinforcing South America’s dominance in the world’s biggest oilseed importer, even as US supplies return. Private soybean processors in China are locking in…
Read MoreTrump says value of US dollar is ‘great’, currency hits 4-year low
Published Wed, Jan 28, 2026 · 07:55 AM US PRESIDENT Donald Trump said on Tuesday the value of the dollar was “great”, when asked whether he thought it had declined too much, adding to pressure on the greenback which hit a four-year low. The dollar’s recent weakness stems from multiple factors: expectations of continued Federal…
Read MoreS&P, Nasdaq opens higher as earnings roll in
Published Tue, Jan 27, 2026 · 10:48 PM [NEW YORK] The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq opened higher on Tuesday (Jan 27) as investors parsed a fresh round of mega-cap earnings, while health insurers declined as the Trump administration’s Medicare Advantage payment proposal disappointed investors. At 09.30 am ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell…
Read MoreStanChart announces multi-year partnership with Formula 1
The bank will also work with F1 Academy to promote inclusion and champion female motorsport talent [SINGAPORE] Standard Chartered (StanChart) announced on Tuesday (Jan 27) a multi-year deal to become Formula 1’s partner, starting in 2026. Through this agreement, the bank will be the official wealth-management partner and official corporate and investment-banking partner of the…
Read MoreAI boom risks widening gender gap at work, with Gen Z women most exposed: Apac report
Achieving gender equity requires technology and HR teams to work in tandem, says co-founder of advocacy group [SINGAPORE] As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the economy, women – especially those from Gen Z – are at risk of falling behind in the workplace, raising fears that gender inequalities could deepen. A new Asia-Pacific study warns that…
Read MoreTax transparency and trust in the business ecosystem
Transparency has evolved into a defining pillar of good governance and public accountability MULTINATIONAL corporations worldwide are navigating a profound shift, compelled by new rules to disclose more about their tax strategies, payments and global footprints. Investors, in turn, are increasingly scrutinising tax behaviour as a litmus test for a company’s integrity and long-term sustainability. …
Read MoreChina starts world’s largest compressed-air power storage plant
The plant can generate 600 megawatts of power and meet the annual demand of 600,000 households Published Tue, Jan 27, 2026 · 12:01 PM THE world’s largest compressed-air power storage plant has begun operating in central China’s Jiangsu province, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to expand energy storage to support its green…
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