Posts by Mark Darwin
Soup Holdings expects to report loss for FY2024 on outlet closures, rising costs
Two newly opened outlets and a recently established central kitchen have underperformed SOUP Holdings expects to report a loss for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2024, it said in a bourse filing on Saturday (Dec 21). The expected loss – compared to a profit recorded in the previous financial year – is likely a…
Read MoreDigital Currency Timeline Prediction
Alright, so digital currency is kinda taking over the conversation these days. It’s like everyone wants to know when this stuff will actually replace the cash in our wallets. From Bitcoin’s wild start to the tech that’s pushing it forward, there’s a lot to unpack. Some folks are all in, while others are scratching their…
Read MoreOpenAI unveils ‘o3’ reasoning AI models in test phase
OpenAI said on Friday (Dec 20) it was testing new reasoning artificial intelligence (AI) models, o3 and o3 mini, in a sign of growing competition with rivals such as Google to create smarter models capable of tackling complex problems. Chief executive Sam Altman said the AI startup plans to launch o3 mini by the end…
Read MoreCar sales to grow modestly in 2025 as global output falters
Auto sales around the world are expected to grow marginally next year on increased supplies of vehicles, but production levels are likely to fall as carmakers seek to rein in inventory levels, according to S&P Global Mobility estimates. Global sales of light vehicles, which include passenger cars, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, will rise…
Read MoreSamsung Electronics, Texas Instruments finalise Chips Act awards
Samsung Electronics and Texas Instruments completed final agreements to get billions of dollars of government support for new semiconductor plants in the US, cementing a major piece of the Biden administration’s Chips Act initiative. Under binding agreements unveiled on Friday (Dec 20), Samsung will get as much as US$4.8 billion in funding and Texas Instruments…
Read MoreVolkswagen unveils major job cuts in cost-saving drive
Crisis-hit auto giant Volkswagen said on Friday (Dec 20) it planned to axe 35,000 jobs by 2030 in Germany after reaching an agreement with unions on a drastic cost-cutting plan. The deal, struck at the end of marathon negotiations with labour representatives, will save Europe’s largest carmaker around four billion euros (S$5.7 billion) a year,…
Read MoreHidden Cons of Using Venmo
Venmo’s super convenient, right? Just a few taps and you can pay your friend back for that coffee or split a dinner bill. But, hold on a second—there’s more to it than just ease. While Venmo makes life simpler, it’s not without its downsides. From security risks to hidden fees, using Venmo can come with…
Read MoreStock Market: Best Days to Buy
Ever wondered if there’s a perfect day to dive into the stock market? Well, some folks swear by certain days or months, thinking they might get a better deal. But let’s face it, predicting the market is like trying to guess the weather a month in advance—pretty tricky. Still, if you’re curious about when might…
Read MoreSingapore stocks’ best year since 2017 masks downbeat outlook
Singapore’s main stock index is on track to have its best annual performance since 2017, but any celebrations over the Straits Times Index’s (STI) 15 per cent gain so far this year are likely to be overshadowed by doubts about what lies ahead. Even with the index hovering near its record high for weeks, investors…
Read MoreLuxury labels bulk up on lower-priced goods to appeal to middle-class shoppers
Confronting a broad decline in demand for their usual fare, including US$3,000-and-up handbags and US$4,000-and-up cashmere jackets, major marketers of designer and luxury merchandise are broadening their product lines to emphasise scarves, belts, wallets and home goods priced at US$500 and under. The companies’ renewed focus on more affordable products is meant to appeal to…
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