Posts by Mark Darwin
China’s overseas investment adds to cash exodus weighing on renminbi
CHINESE firms from carmakers to miners are ramping up their overseas spending, adding to pressure on the renminbi amid an accompanying exodus of foreign capital. Chinese non-financial companies invested almost US$129 billion outside the country in the first 11 months of this year, according to government data released on Thursday (Dec 19). That puts outflows…
Read MoreHertz My Car Subscription Review
Hertz My Car is making waves in the vehicle subscription market. It’s like having a car without the long-term commitment of a lease. You pay a monthly fee, and that covers your insurance, maintenance, and even gives you the option to switch cars a couple of times a month. It’s a solid option if you…
Read MoreIntel shortlists suitors for programmable chip arm Altera
INTEL has shortlisted a number of buyout firms for the next round of bidding for its Altera unit, according to sources familiar with the matter, as the beleaguered chipmaker makes headway on a process started by its now ousted chief executive officer. Private equity firms including Francisco Partners and Silver Lake Management are competing alongside…
Read MoreIndonesia weighs deep cuts to nickel mining to boost prices
INDONESIA is considering deep cuts to nickel mining quotas as it seeks to boost slumping prices of the battery metal, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is looking at lowering the amount of nickel ore allowed to be mined next year to 150 million tonnes, said the sources,…
Read More25 Casino Psychology Tricks
Ever wondered why you lose track of time in a casino or why you keep playing even when you know you should stop? Casinos are masters at using psychology to keep you spending money. From the layout of the rooms to the free drinks, every detail is crafted to make you stay longer and part…
Read MoreGold set for weekly drop; market awaits more US data for economic cues
GOLD prices were poised for a weekly fall on Friday (Dec 20) after the Federal Reserve’s verdict on its monetary policy-easing cycle noted a slowdown in cuts, while market focus shifted to the US Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) data due later in the day. Spot gold was flat at US$2,594.59 per ounce, as at 0034…
Read MoreSingapore shares close lower as STI continues to falter, down 1.1 per cent
THE Straits Times Index (STI) continued to falter on Friday (Dec 20), mirroring regional indices. The STI was down 1.1 per cent or 42.95 points to 3,719.93. Across the broader market, decliners outnumbered advancers 308 to 204 after 1.2 billion shares worth S$1.6 billion changed hands. The trio of local banks continued the losing…
Read MoreAs TikTok runs out of options, this billionaire has a plan to save it
EVEN as TikTok faces a looming ban in the US, Chinese parent company ByteDance has made it clear it has no plans to sell the popular video app. Frank McCourt does not seem deterred. A real estate mogul and former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, McCourt has emerged as a loud and unexpected suitor…
Read MoreLosses from crypto hacks jump to US$2.2 billion in 2024: report
FUNDS stolen by hacking cryptocurrency platforms surged 21 per cent from a year ago to US$2.2 billion in 2024, a report from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis showed on Thursday (Dec 19). The hacking amount exceeded US$1 billion for the fourth straight year and the number of incidents rose to 303 from 282 in 2023, it…
Read MoreEurope: Stoxx 600 clocks worst day in more than a month after Fed’s hawkish signal
EUROPEAN stocks fell on Thursday (Dec 19), with the benchmark Stoxx recording its biggest single-day drop since early November as investors fled riskier assets after the US Federal Reserve signalled a slower pace of interest rate cuts next year. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed 1.5 per cent lower, hitting a three-week low, with all…
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