Posts by Mark Darwin
China’s central bank resumes gold purchases after six-month hiatus in November
CHINA’S central bank resumed buying gold for its reserves in November after a six-month pause, official data by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) showed on Saturday (Dec 7). The PBOC was the world’s largest official sector buyer of gold in 2023. Resumption of its purchases may support Chinese investor demand which was muted since…
Read MoreDisney’s largest cruise ship targets Asia with Marvel heroes
TICKETS for a voyage on board Walt Disney’s first Asia-based cruise ship go on sale next week, as the entertainment giant takes advantage of a tourism boom in Singapore to realise ambitious goals for its cruise business. Bookings for the Disney Adventure will open to the general public on Dec 10, a full year before…
Read MoreApple explores Macs, headsets with built-in cellular data
APPLE’s effort to build its own modem technology will set the stage for a range of new devices, starting with slimmer iPhones and potentially leading to cellular-connected Macs and headsets. The new products will be made possible by an in-house modem chip slated to debut next year, sources familiar with the effort said. That component,…
Read MoreSpaceX gets US contract to expand Ukraine’s access to Starshield
SPACEX received a Pentagon contract to expand Ukraine’s access to a more secure, militarized version of its Starlink satellite network, deepening the company’s involvement in the conflict despite founder Elon Musk’s ambivalence over the war. The contract means that 2,500 Starlink terminals already in Ukraine will get access to Starshield, a classified and encrypted signal…
Read MoreArabica coffee’s premium over robusta widens on recent rally
THE premium for arabica coffee over robusta beans widens to the most since April 2023 amid concerns over tight supplies of the pricier variety. The price difference expanded to more than 90 US cents a pound on Thursday (Dec 5) as arabica futures gained as much as 3.3 per cent. The most active contract in…
Read MoreHow Do Parlay Bets Work?
Parlay bets are a popular way for sports fans to combine multiple wagers into one for a chance at a larger payout. But how do parlays work? In this article, we’ll break down the basics of parlay betting, how to place a parlay bet, calculate odds and payouts, and explore different types of parlays. Whether…
Read MoreUS: Wall Street opens higher after November job growth soars
WALL Street’s main indexes opened higher on Friday (Dec 6) as traders increased bets on a Federal Reserve rate cut this month after the November payrolls report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 58.6 points, or 0.13 per cent, at the open to 44,824.29. The S&P 500 rose 6.3 points, or 0.10 per cent,…
Read MoreBroadcom unveils new tech to speed up custom chips amid rising generative AI demand
BROADCOM said on Thursday (Dec 5) that its custom chip unit, which makes artificial intelligence (AI) processors for cloud providers, has developed new technology to enhance semiconductor speeds amid escalating demand for generative AI infrastructure. Palo Alto, California-based Broadcom is among the biggest beneficiaries of hefty demand for AI-supporting hardware, as so-called hyperscalers turn to…
Read MoreRHB says Suntec Reit unitholders should reject S$1.16 per unit offer, sees positives for the Reit
Offer price is a 44% discount to the trust’s net asset value per unit, notes the research house RHB has recommended unitholders of Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit) to reject the mandatory conditional cash offer for its units. Property tycoon Gordon Tang and his wife Celine on Thursday (Dec 5) had launched an offer…
Read MoreStocks to watch: Sembcorp Industries, Suntec Reit, Digital Core Reit, SingPost
THE following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Friday (Dec 6): Sembcorp Industries: The group’s wholly owned subsidiary, Sembcorp Fuels, signed a 10-year sale-and-purchase agreement with oil major Chevron Corp for approximately 0.6 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas each year. Its delivery is expected to commence in 2028. Shares…
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