Posts by Mark Darwin
Aviva is said to boost Direct Line takeover bid to £3.4 billion
AVIVA has increased its offer for Direct Line Insurance Group to about £3.4 billion (S$5.8 billion), days after its initial proposal to buy the UK motor insurer was rejected, people with knowledge of the matter said. London-listed Aviva has made a fresh bid of about 261 pence per share as it seeks to convince…
Read MoreIs Panera’s Sip Club Worth It?
Panera’s Sip Club is a popular membership program that offers unlimited beverages for a monthly fee. But is it really worth it? In this article, we will look into what the Sip Club is all about, how it works, and if the benefits outweigh the costs. We’ll also explore the drink options, customer feedback, and…
Read More25 Countries Where Tipping is Banned
Tipping is a common practice in many parts of the world, but not everywhere. In some countries, tipping is not just uncommon; it’s actually banned. This article explores 25 countries where tipping is prohibited, highlighting how these cultures value service without the extra cash. If you’re curious about places where you won’t need to leave…
Read MoreHot stock: OKH Global surges 38.9% after proposed acquisition of Chip Eng Seng
The company says the purchase could present a new growth opportunity in the building and construction industry SHARES of OKH Global surged on Thursday (Dec 5) after the group announced that it plans to acquire construction company Chip Eng Seng for about S$118.5 million. The counter rose 38.9 per cent or S$0.007 to S$0.025 when…
Read MoreHow Citi lost US$17 million on biggest Aussie block trade in years
CITIGROUP undercut rivals this week to win the biggest block trade in Australia in seven years, only to see the deal unravel and leave the US bank with unsold stock on its books. The firm outbid other rivals on a block trade in property firm Goodman Group by China Investment Corporation (CIC) with a discount…
Read MoreSchneider Electric working with Nvidia to design data centre cooling systems
FRENCH electrical equipment maker Schneider Electric is working with Nvidia to develop designs for data centre cooling systems for use in new artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, it said on Wednesday (Dec 4). Schneider’s designs will be used in data centres that use Nvidia’s flagship server containing 72 of its most powerful AI chips, which…
Read MoreGold little changed; investors await US payrolls data
GOLD prices were little changed on Thursday (Dec 5) as investors awaited US payrolls data, due on Friday, for more cues on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy path. Spot gold was flat at US$2,648.89 per ounce, as at 0027 GMT. US gold futures eased 0.1 per cent to US$2,672.60. The US payroll report on Friday…
Read MoreSTI rises 0.6% as banking shares make strong gains amid mixed Asia markets
SINGAPORE stocks were close to a record high on Thursday (Dec 5) morning, but eased by the close. The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) rose 22.74 points or 0.6 per cent to 3,822.68. Across the broader market, gainers outnumbered losers 280 to 244 with 1.1 billion securities worth S$1.4 billion traded. Earlier in the day,…
Read MoreUS Fed’s Jerome Powell expects good relations with Trump administration
US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell downplayed the prospects of tension with the incoming Trump administration and said he expects officials can move cautiously as they continue lowering interest rates. “We can afford to be a little more cautious as we try to find neutral,” Powell said in reference to the level for rates that…
Read MoreTikTok Shop triples Black Friday sales, topping US$100 million
TIKTOK tripled its US shopping sales to more than US$100 million on Black Friday, a sign of the app’s growing popularity despite a looming ban. TikTok Shop, the app’s e-commerce feature, also drew a 165 per cent annual increase in shoppers for the two days between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the company said. More…
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