Posts by Mark Darwin
Maersk to return to Red Sea as stability improves in region
The opening of one of the world’s busiest transport bottlenecks is set to pressure profit margins amid an oversupply of vessels [OSLO] Danish shipping company Maersk will return to sailing regularly through the Suez Canal this month, as the security situation improves in the Middle East. The voyage marks another step towards normalisation of global…
Read MoreCapitaLand India Trust wins second hyperscaler agreement for data-centre development
The facility has a gross power capacity of 55 MW and is set to be completed by Q4 2026 [SINGAPORE] The trustee-manager of CapitaLand India Trust (Clint) on Thursday (Jan 15) announced that it has secured its second long-term agreement with a global hyperscaler for Tower 2 of CapitaLand DC Navi Mumbai in Airoli, Navi…
Read MoreKeppel bags 720 MW power bank for AI data centre campus near Melbourne
The group is in ‘active discussions with hyperscalers and neoclouds’ on the site’s future capacity [SINGAPORE] Asset manager Keppel on Thursday (Jan 15) announced that it has secured a 720 megawatt (MW) power bank for an artificial intelligence data centre campus close to Melbourne, Australia. The site is located south-east of Melbourne city, within the…
Read MoreChina’s central bank cuts structural interest rates to boost targeted lending
The moves signal targeted adjustments to bolster an economy hit by weak demand and imbalances [BEIJING] China’s central bank will lower interest rates on its structural monetary policy tools by 0.25 percentage points, stepping up targeted support for the economy as it enters 2026. Deputy governor Zou Lan announced on Thursday (Jan 15) during a…
Read MoreLucid set to start manufacturing cars in Saudi Arabia in 2026
The company has also struggled more broadly with profitability and production challenges [RIYADH] Lucid Group is on track with plans to start producing cars in Saudi Arabia as it looks to drive the kingdom’s ambitions to create a domestic auto manufacturing hub and cut down on imports. The electric vehicle (EV) maker, which counts Saudi…
Read MoreChina brokers rebuild ranks, raise pay on dealmaking return
CHINA’S biggest securities firms are back on the offensive after taking a battering over the past few years. Investment banking divisions of major brokerages, including Citic Securities, Huatai Securities and CSC Financial, have in recent months recruited dozens of junior and mid-level bankers, according to sources familiar with the moves, who asked not to be…
Read MoreFirst Sponsor expects net loss for H2, full year 2025 on forex losses
Fair value loss on its financial derivatives is a result of the strengthening of foreign currencies against the Singapore dollar [SINGAPORE] First Sponsor expects to post a net loss for its second half and full year ended Dec 31, 2025. The net loss is mainly due to fair value loss on its financial derivatives as…
Read MoreBaidu is said to explore upgrading HK listing to primary status
This will help it qualify for cross-border trading, opening up investment flows from the mainland to Hong Kong [HONG KONG] Baidu is considering upgrading its Hong Kong listing to primary status, to gain more exposure to investors in mainland China and protect itself from potentially unfavourable US policies, said sources. The technology company – with…
Read MoreBank of America profit climbs as trading surges in volatile markets
[NEW YORK] Bank of America’s profit rose, as its traders brought in more revenue from spurred client activity in the fourth quarter due to increased volatility in the markets. Softening US labour demand, political gridlock and concerns over a potential AI-driven stock bubble rattled investors, prompting them to reshuffle their portfolios, while speculations about the…
Read MoreScarce landed housing land will entice developers hungry to serve aspiring landed home buyers.
Group’s undervalued share price is unwarranted given its rare landed housing landbank [SINGAPORE] Many affluent Singaporeans aspire to live in private landed homes, the purchase of which is generally restricted to Singapore citizens. Between Q4 2019 and Q4 2025, partly driven by the need for more space in the wake of the Covid pandemic, private…
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