Posts by Mark Darwin
German economy in recession with no more growth seen in 2024
GERMANY is suffering a mild recession and output across the whole of 2024 will be flat, according to a Bloomberg survey – underscoring the malaise in Europe’s largest economy. Analysts in the poll see gross domestic product shrinking 0.1 per cent in the third quarter, following a surprise contraction of that magnitude in the second.…
Read MoreUK fintech firms push government to back growth, IPO dreams
EXECUTIVES of some of Britain’s most valuable and fast-growing financial technology firms warned the Labour government that London could fall behind in the fintech world if the UK fails to address some of the industry’s key concerns, including the challenges they see with share listings and regulators’ speed in decision-making. In a meeting with City…
Read MoreLocal farms push ahead with international collaborations to further Singapore’s 30 by 30 plan
WEBSTER Tham, co-founder of local agri-technology company Tomato Town, is looking to harvest Japanese cherry tomatoes and heirloom varieties of tomatoes through a collaboration with a Japanese company that makes tomato-based foods and vegetable juices. By leveraging the Japanese firm ’s farming expertise and using a special variety of its heat-resilient seeds, Tham is hoping…
Read MoreBoeing’s endless doom loop gives no respite to new CEO Ortberg
AS BOEING lurches from one crisis to the next, there’s been one constant for the embattled planemaker: Its predicament appears to be only getting worse. From a freak accident that blew a door-size hole into the fuselage of an airborne 737 Max to revelations of sloppy workmanship and now a crippling strike entering its second…
Read MoreTSMC plans more chip plants in Europe, Taiwan official says
TAIWAN Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is planning more plants in Europe with a focus on the market for artificial intelligence (AI) chips, according to a senior Taiwanese official, as the chipmaker expands its global footprint. “They have started construction of the first fab in Dresden, they are already planning the next few fabs in the…
Read MoreBaht rally halts as Thai government campaigns for lower rates
A DECLINE in Thailand’s baht this month has spurred speculation that the currency’s rally may be ending as tensions grow between the nation’s government and its central bank. The baht has weakened 2.7 per cent against the US dollar in October following its best quarter since the aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis. Mizuho Bank…
Read MoreSweet spot for deals: M&As in South-east Asia poised for a rebound
AFTER a soft few years, South-east Asian mergers and acquisitions (M&As) look set for a revival. One major factor is the ongoing interest rate cuts, which will boost dealmaking. The region’s continued economic potential is another major factor why corporates and financial sponsors continue to be on the lookout for targets. Regional M&As endured a…
Read MoreCanadian dollar losing streak hits 8 days on jumbo-rate-cut noise
THE Canadian dollar fell to a two-month low against its US counterpart on Friday (Oct 11) as investors continued to weigh chances of the Bank of Canada (BOC) supersizing its rate cuts after a downbeat business survey offset stronger-than-expected jobs data. The loonie was trading 0.2 per cent lower at 1.3760 per US dollar, or…
Read MoreSubstantial shareholder Thomas Clive Khoo takes his Zixin stake to above 9%
INSTITUTIONS were net buyers of Singapore stocks over the five trading sessions spanning Oct 4 to Oct 10, with S$211 million of net institutional inflow, adding to the preceding five sessions of S$50 million net inflow. This has brought net institutional flow in the year to Oct 10 back to inflow, at S$123 million. Leading…
Read MoreWhat you need to know about investing in China’s volatile stock market
CHINA’S stock market rally has attracted investors around the world, but recent turbulence has raised questions over whether now is the right time to invest. After policymakers in Beijing unveiled an array of economic and financial support last month, Chinese equities skyrocketed to outperform all other global indices, triggering a wave of cash from those…
Read More