Posts by Mark Darwin
Japan’s Nidec delays results again, vows culture reform after crisis
The company’s founder Shigenobu Nagamori has already stepped down as chairman of the board Published Thu, Jan 29, 2026 · 12:11 PM [TOKYO] Japanese electric motor maker Nidec delayed the release of its quarterly results and pledged to overhaul the company’s growth-at-all-costs culture in the wake of an accounting scandal that’s seen its debt rating…
Read MoreGold climbs to record above US$5,500 on bets for dovish Fed chair
Published Thu, Jan 29, 2026 · 08:10 AM [SINGAPORE] Gold surged to an all-time high above US$5,500 an ounce, extending a breakneck rally fuelled by US dollar weakness and expectations the next Federal Reserve chair will pursue further monetary easing. Bullion surged as much as 3.2 per cent in early trading on Thursday (Jan 29),…
Read More13 SGX counters qualify for reduced board lot size
Under proposed changes, investors could buy shares of these companies in lots of 10, instead of the current 100 [SINGAPORE] The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has confirmed that 13 stocks qualify for reduced board lot sizes under a proposal that aims to make share investing more affordable. This follows the bourse operator’s Jan 23 consultation paper,…
Read MoreHo Bee Land appoints Li Xiangrun as new CFO
[SINGAPORE] Ho Bee Land has promoted its current head of finance, Li Xiangrun, to chief financial officer effective Feb 1. The position is currently not filled, according to the property developer’s website. Li, 43, joined the company in June 2023 as head of finance. Prior to his tenure at Ho Bee Land, he spent a…
Read MoreHigh Court orders winding-up of TT International
The liquidation marks the end of a long and complex chapter involving the group and Big Box mall [SINGAPORE] The High Court has ordered consumer electronics trader TT International to wind up its operations, following an application by OCBC in November 2025. The order was granted on Jan 22, and announced by TT International in…
Read MoreASML reports big orders beat as AI drives chipmaker demand, to lay off 1,700
The orders beat comes as several of the chipmaker’s customers raise investment plans Published Wed, Jan 28, 2026 · 04:05 PM [AMSTERDAM] ASML reported stronger-than-expected bookings in the fourth quarter on Wednesday (Jan 28), with the world’s largest supplier of computer chip equipment receiving more orders as companies boosted investment in AI chipmaking capacity. Europe’s…
Read MoreChina to favour Brazilian soybean imports in H1 despite renewed US inflows
Published Wed, Jan 28, 2026 · 11:39 AM [SINGAPORE] China is expected to boost imports of Brazilian soybeans in the first half of 2026, as record production and competitive prices propel shipments, reinforcing South America’s dominance in the world’s biggest oilseed importer, even as US supplies return. Private soybean processors in China are locking in…
Read MoreTrump says value of US dollar is ‘great’, currency hits 4-year low
Published Wed, Jan 28, 2026 · 07:55 AM US PRESIDENT Donald Trump said on Tuesday the value of the dollar was “great”, when asked whether he thought it had declined too much, adding to pressure on the greenback which hit a four-year low. The dollar’s recent weakness stems from multiple factors: expectations of continued Federal…
Read MoreS&P, Nasdaq opens higher as earnings roll in
Published Tue, Jan 27, 2026 · 10:48 PM [NEW YORK] The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq opened higher on Tuesday (Jan 27) as investors parsed a fresh round of mega-cap earnings, while health insurers declined as the Trump administration’s Medicare Advantage payment proposal disappointed investors. At 09.30 am ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell…
Read MoreStanChart announces multi-year partnership with Formula 1
The bank will also work with F1 Academy to promote inclusion and champion female motorsport talent [SINGAPORE] Standard Chartered (StanChart) announced on Tuesday (Jan 27) a multi-year deal to become Formula 1’s partner, starting in 2026. Through this agreement, the bank will be the official wealth-management partner and official corporate and investment-banking partner of the…
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