Posts by Mark Darwin
Wall Street climbs as tech rebound gathers momentum
[NEW YORK] US stocks rose on Monday (Dec 22), kicking off the holiday-shortened week on a positive note, as technology stocks continued to rebound from last week’s sell-off, while investors awaited key economic data later this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.45 per cent, the S&P 500 gained 0.58 per cent and the…
Read MoreNvidia aims to begin H200 chip shipments to China by mid-February
It will provide access to processors roughly 6 times more powerful than the H20, a downgraded chip designed for China [WASHINGTON] Nvidia has told Chinese clients it aims to start shipping its second-most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China before the Chinese New Year holiday in mid-February, said three people familiar with the matter.…
Read MoreHTC bets its open AI strategy to drive smart glasses sales
The glasses support multiple platforms, letting users benefit from improvements by various models [TAIPEI] Taiwan’s HTC is betting its open platform strategy will allow it to build market share in the fast-growing smart glasses industry, as its newly launched artificial intelligence (AI)-powered eyewear lets wearers choose which AI model they want to use, its executive…
Read MoreChina’s power reforms, global data centre buildout usher in battery boom
[BEIJING] A revamp of China’s electricity market is boosting the economics of storing power just as international demand surges, sparking a boom for the Chinese energy storage manufacturers that already dominate globally. Chinese firms are on track for a 75 per cent jump this year in global shipments of lithium-ion battery cells for energy storage,…
Read MoreAI, liquidity to drive Asia markets in 2026 amid US fiscal risks: Schroders
The technology sector remains the cornerstone of Schroders’ bullish thesis for the region [SINGAPORE] In 2025, US fiscal and geopolitical headwinds prompted investors to redeploy capital towards the East. Petr Kocourek, fund manager for Asia Multi-Asset at Schroders, noted that the initial shift into Asia during 2025 was partly a reaction to risks associated with…
Read MoreSeatrium, Maersk resolve contract dispute with giant line to pay US$360 million upon vessel delivery
[SINGAPORE] Offshore, marine and energy specialist Seatrium has reached an agreement with buyer Maersk Offshore Wind’s affiliate Phoenix II, for the latter to pay the balance of the contract price – valued at US$360 million – upon delivery of a vessel. This deal comes after the group started its own arbitration proceedings against the buyer…
Read MoreRecord US$350 billion deals boom fuels upbeat M&A outlook in Japan
Corporate governance reforms aimed at improving shareholder returns are helping to transform the country into a hive of activity IT HAS been a record year for deals involving Japanese companies, with transaction volume approaching US$350 billion as December draws to a close. And next year is poised to be even busier. Â Corporate governance reforms…
Read MoreMorgan Stanley seen as front-runner for SpaceX IPO: sources
[NEW YORK] Morgan Stanley is emerging as a leading contender for a key role in SpaceX’s blockbuster initial public offering (IPO), as the bank’s close ties to CEO Elon Musk give it an edge in his decision, according to three people familiar with the matter. A selection process, or “bake-off”, for the ‍IPO is ​still…
Read MoreElon Musk becomes first person worth US$700 billion following pay package ruling
TESLA CEO Elon Musk’s net worth surged to US$749 billion late Friday (Dec 19) ‍after ​the Delaware Supreme Court reinstated Tesla ‍stock options worth US$139 billion that were voided last year, according ​to ​Forbes’ billionaires index. Musk’s 2018 pay package, once worth US$56 billion, was restored by the Delaware Supreme Court on Friday, ‍two years…
Read More10 S-Reits garner over S$1 billion in total retail net inflows in 2025
Including dividends, total returns for the STI and S-Reits reached 26.7% and 14.4%, respectively [SINGAPORE] With seven trading days remaining in 2025, the Straits Times Index (STI) has delivered a year-to-date price return of 20.7 per cent as at Thursday (Dec 18), while Singapore-listed real estate investment trusts (S-Reits) have gained 9 per cent. Including…
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