Posts by Mark Darwin
Trump says Hassett, Warsh and Waller are finalists for US Fed chair
The timetable for selecting a successor to Powell, whose term as chair expires in May, remains unclear Published Sat, Sep 6, 2025 · 08:01 AM [WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump said that he saw White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett, Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller and former Fed governor Kevin Warsh as the finalists to…
Read MoreOil prices settle down more than 2% after weak US jobs report
[HOUSTON] Oil prices fell on Friday (Sep 5) as a weak US jobs report dimmed the outlook for energy demand, while swelling supplies may grow further after Opec and allied producers meet over the weekend. Brent crude futures settled at US$65.50 a barrel, down US$1.49, or 2.22 per cent. US West Texas Intermediate crude finished…
Read MoreUS: Stocks dip after poor jobs data
Published Sat, Sep 6, 2025 · 06:05 AM [NEW YORK] Wall Street stocks finished lower on Friday (Sep 5) as markets grappled with worries about the latest weak US labour market data, which was offset somewhat by expectations for US Federal Reserve monetary easing. The US economy added just 22,000 jobs in August, while unemployment…
Read MoreLululemon’s woes mount on weak demand, Trump trade policies
[Vancouver] Lululemon Athletica’s rough year continued as the once fast-growing apparel chain slashed its outlook on weakening demand and the Trump administration’s tougher trade policies. The retailer’s shares tumbled 20 per cent at the open of Friday (Sep 5) trading, deepening a decline this year that had already erased US$22 billion in market value. The…
Read MoreUS: S&P 500, Nasdaq hit record high after weak jobs data
Published Fri, Sep 5, 2025 · 09:51 PM [NEW YORK] The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq hit record highs on Friday (Sep 5) after weaker-than-expected August jobs data bolstered expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts, while chipmaker Broadcom gained following strong quarterly earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 35.2 points, or 0.08 per cent,…
Read MoreSingapore stocks rally as investors price in September Fed rate cut; STI up 0.2%
[SINGAPORE] The local bourse logged gains for a second straight day on Friday (Sep 5), closing higher alongside regional markets amid expectations that weak US job market data will cement a September interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. The Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.2 per cent, or 10.25 points, to 4,307.08. DFI Retail…
Read MoreBMW’s iX3 spearheads multibillion-dollar reboot that takes the fight to Tesla, BYD
[MUNICH] On Friday (Sep 5), German luxury carmaker BMW launched its second-generation iX3 – and with it, a sweeping reset strategy to catch up to its electric vehicle (EV) rivals. The new iX3, a fully electric sport utility vehicle, goes on sale internationally in early 2026. It replaces the existing model, one of BMW’s more…
Read MoreApple’s India sales hit record US$9 billion after big retail push
[NEW DELHI] Apple’s annual sales in India hit a record of nearly US$9 billion in the last fiscal year, signalling growing consumer demand for its flagship devices as the company ramps up its retail footprint in the world’s most populous country. Revenue rose about 13 per cent in the 12 months through March from US$8…
Read MoreNikkei ends at over 2-week high as Trump lowers tariffs on Japanese automobiles
[TOKYO] Japan’s Nikkei share average closed at a more-than two-week high on Friday (Sep 5) as auto shares rose after US President Donald Trump signed an order to lower tariffs on Japanese automobile shipments and other products. The Nikkei rose 1.03 per cent to close at 43,018.75, its highest close since August 19. The index…
Read MoreAI driving efficiency up and costs down at creative agencies: advertising mogul Martin Sorrell
[SINGAPORE] Artificial intelligence (AI) is sweeping across the advertising and marketing industry – and challenging the traditional agency model where too much time and manpower are spent producing commercials or advertising campaigns. AI has compressed the time needed for visualisation and copywriting, and some ads are now even completely produced by it. “The agency has…
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