Posts by Mark Darwin
Bumper orders for Xiaomi‘s new SUV heighten threat to Tesla
[SHANGHAI] Exceptionally strong initial orders for Xiaomi‘s YU7 electric sport utility vehicle sent shares in the automotive newcomer to a record high on Friday and fanned speculation that Tesla may have to cut prices to fight back. The company received 289,000 orders for the YU7 – only its second vehicle and one that undercuts Tesla’s Model…
Read MoreAEM, UMS, Frencken lead semiconductor stock surge; robust weekly gains ride on domestic, global tailwinds
[SINGAPORE] Semiconductor listcos were trading higher on Friday (Jun 27), notching double-digit gains over the week as a slew of domestic and global developments spelt potential tailwinds for the chip industry. A buoyant sector outlook, pushback against tariff threats and the opening of a S$123 million facility enabling Singapore to produce the chips were among…
Read MoreIHH Healthcare unveils S$5 million programme to fund healthcare research and pilot projects
[SINGAPORE] Integrated healthcare provider IHH Healthcare on Friday (Jun 27) announced the launch of a S$5 million programme to fund clinical research and pilot projects across its network. Funds under the Research Grant & Innovation Sandbox programme will be disbursed over five years, empowering IHH clinicians and employees to pursue clinical research and to pilot…
Read MoreChina confirms trade deal framework reached with United States
[BEIJING/WASHINGTON] China confirmed on Friday (Jun 27) details on the framework of a trade deal with the US, saying Washington would lift “restrictive measures” while Beijing would “review and approve” items under export controls. A top priority for Washington in talks with Beijing had been ensuring the supply of the rare earths essential for products…
Read MoreIndia oil law revamp unlikely to draw foreign drillers amid red tape and weak incentives
[SINGAPORE] India’s first rewrite of its 77-year-old oilfield rules kicked in on Apr 15, with New Delhi hoping it’ll help turn around a decade of sluggish output and and ease its growing reliance on imported crude, which stands at over 85 per cent. But analysts say there’s still too much red tape in a system…
Read MoreHong Kong’s equity capital markets bounce back in first half, as Shein IPO looms
HONG Kong’s equity capital markets activity roared back to life in the first half of 2025, driven by global investors sharpening focus on China as the city awaits the possible Shein initial public offering in the second half. Big ticket capital raisings and a rush of “A to H” share deals, where companies already listed…
Read MoreDecision on naming next Fed chair not ‘imminent’: White House
[WASHINGTON] The White House said on Thursday no decision is imminent on naming a successor to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, after a report suggested the president could do so this summer. “No decisions are imminent, although the president has the right to change his mind,” a White House official told AFP. “The president has…
Read MoreUS: S&P 500, Nasdaq open near record peak as Micron results boost chip stocks
Published Thu, Jun 26, 2025 · 09:44 PM ]NEW YORK] Wall Street’s S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes opened near a record high on Thursday (Jun 26) as robust earnings from memory-chip maker Micron fuelled optimism around artificial intelligence while investors assessed a slew of economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 101.6 points, or…
Read MoreSalesforce CEO says 30% of internal work is being handled by AI
Tech leaders have been increasingly vocal about the potential for AI to replace human workers Published Thu, Jun 26, 2025 · 08:39 PM [NEW YORK] Salesforce chief executive officer Marc Benioff said his company has automated a significant chunk of work with AI, another example of a firm touting labor-replacing potential of the emerging technology.…
Read MoreAsian markets in full swing as investors shake off trade jitters
[HONG KONG] Trading desks across Asia are buzzing with excitement again, as the region shakes off tariff shocks and attracts investors with its solid growth prospects. From stocks to currencies to credit, the rebound from the depths of the April market turmoil has been impressive. MSCI’s Asia equities index has jumped 25 per cent to…
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