Posts by Mark Darwin
Investors wooed with freebies at Japan’s shareholder meetings
[TOKYO] More Japanese companies are giving gifts at annual general meetings (AGMs) in a practice that could increase the ranks of loyal retail investors as pressure from activist investors grows. The pickup in gifts, from collectibles to food, has been steady. A survey by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank showed 11 per cent of firms offered…
Read MoreAsia-Pacific markets fall after US strikes on Iran; oil prices surge, greenback strengthens
[SINGAPORE] Asia-Pacific markets declined in early trade on Monday (Jun 23) morning, as oil prices surged and the greenback reacted, after the US launched strikes against three nuclear facilities in Iran over the weekend. Japan’s Nikkei 225 tumbled 0.69 per cent while South Korea’s Kospi fell over 1 per cent. Australia’s ASX was down around…
Read MoreUS attack on Iran: Market reaction muted, but brace for more volatility ahead, say analysts
[SINGAPORE] Markets reacted in a more muted manner than expected on Monday (Jun 23) after the US launched strikes against three nuclear facilities in Iran over the weekend. But analysts warned that there could be more volatility ahead as the world awaits Iran’s reaction. US President Donald Trump announced strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities…
Read MoreOil prices surge more than 4% in early Asian trade
Published Mon, Jun 23, 2025 · 08:14 AM [TOKYO] Oil prices surged in early trade on Monday, after the United States joined Israel’s campaign against Tehran’s atomic programme by bombing Iranian nuclear sites. Brent and the main US crude contract WTI both jumped more than four per cent to hit their highest price since January.…
Read MoreBaltic Exchange Shipping Insights
Capesize The Capesize market trended downward this week, with sentiment consistently softening, particularly in the Pacific. C5 rates came under pressure as iron ore volumes from West Australia declined. While coal cargoes from East Australia offered some support, they weren’t enough to offset the broader weakening. C5 rates steadily fell from $11.00 early in the…
Read MoreUS Federal Reserve’s Daly says employment, inflation risks roughly in balance
Officials see slower economic growth, higher inflation and rising unemployment, and hold divided views on the outlook for interest rates, according to their latest projections Published Mon, Jun 23, 2025 · 06:08 AM [NEW YORK] US Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco president Mary Daly said she sees the central bank’s monetary policy stance as…
Read MoreSustainable investors hold their ground as energy, defence stocks surge
[SINGAPORE] Regional wars, tariff threats and the US’ pro-fossil fuel policies have sent defence and energy stocks soaring in 2025, but not all is lost for investors committed to sustainable and responsible investing, experts told The Business Times. Markets were closed on Jun 22, when US President Donald Trump ordered an attack on Iranian nuclear…
Read MoreInvestors brace for oil price spike, rush to havens after US bombs Iran nuclear sites
A US attack on Iranian nuclear sites could lead to a knee-jerk reaction in global markets when they reopen, sending oil prices higher and triggering a rush to safety, investors said, as they assessed how the latest escalation of tensions would ripple through the global economy. The attack, which was announced by President Donald Trump…
Read MoreTrump pledge of quick China magnet flows has yet to materialise
[HONG KONG] Almost 10 days since US President Donald Trump declared a “done” trade deal with Beijing, US companies remain largely in the dark on when they will receive crucial magnets from China, and whether Washington, in turn, will allow a host of other exports to resume. While there has been a trickle of required…
Read MoreUS Federal Reserve split on whether to hedge on inflation, or proceed with cuts
[WASHINGTON] The close split at the US Federal Reserve over whether to keep hedging against inflation risks or move forward faster with rate cuts came through on Friday (Jun 20) in the first public comments from policymakers following a decision this week to hold borrowing costs steady for now. Rising tariffs are expected to raise…
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