Posts by Mark Darwin
Singtel’s Optus reaches settlement over alleged sales misconduct, including A$100 million proposed penalty
[SINGAPORE] Optus Mobile has reached a settlement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which filed court proceedings against it over alleged sales misconduct, the Singtel subsidiary said on Wednesday (Jun 18). The legal proceedings, filed in the Federal Court of Australia, accused Optus of acting unconscionably and conducting inappropriate sales practices in dealings…
Read MoreUS-China tech fight widens after Taiwan blacklists Huawei
[TAIPEI] Taiwan joined a yearslong US campaign to curtail China’s technological ascent when it blacklisted the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) and chipmaking champions, an unprecedented step that may signal a resurgent effort to isolate its powerful neighbour’s semiconductor sector. Taipei this month added Huawei Technologies and its main chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) to…
Read MoreFed to hold rates steady again as officials wait for more clarity on economy
[HOUSTON] US Federal Reserve officials are widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged for a fourth straight meeting on Wednesday (Jun 18), reiterating they want more clarity on the economic impact of a wide array of government policy changes before adjusting borrowing costs. Policymakers have warned US President Donald Trump’s tariffs could boost inflation and…
Read MoreTrump again pushes TikTok sale deadline with 90 day extension
[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump is extending for a third time the deadline for Chinese company ByteDance to divest the American operations of TikTok, allowing the social media app to keep running in the US while negotiations proceed. “As he has said many times, President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark,” White House…
Read MoreFrom ambition to action: funding scalable carbon removal
[SINGAPORE] There is increasing recognition that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is critical, if not indispensable, to supporting global climate goals. This is driving demand for carbon removal opportunities and solutions, suggesting that CDR is poised for rapid growth. While climate and transition finance have been gaining traction in South-east Asia, current efforts still fall short…
Read MoreEurope: Shares slide to near one-month low on Israel-Iran tensions
[BENGALURU] European equities tumbled to a near one-month low on Tuesday (Jun 17) as the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel entered its fifth day. With geopolitical tremors rattling the region, risk appetite took a hit, leaving the pan-European Stoxx 600 index down 0.9 per cent at 542.26 points. Monday’s respite from the sell-off proved…
Read MoreWhy Owning Your Position Is Crucial for Business Success
Recently, I’ve been advising a good friend who’s launching a new custom orthotics company after several successful business exits. His innovative concept allows runners to scan their feet using just their phones and receive custom insoles. During our conversations, we faced a critical positioning dilemma that many entrepreneurs encounter: should they focus on wellness benefits,…
Read MoreAustralian resort operator GemLife IPO to raise up to A$750 million, says Thakral
[SINGAPORE] An associate of property investor Thakral Corporation has launched an initial public offering (IPO) to raise up to A$750 million (S$628.2 million) at an implied post-money valuation of A$1.58 billion, the mainboard-listed company said in a bourse filing on Tuesday (Jun 17). The IPO of Australian over-50s lifestyle resorts operator GemLife Communities is set…
Read MoreMalaysia’s Anwar says Shell to boost its investments in country by RM9 billion
Published Tue, Jun 17, 2025 · 06:53 PM [KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday (Jun 17) that Shell has committed to increasing its investments in Malaysia by RM9 billion (S$2.7 billion) over the next two to three years. The boost in Shell’s investments will create high-skilled job opportunities for Malaysians, Anwar…
Read MoreMalaysia’s BNM pledges to ensure ringgit ‘doesn’t run too far’
Published Tue, Jun 17, 2025 · 05:21 PM [kuala lumpur] Bank Negara Malaysia will be on guard to rein in any volatility in the ringgit even as market uncertainty remains high, according to a central bank official. The central bank will ensure markets are properly functioning and the exchange rate “doesn’t run too far,” Deputy…
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