Posts by Mark Darwin
Thailand’s stalled cash handout scheme sours voters on ruling party
[BANGKOK] Rungthiwa Pimphanit waited months for a long-promised cash handout of 10,000 baht (S$395) from Thailand’s ruling party, which she backed in 2023 elections, but now the scheme to stimulate a stalling economy has been put on ice. “I’m very disappointed and angry,” said the 34-year-old government employee from the northeastern province of Nong Bua…
Read MoreDubai expects to shine in times of volatility due to stability, talent attraction
[DUBAI] Towering skyscrapers, luxury megamalls, and sprawling beach resorts. Dubai has consistently been one of the top cities for expat migration, and it is showing no signs of slowing down. Even as uncertainty in global trade relations and US tariffs weigh on business sentiments worldwide, Dubai will likely be able to grow due to…
Read MoreChinese economy stays challenged but some consumer stocks offer potential: BOA
[SINGAPORE] While headwinds persist for the Chinese economy and consumer confidence stays low, a select range of stocks could defy broader market trends and outperform their peers, said the Bank of America (BOA). Despite improved market sentiment, the Chinese economy remains saddled by challenged consumption growth and elevated youth unemployment alongside deflationary pressures, BOA analysts…
Read MoreSolar, wind energy could power a third of Asean data centres in 2030: report
[SINGAPORE] Solar and wind energy could power up to a third of data centres in South-east Asia in 2030 via power grids and without the need for batteries, said a report by energy think-tank Ember. “This indicates that high battery costs are not an immediate barrier to adopting these electricity sources for data centres,” said…
Read MoreWhy Daydreaming is Essential for Creativity and Mental Health
I recently found myself in that familiar state—lost in a daydream, mentally wandering through fields of possibilities while the world continued around me. “I fell asleep and ate the flowers for a couple of hours,” as the saying goes. This mental departure from reality, this temporary escape, is something we often feel guilty about. But…
Read MoreOil finishes down on possible OPEC+ output hike
[HOUSTON] US crude futures fell on Friday (May 30) as traders expected Opec+ would decide on Saturday to boost oil output for July beyond previous forecasts. Brent crude futures settled down 25 cents, or 0.39 per cent, at US$63.90 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude finished down 15 cents, or 0.25 per cent, at…
Read MoreUS: Wall St opens lower as Trump says China violated tariff terms
Published Fri, May 30, 2025 · 09:40 PM [NEW YORK] Wall Street’s main indexes opened lower on Friday (May 30) as trade worries deepened after US President Donald Trump accused China of violating a tariff agreement, while investors assessed the latest inflation data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 23.4 points, or 0.06 per cent,…
Read MoreOlam secures US$1.85 billion loan
The first tranche is a US$1.6 billion conventional loan, while the remaining US$250 million will be issued as an Islamic loan [SINGAPORE] Agribusiness giant Olam has secured a US$1.85 billion loan for general corporate purposes, said the company on Friday (May 30) via a bourse filing. The loan, which was taken by Olam Agri –…
Read MoreSingapore stocks fall as Trump tariffs resume for now; STI retreats 0.6%
[SINGAPORE] Local equities ended Friday (May 30) lower, after an appeals court in the United States paused a ruling that blocked President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. The benchmark Straits Times Index declined 0.6 per cent or 22.23 points to 3,894.6. Across the broader market, decliners beat gainers 248 to 209, as 1.3 billion securities worth…
Read MoreEMA grants conditional licence to RGE, TotalEnergies’ Indonesian solar project to import electricity to Singapore
[SINGAPORE] The Energy Market Authority (EMA) on Friday (May 30) granted a conditional licence to Singa Renewables, a joint venture (JV) between RGE and TotalEnergies, to import 1 gigawatt (GW) of low-carbon electricity from Indonesia to Singapore. This is the sixth electricity import project to be awarded a conditional licence, after EMA in September 2024…
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