Posts by Mark Darwin
OCBC remains bullish on investment outlook despite US credit downgrade by Moody’s
[SINGAPORE] Local bank OCBC remains positive about the investment outlook for the next one year, despite Moody’s downgrade of the United States’ credit rating on Friday (May 16). The ratings agency downgraded the US from “AAA” – the highest rating for credit reliability – to “AA1”, citing rising fiscal deficits and higher interest payments. Nevertheless,…
Read MoreHealthcare S-Reits outperforming broader S-Reit market and sub-segments so far this year
HEALTHCARE S-Reits have been the top-performing Reit sub-sector this year, offering an average total return of 6.2 per cent against a 1.1 per cent decline in the iEdge S-Reit Index. The sub-sector also outperformed other Reit sub-sectors over the one-year and three-year periods, clocking average returns of 16.8 and 6.2 per cent, respectively. The two…
Read MoreTrust Yourself: The Antidote to Imposter Syndrome
Trust Yourself: The Antidote to Imposter Syndrome Trust yourself. This simple yet powerful advice has been my guiding light throughout my entrepreneurial journey. As someone who’s built and sold multiple businesses, I’ve faced countless moments of self-doubt, wondering if I truly belonged at the table or if I was just lucky to be there. We…
Read MoreOil posts weekly gain but remains under supply hike pressure
[HOUSTON] Oil settled higher on Friday (May 16), notching a second straight week of gains on easing US-China trade tensions, although prices were held back by expectations of higher supply from Iran and Opec+ (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). Brent crude futures settled up 88 US cents or 1.4 per cent at US$65.41 per…
Read MoreCiti to cut up to 200 tech contractor roles in China
[HONG KONG] Citigroup is cutting up to 200 information technology (IT) contractor roles in China, two people familiar with the matter said, as the bank looks to hire its own staff globally for such operations to improve risk management and data governance. Last July, US bank regulators fined Citi US$136 million for making “insufficient progress”…
Read MoreNo plans for layoffs; HK$1.5 billion investment in Greater China to continue: OCBC’s Helen Wong
[SINGAPORE] OCBC has no plans to implement “major” layoffs despite macroeconomic uncertainties arising from US tariffs, said the bank’s group chief executive officer Helen Wong on Friday (May 16). “We’re growing, so why would we be thinking about letting people go?” she said. While there is always some “natural attrition” – which the bank may…
Read MoreHacking of trading accounts in Japan spreads to mid-sized firms
The hacking of online trading accounts has exploded in Japan, surging more than 10-fold in April from March Published Fri, May 16, 2025 · 04:01 PM [TOKYO] Criminals have targeted mid-sized brokerages in Japan after the country’s biggest securities firms added additional protection for online trading. Okasan Securities and Iwai Cosmo Securities both said they…
Read MoreMore attractive land prices for Singapore tenders ahead, says Citi, giving its top developer pick
[SINGAPORE] More attractive land prices could be on the horizon for eight upcoming government tenders from May to September this year, in support of developers’ land replenishment exercises, said Citi equity research analyst Brandon Lee in his Thursday (May 15) report. Recent data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority showed that there were 663 private…
Read MoreDovish Bank of Japan policymaker urges pause in rate hikes on US tariff uncertainty
[TOKYO] The Bank of Japan must hold off raising interest rates for the time being, its board member Toyoaki Nakamura said on Friday, warning of growing downward pressure on the economy from higher US tariffs. Nakamura, known as the most dovish member of the board, said the central bank must guide monetary policy “cautiously” with…
Read MoreTariff truce spurs Pacific trade rush, boosting global shippers
[HONG KONG] Importers rushing to ship Chinese goods to the US using a short reprieve from paralysing tariffs could provide a much-needed boost to global freighters. The surprise truce between the US and China, temporarily bringing down tariffs on each other’s goods, will probably give way to a surge in transpacific shipping in the coming…
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