Posts by Stephanie Irvin
Currency traders ditching the US dollar for euro on option bets
The euro is taking on a bigger role in the global currency options market as traders skirt around the US dollar given the risks from unpredictable US policy and a global trade war. There’s been a shift in trading volumes. Around 15-30 per cent of contracts tied to the US dollar versus major currencies were…
Read MoreHong Kong stock rally shakes up investor playbook for China
Wall Street entered 2025 with bullish bets on onshore Chinese stocks, counting on Beijing’s stimulus drive to cushion the blow from US tariffs. Six months in, they couldn’t have been more wrong. Blame it on the breakthrough by DeepSeek in artificial intelligence (AI) that suddenly turned the tide in favour of Chinese shares listed in…
Read MoreTesla to roll out robotaxis in overdue step towards Musk dream
Tesla is rolling out its first robotaxis on the streets of Austin after almost a decade of hype from Elon Musk, kicking off a precarious new era for the carmaker. The launch of a driverless taxi service on Sunday (Jun 22) is set to begin modestly, with a handful of vehicles in limited areas of…
Read MoreDespite softer retail outlook, most S-Reits with Singapore retail assets record double-digit positive rent reversions
[SINGAPORE] Seven Singapore-listed real estate investment trusts (S-Reits) with local retail assets have recorded improvements in revenue and net property income (NPI), supported by improved operating metrics, positive rental reversions and robust occupancy rates. They are: CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT), Frasers Centrepoint Trust (FCT), Lendlease Global Commercial Reit (L-Reit), Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust…
Read MoreWorld Bank and IMF climate snub ‘worrying’, says COP29 presidency
[BONN] The hosts of the most recent UN climate talks are worried international lenders are retreating from their commitments to help boost funding for developing countries’ response to global warming. Major development banks have agreed to boost climate spending and are seen as crucial in the effort to dramatically increase finance to help poorer countries…
Read MoreMeta launches US$399 Oakley AI glasses with 3k video recording
The company is planning to introduce higher-end glasses with a display to view notifications and the camera view finder later this year, Bloomberg News has reported. In 2027, it aims to roll out its first true augmented reality glasses, which will blend digital apps with the real world. Meta’s form factor has caught on, with…
Read MoreFormer EMA board director now leads energy firm H2G; predecessor stays on amid court case
[SINGAPORE] Former Energy Market Authority (EMA) board director Pek Hak Bin has been appointed chief executive of energy transition firm H2G Green, as the home-grown company sharpens its focus on clean energy innovation and regional growth. The 59-year-old, who took over the helm on Jun 1 from predecessor Lim Shao-lin, aged 56, brings more than…
Read MoreTaiwan central bank says US debt rising too fast may impact trust in Treasuries
[TAIPEI] Taiwan’s central bank governor warned on Saturday (Jun 21) that rapidly rising US debt could be “unfavourable” to the outlook for US Treasuries and that US President Donald Trump’s trade policies have made investors cautious. Taiwan’s US$593 billion in foreign exchange reserves are more than 80 per cent made up of US Treasury bonds,…
Read MoreMalaysia keeps anti-dumping duties on some Chinese, Japanese iron, steel
Published Sat, Jun 21, 2025 · 12:52 PM [KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia said on Saturday (Jun 21) it would maintain anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese and Japanese cold rolled coils of iron and non-alloy steel more than 1,300 mm wide. But the trade ministry said in a statement it would terminate anti-dumping duties on imports…
Read MoreTesla set to open India showrooms in July with made-in-China EVs
[NEW DELHI] Tesla is set to open its first showrooms in India in July, sources familiar with the discussions said, kicking off formal operations in the world’s third-biggest automobile market as the Elon Musk-led firm hunts for growth amid falling sales in Europe and China. The electric vehicle (EV) giant’s first set of cars have…
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