Posts by Stephanie Irvin
Bank of Japan’s gloomy projections suggest no rate hike this year: ex-top economist
[TOKYO] The Bank of Japan is likely to hold off raising interest rates this year unless a dramatic, positive turn of events in US tariffs allows it to overhaul gloomy projections made in May, its former top economist Seisaku Kameda said. In a quarterly outlook report released on May 1, the BOJ cut its price…
Read MoreAustralia: Shares hit 2-week low as miners, gold stocks fall; Fed holds rate
Published Thu, Jun 19, 2025 · 10:09 AM AUSTRALIAN shares hit a two-week low in early trade on Thursday, weighed down by miners and gold stocks as the US Federal Reserve’s cautious tone on rate cuts and softer commodity prices dampened investor sentiment. The S&P/ASX 200 index was down 0.2 per cent at 8516.2 by…
Read MoreMalaysia FX reserves at three-year high to aid ringgit stability
[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia’s increasing currency reserves are bolstering its defences against market volatility. The country’s net foreign exchange (FX) reserves rose to US$94.7 billion at the end of April, according to the latest central bank data, the most since June 2022. Strong foreign inflows into local bonds and a weaker greenback, which enabled Bank Negara…
Read MoreChipmaker Wolfspeed nears bankruptcy deal with lenders including Apollo
[WASHINGTON] Struggling chipmaker Wolfspeed will be taken over by creditors including Apollo Global Management under a proposal that would put it into bankruptcy just long enough to slash billions of US dollars in debt, according to sources familiar with the plan. The company will soon announce a deal with lenders for a so-called prepackaged bankruptcy,…
Read MoreNike delays launch of women’s brand in partnership with Kim Kardashian’s Skims
The new brand is set to be called NikeSKIMS, and is expected to include training apparel, footwear and accessories for women Published Thu, Jun 19, 2025 · 06:26 AM [NEW YORK] Nike’s launch of a new women’s activewear brand in the US through a partnership with Kim Kardashian-owned shapewear label Skims has been delayed, the…
Read MoreMicrosoft planning thousands more job cuts aimed at salespeople
Published Thu, Jun 19, 2025 · 06:12 AM [NEW YORK] Microsoft is planning to cut thousands of jobs, particularly in sales, as part of the company’s latest move to trim its workforce amid heavy spending on artificial intelligence. The cuts are expected to be announced early next month, following the end of Microsoft’s fiscal year,…
Read MoreWhy California Remains the Epicenter for Gen Z Led Creator Startups
California has always attracted dreamers who are ready to go the extra mile, but Gen Z is reshaping that story. Armed with smartphones, editing software, and a willingness to bet on themselves, they’re turning content creation into scalable ventures. Today’s creator startups are born from bedrooms and garages and are quickly scaling to digital storefronts,…
Read MoreThe Art of Authentic Engagement in the Digital Age
Something is interesting about how people present themselves online. There’s a moment when someone realizes they’re being recorded, and their demeanor suddenly changes. They put on what I call their “camera persona” – big smiles, enthusiastic waves, and an energy that wasn’t there seconds before. This observation might seem trivial, but it speaks volumes about…
Read MoreNippon Steel’s US$14.9 billion acquisition of US Steel closes, with big role for Trump
[WASHINGTON] Nippon Steel’s US$14.9 billion acquisition of US Steel closed on Wednesday (Jun 18), the companies said, confirming an unusual degree of power for the Trump administration after the Japanese company’s 18-month struggle to close the purchase. Under the deal terms, Nippon bought 100 per cent of US Steel shares at US$55 per share, as…
Read MoreUS: Wall Street indexes open muted ahead of Fed’s interest rate verdict
Published Wed, Jun 18, 2025 · 09:44 PM [NEW YORK] Wall Street’s main indexes opened subdued on Wednesday (Jun 18), ahead of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decision, as the Israel-Iran conflict that entered its sixth day kept investors on edge. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 20.2 points, or 0.05 per cent, at the…
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