Posts by Yurie Miyazawa
Thai central bank says interest rate hold was robust policy amid uncertainty
THAILAND’S central bank said on Monday (Jan 6) that a decision to hold the key interest rate steady last month was a robust policy as the economy is facing heightened uncertainty. Monetary policy becomes less effective under high uncertainty, but holding the rate steady does not rule out future policy adjustments, the central bank said…
Read MoreFormer HDB chief Cheong Koon Hean joins Surbana Jurong’s board
PROFESSOR Cheong Koon Hean has been appointed as a board member of Surbana Jurong Group (SJ) with immediate effect, announced the urban, infrastructure and managed-services consulting firm on Monday (Jan 6). Other members on SJ’s board include former politician Prof Yaacob Ibrahim and present Member of Parliament Desmond Choo. Prof Cheong was previously chief executive…
Read MoreGold extends drop after Fed officials express inflation concern
The bullion is unlikely to hit US$3,000 an ounce by the end of the year, pushing the forecast to mid-2026 Gold fell for a second day as comments from Federal Reserve officials over the weekend reinforced the view the US central bank will take a more cautious approach to cutting rates in 2025. Bullion traded…
Read MoreSingapore shares open higher on Monday; STI up 0.5%
SINGAPORE shares began Monday (Jan 6) trading in positive territory as overseas markets closed a holiday-shortened week mixed with anticipation for the incoming Donald Trump administration. As at 9.01 am, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.5 per cent or 17.3 points at 3,819.13. Across the broader market, gainers outnumbered losers 100 to 38…
Read MoreChina oil refineries face reckoning as Beijing tackles overcapacity
CHINA’S independent oil refineries face a reckoning this year as Beijing tackles overcapacity in the industry, and the crude they rely on becomes a lot scarcer. Over a fifth of the country’s oil refining is handled by smaller, privately owned outfits, many of them housed in the eastern province of Shandong. These independents, dubbed teapots,…
Read MoreStocks to watch: Mapletree Logistics Trust, CSE Global
THE following companies saw new developments that may affect the trading of their securities on Monday (Jan 6): Mapletree Logistics Trust (MLT): It is divesting a property in Malaysia for RM31.5 million (S$9.6 million) or 31.3 per cent above value. On Friday, its manager said the divestment is expected to be completed in the first half…
Read MoreMicrosoft expects to spend US$80 billion on AI this fiscal year
MICROSOFT president Brad Smith on Friday (Jan 3) said the company is on track to pump about US$80 billion into artificial intelligence (AI) this fiscal year. Smith contended AI is poised to transform all aspects of life, and it is imperative that the United States be the global leader when it comes to the technology,…
Read MoreItaly plans US$1.6 billion SpaceX telecom security services deal
ITALY is in advanced talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for a deal to provide secure telecommunications for the nation’s government – the largest such project in Europe, sources with knowledge of the matter said on Sunday (Dec 5). Discussions are ongoing, and a final agreement on the five-year contract has not been reached, said the…
Read MoreTrump’s presidency expected to boost S&P 500
The E-mini S&P 500 Index Futures, based on the benchmark S&P 500 Index comprising the 500 largest US companies, experienced its longest daily losing streak since 1966 to end 2024. However, it still surged over 23 per cent in 2024, driven by a resilient US economy, expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, and continued optimism…
Read MoreiPhone maker Hon Hai Q4 sales beat expectations on strong AI demand
Nvidia and Apple assembly partner Hon Hai Precision Industry reported better-than-expected sales growth last quarter as the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure buildout continued apace. Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, on Sunday (Jan 5) said that its revenue over the past three months was NT$2.13 trillion (S$89 billion), up 15 per cent, exceeding analyst expectations…
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