Trump administration proposes expanding Chinese tech gear crackdown
WASHINGTON, April 3 : The Federal Communications Commission on Friday proposed to ban the import of Chinese equipment from a group of manufacturers after previously barring approvals of new models in 2022, the latest move by Washington to crack down on Chinese-made electronic gear.The FCC had in 202 ...
US registers strong job growth in March, unemployment at 4.3%
WASHINGTON: The US economy posted unexpectedly strong job gains in March, government data showed Friday (Apr 3), in a shift that could ease labour market concerns and boost President Donald Trump's economic agenda.The world's largest economy gained 178,000 jobs in March, after losing 133,0 ...
How the Iran war is fuelling wild swings in interest-rate bets
[WASHINGTON] The Iran war has clouded the outlook for inflation and economic growth across the globe and, in turn, where interest rates...
Thai PM cracks down on ‘evil’ fuel smugglers to protect supply
The move follows reports of illicit fuel shipments from Thailand into Cambodia
Microsoft charts US$10 billion of outlays in AI-eager Japan
It will invest in cybersecurity partnerships and train a million AI engineers through 2029
Singapore’s FoodXervices – long-time supplier to F&B sector – calls it a day after 92 years
Renald Yeo - It is unclear how this will affect previously signed MOUs, including one inked three weeks ago with SBF
Singapore’s FoodXervices – longtime supplier to airlines, hotels, restaurants – calls it a day after 92 years
Renald Yeo - It is unclear how this will affect previously signed MOUs, including one inked three weeks ago with SBF
Samsung Elec likely to report stupendous surge in quarterly profit to record level
SEOUL, April 3 : Samsung Electronics, benefiting from red-hot chip prices stoked by the AI boom, is expected to book a six-fold jump in operating profit for January-March - a quarterly record and just shy of what it earned for all of the past business year.Bolstered by what it calls an "unprece ...
BOJ keeps rate‑hike door open even as Iran war squeezes firms
The degree and timing of future increases will depend on economic, price and financial conditions
Hedge funds walloped by a month of turmoil sparked by war
[LONDON] Some of the world’s biggest hedge funds known for delivering steady returns lost money in March as the war in the...
Hyundai Motor flags export disruptions as Middle East conflict hits shipping
PYEONGTAEK, South Korea: Hyundai Motor said on Friday (Apr 3) that exports to Europe and North Africa, which typically transit through the Middle East, were being disrupted by the conflict in the region, underscoring growing strains on global supply chains.The disruption highlights how the conflict ...
Trump will impose 100% tariff on some patented drugs
[WASHINGTON, DC] The Trump administration will impose tariffs of as much as 100 per cent on certain imported medicines, albeit with several...
Japanese firms reduce share buybacks for first time since 2020
[TOKYO] Japanese firms announced fewer share buyback programmes in the fiscal year ended Tuesday (Mar 31), marking the first decline since 2020.
Turning stables and schools into lifestyle hubs: Malaysia reimagines its old spaces
Tan Ai Leng - Rising construction costs and changing tastes are pushing developers to reinvent existing buildings
A framework for thinking about the new Integrated Shield riders
Beyond understanding healthcare and insurance preferences, one should also have adequate emergency funds
Starbucks dangles US$1,200 bonuses for fast, friendly baristas
[CHICAGO] Starbucks wants to entice baristas to be friendlier and faster, and it’s offering new payouts to make it happen.
Wall Street money managers hunker down as Iran war rages on
[NEW YORK] Five weeks of war with Iran have wiped trillions off global stocks, pushed oil past US$100 and kept it there...
Microsoft to invest $10 billion in Japan for AI and cyber defence expansion
TOKYO, April 3 : Microsoft on Friday said it will invest 1.6 trillion yen ($10 billion) in Japan between 2026 and 2029 to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity cooperation with the government. The investment includes the training of 1 million engineers and develo ...
Asia’s protein boom has a taste problem, but the answer is already here
James Petrie - The alternative protein sector has had a bruising few years. The category that once attracted record venture capital and breathless headlines has seen consumer adoption rates plateau, retail momentum stall and investor sentiment cool significantly. But the retreat of capital does not mean the underl ...
Bitcoin lingers near lower bound of trading range amid conflict
[NEW YORK] Bitcoin traded near the lower bound of its more-than-a-month-long trading range amid continued uncertainty about the fallout from the conflict...
Privatisation reset puts ‘simplified’ ESR on growth path from Singapore
Ry-Anne Lim - It has pulled US$700 million in foreign capital to Singapore since July, and aims to double core AUM to more than US$80...
Japan turns up FX heat as volatility rises, signals readiness to act
TOKYO, April 3 : Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama on Friday put currency traders on notice, saying the government stands ready to act against speculative moves in foreign exchange markets as volatility has risen "significantly."The yen, trading near the psychologically key 160-pe ...
Japan finance minister warns of high FX volatility, signals readiness to act
TOKYO, April 3 : Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama on Friday put currency traders on notice, saying the government stands ready to act against speculative moves in foreign exchange markets as volatility has risen "significantly."The yen, trading near the psychologically key 160-pe ...
JERA's LNG purchase deal with US Commonwealth LNG terminated, DOE filing shows
TOKYO, April 3 : A long-term liquefied natural gas sales and purchase agreement entered into last year between Japan's largest power generator, JERA, and U.S. LNG developer Commonwealth LNG has been terminated, according to a document filed with the U.S. Department of Energy.Last June, JERA, al ...
US$14.8 million in prepayments to vendors reason behind Mirxes’ missed 2025 results deadline; independent probe set up
Tessa Oh - The committee appoints independent professional advisers to review background, details of transactions
US$14.8 million in prepayments to vendors behind Mirxes’ missed 2025 results deadline; independent probe set up
Tessa Oh - The investigation committee will oversee a review of 14 transactions and ‘associated subsequent events’
Nanyang New Development aborts plans to invest in gold business
The Edge Singapore - Nanyang New Development's plan to move into the business of brokering gold bullion, as well as retail sales of jewellery, has been aborted. As first announced on Feb 7, the company plans to invest $1 million in an entity called Gold Bar Pte Ltd, a registered dealer incorporated in May 2023 and ...
Near-term oil prices hit record premium over later deliveries after Trump vows more attacks on Iran
[HOUSTON] US crude oil futures for immediate delivery next month hit their largest-ever premium over the second-month contract on Thursday, as traders...
Japan's services growth slows as Middle East war dents confidence, PMI shows
TOKYO, April 3 : Japan's services sector grew at its weakest pace in three months in March, a private survey showed on Friday, as rising uncertainty over the Middle East war crushed business confidence to its lowest level since the pandemic.Here are the key details: • The S&P Global final ...
Europe: Shares trim losses on hopes of reopening of Strait of Hormuz
[BENGALURU] Europe’s main stock index trimmed losses on renewed hopes of a reopening of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, even as US...
US: Wall Street ends mixed as worries linger before Good Friday break
[NEW YORK] US stocks ended slightly mixed on Thursday (Apr 2) after paring deeper losses, as diplomatic signals from the Middle East...
What elevated gold prices are telling us, and where to invest
Tong Kooi Ong + Asia Analytica - Gold has been on a remarkable run in the last three years. Prices peaked at US$5,595 ($7,178) an ounce in January 2026, from a three-year low of US$1,805 an ounce in February 2023 — equivalent to a compounded annual gain of 45.8%. In 2025 alone, gold price gained 64.5%. The rally coincided with a ...
Artemis capsule boost puts astronauts moon-bound for record-breaking journey
ORLANDO, Florida, April 2 : The Orion capsule carrying four astronauts in NASA's Artemis II mission executed a key thruster firing on Thursday that will kick the crew out of Earth's orbit and on a path toward the moon, committing them to reaching the farthest distance humans have ever trav ...
Amid an emerging market bond sell-off, traders eye attractive Asean moves
Evan See - Malaysia and Philippine debt could see inflows, but Iran conflict may keep credit conditions fragile
