When family is not in the prospectus
Lin Daoyi - Investors should review the business’s succession plans, particularly for family-run companies, before taking the plunge The story of Hanmi Pharmaceutical serves as a cautionary tale for investors seeking to put their money in family-run businesses. Between May and July 2024, the share price of Ha ...
For Eu Yan Sang’s Richard Eu, seven Cs beat five
Lin Daoyi - Japanese companies, increasingly focused on growth, have stepped up major overseas acquisitions, including in Singapore. In March 2024, Sumitomo Life took control of the remaining shares in SingLife in a deal valuing the insurer at $4.6 billion, after first investing in the locally based group. Last ...
Oil demand to remain resilient despite immediate headwinds
Lin Daoyi - The price of oil hovered around US$60 ($77.85) in early December, down more than 20% from the 2025 high of more than US$78. Analysts have noted that unstable trade tensions and uncertainty have affected the world economy and demand for oil. Exacerbating the volatility is Opec+’s decision to unwind ...
Property developers’ value unlock programme: who is next?
Goola Warden - The large and mid-cap Singapore Exchange-listed developers are trading at discounts to their book value (see Table 1). There are a couple of ways to narrow the discount: divest assets and receive cash, or securitise the assets and receive some cash and a valuation. Some of the large-cap developers h ...
Is the AI boom a bubble or a bet on execution?
Nurdianah Md Nur - By 2030, half of the new economic value created by digital businesses across the Asia Pacific and Japan will come from companies investing in and successfully scaling AI today. By 2027, International Data Corp expects 60% of organisations to have deployed multi-agent systems, or autonomous AI agents ...
Asean, pick your standards
Daryl Guppy - One of the most consequential debates in Asean is taking place, if not behind closed doors, then with little publicity. The resolution of the debate has far-reaching implications for the free flow of trade within the region and with China. The US’s new strategic focus on economic warfare, as revea ...
How to invest if you have a lot of time on your hands
Thiveyen Kathirrasan - This article is the third and final in the “How to invest if you have time constraints” series, even though there are none in this case. Read the first two here and here. This guide is for investors willing to spend significant time assessing and valuing stocks. It is for investors who prioritis ...
Japan cuts issuance of longest bonds as fiscal worries drive selloff
TOKYO, Dec 26 : Japan's finance ministry will over the next fiscal year issue the fewest super-long government bonds, known as JGBs, in 17 years, according to a plan approved by the cabinet on Friday.The reduction by nearly a fifth from the previous fiscal year to bonds worth around 17.4 tri ...
Will the Fed be allowed to do its job?
Gary Gensler - As candidates vie to become the next chair of the US Federal Reserve, they should heed the hockey legend Wayne Gretzky’s advice to “skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.” With many economic pucks in play — from sticky inflation, mounting deficits, and an AI investment boom ...
Has Southeast Asia built up some immunity against Trump’s tariffs?
Suan Teck Kin - US President Donald Trump’s tariffs have raised fears of a global trade slowdown, but Southeast Asia continues to attract investments. While reliable data on foreign direct investments (FDI) tends to have severe time lags, the early signs are encouraging. Our analysis of Southeast Asia’s six lar ...
Asean between America and China
Derwin Pereira - To put it in market terms, America is no longer the price-setter in international relations and China is no longer a price-taker. Yet, China is far from being the price-setter itself and America is in no mood to become a price-taker. All third countries are caught in this transitional struggle, and ...
Sembcorp acquires Indian solar power project for S$246 million
Shikhar Gupta - The company’s gross renewable energy capacity installed and under development in India has now climbed to over 7.6 GW
M Ravi’s death: Friend charged with taking drugs with the ex-lawyer in Boon Keng Road flat
Shawn Loo Zhi Jian is expected to be back in court on Jan 2, 2026
Man who admitted to taking drugs with ex-lawyer M Ravi to be charged on Dec 26
M Ravi’s death is currently being investigated by the police
Malaysia’s ex-PM Najib faces verdict in his biggest 1MDB trial
The case is among the biggest in the sprawling which has stretched from Singapore to Switzerland
Stocks to watch: Sembcorp Industries, Keppel Reit
Shikhar Gupta - [SINGAPORE] The following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Friday (Dec 26):
Keppel REIT launches $886.3 million preferential offering to fund acquisition of one-third stake in MBFC Tower 3
Kwan Wei Kevin Tan - Keppel REIT says it is launching an $886.3 million preferential offering for 923,189,327 new units on Dec 26. According to a Dec 26 bourse filing, the offering will close on Jan 9, and the new units will commence trading on Jan 19. In an earlier bourse filing on Dec 11, Keppel REIT says it will be a ...
US rare earth buyers still see China curbs despite Trump deal
The Asian nation’s overall exports of the raw materials have risen since last year
Core inflation in Japan's capital slows in December but stays above BOJ target
TOKYO, Dec 26 : Core consumer prices in Japan's capital rose 2.3 per cent in December from a year earlier, data showed on Friday, staying above the central bank's 2 per cent target and firming the case for further interest rate hikes.The increase in the Tokyo core consumer price index, ...
Core inflation in Japan's capital slows in December but no bar for further BOJ hikes
TOKYO: Core consumer inflation in Japan's capital slowed in December on moderating cost pressure for food but stayed above the central bank's 2 per cent target, data showed on Friday (Dec 26), firming the case for further interest rate hikes.The data backs up the Bank of Japan's vi ...
Japan proposes record budget spending while curbing fresh debt
TOKYO, Dec 26 : Japan's government on Friday proposed record spending for next fiscal year while curbing debt issuance, underscoring Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's challenge in boosting the economy while inflation remains above the central bank's target.Her cabinet approved a draf ...
China silver fund plunges after string of moves to quell frenzy
Other Chinese funds linked to the metals have also seen big gains and warnings to investors
What will power South-east Asia in the coming year? 5 trends to watch in 2026
Evan See - Trade and tariffs to remain critical, as foreign and domestic investments drive the region forward
What will power South-east Asia in the coming year? Five trends to watch in 2026
Evan See - Trade and tariffs to remain critical, as foreign and domestic investments drive the region forward
South Korea central bank to assess incoming data to decide whether and when to lower rates
The BOK next meets in January
Nvidia expands AI empire with Groq talent grab
The startup will remain an independent company under new chief executive Simon Edwards, the firm says
Taiwan’s Foxtron launches Bria EV model, eyes overseas markets
The company is a joint venture between Foxconn and Yulon Motor
Coupang says all leaked customer information has been deleted
South Korea’s science ministry is leading a joint investigation team with private-sector experts into the data breach
Toyota posts sales drop in November, dragged down by China
Global automakers are facing greater uncertainty as they navigate an environment of trade tensions, regulatory changes and uncertain economic outlooks
BOJ chief sees progress in hitting price goal, signals further hikes
TOKYO, Dec 25 : Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Thursday the nation's underlying inflation is accelerating gradually and steadily approaching the central bank's 2 per cent target, reiterating the central bank's readiness to continue raising interest rates.He also preached ...
BOJ chief says underlying inflation steadily approaching 2% target
TOKYO, Dec 25 : Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Thursday the nation's underlying inflation is accelerating gradually and steadily approaching the central bank's 2 per cent target, reiterating the central bank's readiness to continue raising interest rates.Barring a major neg ...
Taiwan's Foxtron launches Bria EV model, eyes overseas markets
TAIPEI, Dec 25 : Taiwan's Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, a joint venture between Foxconn and Yulon Motor, launched an electric vehicle model called Bria on Thursday.Versions of the model will initially be sold at three prices, ranging from around $28,600 to $36,540, Foxtron said, adding th ...
Has Singapore’s stablecoin surge peaked, or is 2026 just the start?
Shikhar Gupta - The pegged cryptocurrencies could be worth US$4 trillion globally in just five years
Japan expects growth to accelerate next year with fiscal stimulus
TOKYO, Dec 25 : Japan's government revised up its economic forecast for the fiscal year to next March and projected that growth would accelerate in the following year, on the view that its massive stimulus package will boost consumption and capital expenditure.The projections are the first t ...
