Google, Pentagon discuss classified AI deal, the Information reports
April 16 : Alphabet's Google is negotiating an agreement with the Department of Defense that would allow the Pentagon to deploy its Gemini AI models in classified settings, the Information reported on Thursday, citing two people with direct knowledge of the discussions. The two parties are disc ...
Eurokars Group introduces rental car franchises Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo to Singapore
Derryn Wong - US company Enterprise Mobility is the franchisor; services are to start in the CBD and western Singapore in October
IMF warns of Asia’s vulnerability to war-induced energy shock
An acute hit to growth is possible if a prolonged conflict triggers supply shortages
Yangzijiang Maritime orders 8 giant oil tankers, sells 4 smaller vessels in twin deals
Tessa Oh - The acquisition will be funded through a combination of equity co-investment and debt financing
TPG invests $100 million in student mobility company Zum
NEW YORK, April 16 : Private equity firm TPG has made a $100 million investment in Zum, in a deal that values the student transportation company at around $1.7 billion, Zum told Reuters on Thursday.The valuation marks an increase from Zum's 2024 Series E funding round, when it was valued at $1. ...
TPG to invest $100 million in student mobility company Zum
NEW YORK, April 16 : Private equity firm TPG has made a $100 million investment in Zum, in a deal that values the student transportation company at around $1.7 billion, Zum told Reuters on Thursday.The valuation marks an increase from Zum's 2024 Series E funding round, when it was valued at $1. ...
Vietnam proposes steep cuts to clean-energy payouts in protracted US$13 billion dispute
Jamille Tran - EVN’s proposal for 173 projects could force some investors to repay past incentives
Vietnam’s EVN suggests steep payment cuts for clean-energy projects in US$13 billion dispute
Jamille Tran - If the proposal passes, investors will have to pay back part of the incentive payments they have received
Indonesia to double capital requirement for securities firms, certain asset managers
JAKARTA, April 16 : Indonesia's financial regulator will double the capital requirement threshold for securities firms and certain asset managers to reduce risks of stock market manipulation, an official told Reuters on Thursday.The move is part of broad capital market reforms by Indonesian aut ...
IMF warns of Asia's vulnerability to war-induced energy shock
WASHINGTON, April 16 : Asia is more vulnerable to an energy shock than other regions because of its heavy reliance on Middle East fuel, an International Monetary Fund executive said, warning of an acute hit to growth if a prolonged war triggers supply shortages.The region's economies entered 20 ...
Stellantis, Microsoft sign five-year partnership for AI push
MILAN, April 16 : Stellantis and Microsoft said on Thursday they agreed to a five‑year strategic partnership to co-develop artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and engineering capabilities, as the automaker races to keep pace with technology-focused rivals. Software and data-driven services ...
Kim Heng: Navigating the energy transition
Lin Daoyi - While the offshore and marine (O&M) sector is on an uptrend in general, with companies benefitting from diversifying their product and service offerings, Catalist-board Kim Heng’s journey to profitability has not been smooth sailing. For FY2025 ended Dec 31, 2025, Kim Heng reported a net loss ...
SBF pushes back on US trade probes, warns tariffs would hurt American firms
Tessa Oh - Singapore’s acts, policies and practices do not ‘burden or restrict’ commerce of the United States, it adds
Marco Polo Marine: Kum’s investment signals confidence in upcycle
Lin Daoyi - Similar to its peers, Marco Polo Marine (MPM) was badly hit when the offshore and marine (O&M) industry experienced a slump from the mid-2010s onwards due to a cratering in oil prices and an oversupply of O&M assets. In a bid to keep the company afloat, the controlling Lee family had to brin ...
Seatrium: An amalgamation bearing fruit
Lin Daoyi - As the world seeks to balance the challenges of the energy trilemma — security, affordability and sustainability — the fortunes of offshore and marine (O&M) player Seatrium, along with the sector as a whole, are gaining momentum. Born out of a combination of the world’s two largest oil rig ...
O&M companies fund growth through diverse ways
Lin Daoyi - With the Middle East conflict and the ensuing energy crisis, the offshore and marine (O&M) sector is expected to boom. In the short-term, the demand for oil and gas is expected to spur investment in offshore assets while energy trilemma concerns will drive long-term growth for renewables. To sup ...
FLCT acquires Dutch logistics facility for 43 million euros
Deon Loke - The purchase is expected to be accretive to the trust’s distribution per unit
Wipro's weak first-quarter forecast overshadows record buyback
BENGALURU, April 16 : Wipro forecast a weak first quarter on Thursday, citing muted demand as its U.S. banking and financial clients curb spending in an uncertain economic environment, sending its New York-listed shares down 2.4 per cent.The outlook came alongside a lackluster fourth-quarter report ...
India's Wipro unveils record buyback after slight quarterly revenue miss
BENGALURU, April 16 : India's Wipro announced a record share buyback of up to 150 billion rupees ($1.61 billion) on Thursday after reporting a slight quarterly revenue miss, as clients held back tech spending in energy and banking sectors while business from key customer Estee Lauder slowed. Co ...
India's Wipro misses fourth quarter revenue view
BENGALURU, April 16 : India's Wipro reported a fourth-quarter revenue that missed estimates on Thursday, as clients held back tech spending and as business from key customer Estee Lauder slowed down. Consolidated sales for India's fourth-largest software firm in the three months ended Marc ...
China’s Sigenergy shares more than double in Hong Kong debut after HK$4.4 billion IPO
It is the fourth most actively traded stock by turnover on the territory’s bourse
Nam Cheong charts future growth course
Lin Daoyi - Having survived the multi-year industry slump, Nam Cheong is both upbeat about the offshore and marine market ahead, but wary of the risks Bangkit semula, a Malay phrase that describes an entity making a successful recovery after a setback, is arguably an apt description of the current state of the ...
Kering CEO pledges to double profit margins and revive Gucci brand
FLORENCE, Italy, April 16 : Kering CEO Luca de Meo pledged to more than double the luxury group's operating profit margin and boost the appeal of its flagship brand Gucci as he sought to reassure investors unnerved by economic uncertainty and war in the Middle East.In a more than three-hour pre ...
Strong ASML, TSMC forecasts signal AI spending boom is intact
April 16 : Strong forecasts from ASML and TSMC this week point to another quarter of hefty spending by American cloud-computing giants as they race to secure advanced chips needed for their artificial intelligence build-outs.The results suggest that demand stayed strong for AI chip designers such as ...
Singapore stocks fall, bucking regional trend; STI down 0.3%
Ranamita Chakraborty - Across the broader market, gainers outnumber losers 397 to 219 after 2.1 billion securities change hands
IHH rolls out AI across Mount Elizabeth as S$350 million upgrade delivers on savings, efficiency gains
Jean Low - AI-driven overhaul reduces workload and trims resource use, with savings set to benefit patients
Samsung asks court to block illegal strike activities by unions
SEOUL, April 16 : Samsung Electronics asked a court on Thursday to block its South Korean labour unions engaging in illegal activities during strike, a spokesperson said, as a wage dispute threatens to disrupt operations at the world's top memory chipmaker. Unionised workers at Samsung last mon ...
Google should allow third-party search engines access to data, EU says
BRUSSELS, April 16 : The European Commission has sent preliminary findings to Google on proposed measures to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, which would allow third-party search engines to access Google search data, including that of artificial intelligence chatbots with search functi ...
Gucci-owner Kering to buy stake in Chinese luxury brand Icicle
PARIS, April 16 : Gucci-owner Kering will acquire a minority stake in Shanghai-based Icicle Fashion Group as part of a new partnership with its Chinese parent ICCF, the French luxury group said on Thursday.Icicle, a fast growing Chinese luxury brand founded in 1997 that started expanding into the We ...
OCBC says exposure to Middle East ‘not very large’ at 2% - 3%: AGM
Felicia Tan - Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) says its exposure to the Middle East is limited amid rising geopolitical tensions. The bank’s exposure is “not very large” at about “2% to 3%” of its loan book, says chairman Andrew Lee at the bank’s annual general meeting (AGM) on April 16. The ...
German car buyers keen on Chinese EV maker BYD in first quarter, data shows
BERLIN, April 16 : Chinese car brands such as BYD are gaining traction among German consumers who are increasingly looking to buy electric cars amid rising fuel prices, according to online marketplace data seen by Reuters on Thursday.BYD was one of the fastest-growing brands in Germany in the first ...
Shelving S$5 billion office redevelopment plan proved ‘wise’ as geopolitical risks mount: OCBC chairman
Renald Yeo - The lender instead allocated half that amount to a two-year capital return plan
German banks examine risks of Anthropic's Mythos with authorities
FRANKFURT, April 16 : German banks and national authorities are examining risks around Anthropic's new artificial intelligence model, an official said on Thursday, amid concerns that it could fuel cyberattacks.Kolja Gabriel, a member of the executive board at the German Banking Association, tol ...
Brazilian payments unicorn Ebanx makes South-east Asia push
Investments for this year’s expansion will be financed by the firm’s cash on hand
