Swiss cling on to cash as survey shows payment app use stalling
ZURICH, March 30 : Mobile payment app usage stalled in Switzerland last year, a Swiss National Bank survey showed on Monday, with cash remaining popular as a way of paying for goods and services in person.A large majority of respondents in the survey were in favour of the continued use of cash, with ...
Starcloud reaches $1.1 billion valuation as AI space race heats up
March 30 : Orbital compute infrastructure startup Starcloud has raised $170 million at a $1.1 billion valuation, as companies including Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin race to move power-hungry AI data centers off-planet.Led by Benchmark and EQT Ventures, the fundraise under ...
Taiwan probes 11 Chinese firms for illegal poaching of tech talent
TAIPEI: Taiwan said on Monday (Mar 30) 11 Chinese firms are being investigated for alleged illegal poaching of semiconductor and other high‑tech talent, stepping up efforts to curb technology outflows amid rising geopolitical tensions with Beijing.More than 185 agents searched 49 locations and que ...
India’s luxury promise hits a wall: not enough malls to shop in
The country now ranks fourth globally in the number of individuals with wealth above US$100 million
Singapore’s Charge+ announces US$20 million Series B target for network growth in South-east Asia
Derryn Wong - Funds raised will be used to support the company’s regional development and strategic goal of 30,000 chargers globally by 2030
Sri Lanka raises power tariffs as energy costs begin to bite
COLOMBO, March 30 : Sri Lanka raised power tariffs for most households by 7.2 per cent and industries by 8.7 per cent on Monday as the island nation grapples with higher energy costs stemming from the Iran war.The new power prices are linked to a $2.9 billion program with the International Monetary ...
Nike’s China stumble exposes execution gaps
Insiders say top-down decision-making limits responsiveness to local market needs
Nvidia's PE sinks to seven-year low as war and AI angst weigh
March 30 : As global stock markets tumble over deepening worries about war in the Middle East, Nvidia, the world's most valuable company, finds itself trading at its cheapest price-to-earnings multiple since before ChatGPT kicked off the AI boom. The steep drop in Nvidia's PE suggests the ...
Apac airlines fly 9% more passengers in February, but Iran war clouds outlook
Therese Soh - The robust growth is supported by increased leisure travel during the Chinese New Year festive period
Apac airlines flew 9% more passengers in February, but Iran war clouds outlook
Therese Soh - The robust growth is supported by increased leisure travel during the Chinese New Year festive period
Maybank completes on-chain tokenised FX and cross border payment via MYR-SGD corridor
The Edge Singapore - Maybank announced that it had successfully completed the first transaction under its inaugural pilot project for tokenised deposits and cross-border payments with Yinson Holdings Berhad, the global energy infrastructure company, on March 25. This marks a significant milestone in the bank’s digital ...
BOJ highlights inflationary pressure from oil, weak yen
TOKYO, March 30 : Japan's underlying inflation rate may face stronger upward pressure from rising oil prices and the yen's declines than in the past as firms have become more active in hiking prices, the Bank of Japan said on Monday.The observation was part of the BOJ's staff paper an ...
RHB initiates ‘buy’ on iFast on rising Asia-Pacific wealth management demand
Koh Kim Xuan - The brokerage’s S$12.20 target represents a 36.7% increase from the group’s closing price on Mar 26
The blind spots slowing enterprise AI journey
Sachin Shridar - Singapore’s ambition to lead in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation is accelerating enterprise transformation across sectors. Budget 2026 reinforces this direction through expanded national AI initiatives and continued investment in infrastructure, talent, and sector-specific innov ...
Singapore investors buy the dip, bucking global gold sell-off: OCBC, bullion dealers
Benicia Tan - Strong investor participation in Singapore and wider Asia suggests metal’s long-term role as a hedge continues
OCBC, local bullion dealers see surge in gold demand despite broader sell-off
Benicia Tan - Strong investor participation in Singapore and wider Asia suggests metal’s long-term role as a hedge continues
Dollar near 10‑month high on Middle East escalation concerns
March 30 : The dollar was near a 10‑month high on Monday and heading for its biggest monthly gain since last July as mixed signals from Iran and the United States dimmed hopes of a possible quick end to the Middle East conflict.U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran's new leaders have bee ...
Euro dips as Iran conflict stirs growth fears
NEW YORK, March 30 : The euro fell against the dollar on Monday on concerns about the growth impact from an extended U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, while the yen was supported after Japanese officials stepped up currency intervention threats.Iran described U.S. proposals to end a month of war in the Mi ...
Dollar approaches 10‑month high on Middle East escalation concerns
March 30 : The dollar was near a 10‑month high on Monday and heading for its biggest monthly gain since last July as mixed signals from Iran and the U.S. dimmed hopes of a possible quick end to the Middle East conflict.U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran's new leaders have been "v ...
India’s boldest currency move in years brings brief rupee relief
RBI flexibility falls as FX reserves drop in March to defend the rupee following the Iran conflict
Malaysia's Capital A names new deputy CEO, explores dual listing in Hong Kong
KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 : Malaysia's Capital A Berhad named a senior banker as its deputy chief executive on Monday as the group looks to scale up its core businesses after spinning off its aviation arm to its affiliate, budget airline operator AirAsia X. Effendy Shahul Hamid, a former CEO of co ...
Malaysia’s role in non-China rare earth chain grows, but gaps remain
Lynas Rare Earths is now producing samarium at its plant in Pahang
South Korea considers nationwide driving curbs as oil prices soar
SEOUL, March 30 : South Korea is considering extending driving curbs to the general public if global oil prices climb further, senior officials said, as authorities seek to rein in energy demand amid supply strains due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Sunday t ...
Analysis:Airlines face fare dilemma as fuel spike threatens travel demand
March 30 : Global airlines have begun to hike fares and cut capacity to cope with the sudden surge in the oil price, but the industry's ability to remain profitable may depend on whether consumers pull back on flying as gasoline costs threaten household budgets. Before the U.S.-Israeli conflict ...
S&P affirms Japan debt rating but warns of cut if yen weakens much further
TOKYO, March 30 : S&P Global Ratings on Monday affirmed its rating of Japan's sovereign debt but said it may lower it if the yen weakens much further, reflecting the country's deteriorating economic competitiveness.The credit-rating firm said it affirmed its A+/A-1 rating on Japan refl ...
Gold steady as softer dollar offsets fading Fed rate-cut hopes
The commodity has fallen more than 15 per cent so far this month
BlackRock funds provide about $57 million to IQM Quantum Computers ahead of US IPO
HELSINKI, March 30 : IQM Quantum Computers has secured 50 million euros ($57.64 million) in venture financing from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock to accelerate its global growth, the Finnish company told Reuters, ahead of its planned dual listing on the U.S. and Helsinki stock markets.IQM s ...
Competition watchdog seeks public feedback on SP Mobility’s proposals regarding ChargEco acquisition
Deon Loke - SP Mobility offers commitments that include freezing charging rates at pre-acquisition levels
Competition watchdog seeks public feedback on SP Mobility’s proposed commitments for ChargEco acquisition
Deon Loke - The commitments include freezing charging rates at pre-acquisition levels
Bursa Malaysia, HKEX unveil joint large-cap index as they seek to deepen market links
Tan Ai Leng - The index tracks 30 Malaysian blue chips and 30 Hong Kong-listed large-cap stocks
End of an era: Fitbit Singapore winds up as Google completes takeover of fitness tracker brand
Move marks a curtain call for Fitbit Singapore about 11 years after it was registered here in February 2015
Japan steps up yen intervention threats, signals rate-hike chance
Its top currency diplomat said authorities may need to take “decisive” steps if speculative moves persist
The Assembly Place posts 6.4% increase in FY2025 earnings to $6.6 mil
Samantha Chiew - Recently listed co-living operator The Assembly Place (TAP) announced that its FY2025 ended Dec 31, 2025, earnings have increased by 6.4% to $6.6 million from $6.2 million a year ago. The one-off IPO expenses in FY2025 came up to about $1.1 million. Excluding that from the equation, FY2025 earnings ...
Time to cool EC demand: drop deferred payment scheme, lengthen MOP, tighten resale restrictions
Leslie Yee - Moderating growth will benefit eligible buyers without access to abundant liquidity
