3 days ago
Big believer in ‘profit and purpose’: CEO of Ayala’s healthcare arm builds ‘ecosystem’ in Philippines
Lionel Lim - Ayala Corporation’s healthcare business unit is back in the black again and looking to expand
Business Headlines & Market News
Business Headlines and Stock Market News by Singapore Financial News Publishers
3 days ago
RHB lowers Manulife US REIT’s TP to 6 US cents after FY2025 financials below expectations
Felicia Tan - RHB Bank Singapore analyst Vijay Natarajan is remaining “neutral” on Manulife US REIT (MUST) even though the REIT’s FY2025 stood below expectations. For the 12 months ended Dec 31, 2025, MUST reported gross revenue of US$113.9 million ($145.7 million), 32% lower y-o-y. Net property income (NPI ...
3 days ago
Could a Brics currency work?
Jim O’Neill - Could the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) ever launch a shared currency to challenge the US dollar’s dominant position in the world economy? Like many conventional international economists, I have generally dismissed the idea, despite my own role in coining the Brics acronym, wh ...
3 days ago
Can companies buy their way into the S&P 500?
Shang-Jin Wei - Few benchmarks matter more to financial investors than the S&P 500. Trillions of dollars track it directly, and many more are evaluated against it. Inclusion often boosts a firm’s stock price, lowers its cost of capital, and confers prestige. Many corporate boards even tie executive compensati ...
3 days ago
Woh Hup appointed to lead construction of new Marina Bay Sands development
Felicia Tan - Woh Hup (Private) has been appointed as the main contractor for Las Vegas Sands’ new multi-billion-dollar ultra luxury development at Marina Bay Sands. Woh Hup, one of Singapore’s largest privately-owned construction and civil engineering companies, was selected for its strong technical capabili ...
3 days ago
Dollar set for weekly fall as central banks turn hawkish
LONDON, March 20 : The dollar slipped from multi-month highs this week as soaring energy prices transformed the outlook for global interest rates, leaving the U.S. Federal Reserve the only major central bank that is not expected to raise rates this year.Before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began at t ...
3 days ago
Dollar dips as oil shock turns central banks hawkish
HONG KONG, March 20 : The dollar slipped from multi-month highs this week as soaring energy prices upended the outlook for global interest rates, with the U.S. Federal Reserve left alone as the only major central bank that is not expected to raise rates this year.Before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran ...
3 days ago
Dollar toppled as oil shock turns central banks hawkish
HONG KONG, March 20 : The dollar slid from multi-month highs this week as soaring energy prices upended the outlook for global interest rates, with the U.S. Federal Reserve left alone as the only major central bank that is not expected to hike rates this year.Before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran bega ...
3 days ago
Dollar set for weekly drop as central banks turn hawkish with rising oil prices
NEW YORK/LONDON, March 20 : The dollar gained on Friday but was still headed for a weekly fall against major currencies as investors pared back bets on interest rate cuts from the U.S. Federal Reserve given the likelihood of higher inflation from rising energy prices.Before the U.S.-Israeli war on I ...
3 days ago
Dollar gains but still set for weekly drop as central banks turn hawkish
NEW YORK/LONDON, March 20 : The dollar gained on Friday but was still headed for a weekly fall against major currencies as investors pared back bets on interest rate cuts from the U.S. Federal Reserve given the likelihood of higher inflation from rising energy prices.Before the U.S.-Israeli war on I ...
3 days ago
Dollar heads for weekly drop as central banks turn hawkish
LONDON, March 20 : The dollar inched up on Friday but was still headed for a weekly fall as soaring energy prices transformed the outlook for global interest rates, leaving the U.S. Federal Reserve as the only major central bank not expected to raise rates this year.Before the U.S.-Israeli war on Ir ...
3 days ago
Netflix sees more prospects for live events in South Korea after BTS
SEOUL, March 20 : Netflix anticipates more opportunities for live events in South Korea, the company said on Friday, as the U.S. streaming platform prepares to livestream a highly anticipated BTS comeback concert in Seoul.At a press conference, Brandon Riegg, Netflix's vice president of nonfict ...
3 days ago
Netflix sees more prospects for live events in South Korea
SEOUL, March 20 : Netflix sees more opportunities for live events in South Korea, the company's vice president of nonfiction series and sports said on Friday, as the U.S. streaming platform prepares to livestream a highly anticipated BTS comeback concert in Seoul.At a press conference in Seoul, ...
3 days ago
Netflix sees more prospects for live events in South Korea after BTS comeback
The concert at Seoul's historic Gwanghwamun Square on Mar 21 will mark the release of the seven-member group's first new album in more than three years and the start of a global tour in April.
3 days ago
PMET layoffs, vacancies suggest ongoing restructuring; no broad-based displacement by AI: MOM
Paige Lim - Singapore’s labour market to keep expanding in 2026, after more job vacancies and higher re-entry rate in Q4
3 days ago
PMET layoffs, vacancies suggest restructuring, not ‘broad-based displacement’ by AI: MOM
Paige Lim - Singapore’s labour market to keep expanding in 2026, after more job vacancies and higher re-entry rate in Q4
3 days ago
Singapore labour demand shifts to growth sectors such as tech; new roles make up nearly half of vacancies in 2025
Low Youjin - Sectors with higher-than-average shares of new roles include information and communications and professional services
3 days ago
Why integration will determine Southeast Asia’s vertical AI winners
Felicia Tan - Enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) has come a long way. Just three years ago, a project would typically begin with a blank sheet and a prototype pilot. Those days have changed. Now, boards want to see returns on investments (ROI) and C-suites want proof. To David Irecki, chief technology office ...
3 days ago
Newly created roles formed nearly half of the job vacancies in 2025: MOM report
Among PMET vacancies in 2025, about 21.1 per cent required no work experience and were suitable for fresh graduates.
3 days ago
Marriott’s Apec ambitions
Jovi Ho - With more than 730 open properties across the region, the hospitality giant sees Vietnam as a bright spot, alongside India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand Nasdaq-listed hospitality giant Marriott International announced in November 2015 a major acquisition: It would merge with New York Stock Excha ...
3 days ago
Renminbi offers a way out of US trade weaponisation
Daryl Guppy - Business relations with China have been almost totally obscured by the Israel and US attack on Iran, the apparently unexpected blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and instantaneous global fuel shortages. However, on a broad scale, there is a need to look beyond the fog of war to explore what th ...
3 days ago
Singapore REITs in 2026: A year for selective optimism
Bryan Tan and Shanon Tang - As Singapore’s interest rate environment stabilises, many investors are revisiting Singapore REITs (S-REITs) as a source of income. Here’s what to consider in 2026. S-REITs enter 2026 at an important crossroads. After several years of volatility driven by rising interest rates, inflation, and gl ...
3 days ago
Emerging market equities still a bright spot, says Allspring’s Irwin
Kwan Wei Kevin Tan - Recently, it has become commonplace to wake up to a sea of red in the world’s stock markets. Equity prices have been whipsawing as the markets struggle to make up their minds about exactly when the conflict in Iran and the Middle East will end. Fears of a prolonged closure at the Strait of Hormuz, ...
3 days ago
Singapore market needs more tech and AI listings to sustain revival: Saxo
Samantha Chiew - Singapore equities are drawing renewed attention as policymakers push reforms to deepen liquidity and to raise the appeal of listed companies. However, Mahesh Sethuraman, Saxo’s Singapore CEO, says the market’s next leg of growth still hinges on expanding the pipeline of investable names, especi ...
3 days ago
Global funds look to Malaysia as Iran war shakes up Asian assets
Matthew Burgess & Eduard Gismatullin - Even before the war in Iran sent energy prices soaring, Malaysia stood out among its Southeast Asian peers as the newfound darling of global investors. A rare stretch of political stability and investments in higher-value manufacturing and data centres lifted Malaysia’s appeal as some of its neigh ...
3 days ago
Addvalue's possible US listing may fetch market value of up to US$300 mil: Maybank's Seet
The Edge Singapore - Jarick Seet of Maybank Securities has maintained his bullish "buy" call and 12 cents target price for now on Addvalue Technologies. "Addvalue is benefiting from two of the sexiest and high-growth themes besides AI – drones and space," says Seet in his March 20 note. "We ex ...
3 days ago
Oil falls as US and allies look to boost supply, unchoke Strait of Hormuz
PERTH, March 20 : Oil prices fell on Friday as leading European nations and Japan offered to join efforts to secure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. outlined moves to boost oil supply.Looking to curb soaring oil prices, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U ...
3 days ago
Oil jumps to highest settlement since July 2022 as more Mideast supply disrupted
HOUSTON, March 20 : Oil prices jumped on Friday and settled at their highest in nearly four years, as Iraq declared force majeure on all oilfields developed by foreign oil firms and the Iran war escalated with the U.S. set to deploy thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East. Bre ...
3 days ago
Oil falls as US, allies discuss efforts to boost supply and open Strait of Hormuz
LONDON, March 20 : Oil prices fell over 1 per cent on Friday as the U.S. outlined moves to manage the oil supply crisis, while leading European nations, Japan and Canada offered to join efforts to secure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz.Brent futures for May fell $1.58, or 1.45 pe ...
3 days ago
Oil up despite efforts by US, allies to boost supply and open Strait of Hormuz
LONDON, March 20 : Oil prices gained on Friday despite leading European nations, Japan and Canada offering to join efforts to secure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. outlining moves to boost oil supply."The potential for a quick reversal in energy prices is unlik ...
3 days ago
Oil up despite efforts by US, allies to boost supply, unchoke Strait of Hormuz
LONDON, March 20 : Oil prices gained on Friday despite leading European nations, Japan and Canada offering to join efforts to secure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. outlining moves to boost oil supply."The potential for a quick reversal in energy prices is unlik ...
3 days ago
Toh of CGSI stays ‘constructive’ but turns wary of Asian equities following US-Iran war
Felicia Tan - CGS International (CGSI) analyst Billy Toh remains “broadly constructive” on Asian equities despite rising geopolitical risks following the US-Iran conflict. However, he now recommends a more “cautious and tactical” investment approach. On Feb 28, the US and Israel launched a coordinated att ...
3 days ago
Hong Kong listings rush gathers pace with five companies seeking $678 million
March 20 : Hong Kong's new listings pipeline extended its streak, with five offerings seeking up to HK$5.31 billion ($677.91 million) in total launched on Friday, according to exchange filings.The flurry of launches, despite a darkening global economic picture due to the war in the Middle East, ...
3 days ago
Alibaba targets US$100 billion of cloud, AI revenue in five years as results disappoint
Net income plummeted, hurt in part by heavy spending on promotions to fend off rivals