Oil prices head lower as IEA cuts demand forecast
LONDON, Feb 12 : Oil prices slipped on Thursday as investors weighed the International Energy Agency's lowering of its global oil demand forecast for 2026 against the potential escalation of U.S.-Iran tensions.Brent crude oil futures were down 38 cents, or around 0.6 per cent, at $69.02 a barre ...
Oil prices edge lower as IEA reduces demand forecast
LONDON, Feb 12 : Oil prices slipped on Thursday as investors weighed the International Energy Agency's lowering of its global oil demand forecast for 2026 against potential escalation of U.S.-Iran tensions.Brent crude oil futures were down 30 cents, or 0.43 per cent, at $69.10 a barrel by 1018 ...
Oil prices edge higher as investors assess US-Iran tensions
LONDON, Feb 12 : Oil prices edged up on Thursday morning as investors considered potential escalation of U.S.-Iran tensions and fears that any attacks on Tehran or shipping could lead to supply disruptions.Brent crude oil futures were up 35 cents, or 0.5 per cent, at $69.75 a barrel by 0853 GMT. U.S ...
Oil prices tumble more than $1 as IEA cuts demand forecast
(Corrects price move in headline and lede)By Erwin SebaHOUSTON, Feb 12 : Oil prices tumbled by more than $1 a barrel on Thursday as investors gave more weight to the International Energy Agency lowering its global oil demand forecast for 2026 against the receding risk of U.S. attacks on Iran.Br
Higher qualifying salaries for EP, S Pass holders may affect tenant demand for homes: Huttons
Jovi Ho - The increase in qualifying salary for Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass holders, announced at Budget 2026, may influence the hiring of foreigners. This may have a knock-on impact on tenant demand for both HDB flats and private residential properties, says Mark Yip, CEO, Huttons Asia. The minimum quali ...
Trump-linked World Liberty Financial to launch forex remittance platform
HONG KONG, Feb 12 : World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by the family of U.S. President Donald Trump, said on Thursday it plans to roll out a new foreign exchange and remittance platform, offering simplified services with lower fees.The firm will launch the platform, World Swap, soon, Z ...
After passing 5,000, STI ends Budget 2026 day 0.65% higher at 5,016.76 points
Jovi Ho - The Straits Times Index (STI) ended Feb 12 — Budget 2026 day in Singapore — 32.18 points higher, or 0.65% up, at 5,016.76 points. The STI passed the 5,000-point mark for the first time in history earlier that morning. The index tracking Singapore’s 30 largest stocks had opened at 4,992.52 poin ...
Singapore ended FY2025 with a surplus of $15.1 bil, 1.9% of GDP
Kwan Wei Kevin Tan and Felicia Tan - Singapore ended the fiscal year 2025 with a surplus of $15.1 billion, or 1.9% of the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP), says Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong at Budget 2026. Revised overall expenditure for the year was up by 0.1% to $143.29 billion compared to the estim ...
Singapore expects smaller S$8.5 billion surplus in FY2026
Paige Lim - Though estimated expenditure outstrips revenue, net investment returns contribution more than makes up for the shortfall
Citi keeps ‘buy’ on CLI at $3.40 TP on ‘proactive’ M&A exploration and growing FUM
Douglas Toh - Citi Research (Citi) analyst Brandon Lee “came away positive” CapitaLand Investment (CLI) despite the group’s “miss” of its FY2025 ended December 2025 results. He writes in his Feb 12 report: “CLI is confident of [a] pipeline of deals and fund-raising, with sufficient products and capabi ...
Singapore proceeding with BEPS Pillar Two tax, corporate revenues to rise
Low Youjin - The updates to the framework will increase the effective tax rate for large multinational enterprises operating here to 15%
Parf rebate for cars lowered by 45pp; tobacco excise duty up 20%
Tan Nai Lun - Change in Parf rebate will apply to all cars registered with COEs obtained from the next bidding exercise in February
Lower Preferential Additional Registration Fee Rebate for cars; higher tobacco excise duty
Tan Nai Lun - Follow The Business Times’ live coverage of Singapore’s Budget 2026 here.
Singapore raises solar deployment target to 3GWP by 2030
Elysia Tan - The government also looks to diversify its energy mix further and green transport
Carbon tax could be at ‘lower end’ of S$50 to S$80 range if climate momentum weakens
Tan Nai Lun - Follow The Business Times’ live coverage of Singapore’s Budget 2026 here.
Singapore extends Energy Efficiency Grant; green loans under Enterprise Financing Scheme
Tan Nai Lun - Follow The Business Times’ live coverage of Singapore’s Budget 2026 here.
Sheng Siong shares down just 1 cent after another $500 in CDC vouchers unveiled at Budget 2026
Teo Zheng Long and Felicia Tan - Shares in Sheng Siong narrowed its losses in the intraday trading session on Feb 12 after Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong announced $500 in Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers. Sheng Siong’s share price hit an intra-day low of $2.67, down by as much as 6 cents, or 2.2% o ...
Security-related spending expected to rise in coming years
Elysia Tan - In addition to physical attacks, the Republic is also vulnerable to cyberthreats
S$500 in CDC vouchers, up to S$400 Special Payment to ease cost pressures
Low Youjin - Eligible households will also receive up to S$570 in U-Save rebates
CPF to roll out lifecycle portfolios for those willing to take some risk for higher long-term returns
Genevieve Cua - The new life-cycle investment scheme will be launched in the first half of 2028
Budget to ‘strengthen retirement support’ including offering more investment options for CPF members
Kwan Wei Kevin Tan and Felicia Tan - In a bid to strengthen retirement support, the government will provide a CPF top-up of up to $1,500 for eligible Singaporeans aged 50 and above. These members should also have CPF retirement savings below the Basic Retirement Sum. Singaporeans with lower balances will receive larger top-ups, says Pr ...
Up to S$1,500 CPF top-up for seniors, higher contribution rates for older workers
Tan Nai Lun - To mitigate rise in business costs from increased rates, government will provide employers with a one-year CPF transition offset
Kbank sets IPO price at bottom end of range to raise $345 million
SEOUL, Feb 12 : South Korean online lender Kbank said on Thursday it had priced its initial public offering (IPO) at the bottom end of its indicative range to raise 498 billion won ($345.81 million). Kbank shares were priced at 8,300 won, compared with an indicative range of 8,300-9,500 won per shar ...
Japanese oil and gas group Inpex sees LNG supply shortfall in Asia in 2035
TOKYO, Feb 12 : Inpex, Japan's biggest oil and gas producer, expects global demand for liquefied natural gas to grow by 75 per cent to some 700 million metric tons annually in 2035, potentially resulting in a supply shortfall in the Pacific coastal region, including Asia.Inpex, which runs the I ...
Nissan sees smaller full-year operating loss, reports 44% quarterly profit drop
TOKYO, Feb 12 : Nissan Motor said it expects to post a much smaller operating loss for this fiscal year than previously indicated, as its turnaround plan progresses, as it reported a fall in profit for the third quarter.The struggling Japanese automaker now expects an operating loss of 60 billion ye ...
Nissan sees smaller full-year operating loss as turnaround efforts bear fruit
TOKYO, Feb 12 : Nissan sharply trimmed its outlook for a full-year loss on Thursday after reporting a surprise profit in the third-quarter, in a sign the troubled Japanese automaker's turnaround is gaining traction.The automaker is struggling to right itself after years of turmoil. Under CEO Iv ...
Levy for basic-skilled Work Permit holders to increase by S$100 for marine sector, S$150 for process sector
Elysia Tan - Manufacturing and services sectors’ tiered levy structure will be simplified
Singapore to raise EP and S Pass qualifying salaries from 2027
Low Youjin - Renewal applications for both work passes will only take effect in 2028
Singapore extends Senior Employment Credit to end-2027
Tan Nai Lun - Mid-career training allowance extended to part-time training as well
Budget 2026: SkillsFuture Singapore, Workforce Singapore to be merged into new statutory board
Sharanya Pillai - The objective to embed lifelong learning in the education system has been achieved, said PM Wong
Government to raise local qualifying salary for full-time local employees to $1,800 this year
Kwan Wei Kevin Tan and Felicia Tan - The government will raise the local qualifying salary for full-time local employees to $1,800 from $1,600 previously. The move comes as the government seeks to “strengthen support for lower-wage workers,” says Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong at Budget 2026. To help businesses o ...
Local qualifying salary to rise to S$1,800 for full-time employees this year
Elysia Tan - The Progressive Wage Credit Scheme and Workfare Skills Support schemes will also be enhanced
More AI learning support for workers, including free premium tools
Low Youjin - The SkillsFuture website will also be redesigned to make relevant AI courses easier to identify
Singapore to establish new National AI Council, chaired by Prime Minister Wong
Kwan Wei Kevin Tan and Felicia Tan - Singapore will establish a new National AI Council, chaired by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong. The council will drive “AI missions” in four key sectors — namely, advanced manufacturing, connectivity, finance and healthcare sectors — to harness the power of AI. “AI is adv ...
