Posts by Kim Browne
Denso in talks to buy Temasek-backed seed maker for US$500 million
Published Tue, May 27, 2025 · 10:16 AM [TOKYO] Denso is in final talks to buy a Temasek-backed seed supplier for around US$500 million, as the Japanese vehicle parts supplier deepens its expansion into the agriculture sector, sources familiar with the matter said. Singapore investment firm Temasek, which owns almost half of Axia Vegetable Seeds…
Read MoreJapanese bonds yields fall ahead of test at 40-year auction
[TOKYO] Yields on Japanese super-long bonds fell ahead of an auction on Wednesday (May 28) that is expected to test demand following a recent sale that sent jitters through global markets. Yields on 40-year and 30-year maturities slid 10 basis points in Tokyo on Tuesday, adding to drops in recent days. These moves followed sharp…
Read MoreBuyout on hold: Seven & i investors eye execution before backing deal or strategy
[TOKYO] The annual meeting of Seven & i Holdings shareholders is likely to be a low-key event, despite the drama surrounding a company facing a takeover proposal by Alimentation Couche-Tard, the operator of Circle K stores. Investors appear to be willing to see what happens with the radical overhaul that the Japanese retailer has pledged…
Read MoreTrump Media to raise US$3 billion to spend on cryptocurrencies: report
The company behind Truth Social, a streaming and social media platform, has been exploring potential mergers and acquisitions as it aims to diversify into financial services Published Tue, May 27, 2025 · 06:49 AM [BENGALURU] US President Donald Trump’s social media firm, Trump Media & Technology Group, plans to raise about US$3 billion to spend…
Read MoreRBNZ set to make sixth rate cut and signal bias to more easing
[WELLINGTON] New Zealand’s central bank is set to cut interest rates for a sixth straight meeting and signal it’s open to further easing as US trade barriers dim the economic outlook. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) will lower the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 3.25 per cent on Wednesday…
Read MoreOil steadies after Trump extends EU trade talks deadline
[CALGARY] Oil prices steadied on Monday after US President Donald Trump extended a deadline for trade talks with the European Union, easing concerns about US tariffs on the bloc that could hit fuel demand. Brent crude futures were down 17 cents at US$64.61 a barrel at 8:35 ET while US West Texas Intermediate crude was down…
Read MoreBukit Sembawang H2 earnings up 13% at S$51.4 million; company proposes higher special dividend
[SINGAPORE] Property developer Bukit Sembawang Estates reported net profit after tax of S$51.4 million for the second half of its financial year ending Mar 31, a 13 per cent increase from S$45.6 million over the same period the previous year. The increase was mainly due to higher profits being recognised for residential development projects Pollen…
Read MoreBukit Sembawang Estates H2 FY2025 earnings up 13% at S$51.4 million
[SINGAPORE] Property developer Bukit Sembawang Estates reported a net profit after tax of S$51.4 million for the second half of its financial year ending Mar 31, a 13 per cent increase from S$45.6 million over the same period last year. The increase was mainly due to higher profits being recognised for residential development projects Pollen…
Read MoreBoustead’s H2 profit up 48 per cent to S$59.1 million
[SINGAPORE] Engineering and technology group Boustead Singapore’s net profit for the six months ended Mar 31, 2024, increased 58 per cent to S$59.1 million compared to the year-ago period. This came despite revenue decreasing 42 per cent to S$231.9 million over the same time frame. On a per-share basis, earnings for the half were 12…
Read MoreHKBN CEO says China Mobile’s HK$7.8 billion offer not good enough, open to more bidders
[HONG KONG] China Mobile’s HK$7.8 billion (S$1.3 billion) takeover offer for broadband operator HKBN is not good enough and the Hong Kong-based company is open to engage with more bidders to get the best value for shareholders, its CEO said on Monday (May 26). State-owned China Mobile made an offer for HKBN at HK$5.23 a…
Read MoreMaybank Q1 net profit rises 4% to RM2.6 billion
[SINGAPORE] Maybank’s net profit for the quarter ended Mar 31, 2025, increased 4 per cent to RM2.6 billion (S$790 million), up from RM2.5 billion in the previous corresponding period. Earnings per share increased to 21.45 sen, from 20.63 sen in the year-ago period. Return on equity was 11.3 per cent, up from 10.8 per cent…
Read MoreSingapore shares fall amid mixed regional showing; STI down 0.2%
Across the broader market, decliners edge out gainers 268 to 220, after 894.4 million securities worth S$751.7 million change hands [SINGAPORE] Shares on the Singapore bourse ended lower on Monday (May 26), even as regional markets ended mixed. The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) fell 0.2 per cent or 6.82 points to 3,875.60. Across the…
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