Posts by Kim Browne
Japan touts ships expertise, LNG investment as key to tariff talks
[TOKYO] Japan may offer financial and technical contributions ranging from investment in an Alaskan liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline project to shipbuilding expertise as it seeks to smooth the path towards a tariff deal with the US by mid-June. Japan will tout its prowess in building ice-breakers, a growing area of need as security concerns…
Read MoreAfter briefest of respites, global trade war fears return with a vengeance
THE trade war is far from over, and neither is the associated rout in the stock market. The broad S&P 500 had turned positive for the year to date, clawing back from bear-market territory on signs that US President Donald Trump had been bluffing with his “Liberation Day” tariff assault on the rest of the…
Read MoreJapan aims to slash stockpiled rice prices to 2,000 yen per 5kg: farm ministry
Published Mon, May 26, 2025 · 11:07 AM [TOKYO] Japan aims to drastically cut stockpiled rice prices to 2,000 yen (S$18) per 5 kg and speed up getting rice onto shop shelves as consumers suffer from sky-high staple grain costs, the farm ministry said on Monday. Surging rice prices, due in part to crop damage…
Read MoreGold retreats from two-week high as Trump extends EU tariff deadline
Gold prices slipped from a two-week high on Monday (May 26) after US President Donald Trump set a Jul 9 deadline for a trade deal with the European Union, rescinding his earlier threat of a 50 per cent tariff from Jun 1. Spot gold was down 0.5 per cent at US$3,339.13 an ounce, as at…
Read MoreOil climbs after Trump extends EU trade talks deadline to July
[SINGAPORE] Oil prices gained in early Asian trade 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 hurt the global economy and fuel demand. Brent crude futures rose 37 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to US$65.15 a barrel…
Read MoreInterest costs fall for S-Reits in Q1, but US tariffs cloud outlook
[SINGAPORE] Interest costs eased for more Singapore-listed real estate investment trusts (S-Reits) in the first quarter of FY2025, even as looming US tariffs cast a shadow over their prospects for the second half of the year. Nearly three-quarters of S-Reits saw flat to moderate interest cost declines in Q1 compared to a year ago, said…
Read MoreGold remains in long-term uptrend but caution needed
Gold markets have been anything but dull in 2025, but what’s more interesting is that the metal is back in the headlines and climbing higher once again. In recent weeks, gold briefly pushed above the US$3,400 per ounce mark before retreating, as a confluence of geopolitical tensions, global economic uncertainties, and technical signals lured investors…
Read MoreUS risks losing ‘reliable investment’ status, Allianz Global Investors manager says
[LONDON] Inside one of Europe’s biggest asset managers, there’s growing concern that Republican efforts to gut legislation supporting key industries such as clean energy may result in the US losing its status as a destination for investor capital. “For investors, the message is clear: The US may no longer offer the reliable investment runway it…
Read MoreMore margin calls and stopouts in April as Trump tariffs rattle markets
[SINGAPORE] Several brokerages across Singapore observed up to double the number of margin calls and stopouts on such trades in April after US President Donald Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs roiled markets globally. Margin trading allows investors to borrow funds from brokerages to buy more stocks than they can afford with their own capital, using…
Read MoreAudience Analytics eyes growth in Vietnam, M&A opportunities
[SINGAPORE] Audience Analytics, an organiser of regional business awards and career fairs, is seeking growth in Vietnam with its recent investment in a business partner there, while looking out for merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities. On May 15, the company inked a deal to acquire 30 per cent of Snowball, a Vietnam-based management consultancy, for…
Read MoreThailand widens EV perks as Japan-China auto rivalry heats up
[BANGKOK] With Thailand’s auto sales plunging by more than 25 per cent amid geopolitical headwinds and regional rivals nipping at its heels, Bangkok is racing to secure its status as South-east Asia’s electric vehicle (EV) hub – rolling out broader tax incentives to keep both Chinese and Japanese carmakers onside. The Thai government recently sweetened…
Read MoreChina publishes draft guidance for online-platform merchant fees
The Chinese regulator has published draft guidelines for fees that online platforms charge third-party merchants, an important source of revenue for companies including JD.com, Meituan and PDD Holdings. Companies that operate online platforms should charge reasonable fees and take into account factors such as the operational status of merchants with which they do businesses, the…
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