The Business Times
S-E Asia’s growth could remain robust if Middle East conflict stabilises early: ADB
Assuming oil and gas prices peaked in March and move towards pre-conflict, end-2026 levels, GDP growth for developing S-E Asia is projected to be at about 4.7% for 2026, supported by strong domestic demand.
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Oil rout gives Asian currencies some respite – if Middle East ceasefire holds
ASIAN currencies could see a modest rebound in the coming weeks if a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran holds, analysts told The Business Times. Crude oil prices – which had surged since the conflict began on Feb 28 – posted their...
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Asian airlines hoarding liquidity to survive worst oil shock since 1980s
ASIAN airlines are shifting their focus from capacity growth to liquidity preservation as an infrastructure-led oil shock weighs heavily on industry margins, according to Thai Airways chief executive Chai Eamsiri. Carriers are now in survival mode...
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Singapore rolls out S$1b support package as energy costs rise
SINGAPORE will roll out a support package worth close to S$1 billion to cushion the impact of rising energy costs from the Iran war, with a raft of measures aimed at helping businesses, workers and households manage the fallout. The measures are over...
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Iran war pushes Singapore’s tech sector to focus on energy efficiency, diversification
LOGISTICAL bottlenecks and escalating freight costs are among the challenges being faced by players in Singapore’s technology sector. As a result, the semiconductor manufacturers, data centre operators and other tech players in Singapore are leaning...
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Singapore IPO players on the fence as they await resolution of Middle East war
THE Republic’s initial public offering (IPO) market had a vibrant six months up to Mar 31, with 10 primary and secondary listings on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), more than double the four listings during the same period a year earlier. Several...
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Privatisation reset puts ‘simplified’ ESR on growth path from Singapore
The group has channelled roughly US$700 million of foreign capital to Singapore over the last two years, and aims to double core AUM to more than US$80 billion by 2030.
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Singapore convenes crisis committee to boost energy resilience, support amid Iran war
PRIME Minister Lawrence Wong has convened the Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee, chaired by Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam, with Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong as adviser, to respond to the ongoing conflict in the...
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Singapore’s AI ambitions put telcos to the test, raise ‘dumb pipe’ risk
SINGTEL’S recent mechanical fault that triggered widespread outages in Singapore has cast a spotlight on a potential weakness in the Republic’s artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions. The issue is no longer just about network capacity, but whether the...
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Businesses brace for impact as EMA warns of potentially sharper rise in power tariffs
SINGAPORE businesses, especially those in sectors more reliant on energy, are bracing themselves for higher costs after the Energy Market Authority (EMA) warned on Tuesday (Mar 31) that Singapore should prepare for further increases in electricity and...
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Singapore investors buy the dip, bucking global gold sell-off
WHILE gold’s safe-haven role broadly gave way to a scramble for cash amid the escalating Middle East conflict, opportunistic buyers in Singapore are bucking the trend. Rather than fleeing the market, investors in the city-state are using the recent...
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Food manufacturers fret as Iran war sends diesel, logistics and packaging costs soaring
ALREADY under pressure from sharply rising energy, logistics and raw material costs due to the conflict in the Middle East, Singapore’s food manufacturers are bracing for more headwinds – such as higher natural gas and electricity prices – in upcoming...
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Low Tuck Kwong sues Peter Kwee for A$9.6m over alleged material defects
This pertains to a S$32.2m agreement between Low, an Indonesian coal mining billionaire, and his company to buy out motoring tycoon Kwee and another individual’s shares in three companies.
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Singapore investors reassess private credit exposure after US funds limit withdrawals
ACCREDITED investors in Singapore are reassessing their exposure to evergreen private credit funds after a wave of redemption requests at major US managers triggered “gating” mechanisms, limiting withdrawals. “Some investors, especially those less...
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Singapore firms more selective in hiring as Iran war adds to cost pressures
EARLY signs of more restrained hiring are emerging among firms in Singapore as cost pressures mount amid the ongoing Iran war, although the shift has yet to show up in official labour market data. Recruiters and hiring platforms told The Business...
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Oil volatility, force majeures swamping Singapore energy traders, lawyers in work
SINGAPORE’S energy-sector professionals are in crisis management mode, as the Middle East war throws up wild price swings, cargo disruptions and legal conundrums. “We are seeing a perfect storm of disruption across the trading chain,” said Baldev...
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Trump shelves military strike ultimatum on Iran, but not before S-E Asian markets tank
SOUTH-EAST Asia’s markets reeled on Monday (Mar 23) after US President Donald Trump and the Iranian leadership exchanged threats that would take war in the Middleeast to a highly dangerous level. Trump on Saturday threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s...
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Mid-east data centre attacks could raise tech giant interest in Johor-singapore SEZ
Kuala Lumpur THE Johor-singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) could draw fresh attention as a potential node for global cloud infrastructure, as drone strikes on data centres in the Middle East make tech giants think about diversifying into regions...
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Watch maven Tay Liam Wee sells Nassim GCB plot for S$92m
The 23,922-sq-ft vacant site is being sold by former Sincere Watch boss to Dr Ian Tan, founder of medical aesthetics clinic chain V Medical, which operates 21 clinics across Singapore.
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Oil surges past US$110, rattling markets in Asia and clouding Fed rate-cut outlook
BRENT crude’s surge past US$110 a barrel sent Asian markets lower on Thursday (Mar 19), and is set to further jolt sentiment, as escalating strikes between Iran and Israel threaten critical energy infrastructure. This followed the US Federal Reserve’s...
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Singapore’s Feb key exports growth slows to 4%; electronics surge eases, non-electronics slide
THE Republic’s key exports rose 4 per cent year on year in February, easing from the preceding month’s revised 9.2 per cent growth, data from Enterprise Singapore (Enterprisesg) showed on Tuesday (Mar 17). The latest non-oil domestic exports (NODX)...
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A fresh start for Jurong Lake District with Town Hall Link site released
THE Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has released the first Jurong Lake District (JLD) plot, carved out of a massive area previously tendered for a master developer project, with a white site along Town Hall Link put up for sale from its reserve...
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Iran war ups inflation risks, tips scales for MAS to go for stronger Singdollar in April
THE escalating conflict in the Middle East and sharp rise in crude oil prices have tilted the odds in favour of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) tightening monetary policy at its review in April, analysts said. Several economists now expect...
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Ringgit’s rebound tests Malaysian exporters as Singdollar remains resilient
MALAYSIA’S ringgit has surged to its strongest levels in years, but for businesses trading across the Johor Strait, the key question is how the currency will fare against the resilient Singapore dollar. The ringgit’s rally, buoyed by improving...
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Brazilian payments unicorn focuses on Asia-pacific with upcoming HQ here
Ebanx, which entered Asia in 2023, will open its Asia-pacific headquarters with a team of 25 in the country. AFTER a banner 2025 financial year, Singapore-listed property stocks look set to extend their run into 2026, supported by steady residential...
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Singapore, regional petrochem sector could see more force majeure notices
THE escalating conflict in the Middle East has cast a pall on Singapore’s petrochemical sector, with two key players declaring force majeure in the past week and some analysts expecting that more could follow. “It is looking very grim for Singapore’s...
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Iran conflict could lift palm oil prices, but not all SGX agri players will gain
PROLONGED Middle East instability could push crude palm oil (CPO) prices higher on stronger biodiesel demand – a dynamic that may benefit upstream plantation companies but pressure integrated operators. Analysts said that Singaporelisted planters with...
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SPEED AND SAVINGS: WHAT’S DRIVING SINGAPOREANS TO KEEP LUXURY CARS IN MALAYSIA
Former racing driver Ringo Chong helps Singaporeans take their cars for a spin on a former Formula 1 racetrack – but without F1-sized bills. His company, Ringo Chong Racing & Promotions, provides storage and maintenance services for track-only cars at...
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Oil spike drags Asian currencies lower; Fed and Middle East trajectory key risks
ESCALATING tensions in the Middle East have pushed major Asian currencies lower against the US dollar over the past week, as oil prices surged and investors sought the greenback as a safe haven. However, analysts said energy prices – the main...
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Singapore energy regulator cautions Gulf conflict could hike electricity prices
SINGAPORE electricity prices could rise if global gas prices remain elevated amid Middle East tensions, the Republic’s energy regulator told The Business Times. Market players are watching prices closely, but believe that Singapore’s electricity...
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S-E Asian businesses in the Gulf take safety measures, hunker down for lengthy disruption
SOUTH-EAST Asian companies with Gulf exposure are in contingency mode as the Us-iran conflict ripples through the region, causing margin pressures as freight and energy costs spike. Exporters to the Middle East, companies in the oil and gas (O&G)...
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War impact on energy cost: Singapore to reassess growth, inflation forecasts if needed
THE Republic will reassess its growth and inflation forecasts if necessary, following the outbreak of conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, which has raised the risk of higher global energy prices, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong in...
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Wealth flows, Asean momentum to anchor Singapore banks in 2026: observers
SINGAPORE’S three local banks exited FY2025 on a firm footing, as stronger fee and wealth income helped offset pressure from lower interest rates, while provisioning buffers kept asset quality broadly stable heading into 2026. With further rate cuts...
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THE NEW RULES OF ENGAGEMENT: FORGET MINED DIAMONDS, GO LAB-GROWN
FOR decades, the mined diamond was the undisputed centrepiece of a marriage proposal, including in Singapore. But pragmatic couples are breaking with tradition by opting for lab-grown stones instead. Lab-grown diamonds now account for about 80 per cent...
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Over-reliance on taxing the rich risks shifting burden to middle class: PM Wong
RELYING solely on “ever-higher” taxes on the wealthy risks undermining competitiveness, enterprise and job creation, and has limits in addressing inequality, said Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in Parliament on Thursday (Feb 26). As...
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OCBC’S new CEO Tan Teck Long pivots to Asean, wealth business for expansion
A STRATEGIC shift towards Asean, wooing the high net worth to expand OCBC’S wealth pie, and an intensified focus on technology – these are some of the key strategies that the bank’s new group chief executive officer, Tan Teck Long, intends to...
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UOB upbeat on Asean trade despite fresh US tariffs, trims 2026 fee guidance
AS FRESH tariffs cloud the global trade outlook, UOB said that Asean’s intra-regional momentum remains intact, positioning the region as a relative bright spot amid rising volatility. While businesses may adopt a cautious stance in the near term as...
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Core inflation eases to 1% in January as MTI, MAS keep full-year forecast at 1-2%
THE Republic’s core inflation eased to 1 per cent in January from 1.2 per cent in December, defying economists’ expectations even as headline inflation edged higher. Private-sector economists had expected the rate for core inflation, which excludes...
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Singapore monitoring situation as Trump’s 15% tariff threat raises uncertainty
THE Singapore government is closely monitoring fresh tariff developments and engaging its US counterparts, and stands ready to render more support measures if needed, as US President Donald Trump’s new 15 per cent tariff threat heightens...
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AIMING FOR THE RIGHT BLEND: C-BEAUTY’S CHALLENGE TO K-BEAUTY CAN’T BE BRUSHED OFF
ONCE a loyalist of South Korean beauty products, 30-year-old civil servant Aurelia Teo has diversified to cheaper China-branded options – and she is far from alone. “I used to be quite loyal to Korean beauty, but as I learnt more about skincare...
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One Raffles Place expected to be put on the market at S$2.3b to S$2.4b
ANOTHER substantial office asset in a prime location in the Central Business District is expected to be put on the market this year amid improving property investment sentiment fuelled by lower interest rates. All the owners of One Raffles Place,...
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Luxury condos see robust sales in 2025; what’s behind buzz and will it continue?
A FLURRY of new projects launched in the prime Core Central Region (CCR) spurred fresh interest in luxury condominiums, where sales of large, prime units rose last year to their highest level since 2023. The substantial injection of new 99-year...
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January new home sales down 57% at 466 units, with two new projects launched
DEVELOPERS sold 466 private homes (excluding executive condominiums) in January, down 57 per cent from the year-ago period, as 2026 opened with two projects launched in the first month of the year. January sales were up 136.5 per cent from the 197...
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Why Singapore’s white-collar AI training drive is starting with law and accounting
THE Republic’s push to equip white-collar workers with artificial intelligence (AI) skills is starting with lawyers and accountants – two data-heavy professions under growing manpower strain. Industry observers said the move reflects the clear,...
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Margin relief lifts outlook for DBS, OCBC and UOB, extending Singapore bank rally
THE three local banks may be nearing the end of the margin squeeze that has weighed on earnings over the past year, as interest rates stabilise and funding pressures ease, analysts said. Ahead of the banks’ fourth-quarter results, sentiment remains...
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Kkr-led STT GDC deal speeds up Singtel’s push to digital infrastructure, say analysts
A S$6.6 BILLION deal led by private equity giant KKR, alongside Singtel, to acquire Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) is expected to propel the telco to a top-tier position in the Asia-pacific data centre space. It also...
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Singapore players eye securities financing amid global demand, wealth inflows
MORE financial institutions in Singapore are eyeing the securities financing business, given increasing global demand and a growing supply of assets as wealth continues to flow into the Republic, observers said. Singapore’s securities financing market...
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Call for investor caution as MAS, SGX pave way for forward-looking disclosures
THE door may soon open for forward-looking disclosures by listed companies, with market observers saying the shift could improve transparency and narrow information gaps, even as they caution that such statements carry inherent risks and require...
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What makes a ‘good job’ today – and why this is harder to create
GOOD jobs are still defined by pay, stability and progression, but creating such roles – and making them accessible – has become increasingly difficult, labour observers say. The issue has come into sharper focus after the Economic Strategy Review...
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E&O’S RM60B Andaman project moves from homes to hubs
The artificial island off Penang is moving into its next phase – to become a lifestyle and business hub. A second link, Gurney Bridge, connecting it to Gurney Drive, has recently opened.
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MAS maintains monetary policy settings; tightening expected in April or July
ECONOMISTS expect the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to tighten monetary policy in April or July after keeping settings unchanged in January, amid a more optimistic growth outlook and higher inflation projections. Though most expect a move in...
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Singapore firms could grow revenue by S$12.3b with Enterprisesg support in 2025
AMID a volatile macroeconomic environment in 2025 fraught with trade tensions and disruptions, Singapore companies are expected to grow their annual revenue by S$12.3 billion and create 10,000 skilled jobs through projects supported by Enterprise...
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Micron invests US$24B to expand Singapore manufacturing complex
SEMICONDUCTOR giant Micron Technology broke ground on Tuesday (Jan 27) morning on an advanced wafer fabrication facility in Woodlands as part of a major investment of US$24 billion over the next decade. This brings Micron’s total investments in...
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Sgx-listed pawnbrokers, stocks ride gold rally as precious metal breaks US$5,000 level
PAWNBROKERS have emerged as beneficiaries of gold’s historic rally, as the yellow metal crossed the psychological US$5,000 mark and set yet another record. After already gaining much ground in the past year or so, gold prices are still rising on a...
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Johor-singapore SEZ’S RM68B fuels state’s record investment haul as interest swells
THE Johor-singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) pact locked in RM68 billion (S$21.9 billion) in approved investments during the first nine months of 2025, accounting for nearly 75 per cent of Johor’s record RM91.1 billion, one of the country’s top...
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FROM K-POP TO ‘PETROL STATION’ SETS: HOW PHOTO STUDIOS ARE CLICKING WITH CUSTOMERS
TWO decades ago, young Singaporeans squeezed behind the curtains of Japanese-style Neoprint booths to snap photos, embellish them with glittery doodles, and print them out as stickers. Once omnipresent in arcades and malls, these booths faded away in...
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Construction demand to stay firm at S$47b to S$53b in 2026: Chee Hong Tat
CONSTRUCTION demand in Singapore is expected to remain firm in 2026, with S$47 billion to S$53 billion of contracts expected to be awarded, said Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat on Thursday (Jan 22). This is broadly in line with the...
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Gold, silver hit fresh highs as Trump’s Greenland tariffs rattle European markets
GOLD and silver scaled new alltime highs on Monday (Jan 19), as investors continued to pour money into safe-haven assets following the Trump administration’s latest tariff salvo – this time linked to Greenland. Spot gold prices climbed 1.4 per cent to...
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Secondary listings on SGX set to grow in 2026, but regulatory frictions loom
WITH three recent sizeable secondary listings bringing the total on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) to 29, industry players expect more entrants this year, especially with the streamlining of some regulatory processes. “We do see some secondary listings...
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Singapore port achieves record-high performance in 2025
THE Port of Singapore had a banner year in 2025, achieving all-time highs for annual vessel arrival tonnage, container throughput, marine fuel sales, sales of alternative bunker fuels, and total tonnage of ships under the country’s flag. Gross tonnage...
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Malaysia’s MM2H’S new pull: Schools, second homes and a Greater China surge
THE Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) scheme, which generated nearly RM900 million (S$284.2 million) in the year to June 2025, is increasingly being used as a visa for globally mobile families chasing international school access and a second base – not...
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‘SEARCH FUNDS’ TO BUY SMES SPRING UP IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC, BUT WILL THEY SUCCEED?
AFTER a 15-year career ranging fr m engineering to invest nt banking, Pete Seligman left he corporate world – and w nt looking for a company to y. In 2013, he and a friend founded buy t vehicle Alpin Group to acqu re, operate and grow small businesses...
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