Posts by Liam Redmond
Asia has limited options to diversify from Middle East energy reliance
Published Fri, Mar 6, 2026 · 06:47 PM [SINGAPORE] Asian energy buyers are scrambling to find alternatives as the Iran war creates unprecedented supply disruption, but the region has limited longer-term options to reduce its heavy reliance on Middle Eastern oil. The world’s top crude importing region buys 60 per cent of its oil and…
Read MoreSingapore stocks close flat on Friday amid cautious calm in Asian markets
[SINGAPORE] Singapore stocks finished flattish on Friday (Mar 6), as a “tense” calmness returned to key Asian markets even as missiles continued to rain over the Middle East. The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) grew a marginal 0.03 per cent or 1.69 points to finish at 4,848.25. This brought the blue-chip index down 2.9 per…
Read MoreMTQ resumes Middle East operations; Vallianz not ‘significantly’ affected
This comes after the US and Israel launched their biggest attacks on Iran in decades on Feb 28 [SINGAPORE] MTQ Corp’s Middle East operations have resumed, while Vallianz Holdings has not been “significantly” affected by conflicts in the region, the two Singapore-listed companies said in separate bourse filings on Thursday (Mar 5). MTQ, a mainboard-listed…
Read MoreLufthansa beats profit target; outlook uncertain
Published Fri, Mar 6, 2026 · 05:30 PM [LONDON] Lufthansa reported better-than-expected 2025 results on Friday (Mar 6) as stricter financial management and fleet renewal helped it contain costs and boost profits, but the outlook remained clouded by the war in the Middle East. The German group’s shares rose as much as 4 per cent…
Read MoreSingapore’s new AI-upskilling push seen as shield against job displacement amid global layoffs
The National AI Impact Programme seeks to train 100,000 workers to be ‘fluent’ in applying artificial intelligence skills in their jobs [SINGAPORE] The Republic’s latest initiative to train workers in artificial intelligence (AI) skills is seen as “a necessary move” to upskill workers, and a defensive strategy to prevent the displacement of jobs from turning…
Read MoreMaersk suspends two shipping services due to Middle East crisis
It would halt its FM1 service connecting the Far East to the Middle East and its ME11 service linking the Middle East to Europe Published Fri, Mar 6, 2026 · 04:21 PM [COPENHAGEN] Maersk, one of the world’s biggest container shipping groups,said on Friday (Mar 6) it has temporarily suspended two services linking the Middle…
Read MoreSats says no ‘material interruption’ to Middle East cargo operations amid Iran conflict
The company provides air cargo handling services and operates facilities in Saudi Arabia and Oman [SINGAPORE] Cargo handler Sats said on Friday (Mar 6) that its Middle East operations have “not experienced any material interruption” amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The company, which provides air cargo handling services and operates facilities in Saudi…
Read MoreAster declares force majeure on disruption in supply of raw materials
Published Fri, Mar 6, 2026 · 04:05 PM — Updated Fri, Mar 6, 2026 · 06:53 PM [SINGAPORE] Singapore refiner and petrochemical major Aster Chemicals and Energy has declared force majeure regarding supplies, citing a disruption in raw materials because of the Middle East conflict, a company spokesperson said on Friday (Mar 6). The joint…
Read MorePfizer secures China nod for obesity drug as generics loom
Published Fri, Mar 6, 2026 · 03:45 PM [BEIJING] China has approved a new obesity treatment from Pfizer, heightening competition in a market poised to become even more crowded with the looming entry of generics. The drug, ecnoglutide, is approved for chronic weight management in overweight or obese adults, Pfizer announced on Friday (Mar 6)…
Read MoreSoftBank seeks record loan of up to US$40 billion for OpenAI stake
Published Fri, Mar 6, 2026 · 01:03 PM SOFTBANK Group is seeking a loan of as much as US$40 billion to mostly help finance its investment in US tech giant OpenAI, according to people familiar with the matter, in what would be its largest-ever borrowing denominated solely in dollars. The bridge loan would have a…
Read More‘The best risk-return wins’: Partners Group eyes Asia private wealth growth amid private credit jitters
The firm, which has ramped up its Asia team, will engage more distribution partners and launch new products to woo investors [SINGAPORE] In a polarised geopolitical environment, neutrality can be an advantage for global investors, the president of private-markets firm Partners Group Juri Jenkner said. In his firm, every investment must pass through a global…
Read MoreGulf carriers resume limited flights, but missile fire fuels uncertainty
Published Fri, Mar 6, 2026 · 11:48 AM [HONG KONG] Emirates and Etihad Airways were resuming limited flight schedules to key global cities from their United Arab Emirates hubs on Friday, though the ongoing threat of missile fire piled pressure on airlines as they scramble to accommodate travellers. With most airspace in the Middle East…
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