Posts by Liam Redmond
Asia still at risk of ‘severe’ energy shock as US-Iran tensions persist, warns Aberdeen CIO
The asset manager sees heightened geopolitical risks affecting the region in the coming days [SINGAPORE] Aberdeen is sounding the alarm on a “severe” energy supply shock that could take Asia years to recover from, as tensions escalate over the Strait of Hormuz after a US ultimatum to Iran. The asset manager’s chief investment officer (CIO)…
Read MoreSingtel investigating after users report Internet disruption again
[SINGAPORE] Singtel on Monday (Mar 23) was once again hit with user reports of disruption after three consecutive days of issues last week. More than 9,700 reports of issues with the company’s Internet services were recorded on Downdetector as at 3.40 pm, having started around 3.20 pm. About half the reports were for broadband Internet issues…
Read MoreSingtel says network ‘operating as expected’ after latest Internet service disruption
[SINGAPORE] Singtel on Monday (Mar 23) was once again hit with user reports of disruption after three consecutive days of issues last week. By 3.40 pm, more than 9,700 reports of issues with the company’s Internet services had been recorded on Downdetector, with reports starting at around 3.20 pm. About half the reports were for broadband…
Read MoreTokio Marine to form partnership with Berkshire Hathaway, initially sell 2.49% stake
The two firms will execute joint investments globally, including mergers and acquisitions Published Mon, Mar 23, 2026 · 04:01 PM [TOKYO] Tokio Marine Holdings said on Monday (Mar 23) it would form a strategic partnership with Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway by initially selling a 2.49 per cent stake through a third-party allotment of treasury shares.…
Read MoreBerkshire Hathaway to invest 287.4 billion yen in Tokio Marine
The two companies will collaborate on reinsurance and global investments including mergers and acquisitions Published Mon, Mar 23, 2026 · 04:01 PM — Updated Mon, Mar 23, 2026 · 07:48 PM [TOKYO] Berkshire Hathaway will invest 287.4 billion yen (S$2.3 billion) in insurer Tokio Marine Holdings, ramping up the US conglomerate’s exposure to the Japanese…
Read MoreS-E Asia’s private equity dry powder remains high as exits still subdued: Deloitte
[SINGAPORE] Private equity in South-east Asia has elevated levels of dry powder as exits remained subdued in 2025, said consultancy Deloitte in a report on Monday (Mar 23). There were 20 exit deals in 2025, a drop from 28 the previous year. But their total value held steady at US$4.5 billion last year, compared with…
Read MoreGrab buys foodpanda’s Taiwan business for US$600 million
This deal marks Grab’s entrance into its first market outside of South-east Asia [SINGAPORE] Grab is acquiring foodpanda’s Taiwan business for US$600 million in cash, said foodpanda parent company Delivery Hero in a press release on Monday (Mar 23). Delivery Hero and Grab have entered into a share purchase agreement, which is expected to close…
Read MoreLuxury brands from LVMH to Kering defy slowdown with more new store openings in Europe
Fragrances have been particularly popular due to their lower price point when compared to items such as jewellery and watches Published Mon, Mar 23, 2026 · 02:01 PM [LONDON] Owners of luxury brands ranging from Gucci to Fendi and Bulgari opened more stores in Europe last year despite a slowdown in the wider sector. The…
Read MoreCredit Suisse’s AT1 bond crash fuelled leadership crisis at HDFC
For a bank already grappling with balance sheet challenges following its 2023 merger with a mortgage lender, the timing could hardly be worse [MUMBAI] Shortly before midnight on the eve of a bank holiday in India, HDFC Bank, a favourite among global investors, stunned the market by announcing the abrupt exit of its chairman. One…
Read More‘Trust the founder’? Grab’s super-voting share proposal raises governance questions for investors
Shareholders would have to be content as passengers in a vehicle ‘with a permanent driver’, says an observer [SINGAPORE] Grab’s proposal to boost the voting power of founder Anthony Tan raises questions for shareholders on the company’s corporate governance and how far they are willing to embrace a “trust-the-founder” mindset, experts told The Business Times.…
Read MoreSinopec flags chemicals spending cut as profit pressure mounts
China’s massive oil reserves have given the world’s largest oil importer some breathing space to deal with the Middle East war Published Mon, Mar 23, 2026 · 11:14 AM SINOPEC has set a flexible budget target for this year, flagging a potential capital expenditure cut of as much as 20 per cent, after it reported…
Read MoreVPBank seeks US$1.2 billion in one of Vietnam’s largest ESG deals
The Hanoi-based firm has mandated more than a dozen banks to underwrite the three-year facility, according to sources Published Mon, Mar 23, 2026 · 10:25 AM [HONG KONG] Vietnam Prosperity JSC Bank is seeking a sustainability-linked loan of about US$1.2 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter, in what would be one of the…
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