Posts by Liam Redmond
A long-held tenet of Asia’s markets is suddenly breaking apart
In many ways, the AI infrastructure trade is the biggest swing factor when it comes to the outlook for Asian stocks [TOKYO] A breakdown in the relationship between Asia’s stocks and its currencies is flashing a signal for global funds to rethink their investment strategy in the region. The 30-day correlation between the MSCI Asia-Pacific…
Read MoreECB on a steady rate path for now but Fed tussle a risk, chief economist warns
[FRANKFURT] The European Central Bank will not debate any rate change in the near term if the economy stays on course, but new shocks, like a potential deviation by the Federal Reserve from its mandate, could upset the outlook, ECB chief economist Philip Lane said. The ECB has kept rates on hold since ending a…
Read MoreUS asks allies to step up measures on Chinese minerals
America has been pressing some European Union member states to sign bilateral memorandums of understanding [NEW YORK] The US will convene dozens of foreign ministers from allied countries next month to pursue an agreement designed to help reduce their dependencies on Chinese critical minerals. The meeting, which sources familiar say is slated for Feb 4,…
Read MoreThe great microplastic panic — the lessons we can learn from the mass paranoia
Relax — but learn: Turns out all those peer-reviewed studies warning that micro- and nanoplastics infest your brain, blood and gonads . . . don’t hold up. New analysis finds that all those feats of science “face methodological challenges” — something the journals that published them really should’ve noticed before granting them their imprimatur. Seems…
Read MoreFitch warns of eastern European downgrades if Greenland strife cracks Nato
Tensions over Greenland were however, unlikely to affect Denmark’s triple-A rating [LONDON] A raft of European countries could face a one-notch credit rating downgrade if tensions with the US over Greenland fracture Nato and raise the prospect of more trouble with Russia, Fitch’s top sovereign analyst said on Thursday. Fitch already applies a one-notch “adjustment”…
Read MoreWhat are significant risk transfers – and why is DBS reportedly considering them?
Analysts say that other banks in Asia, including OCBC and UOB, could eventually explore similar deals [SINGAPORE] A week ago, media reports surfaced that DBS – South-east Asia’s largest lender – is weighing a foray into significant risk transfers (SRTs), putting this relatively niche corner of bank capital management into the spotlight. DBS is reportedly…
Read MoreSecondary listings on SGX set to grow in 2026, but regulatory frictions loom
Well-known companies with such listings here include DFI Retail Group, IHH Healthcare, Nio and Prudential [SINGAPORE] 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 in the…
Read MoreMemory shortage to hit Nvidia China approvals, US lawmaker says
Demand for the components, long treated as a commodity, has skyrocketed due to the AI data centre boom [WASHINGTON] Tight memory chip supplies will constrain the number of US export licenses for Nvidia to sell its H200 artificial intelligence (AI) processors to Chinese customers, according to the top Republican on the House China committee, citing…
Read MoreStaggering number of Olympics fans enter ticket lottery in first 24 hours
A record number of people — more than 1.5 million — have sought tickets to LA’s 2028 Olympics since the lottery opened Wednesday morning, officials said. The organizing committee called the early demand unprecedented, noting it comes more than two and a half years before the Games and marks the earliest registration period for any…
Read MoreUS getting 30% higher price for Venezuelan oil than Venezuela did weeks ago, energy chief says
[WASHINGTON] US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Thursday the US is getting a 30 per cent higher price for Venezuelan crude oil than Venezuela got before US special forces captured President Nicolas Maduro this month. “We’re getting about a 30 per cent higher realised price when we sell the same barrel of oil than…
Read MoreFed officials back rate-cut pause as inflation concerns linger
The central bank is widely expected to leave its benchmark unchanged at its Jan 27 to 28 meeting [NEW YORK] Several US Federal Reserve officials speaking on Thursday (Jan 15) signalled a willingness to pause interest-rate cuts at their upcoming policy meeting, citing a labour market that appears to be stabilising and ongoing inflation pressures.…
Read MoreEuropean shares extend record run on technology, financial gains
EUROPEAN shares scaled a new record high on Thursday, boosted by technology and financial stocks as investors assessed several positive earnings updates and signs of resilience in the German economy. The pan-European Stoxx 600 advanced 0.5 per cent to 614.57 points. Technology stocks gained 2.3 per cent and hovered at levels last seen in 2000, while financial…
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