Posts by Liam Redmond
Warburg Pincus is said to near acquisition of Asian firm Acclime
The transaction may value the corporate services firm at US$950 million to US$1 billion [HONG KONG] Warburg Pincus is nearing a deal to acquire Asia-focused corporate services firm Acclime, sources said. Warburg Pincus is the likeliest buyer after beating rival private equity firms, they said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.…
Read MoreHong Kong’s financial resurgence fuelled by surge of offshore wealth
Strong net fund inflows of HK$7 trillion brought the city’s managed assets back up to HK$35.1 trillion at the end of 2024 [HONG KONG] The turnaround in Hong Kong’s financial stature has come swiftly, abruptly and decisively. The city’s thriving banking sector hints at the cause: Exceptionally high, double-digit growth in wealth and investment management…
Read MoreThai central bank cuts policy rate by 25 bps, as expected
The reduction is the fifth since October 2024, with rates down by a total of 125 basis points [BANGKOK] Thailand’s central bank cut its key interest rate on Wednesday (Dec 17), as widely expected, as it looks to support a slowing economy grappling with multiple challenges including political uncertainty, a strengthening baht and US tariffs.…
Read MoreBondi Beach terrorist Naveed Akram charged with 15 murders as funerals of victims begin
A man who allegedly opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach has been charged with 59 offenses, including murder and terrorism, police said on Wednesday. The alleged father-and-son perpetrators opened fire on the celebration at Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach on Sunday, killing 15 in an attack that shook the nation and intensified…
Read MoreTop Glove Q1 profit surges more than 600% as costs fall
The glove maker reports a drop in operating expenses to RM842.9 million for the quarter [SINGAPORE] Malaysian glove maker Top Glove on Wednesday (Dec 17) reported a 605 per cent jump in net profit for the first quarter of its 2026 financial year, driven by higher plant utilisation and cost optimisations. Net profit weighed in…
Read MoreGold could hit US$5,000 an ounce in 2026 if risk hedging persists: market watchers
Returns are expected to moderate for the precious metal in the new year, say analysts [SINGAPORE] Gold has surged more than 60 per cent since the beginning of 2025 – its strongest annual performance since 1979 – and is now firmly consolidating above US$4,000 an ounce. While the precious metal may not perform quite as…
Read MoreTop Hong Kong crypto exchange HashKey makes market debut
[HONG KONG] Hong Kong’s biggest licenced cryptocurrency exchange began trading on Wednesday (Dec 17) as the city pushes to become a global hub for the technology despite Beijing’s tough stance on it. While trading and mining of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is banned in mainland China, eye-catching adverts for the sector are a common sight…
Read MoreHans Patuwo gets GoTo shareholders’ nod as CEO amid investor push for Grab deal
[JAKARTA] Shareholders of Indonesia’s digital giant GoTo Group have approved the appointment of Hans Patuwo as president director and chief executive officer. The appointment was approved at GoTo’s annual general meeting of shareholders on Wednesday (Dec 17), formalising Patuwo’s succession of Patrick Walujo. The management change comes as investors increasingly push the company to pursue…
Read MoreHigh coffee prices are changing how consumers take their daily brew
The median price of a regular cup of coffee on menus across the US has risen almost 20% since early 2023 [LONDON] Global coffee prices rose to record highs this year, sending the cost of cappuccinos and lattes soaring. But a caffeine habit is hard to kick. So instead of giving up their daily brew,…
Read MoreFlorida teen Anna Kepner captured on video dancing at cruise sail away party before mysterious death
A video showing 18-year-old Anna Kepner dancing with fellow passengers aboard the Carnival Horizon has surfaced, offering one of the last public glimpses of the Florida teenager days before she was found dead on the cruise ship. The footage, posted by TikTok user @nickcapo609, captures the ship’s Sail Away Party on Nov. 2, as the vessel departed…
Read MoreSingapore to pilot ‘overhang’ solar power structure, as it nears deployment target
The Republic is more than halfway to its 2 GWp target, equivalent to the annual electricity needs of about 350,000 households [SINGAPORE] Industrial landlord JTC on Wednesday (Dec 17) launched a tender to develop Singapore’s first “overhang” solar photovoltaic (PV) system – comprising large structures built across the spaces between multi-storey industrial buildings. The tender…
Read MoreApollo weighs potential US$12 billion sale of Atlas Air
[NEW YORK] Apollo Global Management is exploring a potential sale of its aviation company Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, according to sources familiar with the matter. The US investment firm is in the early stages of considering a potential divestment of Atlas Air and may seek to value the business at more than US$12 billion, including…
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