Posts by Liam Redmond
CPF Special, MediSave and Retirement Accounts’ interest rate remains at 4% for Q3 2025
[SINGAPORE] The interest rate for the Central Provident Fund’s (CPF) Special, MediSave and Retirement Accounts (SMRA) will remain at 4 per cent per annum in the third quarter of 2025 – the same as the second quarter. This is because the SMRA pegged rate continues to fall below the floor rate of 4 per cent,…
Read MoreAsia: Equities track Wall Street sell-off as US deficit fears grow
[HONG KONG] Asian equities sank and Treasuries remained under pressure following sharp losses on Wall Street fuelled by US economy fears as Donald Trump tries to push through fresh tax cuts that could balloon the already huge deficit. A weak auction of 20-year US government debt flashed a warning sign that the bond market was…
Read MoreKnicks choke away lead in final minutes as Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton stunningly steal Game 1
The Knicks were cooking at home in Game 1. But then things took a turn. Despite going on a 14-0 run early in the fourth quarter, New York choked away the lead and lost 138-135 in overtime on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. With a chance to close out the game in the final…
Read MoreBank of Japan should step in only in a ‘severe’ bond market rout, policymaker says
Published Thu, May 22, 2025 · 11:05 AM [TOKYO] The Bank of Japan does not need to make big changes to its bond taper plan and should only ramp up buying in times of “severe market disruption,” its board member Asahi Noguchi said, a sign the bank sees no imminent need to arrest recent sharp…
Read MoreSingtel jumps 3.6% on S$0.10 per share dividend, S$2 billion share buyback plan
Company’s shares hit their highest price in more than 5 years as telco returns to the black with S$2.8 billion H2 net profit [SINGAPORE] Shares of Singtel rose on Thursday (May 22) morning after the telco giant announced a final dividend of S$0.10 per share and initiated its first share buyback programme of up to…
Read MoreSingtel jumps 2.6% on S$0.10 per share dividend, S$2 billion share buyback plan
Singtel has returned to the black with S$2.8 billion net profit for its second half [SINGAPORE] Shares of Singtel rose on Thursday (May 22) morning after the telco giant announced a final dividend of S$0.10 per share and initiated its first share buyback programme of up to S$2 billion. As at 9.12 am, the counter…
Read MoreTexas sheriff discovers a dozen migrants hidden inside hay bales during traffic stop of apparent human smuggler
A Texas sheriff deputy discovered a dozen illegal migrants crammed together inside hay bales in an alleged human smuggling scheme during a routine traffic stop Tuesday. The deputy pulled over a white Ford F-250 pickup towing several massive bales of hay on a trailer driving along IH-10 near Flatonia just before 1 p.m., according to…
Read MoreDollar-store billionaire poised to emerge from Malaysia IPO
[KUALA LUMPUR] A discount chain with signature red storefronts has drawn legions of Malaysians looking for good deals – and made its founder a billionaire. Eco-Shop Marketing, which operates more than 350 dollar stores across Malaysia, is on track to complete its initial public offering (IPO) in Kuala Lumpur on Friday (May 23) – the…
Read MoreGold rises as investors grow cautious amid US debt fears
Markets are now pricing in at least 50 basis points of rate cuts this year, with the first one expected in October Published Thu, May 22, 2025 · 09:30 AM [BENGALURU] Gold prices rose on Thursday (May 22) as investors leaned towards the safe-haven asset due to mounting concerns over the US government’s growing debt…
Read MoreJudge rejects arguments that AI chatbots have free speech rights in lawsuit over teen’s death
A federal judge on Wednesday rejected arguments made by an artificial intelligence company that its chatbots are protected by the First Amendment — at least for now. The developers behind Character.AI are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the company’s chatbots pushed a teenage boy to kill himself. The judge’s order will allow the wrongful…
Read MoreAs Rolex shrinks retail near new New York City flagship, Patek Philippe expands
[NEW YORK] After 45 years, Rolexes will no longer be sold at Wempe, the tony watch and jewellery dealer at 700 Fifth Ave, one of retail’s most prestigious addresses. The watches are not going far, though. Rolex is finishing construction on a new, 199,000-square-foot New York headquarters designed by David Chipperfield Architects two blocks away…
Read MoreSingtel returns to the black with S$2.8 billion H2 profit on exceptional gain, unveils S$2 billion buyback programme
The group has authorised its first share buyback programme of up to S$2 billion, as part of the company’s capital management strategy [SINGAPORE] Singtel returned to the black with a net profit of S$2.8 billion for its second half ended March 2025, compared with a net loss of S$1.3 billion for the previous corresponding period.…
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