Posts by Liam Redmond
Bank of Japan split over how US policies impact rate hikes: March minutes
Published Thu, May 8, 2025 · 09:30 AM [TOKYO] Bank of Japan policymakers were divided in March over how soon the central bank should raise interest rates again as uncertainty stemming from US tariff policies heightened, minutes of their meeting showed on Thursday. “Downside risks stemming from US policies had rapidly heightened and, depending on…
Read MoreGold rises as Fed warns of economic uncertainty; Sino-US trade talks eyed
Published Thu, May 8, 2025 · 09:30 AM [BENGALURU] Gold prices climbed on Thursday (May 8) after the Federal Reserve warned of rising inflation and labour market risks fuelling economic uncertainty, while investors awaited the US-China trade talks. Spot gold rose 0.6 per cent to US$3,384.99 an ounce as at 0030 GMT. US gold futures…
Read MoreSingapore stocks open weaker as Fed leaves rates unchanged; other Asian markets mixed
DBS up on Q1 results, dividend announcement; Reits among most actively traded counters fall in early trade [SINGAPORE] Singapore stocks opened weaker on Thursday (May 8) following the overnight announcement by the US Federal Reserve that it will be holding rates steady. While Fed chair Jerome Powell noted that the US economy had “continued to…
Read MoreGreat Eastern reports 13% higher Q1 profit of S$345.5 million
[SINGAPORE] Great Eastern on Thursday (May 8) posted a 13 per cent year-on-year increase in profit to S$345.5 million for the first quarter ended March, versus S$306.7 million previously. This was driven by higher profit from the insurance business as well as favourable investment performance in the group’s shareholders’ fund, said the insurance arm of…
Read MoreANZ’s H1 cash earnings largely flat, margins stay pressured
Published Thu, May 8, 2025 · 08:45 AM AUSTRALIA’S ANZ Group reported largely flat first-half cash earnings on Thursday (May 8), as persistent competition in the home loan market and a rise in asset impairments offset lending growth. Intense competition to sell cheaper home loans to customers hurt by higher interest rates and living costs has been…
Read MoreMammoth $254B NY state budget revealed, goes up for vote: ‘Albany at its cynical worst’
The bulk of the mammoth $254 billion state budget deal was unveiled Wednesday with some last minute self-serving quietly slipped into the batter before Albany lawmakers were set to finally vote on it. The spending plan documents — nicknamed “The Big Ugly” in capital lingo — provide a last-minute, warts-and-all look at much-anticipated legislation focused…
Read MoreStocks to watch: DBS, Riverstone, Lendlease Global Reit, Amara, Ban Leong
[SINGAPORE] The following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Thursday (May 8). DBS: The bank’s net profit for its first quarter fell due to higher tax expenses from the implementation of the 15 per cent global minimum tax, it said on Thursday. Net profit for the three months ended…
Read MoreManulife profit rises as Asia, wealth management businesses see strong growth
Published Thu, May 8, 2025 · 08:13 AM MANULIFE Financial posted a 3 per cent jump in first-quarter profit on Wednesday, helped by the strong performance of its insurance business in Asia and overall growth in its global wealth and asset management business. Manulife has been expanding its investment advisory and retirement planning services to…
Read MoreGranite Asia’s first private credit fund hits US$250 million
[SINGAPORE] Granite Asia announced that it has secured over US$250 million from anchor investors for its first private credit fund, Libra Hybrid Capital Fund. In a press release on Thursday (May 8), the multi-asset platform said that anchor investors include top Asian sovereign wealth funds, as well as Granite Asia’s general partners and its network…
Read MoreCash-strapped Beyond Meat gets US$100 million from diet non-profit
[NEW YORK] Beyond Meat raised US$100 million in debt financing from a plant-based diets advocate, as the company continues to search for funds to shore up its liquidity. The lender, Unprocessed Foods, is an affiliate of Ahimsa Foundation, an organisation “focused on advocating for plant-based diets”, the plant-based meat supplier said on Wednesday (May 7)…
Read MoreRobinhood plans blockchain to trade US assets in Europe
[NEW YORK] Robinhood Markets is developing a blockchain-based platform that will allow retail investors in Europe to trade US securities such as stocks, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The venture will be likely launched through a partnership with a digital asset firm, according to the sources. Arbitrum, a blockchain that is overlaid…
Read MoreCBS anchor bizarrely says cardinals are ‘raw dogging’ the conclave on live TV
Holy uncalled for. A CBS anchor bizarrely said Catholic Cardinals were “raw dogging” the conclave in a cringe-inducing characterization of the strict sequester for clergymen that bans, among other things, cellphones. “CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil made the forced faux pas as a correspondent explained how the Cardinals pass the time while they are sequestered…
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