In a notable turnaround, Singapore’s economy registered a remarkable growth rate of 4.4% in 2024, demonstrating the strongest performance since 2021. This growth is reflective of the buoyancy in key sectors such as wholesale trade, finance and insurance, and manufacturing. This surge follows a more modest expansion of 1.8% in the previous year, indicating a
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On Thursday, the Asia-Pacific stock markets displayed a notable resilience, diverging sharply from the downward trajectory seen on Wall Street the previous night. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia recorded a modest increase of 0.26%, while Japan’s prominent indices—the Nikkei 225 and Topix—gained 1.1% and 0.91% respectively. South Korea’s Kospi saw a healthy rise of 0.71%,
SoftBank Group, renowned for its aggressive investing strategy through the Vision Funds, recently reported a notably surprising financial downturn. The company’s quarterly results reveal unexpected losses that raise questions about their future direction and investment viability. Investors had anticipated a different narrative, but instead, they were met with figures highlighting substantial losses that fell short
In recent times, a remarkable transformation is underway within China’s corporate landscape, characterized by unprecedented dividend payouts and share buybacks. These initiatives, driven by a combination of market pressures and strategic government policies, have garnered the attention of domestic and international investors alike. With record-breaking figures being reported, the Chinese stock market appears to be
On a recent Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to introduce a new round of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, setting the rate at a substantial 25%. This move adds another layer to the existing tariff structure that has been in place since the beginning of Trump’s presidency. While the specifics regarding the
In January 2023, China’s economic indicators revealed a complex and somewhat contradictory landscape characterized by rising consumer prices but persistent deflation in producer prices. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, the consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.5% year-over-year in January, a notable increase from the mere 0.1% hike seen in
On a recent Saturday, the Palestinian militant organization Hamas facilitated the release of three Israeli hostages, an event that has stirred deep emotional responses across the region. These men, who appeared visibly weakened and emaciated, were part of a complex and strained ceasefire arrangement aimed at alleviating the ongoing conflict that has been ravaging Gaza
In a significant development for India’s economy, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has enacted its first interest rate cut in nearly half a decade, a decision welcomed by many amidst the backdrop of declining inflation. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) opted to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points, bringing it down to
In its recent quarterly report, French cosmetics powerhouse L’Oreal unveiled sales results that fell below analysts’ expectations for the last quarter of the year. The company achieved sales of 11.08 billion euros (approximately $11.49 billion) for the three months ending in December, reflecting a 2.5% increase on a like-for-like basis. This figure edged just short
Novo Nordisk, a leading name in the pharmaceutical industry, recently released its fourth-quarter earnings report, which showcased a significant rise in net profits. The Danish company registered a 29% increase year-over-year, bringing its net profit to an impressive 28.23 billion Danish kroner ($3.98 billion). This figure surpassed the anticipated 26.09 billion kroner, indicative of a