The Business Times
Mall owners reposition shopping centres as consumer landscape evolves
MAJOR mall owners are embarking on a new wave of asset enhancement initiatives (AEIS), pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into repositioning their malls to map shifting consumer tastes and improve returns. The revamps bring a fresh round of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Most buyers of million-dollar HDB flats paid no COV in 2025: Propnex
The group said demand for such flats is underpinned by factors such as “changing lifestyle preferences, stronger household affluence, and shifting housing priorities across different life stages”.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Coal dominance, fiscal constraints to temper S-E Asia’s clean energy boom
EVEN as South-east Asia hit a record in renewable energy investments last year, the region’s reliance on coal and fiscal constraints remain key obstacles to achieving a clean energy transition. South-east Asia invested US$17 billion in renewable...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DBS targets S$1t in AUM by 2030 as it steps up AI, hiring push
DBS is looking to accumulate more than S$1 trillion in assets under management (AUM) across its retail and wealth segments by 2030, as it doubles down on artificial intelligence, partnerships and regional expansion to capture Asia’s growing wealth. To...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MAS grant backs 85 SGX debuts since 2019 as Singapore steps up equity market revival
A LISTING grant administered by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has supported 85 listings here since its launch in 2019, based on figures disclosed for the first time by the financial regulator. This includes 12 mainboard listings in 2025...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DBS market cap crosses S$200b as earnings optimism drives Singapore bank rally
SHARES of Singapore’s three local banks have surged to record levels over the past week, helping lift the Straits Times Index (STI) to a fresh high and pushing DBS above S$200 billion in market capitalisation on Monday (Jul 13) – making it the first...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singapore banks’ battle for wealth talent goes beyond private bankers
SINGAPORE’S wealth management hiring race is spreading beyond private bankers, as demand increasingly spills over into technology, investment, compliance and risk roles that support their expanding client-facing teams. Still, competition for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Italian aristocrat sells pair of Neil Road shophouses for S$40.88m
The amalgamated property, at 136 and 138 Neil Road, is home to the Goethe-institut in Singapore. The new owner is understood to be a wholly owned subsidiary of Aw & Sons Capital.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New MAS proposal could pave way for innovative funds for retail investors
RETAIL investors in Singapore could gain access to futures-based single-commodity funds and a wider range of single-country government bond funds, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Thursday (Jul 9) outlining a proposal for a more...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
From Anthropic to Zegna: the A-to-z of Temasek’s strategies in ‘polycrisis’ world
STATE investment firm Temasek is moving to position itself at the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution and the global consumer rebound, amid geopolitical headwinds and a rapidly shifting macroeconomic landscape. Demonstrating this...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MAS proposes new corporate structure to grow alternative risk transfer market
THE Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has proposed a new corporate structure designed to make alternative risk transfer solutions more accessible and cost-effective for companies, as it seeks to strengthen Singapore’s role as a regional risk...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singapore and Indonesia seek closer energy and sustainability cooperation
Jakarta SINGAPORE and Indonesia will do more together in energy and sustainability, with carbon credits, renewable energy and cross-border electricity projects identified as areas for future cooperation. By working together, both countries can create...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Takeover code: Dealmakers welcome targeted guidance on deal protection
SINGAPORE’S revised takeover code is expected to strengthen governance and competition in merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions without making deals harder to execute, lawyers and corporate finance advisers said. Rather than impose a blanket ban...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New opportunities for Singapore as Timor-leste diversifies economy
PM Lawrence Wong says Singapore businesses can tap emerging prospects as Timor-leste moves away from oil and towards tourism and the blue economy.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
IHH partners some Integrated Shield insurers to rein in private hospital bills
A PARTNERSHIP between IHH Healthcare and some Integrated Shield Plan (IP) insurers could well be a way to rein in escalating costs and claims from private hospital IPS. The partnership taps the services of iexchange, the third-party administrator...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
OCBC rolls out Ai-native banking, to hire 600 relationship managers in wealth push
OCBC is going big on artificial intelligence even as it increases its human advisers in a bid to deepen its wealth push. South-east Asia’s second-largest bank is launching an Ai-native app for its wealth customers that features digital avatars that...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Early payout from Philippines sovereign fund raises eyebrows over its true nature
Manila THE Philippines’ Maharlika Investment Fund, barely three years after its creation, has handed the government an early fiscal win with a higher-than-expected dividend payout. But the transfer exposes a bigger question: is the country’s first...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
State polls a speed bump as RTS, JS-SEZ accelerate shifts in Johor’s property market
Kuala Lumpur JOHOR’S property market is being reshaped by factories, data centres and the Johor-singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), shifting the state away from the residential speculation that has long defined its real estate story. But with...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Expanded cash access not seen as a retreat from Singapore’s digital payments push
THE Republic’s move to expand cash access does not signal a retreat from becoming a cash-light society, observers said, but reflects a growing recognition that financial inclusion remains essential as the country upgrades its payments...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Morgan Stanley sees US$5.5T Asia energy investment boom
The bank says the region is on the cusp of a supercycle over the next five years as companies and governments ramp up spending to bolster energy security and meet Ai-driven power needs.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Valley Point could be hidden gem in Frasers Property’s S$2.1b ‘asset-light’ proposal
REAL estate giant Frasers Property’s strategic review, which has dragged on for well over two years, has finally culminated in a S$2.1 billion game of asset musical chairs. Controlled by the family of Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singapore tech unfazed by global sell-off on low AI exposure, supportive macro data
TECHNOLOGY stocks in Singapore are avoiding a global sell-off thanks to lower exposure to crowded artificial intelligence trades and supportive domestic macroeconomics. Tech stocks such as AEM Holdings, Frencken and UMS Integration were in flux on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MAS likely to hold in July as May core inflation undershoots forecasts: economists
THE Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is likely to hold monetary policy settings steady at its July meeting, private-sector economists said on Tuesday (Jun 23), after core inflation held at 1.4 per cent in May, defying forecasts of an...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Chasing global capital: South-east Asia markets turn to ‘value up’ reforms
Kuala Lumpur SOUTH-EAST Asian stock markets in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are stepping up efforts to close valuation discounts and win more capital. This comes as Asia’s private wealth grows and investors place a rising premium on stronger...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Great Eastern goes on the high-net-worth offensive, but don’t call it a pivot
SITTING in Great Eastern’s swanky new Hewton Fair Suite – an exclusive space within the Great Eastern Centre designed for servicing highnet-worth clients – there is a distinct note of fresh coffee and quiet ambition in the room. For 118 years, Great...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Can Vietnam’s SMES survive a three-front compliance squeeze?
A tougher intellectual property crackdown, driven by the US’ Vietnamspecific trade probe, is now unfolding alongside wider tax reforms and a closer scrutiny of origin rules.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singapore firms must show net-zero progress under revised standards
A MAJOR overhaul of the world’s most widely recognised corporate net-zero framework is expected to put Singapore companies under greater pressure to demonstrate how they will deliver on their climate commitments. Under the revised standard from the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singapore to advance AI agenda as 2027 Asean chair, focus on cross-border data
Jakarta WHEN Singapore assumes the chairmanship of Asean in 2027, it will advance several shared artificial intelligence priorities centred around encouraging better adoption across sectors and investing more in shared digital public goods. The nation...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singapore banks may need to address indirect exposure to captive coal in their financing policies
SINGAPORE lenders may need to review their overall coal financing policies to clarify how they treat captive coal, and provide granular disclosures on this front as they face increasing scrutiny over their exposure to the energy source. This is not...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singapore to establish OTC gold clearing system, central bank vaulting by end-2026
AN OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) gold clearing system is among initiatives that will be rolled out this year to boost Singapore’s role as a trusted global node for capital, investment and physical trade flows. DBS, Deutsche Bank, ICBC Standard Bank,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Weighing the ins and outs of retaining Orchard Road’s cachet and its future
AT FIRST glance, there is little to suggest that Singapore’s premier retail belt Orchard Road is losing its shine. Home to luxury-brand flagships and some of the city’s top-performing retail assets, the shopping street continues to attract high foot...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Citi sees Asian clients seeking more trade finance, risk support
This comes as as the Middle East conflict – which shows signs of being prolonged – strains energy supply chains, pushes up costs and forces some buyers to look beyond long-standing suppliers.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singapore boutique fund investing big in SGX small-caps finds its Fantastic 4
A GLOBAL equity fund has been steadily building positions in Singapore-listed small-cap stocks, with recent investments in Marco Polo Marine, Nam Cheong, OKP Holdings and Oiltek International. The fund made headlines in June 2026 after emerging as a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Tech rout sweeps Asia as overheating worries over AI rally spark sell-off
A ROTATION out of technology stocks swept through Asian markets on Monday (Jun 8), as investors grew concerned that the artificial intelligence-driven rally may have run ahead of fundamentals. The sell-off was particularly severe in South Korea, where...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Up to 11 condo projects with 3,550 units launching in H2 as price ceilings emerge
SOME 3,550 new private homes could come to market in the second half of 2026, starting with four projects totalling 1,679 units slated for July, testing buyer appetite after a strong start to the year. The next wave of launches is expected to push...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Lian Beng Group’s Ong family members pick up two Belmont Road bungalows
The separate deals totalling S$60 million for pair of freehold properties with a total land area of 41,741 sq ft is one of the biggest for a transaction in a GCB Area this year; price works out to about S$1,437 psf.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘No evidence’ of forced labour links; proposed 12.5% tariff could affect one-third of exports: MTI
A PROPOSED 12.5 per cent tariff by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Singapore would apply to about one-third of the Republic’s exports to the US, after accounting for a range of product exemptions, a Ministry of Trade and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Geopolitical risks a key consideration when investing in tech firms: Temasek chairman
WHILE Temasek Holdings is “quite forward-leaning” when it comes to its investments in technology, the many geopolitical risks facing the world today are top of mind before any major decision is made. Teo Chee Hean, the former Cabinet minister who...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Fund managers see encouraging response to Singapore’s S$6.5b equity push
FUND managers under the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) S$6.5 billion Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP) have seen an encouraging response from investors despite heightened global uncertainty and market volatility. The programme was...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Capital guaranteed’ label for investmentlinked policies misleading: MAS, LIA
THE Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Life Insurance Association (LIA) have issued stern warnings against the use of the descriptor “capital guaranteed” for investment-linked policies (ILPS), in their latest effort to stamp out such...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singapore races to get ahead of Hong Kong, Dubai as wealth wars intensify
AS THE battle for Asia’s ultra-rich gets more heated, Singapore is moving to sharpen its edge as a leading wealth hub by tackling a growing pain point among wealthy clients and family offices: lengthy onboarding processes. The Monetary Authority of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Shanda co-founder sells Tanglin Hill bungalow for S$76m
The bungalow’s transacted price works out to about S$3,169 psf on the freehold land area of 23,979 sq ft. The two-storey house is located within the Ridley Park Good Class Bungalow Area.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Sgx-listed palm oil players under pressure as Indonesia’s export overhaul stokes fears
SHARES of Singapore Exchange (Sgx)-listed palm oil players have come under pressure after Indonesia unveiled plans to centralise exports of key natural resources through a state-owned enterprise. The move has raised fresh concerns over policy risks...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
BOS doubles down on the ultra-wealthy – and the bankers chasing them
IF IT takes the same effort to serve a US$100 million client as a US$10 million one, then why not go bigger? That blunt calculation is shaping the next phase of growth at Bank of Singapore (BOS), where chief executive officer Jason Moo is sharpening...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
As India and China surge ahead with nuclear energy, all eyes on Asean’s next move
THIS is shaping up to be a banner year for nuclear energy in Asia, as India and China ramp up additions and energy security fears from the Middle East war further fuel Southeast Asia’s exploration of the power source. Earlier this month, Singapore...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Indonesia leads Asean in AI adoption as demand for sovereign models rises: survey
INDONESIA is aggressively positioning itself as South-east Asia’s artificial intelligence pacesetter, with businesses planning to proactively invest in multiple AI capabilities. Just over six in 10 of the country’s companies (62 per cent) were...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
What will power growth amid uncertainty? Business leaders say answer lies close to home
ASEAN businesses are looking closer to home for growth and investment opportunities amid global volatility and trade tensions. They are consolidating their growth regionally by reallocating capital and supply chains in Southeast Asia where they see...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Cenbanks need ‘heightened vigilance’ over risks amid Middle East conflict
MAS chief economist Edward Robinson cautions risk is amplified in small, open economies, where energy costs pass through to wages and other prices more quickly.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singtel seeks clarity from regulators on taking part in telco consolidation
SINGTEL is “seeking clarification” from the regulators on its ability to participate in the consolidation of Singapore’s telecommunications space, in the wake of news that the proposed sale of M1 to Simba Telecom has collapsed. “We have always been...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Openai picks Singapore for first Applied AI Lab outside US in S$300m investment
CHATGPT creator Openai will open its first Applied AI Lab outside the US in Singapore and hire more than 200 specialised artificial intelligence professionals over the next few years as part of a S$300 million investment in the Republic. The move...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Show me your agent’: DBS chief on transforming the bank with agentic AI
DBS is reframing banking with agentic artificial intelligence, and maintaining an organisational culture open to change will be crucial for success, said its CEO Tan Su Shan. She recalled that at the bank’s leadership offsite years ago, when the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Keppel’s S$1.43b M1 sale nears collapse amid Simba’s alleged spectrum breaches
THE S$1.43 billion bid by mobile network operator Simba Telecom to acquire M1’s telco business from asset manager Keppel is on the brink of collapse, after Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on Monday (May 18) announced...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Boom in big-ticket real estate deals keeps Singapore dealmakers on their toes
REAL estate dealmakers are preparing for a busy season with a boom in big-ticket transactions. This comes as cheaper financing makes large acquisitions viable while also bringing more assets onto the table. “We are clearly seeing greater transaction...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Justco targets S$100m IPO to expand into existing and new markets
Post-listing, it would have an estimated market capitalisation of about S$459.9 million. The IPO consists of 32.1 million shares priced at S$0.94 each, based on the company’s final prospectus.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singpost to keep, enhance Singpost Centre in U-turn from plan to sell it
SINGAPORE Post (Singpost) has decided not to divest its flagship building, Singpost Centre (SPC). Instead, the postal and logistics player – being bullish about the property’s upside potential – will carry out enhancements to further milk the cash...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Taking ‘bold bets’, building economic resilience among final ESR proposals
ATTRACTING cutting-edge investments and tackling supply chain risks in key industries are on a list of 32 final recommendations by the Economic Strategy Review (ESR) committees, which were announced on Wednesday (May 13). These fall across eight focus...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
More upside ahead for DBS, OCBC, UOB as wealth fees power Q1 earnings
WEALTH management and other fee income are becoming increasingly important earnings buffers for Singapore banks, and analysts expect non-interest income to continue offsetting expected declines in net interest income amid a falling interest-rate...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Penang looks past hyperscale data centres, doubles down on chips
Kuala Lumpur WHILE other Malaysian states are racing to attract billion-ringgit data centre investments, Penang is taking a different approach. It is staying out of the hyperscale data centre race to focus on areas where it believes it holds better...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Foreign money fuels Thai stock rally as SET chief vows governance reset
Bangkok A RETURN of foreign money has helped power Thailand’s stock market from regional laggard to outperformer, with inflows reaching close to US$2 billion this year, before Middle East tensions cooled sentiments, said Stock Exchange of Thailand...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
OCBC’S Indonesia deal a ‘perfect fit’ for Asean wealth ambitions: CEO
Tan Teck Long described the HSBC portfolio as “very clean”, and that it is largely made up of deposits and assets under management, unlike others that comprise a mix of loans and deposits.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
UOB aims to double wealth income to at least S$2.5b by 2030; Q1 profit slips 4%
UOB has set a target of doubling its wealth management income by 2030, as it looks to further expand in the affluent segment across Asean. This “underpenetrated” sector could drive its next phase of growth, said deputy chair and chief executive officer...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Singapore earns top rating from global watchdog in fight against financial crime
SINGAPORE received the highest monitoring rating from a global watchdog for its fight against financial crime. This is despite the S$3 billion money laundering scandal in 2023 exposing vulnerabilities tied to its role as a global financial hub. Such...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MAS, bank CEOS convene over AI threats; government calls for board-level attention
THE Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the chief executives of major financial institutions have convened to discuss the threat posed by Ai-enabled cyberattacks, as frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models capable of autonomously identifying...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Asean’s biodiesel push fuels palm oil rally, but will Sgx-listed players gain?
A CRUDE oil supply shortfall from the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz has accelerated biodiesel mandates in South-east Asia, driving up crude palm oil (CPO) prices and lifting Singapore Exchange-listed plantation stocks. Biodiesel – a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CICT’S Tan Choon Siang marks first year with billion-dollar deal streak
SINCE taking the reins a year ago, Tan Choon Siang, chief executive of Capitaland Integrated Commercial Trust’s (CICT) manager, has kept the real estate investment trust (Reit) firmly in motion, stepping up its capital recycling game with a string of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SUCCESSION IN SINGAPORE: IS THE ERA OF FAMILY EMPIRES COMING TO AN END?
More dynasty businesses may have to hand over the reins to outsiders – but that does not have to be cause for concern
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DBS CEO strikes upbeat tone on deposits, wealth growth after strong Q1
DBS has raised its 2026 deposit growth outlook, citing strongerthan-expected inflows, even as it guides for earnings to hold steady amid an uncertain rate environment. “We’re seeing higher-than-expected deposit growth,” said chief executive Tan Su...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CDL strategic review ‘timely’ after last year’s disputes, says CEO Sherman Kwek
AN ONGOING strategic review being done by City Developments Ltd (CDL) was “timely” after the company went through “some difficulties” and internal disputes last year, group chief executive officer Sherman Kwek told a packed shareholders meeting on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Asia private equity draws fresh investor interest as returns beat global averages
ASIA-FOCUSED private equity (PE) funds are piquing investor attention with distributions outperforming global averages in 2025, as well as in four out of the past five years, highlighting the region’s role as a diversification play. Data from private...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Fundamental reshaping’ of Singapore car market on high China, EV brand demand
ELECTRIC vehicle (EV) brands reached new heights in the first quarter of 2026, with registrations for some increasing by as much as five times. Meanwhile, registrations for legacy brands such as BMW, Mercedes-benz and Honda dropped by more than 35 per...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Safe-haven flows, lack of Q1 Fed cut positive for Singapore banks’ outlook: analysts
SINGAPORE’S three local lenders – DBS, OCBC and UOB – could see first-quarter net interest income supported by safe-haven deposit inflows linked to the ongoing Middle East war, analysts said. The boost also comes as the US Federal Reserve backed away...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Private home prices rise 0.9% in Q1, setting stage for steady 2026
The stronger overall price growth, up from a 0.6% increase in the previous quarter and driven by the non-landed segment, came despite lower transaction volumes and fewer home completions.
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SGX Regco’s disclosure push may strain smaller firms, raise box-ticking risk
SMALL and mid-cap listed companies on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) could come under strain from proposed tighter disclosure rules, with industry watchers cautioning that the push to lift valuations may also raise compliance burdens and risk boilerplate...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Not-so-sweet deal for Singapore’s refineries as they shift to US, alternative crudes
THE Republic’s refineries face weaker margins and reduced efficiency as they pivot to alternative crude oil feedstocks from the Americas and West Africa to offset disruptions arising from the Middle East conflict. While the delivered cost per barrel...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SGX Regco proposes tighter disclosures on pay, dividends and investor relations to lift valuations
LISTED companies on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) may soon face tighter disclosure rules on executive pay, dividend policy and investor relations, as the regulator pushes firms to show more clearly how they create shareholder value. Singapore Exchange...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
S$3.9b Paragon acquisition seals CICT’S dominance in downtown retail
THE S$3.9 billion proposed acquisition of Paragon mall is set to cement Capitaland Integrated Commercial Trust’s (CICT) dominance along the Orchard Road shopping belt and downtown stretch, and also gives it a foothold in Singapore’s high-end medical...
Read Full Story (Page 1)