Yesterday
Singapore’s DBS Bank throws down gauntlet to ANZ
The new boss of the biggest lender in South-East Asia says Australian companies should take AirTrunk’s lead and be more ambitious about regional expansion.
This Month
Citi’s new top equity banker shows how memories fade
John McLean returns from Singapore, wholly moved on from Citi’s $2.5bn shambolic raising for ANZ.
Shein shifts Australian marketplace to Singapore, raising tax question
The Chinese online fast fashion giant, which has expanded rapidly with low prices and a large range of merchandise, moved transactions to an overseas entity.
CSIRO is the adult in the room as the AI kids run wild
As the business and technology worlds race for artificial intelligence supremacy, the CSIRO’s Data61 is trying to show companies how to develop systems responsibly.
China slams Hegseth’s claims of ‘imminent’ Taiwan invasion
Beijing says the US defence secretary’s comments that it is rehearsing for the real deal ‘ignored the calls of regional countries for peace and development’.
Chinese students shaken by US crackdown turn to Australia
Since the latest measures were announced, interest for “study abroad in the US” on Chinese search engine Baidu has dropped to 65 per cent of what it was a year earlier.
US to support Indo-Pacific allies against ‘imminent’ China threat: Hegseth
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reassured allies in the Indo-Pacific that they will not be left alone to face increasing military and economic pressure from China.
May
‘Rich and naive’: Why Singapore is engulfed in scams
City-state residents who spend a lot of time online and are naturally compliant with authority are especially vulnerable.
Optus CEO focused on costs as profit rebounds
Optus boss Stephen Rue says the telco’s sports streaming platform remains important to customers, amid speculation it could be up for sale.
Airwallex secures one of the country’s biggest funding rounds ever
The global payments group has raised $467 million from investors, who include all three of the country’s major venture capital firms.
Singapore voters embrace stability as Trump roils global trade
Lawrence Wong and his team warned inviting more opposition into government could create instability at the wrong time for trade-dependent island state.
EU eyes closer ties to trans-Pacific bloc as Trump jolts trade order
Plans to build stronger links between Brussels and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership have gained momentum.
April
‘No winners’ in a tariff war, says Xi, as he shores up alliances
China’s leader is touring South-East Asia this week. Although the trip likely was planned earlier, it has become significant because of the trade war with the US.
Jardine Matheson, giant of Hong Kong commerce, charts new course as investor
The storied Anglo-Asian conglomerate was founded as an opium trader in 1832 and famous as an inspiration for James Clavell’s novels. The shift marks a new incarnation.
NZ braces for global elite rush as golden visa opens
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said there has been a “huge amount of interest” in the visa that starts on Tuesday after the rules were overhauled.
Home builder AVJennings accepts $365m takeover bid
A takeover battle for the builder erupted between a US bidder and a Singaporean player. Local builders face tough conditions, but their land banks are appealing.
March
Myanmar quake death toll hits 1700 as aid scramble intensifies
The devastation has piled more misery on Myanmar, already in chaos from a civil war that grew out of a nationwide uprising after a 2021 military coup.
Late Immutable accounts a glimpse into crypto game developer’s health
The Australian developer behind popular online video games Gods Unchained and Guild of Guardians said revenues had jumped after a near $80 million loss in 2023.
EU retaliates with tariffs on $45b of US goods
The European Union hit back against Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium within hours of them taking effect, escalating a global trade war.
Dalio sees 1930s Germany in Trump trade war
The Bridgewater Associates founder says the world is witnessing an extension of the patterns of history.