The Business Times Podcasts
The Business Times Podcast Channel delivers diverse perspectives, in-depth analysis, and news on career, business, markets, investing, current affairs, and tech. Powered by the journalism of The Business Times and Tech in Asia, it is available on all major audio and video platforms. Produced by BT Audio, thrive, and Tech in Asia, part of SPH Media.
Episodes
S2E328: Trump announces Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire, One killed in Riyadh airport attack, Singapore rolls out subsidies to treat haze-related conditions
Headline news for October 12, 2026: US President Donald Trump announces an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. 1 person has been killed and 11 others injured, in an attack on Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh international airport. And Singaporeans can start to receive subsidised care at polyclinics and participating GP clinics for treatment for haze-related conditions. Synopsis: A r
S1E290: Beyond the black box: Inside a glass-box approach to Asean investing
Markets are loud. Your strategy doesn't have to be. In this episode of Money Hacks, Howie Lim speaks to BlackRock strategist Filip Mena Berlin to pull back the curtain on systematic active equities — not a black box, but a glass box where data, discipline, and human judgment converge. Discover why Asean is the diversification trade most portfolios are missing, how sentiment data reveals who
S1E62: Singapore’s bank sell-off: A reset in expectations, not fundamentals
The STI just suffered its sharpest two-session rout in months, led by a sudden sell-off in Singapore's banking giants. Profit-taking or something deeper? With US 10-year yields above 5 per cent competing directly with dividend equities, S-Reits squeezed by rising borrowing costs, and institutions quietly rotating into industrials and semiconductors — the question isn't whether growth exists,
S2E327: Washington Rules Out Iran Strikes Before Midterms, Singapore PSI Hits a Year-High and Europe Pushes Back on Chinese Trade Practices
Headline news for October 9, 2026: Washington rules out military strikes on Iran before the November third midterm elections as Tehran reviews the latest US peace proposal. Singapore’s PSI hits one hundred and seventy in the central region, the highest of the year as the Formula One weekend begins. Forty-four European industry associations urge the EU to act against Chinese trade practices a
S2E588: Tech debt and Gulf shipping attacks send Asian equities sliding
Market news for October 8 2026: Tech debt sales and Gulf shipping attacks sent Asian equities sliding, while oil prices jumped and Treasuries faced pressure. Soaring yields buoyed the dollar, the euro hit 17-month lows, and corporate borrowing added to global sovereign bond market stress. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’
S2E326: Houthis Kill Three at Saudi Airports, Singapore Haze Persists Before F1 and Hormuz Attacks Hit a War-High
Headline news for October 8, 2026: Houthis attack two Saudi international airports with three people killed and thirty-six wounded at King Khalid International in Riyadh and Abha airport as Yemen fighting escalates sharply. Singapore's PSI remains in the unhealthy range across all regions one day before the Formula One weekend begins. Hormuz tanker attacks hit their highest weekly count since the
S2E587: Asian and European stocks slide as surging oil prices fuel global anxiety
Market news for October 7 2026: European stocks and the euro fell as Brent crude surged past $100 on Middle East tensions and supply disruptions. US Treasury yields climbed to multi-decade highs ahead of key auctions. Gold slipped on dollar strength, while investors awaited Federal Reserve minutes for fresh rate clues. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times th
S2E325: France's Biggest Student Protests, Marcos Arrives in Singapore and Japan Wages Rise for an Eighth Month
Headline news for October 7, 2026: France's biggest student protests in decades sweep the country with more than two hundred and fifty-six thousand on the streets, over six thousand arrested since the movement began, schools closed and one student loses a hand. Philippine President Marcos arrives in Singapore today. Japan's real wages rise for an eighth consecutive month. Synopsis: A round
S2E586: Asian markets lifted by Nasdaq record and soaring Nvidia shares; Treasury yields hit 24-year highs
Market news for October 6 2026: Asian stocks advanced after a tech-fuelled rally pushed the Nasdaq to a record close, boosted by soaring Nvidia shares. Concurrently, the euro touched 17-month lows amid French fiscal concerns, while US Treasury yields hit fresh 24-year highs today across markets. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day&rsqu
S2E324: DayOne Files for a Nasdaq IPO, Nvidia-backed Reflection AI Launches Beam and Spain Calls a Snap Election
Headline news for October 6, 2026: Singapore-headquartered DayOne Data Centers files for a Nasdaq IPO as revenue more than tripled year on year to US512 million dollars but losses widened sharply and sixty-nine per cent of revenue comes from a single unnamed customer. Nvidia-backed Reflection AI launches its first open-weight model targeting Chinese AI rivals. Spain calls a snap election for 29 N
S1E72: Tiong Woon Corporation: Big profits in heavy lifting
Crane owner Tiong Woon is reporting stronger earnings, boosting its capital expenditure and lifting its dividend. Its CEO Michael Ang and CFO William Tan sit down with BT’s Ben Paul to discuss the outlook for the company, and why the company’s shares are undervalued. Highlights of the podcast: 03:50 Riding an investment spending boom 07:55 Expanded margins, bigger dividends 18:15 Globa
S2E585: Asian stocks rally as Fed rate hike bets cool while Euro hits 17-month low
Market news for October 5 2026: Asian stocks rallied as Fed rate hike expectations cooled, while the euro hit a 17-month low amid French fiscal concerns. US Treasury yields held steady, oil prices eased, and Foxconn posted robust third-quarter revenue driven by strong artificial intelligence demand. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day&
S2E323: Yemen Launches Major Offensive, Chinese AI Closes the Gap and Brazil Heads to a Presidential Runoff
Headline news for October 5, 2026: Yemen's internationally recognised government launches a major military offensive against the Houthis as the Houthis claim missile and drone strikes on Saudi Aramco sites in Riyadh though Saudi Arabia and Aramco have not confirmed the attacks. Chinese AI models now trail US rivals by just three per cent, the narrowest gap on record. Brazil heads to a presidentia
S1E289: Is the 60/40 portfolio dead? Navigating rate hikes and oil shocks
With the Fed signalling persistent rate hikes and oil shocks stirring global markets, is your portfolio positioned to survive—or thrive? What do rising bond yields, stubborn inflation, and central bank manoeuvres mean for everyday investors? Is the traditional 60/40 portfolio dead? Should you pivot to gold, lock in fixed income, or look to Asian credit for refuge? StashAway’s Stephanie
S2E61: 10-year Treasury hits 5.3%, oil surges and gold stumbles: M&G's Vikas Pershad on a market under pressure
Global bond yields hit multi-decade highs as oil prices surge, raising concerns over inflation and interest rates. Are markets underestimating the risks of higher-for-longer rates and the AI investment boom? Nicole Teo speaks with Vikas Pershad, portfolio manager, APAC Equities at M&G Investments, about AI valuations, China’s equity opportunities, US-China technology restrictions, and fi
S2E322: Singapore lose 6-0 to Malaysia in ASEAN Cup, President Prabowo's biggest Cabinet reshuffle, Trump suggests Iran links to Flydubai flight incident
Headline news for October 2, 2026: US President Donald Trump says Iran may have been involved in an incident aboard a Flydubai flight. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto carried out his biggest Cabinet reshuffle to date And Singapore was eliminated from the FIFA ASEAN Cup yesterday after being defeated by Malaysia 6 to 0. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day b
S2E584: Oil pullback eases bond panic as global yields touch multi-decade peaks
Market news for October 1 2026: US Treasury yields surged to multi-decade highs amid soaring energy costs and inflation fears, while Asian tech stocks rallied on strong AI demand. Although falling oil prices provided brief relief, investors remain cautious regarding potential Federal Reserve rate hikes. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at
S2E321: Pilot Tries to Crash Israel-Bound Flight, South Korea Breaks Export Records and HDB Prices Fall Again
Headline news for October 1, 2026: A pilot stabs his co-pilot and attempts to crash an Israel-bound flydubai flight carrying one hundred and seventy-four people — passengers overpower the attacker and the plane lands safely in Saudi Arabia. South Korea's exports hit a record monthly high in September, up eighty-three-point-five per cent. HDB resale prices fall for a third consecutive quarter
S2E583: Global bonds wobble in worst month for years as AI hopes buoy stocks
Market news for September 30 2026: Global bonds face their worst month in years amid rising inflation and soaring energy costs from the prolonged US-Israeli conflict. Meanwhile, Asian stocks remain resilient and upbeat today, driven entirely by surging investor optimism and strong hopes in artificial intelligence. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times th
S2E320: US Exits Iraq After Two Decades, China's Factory Activity Rebounds and Oil Rises on Peace Talk Hopes
Headline news for September 30, 2026: US forces complete their withdrawal from Iraq today ending more than two decades of military presence after four thousand five hundred American deaths. Iran hails it as a victory while Iraqi security officials warn of a potential security vacuum. China's factory activity returns to growth in September after two months of contraction. Synopsis: A round up
S2E582: Surging oil and bond yields signal higher-for-longer interest rates
Market news for September 29 2026: Surging oil prices and rising US Treasury yields pressured stocks as markets braced for prolonged high interest rates. Australia raised rates to a 15-year high, while Anthropic’s $2 trillion valuation target highlighted high-stakes AI optimism amidst broader market headwinds. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business
S2E319: Haze Hits Unhealthy Levels Across Singapore, Anthropic Warns of Existential AI Risk and Malaysia Repatriates Myanmar Nationals
Headline news for September 29, 2026: Singapore's PSI hits 155 in the central region as haze enters the unhealthy range. Anthropic warns IPO investors that advanced AI could pose catastrophic or existential risks to humanity dedicating eighty pages of its prospectus to risk factors. Malaysia begins repatriating fifteen hundred Myanmar nationals in the first phase of a five-thousand-person programm
S1E59: Making sense of financial numbers driving big-bucks real estate decisions
Get insights on the numbers driving property deals and decision making. Are yields of Singapore properties too low? Does being green help improve a property’s valuation? Learn about how development stacks up versus reuse. Understand key metrics of Reits. Leslie Yee is in conversation with Professor Joseph Ooi of NUS. Synopsis: Hosted by senior correspondent Leslie Yee, PropertyBT from The Bu
S1E581: Global markets rattled by surging oil, rate hike fears as Asia stocks sink
Market news for September 28 2026: Global markets slumped as surging oil prices and growing rate hike fears rattled investors. With the US rejecting Iran’s Strait of Hormuz truce proposal, Brent crude climbed past $107, pressing bonds and sinking Asian equities amid heavy economic headwinds. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the d
S2E318: Iran's Hormuz Proposal Rejected, CDL Unlocks $6 Billion and Middle East Crude Hits a War-Era High
Headline news for September 28, 2026: Iran's seven-day Hormuz reopening roadmap, announced at the UN General Assembly, was publicly rejected over the weekend but Tehran says it is still awaiting the formal response through Qatari mediators. CDL announces plans to unlock six billion Singapore dollars from non-core assets. Middle East crude exports rebound to their highest level since the war began.
S1E288: The psychology of financial clutter: why we accumulate bad investments
Your portfolio might be messier than you think. Most of us don't build investment strategies — we collect financial products the way we hoard old cables and orphaned keys in a kitchen drawer. In this episode of Money Hacks from The Business Times, Howie Lim talks with Bryan Low — wealth management head at KGI Singapore and NTU professor — about why we keep buying without a plan,
S2E60: Bonds, oil, AI and copper - Decoding divergent signals in a shifting global economy
Treasury yields at 20-year highs. Oil swinging wildly above US$100. Gold sliding while copper soars. Are markets pricing in reality — or just riding the hype? Correspondent Howie Lim sits down with Desmond Fu, head of investment management Singapore at Western Asset Management, to discuss AI productivity puzzle, bond market tremors, US-China rare earth leverage, Fed hawkishness, and Asian cu
S2E317: Netanyahu Defends Israel At UN, Iran Says It's US' Decision To End War, Trump And Xi Meet With No Breakthroughs
Headline news for September 25, 2026: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a fiery address defending Israel’s actions And President Trump and Xi’s summit in Washington begins with great fanfare but no clear breakthroughs Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times. Written by: Nicole Teo (nicolet@sph.com.sg) Produced and e
S2E580: JGB yields hit 30-year high as Middle East risks and US-China talks weigh on markets
Market news for September 24 2026: Japanese bond yields surged to thirty-year highs as global debt markets tumbled, while Asian equities traded mixed. Investors weighed persistent Middle East tensions and upcoming US and China trade talks against sticky inflation and hawkish central bank rate hike expectations. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that
S2E316: US Says China Trade Truce Extended, StarHub In Advanced Talks with Keppel Over M1, Iran Vows No Surrender
Headline news for September 24, 2026: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US and China have reached a deal to extend the trade truce. Iran says it would never surrender to US pressure, and that the two remain far apart on how to end their war. Singapore’s StarHub and Keppel have confirmed they are in talks over a potential deal involving M1. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines
S2E579: AI optimism fuels Asian stock rally as oil slumps on Middle East supply hopes
Market news for September 23 2026: Asian equities extended gains for a sixth straight session, driven by surging consumer enthusiasm for AI apps and tech hardware. Meanwhile, oil prices dropped on expanding Middle East supply, and markets anticipated high-stakes US-China trade and AI talks. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day&rsqu
S2E315: Trump Defends Iran War, Greenland Military Deal Signed, Typhoon Kills Four in Japan
Headline news for September 23, 2026: US President Donald Trump spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York, defending the US war on Iran and reiterating his opposition to regulating AI. US and the leaders of Greenland and Denmark signed an agreement allowing a larger US military presence in Greenland. Typhoon Dujuan has triggered landslides in Japan, killing 4 people and leaving 6 others missing
S2E578: Tech rallies on AI assistant revival as oil stalls
Market news for September 22 2026: Technology stocks propelled Asian markets higher as stalling oil prices and strong demand for Meta’s Muse AI assistant boosted sentiment. Investors eagerly anticipated upcoming US-Iran talks while monitoring a strong dollar driven by expectations of further central bank rate hikes. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business
S2E314: China Purges Two Top Generals, Singapore Layoffs Hit 2020 High, Ukraine Death Toll Rises
Headline news for September 22, 2026: China expels two top generals from the Communist party, alleging disloyalty and corruption. Russian forces continued their attacks in Ukraine, killing at least five people. Singapore’s retrenchment rate reached its highest level since the fourth quarter of 2020 Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times. Writte
S2E577: AI fires up Asian markets as bond yields hit mid-2024 highs
Market news for September 21 2026: AI demand for chips buoyed Asian equities despite thin holiday trade, while crude oil slid on Middle East diplomatic hopes and recovering shipments. Meanwhile, surging Treasury yields and hawkish central bank tightening expectations kept broader global bond markets highly tense. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that loo
S2E313: Najib Razak Faces US$12.26m Fine, US Bessent Hails Successful China Talks
Headline news for September 21, 2026: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says talks with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng were very successful. Iran warns that it received information of a possible major new attack by the United States and its allies. Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak says he is unable to pay the US$12.26m fine before he begins his house arrest Synopsis: A round up of glo
S1E287: Ask vs answer: the human edge AI can't replicate
Would you let AI manage your money the way it manages your inbox? Turns out, most of us won't — 76 per cent use AI to crunch the numbers, but only 8 per cent trust it to make the final call. Correspondent Howie Lim sits down with Ishan Sarkar, head of wealth and premier solutions at HSBC Singapore, to explore the "conviction gap" — the moment data has to become a decision. From Gen Z i
S2E59: Unpacking macro shifts and AI realities
Sticky inflation and rising rates are pulling global markets in different directions. In this episode of Market Focus Weekly, Nicole Teo speaks with State Street Investment Management’s Ninghui Liu about how higher energy prices and the AI boom are keeping inflation stubborn in many economies — while China remains stuck in deflation. He also unpacks the opportunities emerging from Japa
S2E312: Saudi-Houthi Strikes Raise Oil Supply Concerns, Trump-Xi Meeting Set and Singapore Air Quality Improves
Headline news for September 18, 2026: Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi forces exchanged strikes, fuelling concerns over global oil supplies. US President Donald Trump will meet President Xi Jinping next week amid tensions over trade, Taiwan, Iran and AI. Singapore’s air quality also improved overnight, with the central region’s 24-hour PSI falling to 97, back in the moderate range.
S2E576: Fed rate hike calms global bond rout as Asian markets edge up
Market news for September 17 2026: Asian shares edged up as the Federal Reserve delivered its first rate hike in over three years, calming a global bond selloff. A surging U.S. dollar weighed on commodities, while focus shifted to central bank decisions in London and Tokyo. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements a
S2E311: Canada Eyes EU Membership, Singapore Rethinks Teacher Workload, US Raises Saudi Travel Alert
Headline news for September 17, 2026: Fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis escalates, while the US has barred government employees from going near the Yemen border. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposes to make Canada the EU’s first “associate member”. And Singapore is reviewing teaching methods, including piloting smaller class size
S2E575: Asian stocks steady ahead of pivotal Fed decision as bond rout pauses
Market news for September 16, 2026: Asian stocks edged higher as a respite in the global bond selloff and falling oil prices steadied market nerves ahead of the pivotal Federal Reserve decision, with traders pricing an implied 93% probability of a 25-basis-point rate hike. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements an
S2E310: China Curbs Travel On National Security Concerns, Anthropic Expands In Singapore
Headline news for September 16, 2026: Russia and Ukraine have both continued attacks on one another’s energy infrastructure, despite US President Donald Trump’s claims of a truce. China has tightened curbs on overseas travel over tech security concerns. And AI company Anthropic is opening an office in Singapore next month Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by Th
S2E574: Oil, yields, and rate fears collide
Market news for September 15, 2026: Asian markets slide as AI leaders urge caution and traders brace for pivotal Fed and BOJ rate decisions. Treasury yields breach 5% for the first time since 2007, oil climbs, and bitcoin retreats — signalling a tense, pivotal week ahead for global markets. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day&rsq
S2E309: Singapore's Pump Prices Rise, Civil Servant MRT Home-Buying Claims Under Review, Indonesia’s Finance Shake-Up
Headline news for September 15, 2026: Another finance shake-up puts Indonesia on its third minister in under two years. Singapore’s Public Service Division is reviewing claims that alleged civil servants bought homes near planned but undisclosed MRT stations. Yemen’s Houthis carried out a new attack on Saudi Arabia. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by Th
S2E573: Asian shares slip as oil climbs, rate hikes take shape
Market news for September 14, 2026: Asian shares slid as AI leaders urged a development slowdown, while Middle East strikes pushed Brent crude over $107. Meanwhile, investors braced for likely rate hikes from both the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan this week. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and
S2E308: Hormuz Talks Delayed, Indonesia Shipwreck Search Underway, True Fitness Closure Fallout
Headline news for September 14, 2026: Oman says talks between Iran and Gulf countries on the Strait of Hormuz have been postponed. Search and rescue teams in Indonesia look for the 129 people still missing after a passenger ship sank in the Java Sea. The BRICS summit ended yesterday, with Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiling new initiatives centering around artificial intelligence and trade. Sin
S1E286: Strategy over sentiment: why the old property playbook no longer works
Is your dream home a financial trap? Singapore's cooling measures and shifting interest rates have upended the old playbook—Build-to-Orders (BTOs), resale flats, and executive condos (ECs) no longer play by the rules you think you know. Howie Lim and Eugene Lim, president of the Singapore Estate Agents Association, unearths the hidden costs, minimum occupation period (MOP) traps, and stress-
S2E58: What oil, yields, and AI capex boom are really telling us
Oil prices just broke US$110 a barrel, bond yields are hitting multi-decade highs, and the yen carry trade is unwinding fast — this week's markets are a powder keg. In this episode of Market Focus Weekly, correspondent Howie Lim sits down with HSBC's Herald van der Linde to unpack the Strait of Hormuz shock, why AI capex — not fear — is now driving bond yields, Korea's staggering
S2E307: PM Wong Defends Political Pay, Weighs More Disclosure, Grab Mulls Atome Deal, Oil Tops US$109 After Houthis Seize Yemen Port
Headline news for September 11, 2026: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong says higher pay is not about attracting people into politics. Houthi militants seized control of Yemen's port city, further threatening global energy supplies. Oil prices surged overnight, with Brent crude topping US$109 a barrel. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times. Writ
S2E572: Global markets brace for central bank wave as oil nears $101 a barrel
Market news for September 10, 2026: Asian markets slid as escalating Middle East shipping attacks pushed oil above $100 a barrel, spooking investors ahead of US inflation data. Treasury yields held near multi-year highs, while Wall Street, Europe, and Asia all retreated amid mounting bets on further central bank rate hikes. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Tim
S2E306: DBS Rejects 1MDB Claim, Singapore Air Quality Hits Unhealthy 105
Headline news for September 10, 2026: Iran attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz, after the US sank five Iranian oil tankers. DBS has rejected a lawsuit filed by four 1MDB-linked entities under liquidation. Air quality in central Singapore remains in the unhealthy range this morning at 105. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times. Written
S2E571: Crude shock - Brent’s climb to $100, Asian markets rattled
Market news for September 9, 2026: Brent crude surged near $100 as Middle East conflict escalated, subduing Asian stocks amid inflation jitters before US CPI data. Conversely, chip stocks rebounded, and Alphabet announced a record €13 billion AI infrastructure investment in Finland. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s mark
S2E305: SIA Backs India Investment, Singapore Leaders’ Pay Rise, Houthis Strike Saudi Arabia
Headline news for September 9, 2026: Yemen’s Houthis launched attacks on Saudi Arabia yesterday, setting oil facilities on fire and wounding more than 70 people. Singapore Airlines says its India investments continue to be funded through internal resources. Singapore’s political leaders are set for a significant pay increase starting October 15. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines
S2E570: Yen strength, copper record and oil surge
Market news for September 8, 2026: The yen surges to a seven-month high as carry trades unwind, while Iranian threats to Gulf energy infrastructure push oil and bond yields higher. Asian markets trade mixed, copper hits a record, and Singapore Airlines' Air India stake faces new scrutiny. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s mar
S2E304: Jakarta Airport Reopens, Nepal Searches for Missing Workers, Singapore Political Salaries in Focus
Headline news for September 8, 2026: 5 airports in Indonesia, including its main Jakarta airport, reopen today. Nepali rescuers search for more than 100 missing hydropower workers, feared trapped in tunnels following the devastating floods. And Singapore’s parliament is set to debate proposed changes to political salaries this Thursday. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your
S1E66: Investing in an era of AI, techflation and higher bond yields
Bond yields are spiking, the AI trade is wobbling, and the dollar's dominance is under threat — is your portfolio ready? In this episode of WealthBT, wealth editor Genevieve Cua sits down with Kelvin Tay, CIO for Asia at Pictet Wealth Management, to unpack the bank's 10-year market outlook: from the multipolar tech race and emerging-market currencies to fiscal dominance and where AI investme
S2E569: Between the Fed and earnings: Markets search for direction
Market news for September 7, 2026: Asian tech shares rallied on a robust US jobs report signaling growth, though rate hike odds narrowed. Meanwhile, oil prices edged higher following renewed US-Iran ship attacks in the Gulf, as traders monitor inflation and energy risks. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements
S2E303: Mount Anak Krakatau Eruption: Jakarta Airport Closure Extended And SIA, Scoot Cancel Services
Headline news for September 7, 2026: 8 airports across Indonesia remain closed today, following Mount Anak Krakatau’s eruption. US peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow over the weekend, with little breakthrough. Iran says it will intensify efforts to deal with the economic fallout from
S1E285: The $70,000 question: how to master your family's new financial tailwind
Singapore just pledged nearly S$70,000 per child over 16 years — but is that windfall building your family's future, or quietly funding lifestyle creep? Correspondent Howie Lim sits down with SingSaver's Ayush Goyal to dissect how to split, invest, and protect this new child credit stream — from emergency funds to retirement trade-offs — so parents don't waste a single dollar. Sy
S2E568: Asian markets rally on Fed relief as investors brace for payroll showdown
Market news for September 4, 2026: Asian shares surged today, buoyed by cooling Fed rate hike fears that weakened the dollar and ignited a relief rally. Investors now hold their breath for the looming US payroll showdown while Middle East tensions keep oil prices elevated. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements an
S2E302: Singapore Haze Hits Unhealthy Levels, Volkswagen To Cut More Jobs and Wall Street Rallies on Rate Relief
Headline news for September 4, 2026: Singapore's air quality enters the unhealthy range this morning with central PSI hitting 104. Volkswagen unanimously approves its most extensive restructuring in eighty-nine years; fifty thousand additional cuts bringing the total to one hundred thousand, with four German plants facing potential closure. Wall Street rallies as a Fed governor signals support for
S2E567: Relief rally in Asian markets as investors turn attention to crucial U.S. jobs data
Market news for September 3, 2026: Asian shares and bonds rallied as the yen climbed, with investors cautiously awaiting critical U.S. payroll data. Markets weighed central bank policy signals against ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions, as oil prices slipped following recent volatile spikes in global borrowing costs. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks a
S2E301: Trump Says Iran Campaign Won’t Last, Kyiv Attacks Continue, Singapore Factory Growth Picks Up
Headline news for September 3, 2026: Nine people were wounded after Russian drones struck central Kyiv yesterday, as the capital endured a seventh straight day of attacks.Rescue teams are racing against time to find workers believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels in Nepal's mountains. And Singapore’s manufacturing sector picked up slightly in August, helped by strong demand fo
S2E566: Iran strikes ignite oil rally, trigger global bond market panic
Market news for September 2, 2026: Asian markets tumbled as a global bond sell-off collided with fresh US strikes on Iran, sending oil surging and yields to multi-decade highs. The dollar strengthened, gold and crypto slipped, while traders priced strong odds of a Fed rate hike this month. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day&rsquo
S2E300: US-Iran Strikes Escalate, Nepal Flood Deaths Top 1,000, Putin-Xi-Trump Summit Possible in November
Headline news for September 2, 2026: The United States and Iran have engaged in their most intense exchange of attacks in weeks. Nepal’s floods have killed 1,003 people, with around 4,000 still missing, including 590 foreign nationals from 39 countries. And Kyiv faces intense strikes for its sixth straight day, after Russian air attacks killed 12 people and wounded many more. Synopsis: A rou
S2E565: Bond rout meets Middle East chaos: Oil tops $90 as global yields hit decade highs
Market news for September 1, 2026: Bond yields soared to decade highs as Middle East conflict pushed oil above $90, fuelling inflation fears. Despite the geopolitical pressure and Federal Reserve anxiety, resilient Asian factory activity driven by persistent global demand for AI hardware provided critical support. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that lo
S2E299: Iran Strikes US Bases in Jordan and the UAE, Hormuz Traffic Collapses and Fed Signals Rate Hikes
Headline news for September 1, 2026: Iran launches Operation Punishment of the Aggressor, hitting US bases in Jordan and the UAE as a supertanker catches fire on naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz and crossings collapse to five vessels. Fed chair Warsh signals rate hikes at Jackson Hole, with markets now pricing more than fifty per cent odds of two hikes by year end. Synopsis: A round up of
S1E71: Rising bond yields and the Singapore market
DBS, OCBC and UOB have soared this year while the real estate investment trusts have struggled. Will rising bond yields reinforce this divergence? Or, are the banks getting too expensive? Why are bond yields rising in the first place? BT senior correspondent Ben Paul explains what’s happening. Highlights of the podcast: 00:55 Big trends driving long term bond yields 04:51 Struggling Reits ma
S2E564: Geopolitical turmoil meets inflation anxiety
Market news for August 31, 2026: Geopolitical fire and inflation ice collided today - US-Iran skirmishes fuelled an oil rally, while rising September rate-hike odds pressured Asian equities. Investors face a double-barreled threat as the Fed’s inflation mandate keeps bond yields high and stock markets trembling. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times tha
S2E298: US and Iran Trade Strikes Over Hormuz, ComfortDelGro Lands Copenhagen Deal and Iceland Stays Out of the EU
Headline news for August 31, 2026: US forces strike Larak Island after observing Iran preparing to launch sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliates with ballistic missiles and drones against US forces in Jordan in the most significant escalation since late July. ComfortDelGro wins a US$2.7 billion contract to run the Copenhagen Metro. Iceland votes to stay out of the EU. Synopsis:
S1E284: The raise paradox: why earning more never feels like enough
You just got a raise. So why does your bank account still feel broke? It’s the lifestyle creep — the sneaky force turning your bigger paycheck into the same old savings. From $8 lattes to subscription traps to the psychology behind "keeping up with the Tans," find out why more income rarely equals more wealth, and what to actually do about it. Warning: may cause spontaneous budgeting.
S2E57: Why Asia's inflation scare may be overstated: a Morgan Stanley economist explains
Rising inflation and recent rate hikes in the Philippines and South Korea have reignited concerns about price pressures across Asia. But is there really cause for alarm? Nicole Teo speaks with Morgan Stanley Asia Economist Derrick Kam about the region’s inflation outlook, what is driving monetary policy, and why a broader capex supercycle beyond AI could fuel investment. Highlights: 01:41 As
S2E297: Nepal Flood Toll Hits 392, Nvidia Doubles Revenue and Warsh Speaks at Jackson Hole Today
Headline news for August 28, 2026: The Nepal-Tibet flood death toll rises to at least three hundred and ninety-two with nearly one thousand five hundred missing, as authorities warn barrier lakes could burst by September 1. Nvidia surges nine per cent after reporting revenue up one hundred and six per cent. Fed chair Kevin Warsh speaks at Jackson Hole today. Synopsis: A round up of global he
S2E563: Nvidia earnings beat fuels Asian rally as inflation fears persist
Market news for August 27, 2026: Asian markets rallied as Nvidia’s earnings beat exceeded forecasts, lifting tech sentiment. Yet, gains were constrained by persistent U.S. inflation concerns, keeping investors cautious ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s pivotal Jackson Hole speech regarding future interest rate paths. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by
S2E296: Meta to Pay US$18B, Nvidia Beats on Every Measure and Nepal Flooding Kills 157
Headline news for August 27, 2026: Meta agrees to pay up to eighteen billion US dollars to settle child harm claims from twenty-nine US states without admitting wrongdoing, limiting teens to two hours daily on Facebook and Instagram. Nvidia reports revenue up one hundred and six per cent to ninety-six-point-two billion US dollars as CEO Jensen Huang says AI has reached its inflection point. At lea
S3E9: Technology doesn't replace the human touch. It should create more room for it
Digital transformation is not the destination, but the foundation for delivering better care. In this episode of Lens on Singapore, Claressa Monteiro speaks with Johnson Poh, assistant chief executive at IMDA, Dr Melvin Heng, group CEO of Thomson Medical Group, and Mokaneswary A/P Mogan, nurse manager at Thomson Medical, about how technology and AI are reshaping healthcare. From rebuilding hospita
S2E562: Asian markets rally as oil slides; Investors brace for pivotal Nvidia earnings
Market news for August 26, 2026: Asian stocks surged as crude’s retreat dampened bond yields, stoking optimism that the Strait of Hormuz might soon reopen. Markets now hold their collective breath, pinning high-stakes expectations on Nvidia’s looming, make-or-break quarterly earnings report. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the
S2E295: Canada Retaliates With 20 Billion in Tariffs, Iran Restarts Hormuz Talks and Nvidia Reports Today
Headline news for August 26, 2026: Canada announces twenty billion US dollars in retaliatory tariffs on US goods effective September eighth matching Washington dollar for dollar across seven hundred products as trade talks collapse. Iran restarts Hormuz talks with Oman, sending oil down two per cent. Nvidia reports quarterly results today in a closely watched test of the AI trade. Synopsis:
S2E561: Asian markets rangebound ahead of Nvidia results; Bitcoin crosses $80K
Market news for August 25, 2026: Asian markets remained rangebound as oil prices dipped, ignoring Iran sanction threats. Bitcoin crossed $80,000 for the first time since May. Investors now pivot to Nvidia’s highly anticipated earnings and Shein’s $1.8 billion IPO launch amid a cautious trading session. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that lo
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