The Business Times Podcasts

In a 'minus-two' world of US-China dominance, how does your business find opportunity? Simon Tay, chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) and ANZ's Khoon Goh unpack diversification strategies, the promise of 'middle powers' like India and Australia, and the untapped potential of ASEAN integration. Discover why redefining resilience is key to navigating our fragmenting g...

Market news for February 5, 2026: Precious metals, oil and bitcoin all fall; Asian stocks slump today; Indonesia reports record breaking 2025 and Google reports solid results. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by  The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg) Produced a...

Headline news for February 5, 2026: China considers buying more U.S.-farmed soybeans; oil prices fall, BoE to keep benchmark Bank Rate and users of mobility scooters in Singapore will need certificate of medical need. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by:...

Market news for February 4, 2026: AI fears trigger software stock sell-off; Japan gears up for lower house elections; Gold rebounds back to $5,100; Bitcoin falls to $72,000; KKR, Singtel buy STT GDC for S$6.6 billion in one of Asia’s largest data centre deals. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by  The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and...

Headline news for February 4, 2026: EU and US cut a deal on minerals to curb China; Britain to develop advanced nuclear reactors; bitcoin continues to slide and New Zealand’s jobless rate at its highest.  Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: C...

The US-centric portfolio is out. The multipolar world is in. But how do you navigate the shift? What are actionable diversification strategies, from overlooked European value to high-grade Emerging Market (EM) debt and non-US innovation hubs? Barclays Private Bank’s Ken Sze dissects the compelling behavioural, geopolitical, and valuation drivers pushing sophisticated investors "beyond USD."...

Market news for February 3, 2026: Japan's Nikkei jumps near 4% , closes at record high; Australia raises rates for first time in two years; Gold rebounds more than 3% after sharp sell-off; Trump cuts India tariffs in trade deal; Kore rises 8.3% , Singtel up 4.5% . Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by  The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and n...

Headline news for February 3, 2026: President Trump and India clinch a deal cutting US tariffs to 18% as New Delhi halts Russian oil purchases and expands trade ties; cryptocurrencies slump, gold rebounds and South Korean inflation eases.  Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )&nb...

Corporate growth used to be straightforward. Now it’s a strategic balancing act. In this episode of Ask PwC Singapore, Claressa Monteiro speaks with Richard Eu, Satoshi Yoshida and Ling Tok Hong about how Eu Yan Sang is navigating ownership change, digital transformation and expansion — while preserving a 146-year legacy. From omnichannel strategy to integration risk, this episode expl...

The government has said GIC and Temasek have performed reasonably and within expectations given their mandates. Yet, their returns have trailed some of their global peers. Senior correspondent Ben Paul delves into dissonance, and offers some suggestions. Highlights of the podcast: 00:43 Trailing returns raised in Parliament 04:17 Mandates, portfolios and performance 08:47 US mega-caps now dominate...

Market news for February 2, 2026: Gold falls 1.5% on firm US dollar; SGX-listed gold-linked counters lose steam on yellow metal’s decade-worst retreat; Indonesian stocks fall after last week’s dramatic shake-up, US$80 billion rout. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by  The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore an...

Headline news for February 2, 2026: Iran threatens regional conflict as Washington boosts its military presence. Manufacturing gauges in South Korea and Japan strengthen. U.K. sentiment steadies, while Singapore’s rental car fleet climbs to a record share. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( clare...

Artificial intelligence (AI) promises market nirvana, but is it a silver bullet or just another risk factor? Does AI really democratise knowledge and accelerate trading? How come it fails to conquer the ultimate portfolio killer: human indiscipline? Join Howie Lim and OANDA's Philip Waters as they attempt to cut through the hallucinations. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down use...

The US dollar is sliding fast, and it’s sending waves across global markets. This week on Market Focus Weekly, Emily Liu speaks with SGX strategist Geoff Howie about why the US dollar has weakened sharply amid talk of potential US-Japan intervention to support the yen. They explore the outlook for US interest rates, why Asian currencies are suddenly rallying, and what’s behind gold&rsq...

Headline news for January 30, 2026: President Trump backs a bipartisan spending deal to avert a shutdown and signals a Fed pick, the EU sanctions Iran, Tokyo inflation cools, and analysts assess China’s stance before Japan’s snap election. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com....

Market news for January 29, 2026: US Fed holds rates steady , sees ‘elevated’ inflation and stabilising job market; US dollar falls, Korean won rallies; Indonesia shares hit by second trading halt after MSCI flags transparency concerns; STI could hit as high as 6,500 on extended rally, says JPMorgan Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by  The Business Times that...

Market news for January 28, 2026: Trump says value of US dollar is ‘great’, currency hits 4-year low; Australian dollar surges; Ringgit rises to 2018 high ; Gold rallies past $5,200 ; Indonesian equities plunge after MSCI flags ownership, free float concerns. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and...

Headline news for January 28, 2026: Saudi Arabia pledges neutrality toward Iran, the dollar sinks, Amazon layoffs loom, a Johor peat fire spreads haze, and Singapore’s food delivery market lags regional growth. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by:...

Market news for January 27, 2026: US large-cap earnings raise Asian shares; the dollar still under fire; European equities climb, as does gold and oil falls. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by  The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Chai...

Headline news for January 27, 2026: President Trump and Minnesota’s governor move to defuse tensions over a fatal deportation crackdown, France advances a social media ban for minors, markets eye yen intervention, and the Singapore dollar hits a decade high. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Lim / Claressa Monteiro ( cla...

Examine the state of play and outlook in private housing, office property and retail spaces. In this episode of PropertyBT, host Leslie Yee chats with Realion’s head honcho Desmond Sim. We look at what to consider when choosing whether to invest in private homes, office property or retail spaces. Also, get frank views on whether new retail entrepreneurs are fairly treated by landlords. And s...

Market news for January 26, 2026: Yen surges as intervention risks lurk;  Singapore dollar hits 11-year high against greenback; Malaysian ringgit hits highest since 2018 on AI, growth optimism; Gold tops US$5,000 as global upheaval fuels precious metals rally; UOB shares retreat 3.3% after reaching record high. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by  The Business Times...

Headline news for January 26, 2026: A second fatal federal shooting highlights US immigration tensions, Europe unites on offshore wind, Israel’s delays Rafah pedestrian passage, Japan’s PM approval rating, gold hits record levels and Singapore tightens health-data consent rules. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Howie Li...

If you think Valentine's Day is the ultimate commitment, think again. Forget flowers and chocolates; money is the real love language. What else is there beyond joint accounts? What’s the 'financial foreplay' for testing compatibility and why is equities-investing your relationship's final exam? Howie Lim gets insights from Jeremy Tan, CEO of Tiger Fund Management. Synopsis: Every Monday, The...

Global markets faced another week of political uncertainty, from snap elections in Japan to fresh geopolitical threats from the US — yet investors barely blinked.  In this episode of Market Focus Weekly, Emily Liu speaks with Pete Tan of Phillip Capital about why markets seem increasingly unfazed by political risk. They unpack Japan’s bond sell-off, Trump’s back and forth ov...