The Business Times Podcasts

Israel is preparing for a possible ground operation in Lebanon; Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday that he will soon resume discussions with the International Monetary Fund; Citibank will close its last branch in Singapore as it focuses on serving customers online and advising affluent clients at its wealth hubs. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your...

There’s a new framework in town for HDB projects. Starting in October, new BTO flats will either be Standard, Plus or Prime. New Plus and Prime flats will be in attractive locations and have higher subsidies, but they also come with tighter resale conditions, including a ten-year minimum occupation period, and a ban on rentals. What does this mean for BTO buyers? Are the new Plus and Prime flats w...

Baht rises to strongest since March 2022 amid exporters worries; Singapore dollar trades at a fresh 10-year high of S$1.28 against the greenback; Hong Kong overtakes Singapore in world financial centres ranking. 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 and hosted by: Emily L...

U.S. President Joe Biden addressed world leaders at the United Nations for the final time. U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said he had sensed a greater willingness by Iranian officials to engage with the agency. In Asia, China’s financial regulators have announced a broad raft of measures to support a slowing economy, Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake dissolved Parliamen...

China announces stimulus package to revive the economy; Hong Kong, Shanghai lead markets rally; Vietnam aims for one semiconductor fab plant , 10 packaging plants by 2030. 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 and hosted by: Emily Liu ( emilyliu@sph.com.sg ) Recording eng...

Israel's military said it launched airstrikes against Hezbollah sites in Lebanon yesterday, which Lebanese authorities said had killed 492 people; Japan’s meteorological agency issued a tsunami advisory this morning to remote islands south of Tokyo; and in Singapore, SMEs facing long-drawn or complicated governmental procedures can soon approach a new office for help to streamline approval process...

Ringgit poised to sustain rally after best quarter in 50 years; Gold prices hover near record highs on Fed’s aggressive rate stance; Philippine stocks rally to two-year high on rate-cut outlook. 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 and hosted by: Emily Liu ( emilyliu@sph...

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris leads Republican rival Donald Trump by 5 percentage points in an NBC News poll. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a "Pact for the Future" on Sunday, which U-N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as a landmark agreement. Sri Lanka elects a new president, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continuing a multiday U.S. visit, praised the United Sta...

Selling a company is a major, often difficult, decision. It brings up questions of identity, ambition and legacy. Cheng Hsin Chih, market head of Southeast Asia at Pictet Wealth Management, has worked with many clients through this journey. In this episode, BT wealth editor Genevieve Cua sits down with Cheng to break down the complexities of selling a company. Synopsis: Learn to protect and grow y...

Returns on whisky cask investments can be attractive over time but investing through cask ownership has become a minefield, breeding scammers out to profit from the relatively opaque market. Good thing Howie Lim speaks to experts to help us navigate. Synopsis: Every Monday, Howie Lim gets experts to break down useful financial tips. Highlights of the conversation: 02:37 Why whisky cask and not whi...

Japan’s inflation speeds up ahead of expected BOJ rate hold; Aussie shares hit record high close, log best week in a month on US rate cut cheer; Baht’s biggest rally since 1998 threatens Thai tourism, exports. 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 and hosted by: Emily Liu...

Hezbollah vowed to keep up daily strikes on Israel despite this week’s deadly sabotage of its members’ communication devices; the founder of a Taiwanese pager company linked to the detonation of thousands of pagers targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon was questioned; a new high-tech shipyard to build and repair ships has opened in Gul Road in Singapore’s west. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to...

Asia tech, real estate sectors see immediate gains on first Fed rate cut in four years; US office S-Reits rise on Federal Reserve’s rate cut; Market fundamentals limit rate cut support to commodity prices; gold set to inch higher. 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 and...

Hand-held radios used by armed group Hezbollah detonated yesterday across Lebanon's south; Sri Lanka's presidential candidates wrapped up their campaigning yesterday, 48 hours before the election; researchers here have made a breakthrough in reversing the age of women’s eggs, paving the way for greater success in assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF. Synopsis: A round up of global headli...

Job market worsens for retrenched workers, but Singapore’s overall labour market remains robust in Q2; Vietnam seeks Singapore’s help as more firms here found linked to convicted tycoon Truong My Lan; Indonesia’s central bank delivers surprise 25 bps rate cut. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapo...

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris called overnight for an end to the Israel-Gaza war. The European Union announces a new team, Japan’s Nippon Steel hits an acquisition roadblock, North Korea fires more weapons tests and in Singapore the island is gearing up for the F1 race this weekend.  Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written b...

Chinese appliance giant Midea’s shares jump 9.5% on Hong Kong debut after raising US$4 billion; Isetan Singapore to delist on Sep 19; South-east Asia headed for economic shifts when rate cut ripples across region; S-Reits with higher floating and short-term debt likely to gain immediately from rate cuts. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the...

It’s F1 season in Singapore. As the big-league Ferraris and Red Bulls speed past the Marina Bay skyline, we zoom in on the overlooked world of small league motorsport racing. From grassroots car park rallies in the 80s to Hong Kong superstars and the mega-rich who pay millions to live their childhood racing dreams, we hear the untold stories of motorsport racing. And we ask the hard-hitting questi...

Putin orders the size of the Russian army to be increased by 180,000 troops to 1.5 million; heavy rainfall pounding Central Europe has prompted deadly flooding in the region; the strongest typhoon to hit Shanghai since at least 1949 swept over the financial hub yesterday; the Philippines will continuously deploy vessels in the South China Sea; in Singapore, the number of single family offices rose...

World braces for Fed easing amid 36-hour rate rollercoaster; Impending Fed rate cut offers Singapore firms silver lining amid cloud of global uncertainties; Thai baht is too strong and impacting exports, minister says; Rupiah’s rally to get boost from global flows as Fed cuts loom; Calculated risks, bold change s to be taken to revitalise equities market: Chee Hong Tat. Synopsis: Market Focus Dail...

A second assassination attempt on Trump in the U.S, Italian army to guard medical workers, Typhoon Bebica makes landfall in China, Malaysia’s Parti Islam SeMalaysia says it is prepared to shutdown Malaysia’s only casino and in Singapore a study shows more than 1 in 100 children have autism.  Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Lee Kim Sian...

More young people crave independence and are moving out of their parents’ before getting married? How do you know when it’s time and if you have the means to do so? Howie Lim speaks to Tim Phillips from timtalksmoney.com and Seth Wee from Providend to find out when and how they did it. Synopsis: Every Monday, Howie Lim gets experts to break down useful financial tips. Highlights of the conversatio...

Asian markets rally with Wall Street after US inflation eases further; India’s biggest IPO of 2024 draws staggering US$39 billion in bids; STI on a roll , hits fresh 52-week high; Taishin raises offer for Shin Kong in what could be Taiwan’s biggest financial deal. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Sin...

If you’ve been a fan of the podcasts Mark to Market, Wealth BT and Property BT - they are moving to a new listing!  BT Correspondents! Look for episodes every Tuesday from October! All the insights and analysis in market trends, property, wealth and soon mobility too. Powered by The Business Times journalism of Genevieve Cua, Leslie Yee, Ben Paul and Derryn Wong. Because great reads SHOULD be hear...

If you’ve been a fan of the podcasts Mark to Market, Wealth BT and Property BT - they are moving to a new listing!  BT Correspondents! Look for episodes every Tuesday from October! All the insights and analysis in market trends, property, wealth and soon mobility too. Powered by The Business Times journalism of Genevieve Cua, Leslie Yee, Ben Paul and Derryn Wong. Because great reads SHOULD be hear...