The Business Times Podcasts

Headline news for April 10, 2026: Lebanon's death toll passes eighteen hundred after Israel's deadliest single day of the war. Netanyahu now wants direct talks with Beirut. Singapore's PM says the SAF must learn from Ukraine and Iran. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edite...

Market news for April 9, 2026:   Oil prices surged above $96 as Israel's attack on Lebanon cast doubt on the fragile Middle East ceasefire, reminding investors of lingering energy supply risks through the Strait of Hormuz. Asian shares slid, led by declines in South Korea and China, as the inflationary threat re-emerged. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business T...

Headline news for April 9, 2026: The ceasefire is fraying. Israel's deadliest strikes on Lebanon kill 254. Iran calls talks unreasonable. Hormuz transit remains disputed. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim Produced by: BT Podcasts, T...

Market news for April 8, 2026: The two-week Middle East conflict closed with a sudden ceasefire, sending oil and the safe-haven dollar sliding. Stocks and bonds surged on hopes for reopened Hormuz flows. Markets, whipped by volatility, now watch skeptically for lasting peace after the dramatic, energy-driven upheaval. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times tha...

Headline news for April 8, 2026: A two-week pause in the Iran war. Singapore unveils a billion-dollar relief package. Asian markets surge. Oil plunges fifteen per cent. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim Produced by: BT Podcasts, The...

Market news for April 7, 2026: Global stocks wavered as Middle East war risks hiked oil above $110, fuelling stagflation fears and halting Fed rate cut bets. A record Samsung forecast briefly lifted Asia, yet the energy shock and President Trump's deadline kept investors cautious, driving the dollar higher. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at...

Headline news for April 7, 2026: Iran rejects Trump's ceasefire and demands a permanent end to the war hours before his deadline. Asian airlines cut flights as jet fuel tightens. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim Produced by: BT Pod...

The likelihood of higher interest rates weighing on Reits has risen with the Iran war. As investors become more selective in this once popular segment of the market, sponsor groups may have to adjust their strategies, suggests BT senior correspondent Ben Paul. Highlights of the podcast: 00:47 Bad timing trips up two small Reits 04:39 A big Reit undeterred by the Iran war 08:49 Reits no longer offe...

Market news for April 6, 2026: Oil and stocks were mixed as President Trump's "hell" threat against Iran's Strait of Hormuz closure clashed with ceasefire reports. Brent crude rose on supply fears despite an OPEC+ output boost. Asia-Pacific shares were mostly positive, while the yen weakened as Middle East tensions escalated. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business T...

Headline news for April 6, 2026: President Trump's deadline for Iran expires tonight. Oil climbs past $110. Civilian casualties mount in Lebanon. Vietnam's growth slows on fuel costs. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim Produced by: B...

Is passive investing a Trojan horse? Index funds, once the safest bet, now harbour extreme concentration risk, leaving investors vulnerable in volatile markets. Discover why active ETFs are the essential upgrade. Unlearn the "comfort" of index tracking and gain the adaptability to chase alpha. Howie Lim explores the future of ETFs with the experts. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks...

Market news for April 2, 2026: Protracted war fears over Iran triggered a global sell-off today. Stocks tumbled, driving oil near $110 per barrel, while the dollar firmed. US President Trump's address offered no exit timeline, leaving investors bracing for prolonged conflict and deepening economic risks ahead of the long weekend. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Busine...

Headline news for April 2, 2026: President Trump declares the war's goals near completion and threatens to quit NATO. Oil dips. Chinese tech profits hit a three-year low. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim Produced by: BT Podcasts, T...

Market news for April 1, 2026: Iran de-escalation hopes fuelled a rally in Asian stocks today, snapping a four-day slide. South Korea's Kospi surged as exports smashed forecasts. Oil pared losses, while the dollar held steady. Investors remain cautiously optimistic as clarity on the Middle East conflict is awaited. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that l...

Headline news for April 1, 2026: A record month for oil, cracks in the Western alliance over Iran, and rising cooking gas costs in Singapore. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media...

Market news for March 31, 2026: Energy crisis grips Asia as Mideast war drives oil to record highs and fears of inflation and recession mount. Asian shares plunged to their steepest fall since 2022, bonds declined, while the dollar surged as a safe haven. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singap...

Headline news for March 31, 2026: US paratroopers land in the Middle East. President Trump renews threats against Iran. Oil heads for a record monthly gain. Spain closes airspace. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim Produced by: BT Po...

Scaling a high-growth company internationally brings formidable challenges: global payroll, FX risk, and treasury management. How do you maintain agility across borders? Howie Lim speaks to HSBC Innovation Banking's Neil Falconer to uncover the three pillars which are essential for managing friction and accelerating your scale-up success in South-east Asia and beyond. Synopsis: The Business Times...

Market news for March 30, 2026: Stock markets slid as a protracted Gulf conflict drove oil prices to a record monthly rise, fuelling a global inflation spike and raising recession risks. Asia, heavily dependent on Middle East energy, suffered significant losses. Brent crude soared almost 59 per cent for the month. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that lo...

Headline news for March 30, 2026: Houthis widen the war with first strikes on Israel. Oil heads for a record monthly rise. Asian markets slump. Pakistan offers to host peace talks. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim Produced by: BT P...

Feeling the job switch itch? Don't resign yet! The market is cautious, but salary bumps of up to 15 per cent are real. Hear legal experts on contract risks, from clawbacks to non-compete clauses. Howie Lim gets the fine art of negotiation—what to ask for, and when to start—to protect your career and maximise your next move. Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful...

Global conflict. Closed shipping lanes. Oil surged, gold stumbled. As the Middle East crisis whipsaws markets, where is the mispricing? Syfe's Ritesh Ganeriwal joins Howie Lim to dissect Asia’s structural energy shock, the dollar’s safe haven reign, and the disruptive forces reshaping portfolio strategy this quarter end. Highlights: 01:16 Mispriced assets thanks to the conflict 03:44 G...

Headline news for March 27, 2026: President Trump extends his pause on Iran energy strikes to April. Tehran calls the US peace plan unfair. Oil dips but stays volatile. Synopsis: A round up of global headlines to start your day by The Business Times.  Written by: Claressa Monteiro ( claremb@sph.com.sg )  Produced and edited by: Claressa Monteiro or Howie Lim Produced by: BT Podcasts, The...

The AI future is here, but for many SMEs, adoption feels overwhelming. Discover how UOB FinLab's 'AI Ready' programme transformed this anxiety into competitive advantage for second-generation businesses. Hear how to turn operational bottlenecks—from repetitive tasks to client generation—into practical, de-risked AI solutions. Learn how to scale efficiently without a massive hiring spre...

Market news for March 26, 2026: Mideast turmoil sees Asian stocks slide, oil spike 2 per cent on Strait of Hormuz closure fears, while gold reverses course for its steepest monthly drop since 2008, defying safe-haven status. 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:...