Accumulating bitcoin a risky digital rush by companies
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s media group and Tesla, the electric carmaker owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, are among an increasing number of companies buying huge amounts of bitcoin. The aim? To diversify reserves, counter inflation and attract investors, analysts say. Who also invests? Companies frequently own bitcoin – the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation…
Read MoreVirality-Driven Beauty Brands Are Reshaping the Industry, but Sustaining Momentum Remains Key Challenge
A report by Spate and YipitData shows that TikTok-fueled momentum is translating into meaningful share gains for a cohort of next-gen brands across the beauty industry. Among the key gainers are Medicube and Anua, which rank as the top two skin care brands on TikTok with 10.6 billion and 9.3 billion views, respectively. “Virality is…
Read MoreTrump Admin Announces $50 Million Bounty for Capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Drug and Weapons Smuggling Charges
The Trump administration on Thursday announced a whopping $50 million reward for any information that could help lead to the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who is widely considered a dictator. The announcement was made directly by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who alleged that Maduro has been working with several criminal gangs to smuggle…
Read MoreOver 30 companies in IPO pipeline: SGX
[SINGAPORE] More than 30 companies are currently in the Singapore Exchange’s (SGX) initial public offering (IPO) pipeline, according to the group’s head of global sales and origination, Pol de Win. He shared this during the group’s financial results briefing on Friday (Aug 8), in response to a question from Thilan Wickramasinghe, head of research for…
Read MoreAsia: Tokyo soars on trade deal relief as markets limp into weekend
JAPANESE stocks rallied on Friday on a mixed day for Asian markets, fuelled by relief that Tokyo and Washington had settled a tariff issue that raised concerns about their trade deal. The news compounded optimism sparked by strong earnings from market heavyweights Sony and Softbank that fanned a rally in the tech sector. Meanwhile, expectations…
Read MoreAsia: Tokyo soars on trade deal relief as Asian markets limp into weekend
JAPANESE stocks rallied on Friday on a mixed day for Asian markets, fuelled by relief that Tokyo and Washington had settled a tariff issue that raised concerns about their trade deal. The news compounded optimism sparked by strong earnings from market heavyweights Sony and Softbank that fanned a rally in the tech sector. Meanwhile, expectations…
Read MoreChina’s tech giants spook a generation of workers with job cuts
FOR years, a job at one of China’s technology behemoths was a golden ticket for the country’s ambitious youth. Now, a wave of downsizing is tarnishing that dream, pushing out seasoned employees and prompting a new generation to seek refuge in the state sector. In a recent push for “cost reduction and efficiency”, China’s major…
Read MoreBlackstone makes first hire for Japan private credit origination
Firms are also pursuing private loan origination in Japan, seeking to offer an alternative to bank financing. Published Fri, Aug 8, 2025 · 11:26 AM [HONG KONG] Blackstone made its first hire to focus on private credit origination in Japan, joining rivals including KKR to tap a fast-growing market for the global US$1.7 trillion industry.…
Read MoreLeading ladies: The women heading the biggest family-led hotels in Asia
[SINGAPORE] Kuok Hui Kwong’s appointment as the new chief at Shangri-La Asia is only the latest in a string of women taking over the reins across family-controlled Asian hospitality groups. The daughter of Malaysia’s richest man, Robert Kuok, Hui Kwong was appointed chief executive of the prestigious hotel group on Aug 1. She is the…
Read MoreTrump signs order targeting banks over political discrimination
[NEW YORK] US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday (Aug 7) aimed at eliminating practices by banks and their regulators that result in certain customers being denied access to financial services for ideological reasons. The order directs federal banking regulators to remove reputational risk standards from their guidance and training materials and…
Read MoreWealth firms are preparing richest Australians for pension tax fallout
[MELBOURNE] A looming pensions tax on rich Australians is sparking a flurry of behind-the-scenes planning by the nation’s wealth managers, who say clients are actively exploring strategies to shield multi-million dollar balances. Under legislation set to reach the Senate in the coming weeks, pension balances of A$3 million (S$2.5 million) and above would face an…
Read MoreBOJ debated chance of resuming rate hike, July summary shows
[TOKYO] Some Bank of Japan policymakers warned of mounting inflationary pressures and one signaled the chance of resuming interest rate increases by year-end, a summary of opinions at the July meeting showed, keeping alive the possibility of a near-term rate hike. While several board members warned of lingering uncertainty over the fallout from US tariffs,…
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