Economy

Container cranes at the port of Singapore. A recent survey reveals that some companies' executives worry about the trade war denting their supply chains, many of which run through China.
Trade war

Trade war forces multinationals in Asia to hold back on investing

Companies look for alternatives to supply chains that run through China

12 December 2018
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5 December 2018
Singapore faces the biggest mismatch between skills and jobs created in Southeast Asia, according to a recent study.
Economy

Singapore faces biggest reskilling challenge in Southeast Asia

City-state races to retrain workforce for digital age

4 December 2018
© Illustration by Ailsa Johnson
Asia Insight

Asia's overstretched airports brace for 4bn flyers

Passenger count far outpaces construction but new tech offers hope

27 November 2018
Manufacturing accounts for about one-fifth of Singapore’s gross domestic product.
26 November 2018
As a major Asian financial center, Singapore serves as a regional base for hundreds of banks including DBS Group Holdings, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp and United Overseas Bank, the top three local lenders.
Nikkei Markets

Singapore flags risk from rising foreign-currency loans

Central bank sees stronger household balance sheets after property measures

23 November 2018
Dark economic clouds hang over Southeast Asia as trade war bites into growth
Trade war

Trade war stings Southeast Asia's export economies

Average growth of ASEAN-5 nations fell to 4.5% in 3Q from 5.5% a year before

23 November 2018
Singapore expects GDP growth to come in between 1.5% and 3.5% next year, potentially slowing from this year’s 3% to 3.5%.
Nikkei Markets

Singapore growth disappoints, trade war shadows outlook

In worst-case scenario, exports may remain flat next year, says trade agency

22 November 2018
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Business trends

Internet economy to be worth $240bn in Southeast Asia by 2025

Google-Temasek study raises projection by 20% versus previous forecast

19 November 2018
According to data from trade agency Enterprise Singapore on Friday, the city-state’s non-oil domestic exports rose 8.3% in October from a year ago.
16 November 2018
Japan wants to help Southeast Asian nations train more specialists in information technology.
Economy

ASEAN to groom 80,000 tech specialists with Japan's help

Tokyo will also assist with the construction of smart cities in Southeast Asia

15 November 2018
Leaders from RCEP countries met for a Summit in Singapore on Nov. 14: Some, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, second from left, worry that announcing a deal could hurt their standing at home.
International relations

Asian leaders reaffirm commitment to RCEP trade talks

Members hope to conclude deal in 2019 after failing to reach agreement this year

14 November 2018
© Illustration by Tania Vicedo
Asia Insight

Asia braces for baby bust as singles wait to wed

Japan is not alone in facing low fertility and higher welfare costs

13 November 2018
The courtyard of Bank Indonesia, which is close to completing a currency deal with Singapore that will help stabilize its economy and financial market.
Economy

Southeast Asian central banks play defense against Fed tightening

Indonesia and Singapore sealed currency deal and Thailand considers a rate hike

9 November 2018
U.S. protectionist policies have given new urgency to RCEP talks that began in 2013.  
Trade war

RCEP members aim for complete deal in 2019: draft statement

16 countries in last-minute negotiation toward next week's summit

8 November 2018
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson speaks in Singapore on Nov. 7. (Courtesy of Bloomberg New Economy Forum)
Trade war

US and China face 'economic Iron Curtain,' warns Paulson

Former Treasury Secretary says 'long winter' awaits unless issues resolved

7 November 2018
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Asia Insight

Southeast Asia awakens to the power of corporate competition

Caught flat-footed by Grab and Uber, states raise antitrust games

6 November 2018
The top three banks in Singapore recorded strong results in the July to September quarter but they expect U.S.-China trade tensions to hurt loan growth next year.
Trade war

Singapore banks expect slower loan growth in 2019 due to trade row

Financing outlook weakens after a strong July to September quarter

5 November 2018
DBS Group Holdings expects loans to grow around 6-7% next year, down from 8% in the first nine months of 2018.
Nikkei Markets

Despite trade war, DBS sees conditions as favoring growth

Higher loans, lower provisions boost quarterly profit, stock moves down

5 November 2018
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5 November 2018
A small marijuana plant grows in a lab at Niagara College in Ontario, Canada.
Economy

Asia plants seeds for medical cannabis market

Thailand, Singapore and China pursue research into health care uses

4 November 2018
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. has a large presence in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and Macau in addition to its home market of Singapore.
Nikkei Markets

OCBC benefits from higher rates, posts record profit

Despite trade war, bank's markets remain sound, says CEO

1 November 2018
The drop in Singapore business confidence comes just days after the city-state reported an unexpected fall in factory output for September.
Nikkei Markets

Singapore business confidence dives as risks grow

Sentiment especially weak in consumer electronics, precision engineering

31 October 2018
A villager walks by a geothermal power plant in Central Java Province. Indonesia is rich in geothermal reserves.
Environment

Southeast Asia to double renewables with help of experts

International agency to steer ASEAN away from coal

31 October 2018
Singapore’s manufacturing output from three of the largest manufacturing segments, electronics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, declined In September.
Nikkei Markets

Singapore's factory output surprises with contraction

Electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals show weakness

26 October 2018