Singapore

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, left, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: Their nations are increasingly intertwined as multinationals send capital to Vietnam via the low-tax island.
International relations

Vietnam weighs Singapore diplomatic upgrade as Lee visits

China risks make Vietnam more of a destination for manufacturing, solar power

28 August 2023
Investors remain focused on tech companies' ability to generate cash amid an increasingly competitive environment. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and Getty)
Market Spotlight

Grab shares jump but Sea's dive as investors applaud cost cuts

Southeast Asian tech stars face increasing pressure to generate profit

28 August 2023
Hilton is scheduled to open a Waldorf Astoria hotel in Hanoi in 2025, the first under the luxury brand in Vietnam. (Image courtesy of Hilton)
Travel & Leisure

Hilton moves ahead with luxury brand push in Asia-Pacific

Hotel company to bring Waldorf Astoria brand to India, Malaysia as demand grows

26 August 2023
Qashier has evolved into a full-fledged commerce platform with services  including inventory and staff  management as well as contactless QR ordering. (Nikkei montage/Source photo from Reuters and logo from Qashier's website)
DealStreetAsia

Singapore-based point-of-sale system startup Qashier nets $10m

Series A funding round co-anchored by IFP Securities and Delivery Hero Ventures

25 August 2023
The Southeast Asian tech group has taken a series of cost-cutting measures since last year, including a freeze on most hiring. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Technology

Singapore's Grab speeds up profit forecast as loss narrows

Super app operator expects to break even in 3rd quarter this year

24 August 2023
Tan Kin Lian, Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Ng Kok Song (Left to Right) are vying for Singapore's presidency with polls set for Sept. 1 (Photos by Tsubasa Suruga)
Politics

Singapore presidential election heats up in three-way fight

Former deputy PM, ex-GIC investment head, ex-insurance chief eye September polls

22 August 2023
Singapore's state investor GIC is betting on Carrefour Brazil Group, the largest food retail group in Brazil.
DealStreetAsia

Singapore's GIC acquires nine Carrefour assets in Brazil

City state's state investor and Barzel Properties team up in $241m purchase

21 August 2023
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong attends the ASEAN Summit in Indonesia during May.
Politics

Singapore political scandals 'will not delay' succession plan: Lee

PM cites confidence in 'fourth generation' of leaders during national address

21 August 2023
A view of the moon from the Chandrayaan-3 lander during Lunar Orbit Insertion on Aug. 5 in this screengrab from a video released Aug. 6. (Photo by ISRO/Handout via Reuters)
Your Week in Asia

China prime rate, Cambodia's new PM, India moon landing mission

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

20 August 2023
Investors consider that China’s rate cuts are small and will only help the economy modestly amid the ongoing property turmoil.
Markets

ASEAN markets grow cautious as China's property crisis worsens

Investor sentiment weakens as fears of further economic slowdown mount

18 August 2023
Growtheum Capital Partners has bet on a range of promising startups in Southeast Asia and India. (Source photo by AP and logo from Growtheum Capital Partners' website)
DealStreetAsia

Singapore's Growtheum Capital closes debut fund at $567m

Amount comes in tad below target in trying time for global fund managers

17 August 2023
Chinese exports to ASEAN dropped by 21% in July from a year ago.
Caixin

Container shipping rates fall on weaker China-ASEAN trade

Shanghai to Singapore 20-foot container spot price down 30% from March

16 August 2023
Southeast Asian tech company Sea intends to invest more in its Shopee e-commerce unit as competition heats up.
Technology

Singapore's Sea to 'ramp up' Shopee investments amid TikTok's rise

Stock falls more than 28% in New York as company warns of impact on bottom line

16 August 2023
New rules governing stablecoins highlight Singapore's efforts to improve regulatory oversight while spurring innovation in the Asian financial hub.
Cryptocurrencies

Singapore to label regulated stablecoins in transparency push

Issuers must meet criteria on value stability, minimum capital, others

15 August 2023
AMRO Chief Economist Khor Hoe Ee speaks during an interview in Singapore. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Economy

China's economic and tourism recovery hold key to ASEAN

'Supply chain reconfiguration' also benefits region, says AMRO chief economist

12 August 2023
Singapore's President Halimah Yacob (left) and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana Presidential Palace in 2017.
Politics

Singapore set for presidential election next month

Former senior minister Tharman among four hopefuls vying for ceremonial post

11 August 2023
A view of the Singapore skyline and the Tanjong Pagar container terminal. The trade-reliant economy is sensitive to global conditions.
Economy

Singapore cuts 2023 GDP growth outlook to 0.5-1.5% on weak exports

Global electronics downturn 'more protracted than initially thought': official

11 August 2023
Singapore's United Overseas Bank is clamping down on business with Myanmar, a move one Yangon-based foreign financial sector expert said could have a "huge" impact. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Myanmar Crisis

Key Singapore bank UOB moves to cut off Myanmar

Clampdown seen as response to U.S. pressure, reputational risks

9 August 2023
A clothing retailer in Hulu Langat on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur engages with buyers on TikTok Shop. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Business Spotlight

TikTok takes on Shopee, Tokopedia in ASEAN e-commerce race

Buyers and sellers flock to shopping feature while authorities fret

4 August 2023
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He says his People's Action Party has taken a hit over recent controversies.
Politics

Singapore political drama exposes frailty of Lee's succession plan

Ruling PAP 'has taken a hit' over minister's graft probe, speaker's resignation

3 August 2023
GIC is shifting some investments from China to other regions, but still sees mid- to long-term opportunities in the country.
Finance

Singapore's GIC boosts infrastructure investment in India, Vietnam

Sovereign fund seeks stable returns amid global stock market uncertainty

2 August 2023
Airwallex offers a global fintech payment platform that helps businesses manage payments, treasury and expenses internationally. (Source photo by Getty and logo from Airwallex's website)
DealStreetAsia

Tencent-backed Airwallex's Singapore unit gets fresh $165m

Capital injections into subsidiaries 'support our continued growth in the market'

1 August 2023
Mobile e-payment logos on display at a street stall in Vietnam. Fintech services are growing rapidly in Southeast Asia, where many people are underbanked.
Startups

Ex-Alibaba exec's fund bets big on 'golden era' of ASEAN fintech

01Fintech says ready to offer money, expertise to foster unicorns

31 July 2023
Hong Kong-based Isola Capital is currently advising and managing over $1 billion in assets. (Source photo by Getty and logo from Isola Capital's LinkedIn account)
DealStreetAsia

Hong Kong's Isola Capital to launch up to $400m fund in Q3

Vehicle betting big on private equity in aim to generate high returns

27 July 2023
GIC's Chief Investment Officer Jeffrey Jaensubhakij noted the U.S.-China rivalry has extended beyond trade and technologies issues to capital flows, prompting businesses and investors to rethink their strategy. (Photo courtesy of GIC)
Finance

Singapore's GIC eyes India, Indonesia, Vietnam amid China pivot

Sovereign fund expects 'some time' before deals return in second-largest economy

26 July 2023