Singapore

A supermarket in Singapore. This chain, Sheng Siong, will roll out a three-month discount in 2024 on most of its items to offset the additional goods and services tax. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga)
Economy

Singapore, Malaysia to raise consumption tax amid inflation fears

Southeast Asia balances fiscal needs against uncertain economy in 2024

28 December 2023
Standard Chartered Ventures' head Alex Manson believes startups without a clear plan for profitability will have trouble raising cash. (Nikkei montage/Source photos from Standard Chartered Ventures)
Startups

No return to easy money for startups, StanChart Ventures head says

Founders to face pressure for profit even if 'funding winter' ends, says Manson

26 December 2023
Singapore-based nightspot operator Zouk wants to grow its international presence, potentially with new clubs in cities like New York, Miami or Dubai. (Photo by Dylan Loh)
Media & Entertainment

Singapore-based Zouk eyes New York after Tokyo and L.A. venues

Genting-connected nightspot operator scans horizon for new club openings

25 December 2023
Sumitomo Life Insurance will set up an office next year in Singapore, which it considers a core Asian market.
Business deals

Japan's Sumitomo Life to acquire Singapore Life in Asian push

Insurer buys shares from TPG and Aviva, eyeing full ownership

23 December 2023
Singaporean lender Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. is creating the fund to support businesses involved in developing renewable energy.
Finance

Singapore's OCBC to launch $500m decarbonization fund

Project with Japan investment bank to aid Southeast Asian's energy shift

22 December 2023
Travelers walk through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Dec. 20. As the number of tourists surges across Southeast Asia, so too are COVID cases. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Coronavirus

Malaysia and Singapore put guard up as COVID cases surge

Southeast Asia asks public to mask up and get vaccinated as travel season begins

21 December 2023
Chinese tourists visit Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew temple in August. People from the country made up the world's biggest outbound travel market before the COVID pandemic, with 155 million trips in 2019. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Travel & Leisure

In charts: How Asia's tourism recovery is held back by stay-home Chinese

World's biggest foreign travel market hurt by weak economy, safety concerns

21 December 2023
Taiwan's AUO is planning to focus more on microLED displays, an emerging technology that has caught the eye of Apple.
Supply Chain

Taiwan's AUO to end display production in Singapore this month

Demand for LCD screens slows as OLED technology grows in popularity

20 December 2023
U.S. aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson displays America’s military might in Southeast Asia amid a spat between China and the Philippines in the region's disputed waters. (Photo by Dylan Loh)
Defense

U.S. aircraft carrier calls at Singapore as China, Philippines spar

Nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson projects might amid South China Sea dispute

19 December 2023
Raymond Tong, president Vantage Data Centers' Asia-Pacific business, believes a surge in data center demand lies ahead in the region. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Tsubasa Suruga)
Technology

Vantage Data Centers readies for AI demand in Southeast Asia

U.S. operator's regional head confident about capacity targets in Malaysia

19 December 2023
Container ships at the port in Singapore on Sept. 28. The city-state's economy is projected to grow 2.8% in 2024, according to a survey of experts. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Singapore's economic rebound to boost ASEAN growth in 2024: JCER

Survey finds concerns rise over Israel-Hamas war spillover on oil prices, markets

16 December 2023
Battery storage farms, like this one in the Canadian province of Alberta, are becoming more common to support the spread of renewable energy.
Energy

Singapore renewable developer to build major battery farm in Japan

Gurin Energy sees demand as Japan faces grid capacity limits amid green shift

16 December 2023
Singapore-based Lazada has received three rounds of investment from Alibaba this year. (Photo by Takashi Nakano)
Technology

Alibaba pumps $630m more into Lazada in race with TikTok, Sea

Chinese e-commerce leader faces rising competition in Southeast Asia

14 December 2023
Limited partners in Seraya Partners' first fund include the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Alberta Investment Management and BlackRock funds and accounts. (Photo by Hiroki Endo) 
Finance

Singapore's Seraya Partners closes $800m infrastructure fund

BlackRock-backed fund to invest in Asian data centers, clean energy

12 December 2023
Taiwan's National Development Council led almost 30 startups to Singapore for a business expedition in November. (Startup Island Taiwan)
Technology

Taiwanese tech startups pile into ASEAN amid risks in China

From Singapore to Vietnam, companies tap Southeast Asia in expansion drive

12 December 2023
Singapore's commercial property investment volume declined 11%, year-on-year, to $2 billion in the third quarter of 2023. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Market Spotlight

From Singapore to South Korea, commercial property deals falter

Japan and India are bright spots, although most real estate investors remain wary

11 December 2023
An indoor waterfall within Singapore shopping mall Jewel Changi Airport.
Opinion

Asia's airports have to be reinvented for greener post-COVID world

Automation is emerging as a major driver for sustainability

10 December 2023
17Live bypassed the traditional route to an initial public offering by combining with a special purpose acquisition company already listed on the Singapore Exchange and backed by the city-state's Vertex Holdings. (Nikkei montage/Source photo by Tsubasa Suruga and screenshot from 17Live's website) 
Markets

Livestreaming platform 17Live eyes ASEAN growth as shares falter at debut

Vertex-backed shell company's merger with Taiwan-founded startup tackles tough market

8 December 2023
Mastercard and NEC are planning to launch an in-person checkout system using facial recognition. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga)
Technology

Mastercard to let Asian shoppers pay with a quick face scan

Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand are among the first possible markets globally

6 December 2023
Codashop allows gamers to buy content and credits using various payment methods. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga)
Startups

GIC-backed Coda offers fresh alternative to Big Tech app stores

Singapore startup expands payment system for game publishers, content creators

4 December 2023
Cleaners work to prevent bedbugs at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Nov. 17.
Travel & Leisure

Bedbugs threaten to bite Asia's post-COVID travel recovery

Scares in South Korea, Hong Kong and elsewhere are manageable, experts say

3 December 2023
Investor Jim Rogers: "Everybody is going to have problems in the next year or two." (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
Interview

Jim Rogers warns that global 'good times' are nearing the end

Investor cites looming U.S. recession, China property woes as causes for gloom

1 December 2023
Travelers walk at Singapore's Changi airport. Singaporeans are among Asia's most frequent travelers. 
Technology

Singapore's YouTrip wallet app rides rebound in global travel

Seamless currency conversions push usership to triple in 2 years

30 November 2023
Keppel seeks to expand its asset portfolio beyond Asia through the acquisition of Aermont Capital. (Photo courtesy of Keppel)
Property

Singapore's Keppel to buy European real estate firm for up to $1bn

Asset manager eyes expansion beyond Asia with Aermont Capital purchase

30 November 2023
Sentosa Cove is the only place in Singapore where foreigners can buy mansions without needing to get the extra layers of approval that similar properties elsewhere require. (Photo by Dylan Loh)
Property

Singapore property playground for rich foreigners hits rough patch

Money laundering arrests plus sales dip test 'little Monaco' on Sentosa Island

28 November 2023