News
Asia markets mixed in final day of 2025 trading - CNA
3+ hour, 37+ min ago (304+ words) HONG KONG: Asian stocks were mixed at the start of the final trading day of 2025 on Wednesday (Dec 31), with some tracking Wall Street losses as investors eased towards the New Year break. Trading remained thin in the holiday-shortened week, though…...
More firms turn to non-traditional foreign hires, but SMEs say cost pressures remain - CNA
21+ hour, 27+ min ago (707+ words) While companies are showing cautious interest in new sources of labour, business groups say more support is needed to help SMEs deal with rising costs and digital adoption. Hotel housekeeping roles are among the jobs that foreign workers from non-traditional…...
Home renovations hit by delays, rising costs as demand for low-formaldehyde materials grows - CNA
1+ day, 2+ hour ago (182+ words) Home renovations hit by delays, rising costs as demand for low-formaldehyde materials grows'CNA Home renovations hit by delays, rising costs as demand for low-formaldehyde materials grows In some cases, waiting times for such materials are now stretching up to two…...
BOJ debated need for more rate hikes even after December move, summary shows - CNA
2+ day, 6+ hour ago (187+ words) TOKYO, Dec 29 : Bank of Japan policymakers debated the need to continue raising interest rates with some calling for "timely" action to curb future inflationary pressure, a summary of opinions at their policy meeting in December "showed on Monday. At the…...
Gold, silver and platinum extend record streak
1+ week, 3+ hour ago (378+ words) A goldsmith weighs gold jewellery inside a showroom in Ahmedabad, India, July 31, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave Dec "24 : Gold prices edged lower on Wednesday, taking a breather after surging past the key $4,500-an-ounce mark earlier in the session, while silver and platinum…...
Japan has 'free hand' in dealing with excessive yen moves, finance minister tells Bloomberg
1+ week, 1+ day ago (320+ words) TOKYO: Japan has a free hand in dealing with "excessive moves in the yen, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Tuesday (Dec 23), issuing the strongest warning to date on Tokyo's readiness to intervene in the currency market to arrest sharp…...
US stocks jump after an encouraging inflation update, as Micron helps AI stocks stop their slide
1+ week, 5+ day ago (820+ words) Investors cheer signs of easing price pressures and strong corporate earnings. NEW YORK: US stocks are jumping on Thursday (Dec 18) following an encouraging report on inflation that could help the Federal Reserve keep cutting interest rates next year. A strong…...
Taiwan central bank raises growth forecast on AI-driven export boom
1+ week, 5+ day ago (198+ words) A man stands inside Taiwan's central bank in Taipei, Taiwan May 29, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang Bank governor Yang Chin-long told reporters that U.S. demand for goods from Taiwan, home to the world's largest semiconductor maker TSMC whose chips are powering the AI…...
Already at 3-year lows, will Singapore's home loan rates keep falling in 2026?
1+ week, 6+ day ago (1084+ words) With fixed-rate housing loans now roughly half what they were in January, mortgage experts weigh in on what home owners can expect in the year ahead. SINGAPORE: Mortgage rates in Singapore have fallen to their lowest in three years, and…...
Asian markets drift as US jobs data fails to boost rate cut hopes
2+ week, 3+ hour ago (691+ words) HONG KONG: Asian equities were mixed on Wednesday (Dec 17) as United States jobs data did little to boost expectations for another interest rate cut next month, while oil rallied after US President Donald Trump ordered the blockade of "sanctioned" Venezuelan…...