Author: Journalist

Published Wed, Jun 4, 2025 · 05:46 PMAsian stocks track Wall Street up after jobs data; Korean stocks rise to enter bull market, bonds sink after Lee elected President; Iron ore markets head for shake-up as Singapore-linked Simandou nears production.Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.Written and hosted by: Emily Liu ([email protected])Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa MonteiroProduced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media—BT in your inboxStart and end each day with the latest news…

Bitcoin has surged over the last year, propelled higher by Wall Street’s embrace of crypto and U.S. president Donald Trump’s support (despite Google revealing a serious BlackRock bitcoin nightmare just got a lot worse). Front-run Donald Trump, the White House and Wall Street by subscribing now to Forbes’ CryptoAsset & Blockchain Advisor where you can “uncover blockchain blockbusters poised for 1,000% plus gains!” The bitcoin price set a new all-time high of $112,000 per bitcoin last month, surging 50% from its April low and helped by U.S. vice president JD Vance issuing a huge crypto prediction. Now, as the Covid-era…

Traders work at the New York Stock Exchange on May 9, 2025. NYSEU.S. stock futures rose slightly on Wednesday, as Nvidia continued to lead tech shares higher.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures moved up 65 points, or 0.2%. S&P 500 futures added 0.2%, along with Nasdaq 100 futures.Nvidia shares gained almost 1% in the premarket, as did Broadcom. Meta Platforms and Alphabet also ticked higher before the bell.Wall Street is coming off a solid session, led by strong gains in tech. The 30-stock Dow rose more than 200 points, or 0.5%, for its fourth positive day. The S&P 500 and the…

A new study by University of Cambridge students and DNV finds companies are leveraging ESG policies to strengthen business performance, despite regulatory uncertainty.  According to the “Beyond compliance: Unlocking strategic value through sustainability regulations” report, with mounting environmental challenges, shifting investor expectations, and rapidly evolving regulatory frameworks, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting has become a business imperative. But for truly forward-looking organizations, ESG is no longer about meeting minimum compliance thresholds. It’s about leveraging ESG as a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and long-term value creation. Regulatory field surrounding ESG obligations  2025 will be a pivotal year as new reporting…

Singapore’s central bank has set a deadline of June 30 for local crypto service providers to stop offering digital token (DT) services to overseas markets.The directive came from the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) response to industry feedback on its proposed regulatory framework for Digital Token Service Providers (DSTPs) under its Financial Services and Markets Act of 2022 (FSM Act). MAS stated that no transitional arrangements will be made for local DTSPs providing services abroad. It said that any Singapore-incorporated company, individual or partnership that provides DT services outside Singapore must either cease operations or obtain a license when the DTSP…

Pi Network and Binance crypto exchange are once again in the spotlight due to speculation about Pi coin being listed on Binance. Rumours are circulating on X that Binance has listed PI, generating excitement in the Pi community.On X, a viral post said, “Binance has listed $Pi, I think Binance has taken the first step of launch. The next step is to witness the miracle.” An image was also shared, showing Pi’s price as if it were listed on the Binance exchange.However, there has been no official announcement from either Pi Network or Binance. As of now, Pi coin is…

[SINGAPORE] When news broke early last Thursday (May 29) morning that a US federal court had struck down most of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, I was almost done selling a portfolio of US stocks that I had held since the global financial crisis. With a tinge of seller’s remorse, I watched markets in Asia react positively and waited for what I assumed would be a strong rally in the S&P 500 when the US market opened. The rally never really came. The S&P 500 closed on Thursday at 5,912.17, just 0.4 per cent higher than the previous day’s close…

This week in ESG news: Survey finds companies not in favor of process to reduce CSRD sustainability reporting requirements; SAP launches new suite of sustainability data tools; Microsoft buys low carbon building materials to help spur clean solutions markets; EU on track to reach 2030 climate goals; EBA proposes simplifying ESG reporting for banks; Watershed launches free emissions database to drive decarbonization efforts; Germany walks back call to scrap supply chain sustainability laws; Schneider Electric launches agentic AI-powered sustainability solutions initiative; Danske Bank shifts focus to transition finance; Snam attracts $10 billion order book for net zero-focused sustainability linked bond;…

WASHINGTON – A potentially watershed effort to launch US crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that offer staking rewards is throwing up regulatory doubts, even after the funds said they had received initial US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration approval. Issuers REX Financial and Osprey Funds are targeting to launch ETFs tracking Ethereum and Solana that offer staking exposure, which allows investors to earn rewards by pledging tokens to help operate the blockchain. US regulators are now raising concerns that the vehicles may not legally qualify as ETFs at all under federal securities laws.In a letter late on May 30 sent to…

Bitcoin 2025 brought together thousands of investors, builders, and believers for a showcase of crypto’s next chapter.MacKenzie SigalosLAS VEGAS — At the world’s largest bitcoin conference this week on the Vegas Strip, the most consequential story wasn’t about bitcoin.Stablecoins, the dollar-pegged digital tokens now driving a full-scale financial and political shift in Washington, stole the show.The momentum behind stablecoin legislation and crypto market reform is accelerating — and it’s attracting a new kind of donor, investor, and voter. That shift took center stage at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas.Vice President JD Vance became the first sitting U.S. vice president to…