Airshow buoyancy masks turbulence ahead 6 Feb 2018 Aviation bosses gathering in Singapore may want a serving of scepticism alongside the champagne. Rising oil prices, creaking infrastructure and too many seats will limit the gains from a regional boom in cheap flights. Full-service carriers could also hit air pockets.
Cox: Sliding stocks don’t surprise our readers 5 Feb 2018 From Mumbai to Milan, we polled participants at our Predictions 2018 summits. Even before last week's rout, most thought investors are too exuberant, bitcoin is a bubble and Donald Trump is doing poorly. More surprising were regional takes on NAFTA, Italian elections and Brexit.
Review: Shaking up Singapore’s ivory tower elites 26 Jan 2018 The city-state has fostered prosperity and stability. Yet as the fourth generation of leaders prepares to choose a new prime minister, a timely book from academic Cherian George presents a helpful to-do list. Broadening the political talent pool should be right at the very top.
Qualcomm slipping away from Broadcom’s grasp 19 Jan 2018 The odds were always long on the chipmaker’s $105 bln unsolicited bid. A new federal probe into Broadcom, Qualcomm’s progress with approvals to buy NXP and souring U.S.-China relations raise them further. Broadcom holds a few cards but its hand would be stronger played elsewhere.
Uber’s next ride-share could be in Southeast Asia 17 Jan 2018 After struggling in China and Russia, the app operator swapped its businesses there for stakes in Didi and Yandex. Another sensible partner would be $6 bln-plus Grab, which shares a backer in SoftBank. As Uber aims for an IPO, it's a good region in which to cut further losses.
Myanmar tourism stock soars away from crisis 8 Jan 2018 Hot-air balloon operator Memories Group had a strong debut after reversing onto the Singapore exchange. The shares jumped 60 pct amid an ongoing Myanmar military campaign condemned by the UN as ethnic cleansing. Investor optimism is hard to square with the political realities.
Uber’s taxi U-turn sets better Southeast Asia path 11 Dec 2017 Co-founder Travis Kalanick used derisive terms to describe the regulated industry he was trying to upend. Uber's new boss, however, just struck a deal with Singaporean taxi company ComfortDelGro. The JV should help it pare losses and compete in a tough market with rival Grab.
Microchip boom short-circuits Singapore’s growth 28 Nov 2017 Revised GDP revealed a surprisingly strong 5.2 pct quarterly lift for the city-state's $300 bln economy. As in other parts of the world, however, the expansion has yet to power wages or jobs. Cyclical semiconductor output flatters the figures and warrants investor caution.
Breakdown: Redesigned TPP deal goes to 11 14 Nov 2017 The Pacific trade pact may be 70 pct less valuable in terms of global income. For Japan, Canada and nine others, though, good economic reasons exist to proceed. It's a defence against lopsided bilateral deals. And TPP could yet add partners to recapture many of the lost benefits.
Qualcomm’s rebuff only fuels deal hype 13 Nov 2017 The chipmaker says Broadcom’s unsolicited $105 bln offer “dramatically” undervalues it. It’s part of the M&A ritual. Sure, Broadcom might struggle to lift its price much, and there are antitrust risks. But the pressure’s on Qualcomm to sort out its own issues.
Viewsroom: Broadcom $130 bln bid signals market top 10 Nov 2017 The chipmaker’s hostile tilt at Qualcomm is a rare aggressive move in the sector. Qualcomm has its own issues, awaiting approval for its NXP deal and fighting Apple in court. It all suggests the tech sector is too frothy. Plus: Is Hong Kong losing its moxie as a financial center?
Apple has deciding vote in Broadcom-Qualcomm deal 9 Nov 2017 A dispute over iPhone royalties left U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm vulnerable to rival Broadcom’s opportunistic $105 bln bid. Settling could preserve its independence. The question is whether Apple thinks a bigger Broadcom would be slavishly devoted, or even surlier.
Singapore Airlines seeks altitude to outfly rivals 8 Nov 2017 The city-state’s $9 bln flag carrier has embraced change. It has a restructuring plan, a low-cost arm, and a fancier first class. But with Norwegian Air and Qantas invading profitable routes, it will have to crack on. That includes deciding what to do with regional arm SilkAir.
Broadcom lenders shed prudence just as it’s needed 6 Nov 2017 The chipmaker’s advisers are “highly confident” of arranging finance for its $105 bln Qualcomm bid. Ample liquidity, low defaults and easing regulations have banks itching to lend. But rising corporate leverage and looser covenants pose big risks for anyone coming to the dance.
Broadcom faces down ghost of chip LBOs past 6 Nov 2017 The $111 bln soon-American-again chipmaker offered $105 bln for Qualcomm. If the unsolicited bid goes anywhere, borrowing nearly $90 bln would send debt-to-EBITDA ratios towards leveraged buyout territory. Two former chip LBOs – Freescale and NXP – give pause for thought.
Singapore’s DBS gets closer to oil reality 5 Nov 2017 The $43 bln bank lifted net provisions to a 15-year high. Like its two big peers, DBS reckons the worst of the crude-price shock is over. The offshore industry is still aching, though, leaving both the economy and vessel valuations vulnerable. Lenders may yet feel more pain.
Noble’s bid for survival takes humbling turn 23 Oct 2017 The stricken commodities trader is offloading oil-liquids, one of the better bits of its shrinking business. A long list of terms, however, suggests buyer Vitol capitalized on the distress. Efforts to raise $1 bln more to pay off debt amid a big loss could face similar hurdles.
Home delivery boom kicks off property scramble 2 Oct 2017 Singapore-listed Global Logistic Properties is buying warehouse owner Gazeley for $2.8 bln. It’s the third big European logistics deal this year as a boom in e-commerce revives the once-sleepy sector. Sovereign wealth and pension funds will increasingly follow consumers’ money.
Mitsui Sumitomo makes pricey advance in Asia 24 Aug 2017 The Japanese group has swooped on Singapore’s biggest property and casualty insurer for $1.6 bln in cash. That equates to an expensive-looking 3.3 times book value. Still, the deal will consolidate the buyer’s already strong presence in fast-growing Southeast Asia.
Unilever can butter up price for margarine unit 18 Aug 2017 Private equity consortiums are reported to be circling the Anglo-Dutch giant’s spreads business. A bidding war and the rich price paid for Reckitt’s food brands may help Unilever pocket more money. But unappetising returns await any buyer who pays more than 7 billion pounds.