Market

Home prices in Singapore increase 2.3% as market speculation increases.
24Jan mmBy Brian ThompsonNo Comments
Market, Singapore

Home prices in Singapore increase 2.3% as market speculation increases.

Singapore home prices rose at the same pace as initially estimated in the last quarter of 2024, amid analyst forecasts that the government may intervene to cool the market this year. Private residential prices climbed 2.3% in the fourth quarter from the previous three months, according to final figures released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority on Friday, matching an earlier estimate. For the whole of 2024, prices rose 3.9%. Rents for private homes – closely watched by expats and locals alike – were unchanged from the previous three months, when they gained 0.8%. It contributed to a 1.9% fall in rents in 2024, the first drop since 2020. The resurgence in residential values was driven by a flurry of projects released around the end of last year. Lower interest rates attract...
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By 2033, the global sports medicine industry is expected to reach $12.32B.
24Jan mmBy Michael SmithNo Comments
Market

By 2033, the global sports medicine industry is expected to reach $12.32B.

Emerging technologies include regenerative medicine and advanced physiotherapy. The global sports medicine market is projected to hit $12.32b by 2033 at a compound annual growth rate of 6.04%, said Research and Markets. The sector’s expansion is attributed to treatment advancements, increased participation in sports, and a greater awareness of fitness. In addition, a demand for innovative treatments and rehabilitation equipment is driving market growth. Emerging technologies such as regenerative medicine, minimally invasive surgeries, and advanced physiotherapy techniques are gaining traction in the sector. Meanwhile, developments in stem cell therapy, cryotherapy, and laser therapy contribute to reduced recovery times and improved injury management.
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The markets are kept in suspense by Trump’s China trade war strategy.
24Jan mmBy Michael SmithNo Comments
Market

The markets are kept in suspense by Trump’s China trade war strategy.

Donald Trump hasn’t applied maximum tariff pressure on China, yet, leaving room for markets to speculate and swoon Your move, President Xi. This may be the key message from Donald Trump’s surprising reversal on massive “day one” tariffs on China. The reprieve Trump appears to have granted Asia’s biggest economy is one Xi Jinping’s Communist Party surely didn’t see coming. For weeks now, Trump and the gang of anti-China advisers he’s named to his new administration promised immediate 60% tariffs as the centerpiece of a “shock-and-awe” trade war. Not so fast, it turns out. Taxes on Chinese goods are notably absent from the tsunami of first-week executive orders. When pressed, Trump even lowered his sights. Whereas Canada and Mexico face 25% levies by February 1, China might suf...
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The China Financial Index of the SEB indicates a decline in market sentiment.
9Jan mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
China, Market

The China Financial Index of the SEB indicates a decline in market sentiment.

SEB's China Financial Index, which measures the business outlook among northern European companies' subsidiaries in China, dropped to 52.0 at the end of the year 2024, from 55.3 in June. The survey shows that respondents consider the business environment to be increasingly challenging.  “Renewed pessimism among the survey respondents reflects the sentiment swings seen among other foreign business players in China. Despite a series of announcements from the Chinese government about its intention to support the economy forcefully, the view seems to be that the measures implemented so far have not been sufficient. Customer demand and local Chinese competition remain top concerns for northern European companies in China. In addition, there are elevated fears in China of a poss...
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November saw a sharp increase in Singaporean industry output, but the forecast for 2025 is still uncertain.
27Dec mmBy Walter ParezNo Comments
Market, Singapore

November saw a sharp increase in Singaporean industry output, but the forecast for 2025 is still uncertain.

SINGAPORE - Singapore’s manufacturing output expanded for a fifth straight month in November as production surged in the key electronics industry, which likely got a boost from front-loading ahead of possible US tariff hikes. Analysts were cautious about the uncertain outlook for manufacturing in 2025, given the incoming Trump administration’s more protectionist stance and heightened geopolitical tensions. Total factory output climbed 8.5 per cent year on year, after a modest 1.2 per cent rise in October. The expansion, however, fell short of the 9.7 per cent growth forecast by economists in a Bloomberg poll. Excluding the more volatile biomedical industry, output increased 13 per cent, data from the Economic Development Board on Dec 26 showed. “Export demand for electronics r...
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Consumer confidence declines ahead of Trump’s inauguration, putting the US economy at risk of a recession.
26Dec mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Market, USA

Consumer confidence declines ahead of Trump’s inauguration, putting the US economy at risk of a recession.

The United States may be heading towards a significant recession, with consumer confidence rapidly declining ahead of Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration. As the nation prepares for Trump’s second term as President following his decisive victory in the 2024 election, concerns over the economy are growing. His victory, which left little room for rival Kamala Harris, sets the stage for his inaugural celebration—but consumer sentiment is at a worrying low, with the Conference Board’s Expectations Index hitting a five-month low. Is the US Economy at Risk? The current state of the Expectations Index, which often signals the onset of a recession, has heightened fears that the US economy could be on the brink of a downturn. Consumer confidence plays a crucial role in both the stock market...
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India’s GDP is expected to increase 6.5% in the current and upcoming fiscal years, according to an EY research.
26Dec mmBy Brian ThompsonNo Comments
Asia, Market

India’s GDP is expected to increase 6.5% in the current and upcoming fiscal years, according to an EY research.

India’s economy is forecast to grow 6.5 per cent in the current and next financial years, despite headwinds from slowing private consumption and investment, an EY report said. Government capital formation has contracted sharply in the first half of the fiscal and needs to ramped up to meet 6.5 per cent growth, the report warned. Real GDP growth eased to a seven-quarter low of 5.4 per cent in July-September — the second quarter of the current 2024-25 fiscal year, against 6.7 per cent in the preceding quarter. This was primarily because two domestic demand components — private final consumption expenditure and gross fixed capital formation — together accounted for a fall of 1.5 percentage points. “One outstanding feature of demand is the slowdown in investment, as reflected in t...
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In what ways did India’s leading economic officials guide the country’s economy in 2024?
26Dec mmBy Brian ThompsonNo Comments
Asia, Market

In what ways did India’s leading economic officials guide the country’s economy in 2024?

Appointed as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on December 11 after serving as Revenue Secretary from December 2022 to 2024, where he played a pivotal role in key financial reforms and securing favourable Financial Action Task Force (FATF) evaluations for the country.Spearheaded financial infrastructure advancements as Secretary of Financial Services (February-November 2022) and contributed significantly to the energy sector as the Chairman and Managing Director (MD) of the Rural Electrification Corporation.In a career spanning over three decades, Malhotra has held critical roles in finance, taxation, and public policy, showcasing his leadership in driving financial inclusion and revenue enhancement.Did you know?Malhotra is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology (...
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The lack of faith in the US economy
26Dec mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Market, USA

The lack of faith in the US economy

While official sources and the media highlight strong consumer-spending and jobs data in the US, or tout high US stock-market valuations, more than three-quarters of Americans view economic conditions as poor (36%) or fair (41%). This disconnect between performance and perception can have far-reaching consequences; it already helped to propel Donald Trump to victory in last month’s presidential election. So, what is causing it?Here, it is worth considering how market participants deal with asymmetric information – when one party has more or better information than another party or parties. Imagine you were seeking to make a purchase. As a buyer, there is a limit to the information you can glean about your options through direct observation. So, you make your decision based on your beliefs...
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Can China’s economy withstand the perfect storm of trade war 2.0?
25Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
China, Market

Can China’s economy withstand the perfect storm of trade war 2.0?

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in 2025, the looming threat of a trade war poses significant challenges to China’s economy. With new tariffs and economic measures on the horizon, the world’s second-largest economy faces a critical juncture, particularly as it contends with a property slowdown, deflationary pressures, and weakening export growth. This op-ed examines how these factors converge to reshape China’s economic outlook and the global trading system. Exports have been a cornerstone of China’s economic growth, contributing nearly three-quarters of GDP growth in 2024, according to Goldman Sachs. However, the anticipated tariffs—ranging from 10% to a staggering 60%—could significantly erode this growth engine. Economists from institutions like UBS and Nomura...
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