Latest news with #GeoffHowie
Business Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Market Focus Weekly: Trump, Tariffs and the Tumble of the US Dollar
Trade threats. Sliding currencies. Shifting rate expectations. In the debut episode of Market Focus Weekly by The Business Times, host Emily Liu sits down with Geoff Howie, market strategist at Singapore Exchange (SGX), to break down the headlines roiling Asian markets. From Washington's tariff deadlines to Singapore's stock market highs, this is your Friday must-listen for what's actually moving the region's markets and why it matters. Why listen? Tariffs are back on the table President Trump's July 9 deadline looms. Markets are bracing for a fresh wave of economic uncertainty. The US dollar is down 10% And that's reshaping capital flows into Asia. Will it continue? Fed rate cuts just got downgraded Markets expected 75 basis points. Now it's looking like 50. What changed? BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Gold is quietly surging Inflows into SGD-denominated ETFs are up. Investors are hedging and watching. Oil prices remain volatile Energy counters on the SGX are swinging. Here's where the action is. Market Focus Weekly cuts through the noise so you can follow the signals. Catch Episode 1 now because in markets, timing is everything. Questions or feedback? Reach us at btpodcasts@ --- Written and hosted by: Emily Liu (emilyliu@ Produced and edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media --- Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on: Channel: Amazon: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: YouTube Music: Website: Feedback to: btpodcasts@ Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party's products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. Discover more BT podcast series: BT Money Hacks at: BT Correspondents at: BT Podcasts at: BT Branded Podcasts at: BT Lens On:
Business Times
30-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore stocks fall as Trump tariffs resume for now; STI retreats 0.6%
[SINGAPORE] Local equities ended Friday (May 30) lower, after an appeals court in the United States paused a ruling that blocked President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. The benchmark Straits Times Index declined 0.6 per cent or 22.23 points to 3,894.6. Across the broader market, decliners beat gainers 248 to 209, as 1.3 billion securities worth S$3.3 billion changed hands. Singapore Exchange market strategist Geoff Howie said: 'The session ended with a bout of S$2.23 billion of institutional rebalancing related to the MSCI Quarterly Index Review on the close. 'Supporting the high turnover on the close, Singapore-listed stocks have both increased their weightage and comparative trading turnover within the MSCI Asia Ex-Japan Index since the end of 2024.' The US appeals court on Thursday paused a ruling from the Court of International Trade, which found that Trump did not have the authority to impose the 'Liberation Day' tariffs. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Ipek Ozkardeskaya, analyst at Swissquote Bank, said the early trade optimism triggered by the US Court of International Trade's ruling 'turned out too good to be true' as the ruling is now effectively on hold. 'If tariffs are ultimately found to be unlawful, the willingness of partners to make concessions during trade talks may shrink – not exactly ideal, especially given the critical window for negotiations,' she said. Regional indices reacted negatively to the news. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 1.2 per cent. South Korea's Kospi fell 0.8 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei 225 declined 1.2 per cent. The Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index decreased 0.7 per cent. In Singapore, the STI was led by pan-Asian retailer DFI Retail Group , which added 3 per cent or US$0.08 to US$2.76. After the market closed, the group announced it will be divesting a 22.2 per cent stake in department store operator Robinsons Retail. The index was dragged by DFI's parent company Jardine Matheson , which declined 2.4 per cent or US$1.10 to US$44.50. This comes after the group on Thursday announced that its chief executive John Witt is retiring from the company at the end of November, with Lincoln Pan to take on the role of CEO-designate. The trio of local banks were in the red on Friday. DBS fell 0.6 per cent or S$0.27 to S$44.72, UOB declined 1.2 per cent or S$0.43 to S$35.41 and OCBC retreated 1 per cent or S$0.16 to S$16.23.
Business Times
30-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore stocks fall as Trump tariffs resumes for now; STI retreats 0.6%
[SINGAPORE] Local equities ended Friday (May 30) lower, after an appeals court in the United States paused a ruling that blocked President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. The benchmark Straits Times Index declined 0.6 per cent or 22.23 points to 3,894.6. Across the broader market, decliners beat gainers 248 to 209, as 1.3 billion securities worth S$3.3 billion changed hands. Singapore Exchange market strategist Geoff Howie said: 'The session ended with a bout of S$2.23 billion of institutional rebalancing related to the MSCI Quarterly Index Review on the close. 'Supporting the high turnover on the close, Singapore-listed stocks have both increased their weightage and comparative trading turnover within the MSCI Asia Ex-Japan Index since the end of 2024.' The US appeals court on Thursday paused a ruling from the Court of International Trade, which found that Trump did not have the authority to impose the 'Liberation Day' tariffs. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Ipek Ozkardeskaya, analyst at Swissquote Bank, said the early trade optimism triggered by the US Court of International Trade's ruling 'turned out too good to be true' as the ruling is now effectively on hold. 'If tariffs are ultimately found to be unlawful, the willingness of partners to make concessions during trade talks may shrink – not exactly ideal, especially given the critical window for negotiations,' she said. Regional indices reacted negatively to the news. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 1.2 per cent. South Korea's Kospi Composite Index fell 0.8 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei 225 declined 1.2 per cent. The Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index decreased 0.7 per cent. In Singapore, the STI was led by pan-Asian retailer DFI Retail Group , which added 3 per cent or US$0.08 to US$2.76. After the market closed, the group announced it will be divesting a 22.2 per cent stake in department store operator Robinsons Retail. The index was dragged by DFI's parent company Jardine Matheson , which declined 2.4 per cent or US$1.10 to US$44.50. This comes after the group on Thursday announced that its chief executive John Witt is retiring from the company at the end of November, with Lincoln Pan to take on the role of CEO-designate. The trio of local banks were in the red on Friday. DBS fell 0.6 per cent or S$0.27 to S$44.72, UOB declined 1.2 per cent or S$0.43 to S$35.41 and OCBC retreated 1 per cent or S$0.16 to S$16.23.
