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☆ Asia’s tech giants lean toward desperate deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew arrives for a dinner, on the eve of the Paris Peace Forum at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 9, 2023. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was feted in Indonesia where it has 125 million monthly active users when he pledged in June to invest billions of dollars in the region. But the global giant failed to anticipate regulatory hurdles in its biggest market for online shopping. TikTok’s viral video app would provide Tokopedia with a powerful new growth avenue for its online shopping and payments business. Yet as tech companies from the People’s Republic to Indonesia pull out all the stops to lift growth amid waning investor support, desperate new alliances are bound to emerge.

Persons: Shou Zi Chew, Gonzalo Fuentes, TikTok, China’s, GoTo, Patrick Walujo, Indonesia’s GoTo, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Paris Peace, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Companies, Google, Temasek, Bain &, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics, Tokopedia, HK, Global Digital, Djarum, Bloomberg, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Rights SINGAPORE, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics Jakarta, Tokopedia, Lazada, Singapore, Indonesian, Thailand, People’s Republic, China

☆ Carlyle’s Big Mac China dish is hard to match
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, Nov 22 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Carlyle (CG.O) may be lagging its peers in the United States. But in China, at least, the buyout firm is finishing a meal that will be hard for others to find. That’s less than the private equity outfit run by Harvey Schwartz was hoping for, but is tasty enough. Given geopolitical tensions and China’s weak economic growth, Carlyle has done well to secure a hassle-free exit. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Carlyle, repurchasing, Harvey Schwartz, ByteDance, Jack Ma’s Ant, Antony Currie, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, HK, X, Walmart, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, United States, China, People’s Republic, Hong Kong, Macau, McDonald’s, Rome

☆ Alibaba’s U-turn casts dark clouds over China tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Alibaba (9988.HK) scrapped the spinoff of its prized cloud computing business, blaming U.S. curbs on advanced chips. The U-turn dashes market expectations of stability among technology companies after the end of Beijing’s years-long regulatory crackdown. Add in so-so results from Alibaba’s main businesses, also reported on Thursday, and it is hard to see a silver lining in the dark clouds gathering over China’s technology sector. The technology giant reported revenue of 224.8 billion yuan ($31 bln) in the three months to September, up 9% year-on-year, and in line with market estimates. Alibaba posted a net profit attributable to shareholders of 27.7 billion yuan versus a net loss of 20.6 billion yuan, due to an increase in the value of its equity investments.

Persons: Lisi Niesner, Daniel Zhang, Zhang, Alibaba, Francesco Guerrera, Thomas Shum Organizations: IFA, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, HK, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Rights SINGAPORE, Hong Kong, U.S, China

☆ Fierce e-commerce war leaves Sea in stormy waters
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

In August, CEO Forrest Li declared that Sea (SE.N) would ramp up spending to fight off intense competition. Perhaps that’s because Sea had just reset its strategy over the past year. It had retreated from overseas markets, slashed marketing costs and shed thousands of jobs to claw its way to profitability. Li on Tuesday stressed that the company would prioritise investments to increase its market share, encouraged by its cash pile of about $8 billion. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Forrest Li, Li, taints, Cameron, Francesco Guerrera, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Alibaba, HK, X, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, New York, Singapore

☆ More US-China take-privates could get feisty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

It is unusual to see a ruckus over a U.S.-listed Chinese firm. Would-be acquirors of Hollysys include the company’s own management, a buyout firm and a consortium including Chinese state-owned investors. The segment constitutes 65% of Hollysys’ top line, which has risen by over 50% from three years ago. The Hollysys affair suggests shareholders can expect a little bit more as Chinese companies bid farewell to the United States. The $26 per share cash offer represents a 26% premium to the closing price on Nov. 3.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Mark Schiefelbein, Hong, Recco, Kong’s, David Blennerhassett, Hollysys, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Treasury, Lifeng, Rights, Reuters, U.S, Nasdaq, Oasis Management, Capital Partners, Quiddity Advisors, ABB, Emerson Electric, VNET, Ascendent Capital Partners, Automation Technologies, Recco Control Technology, Hong, Investment, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights SINGAPORE, United States, People's Republic, Washington, Hong Kong, U.S, Singapore

☆ SoftBank’s optimistic talk falls on deaf ears
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SoftBank Group Corp Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son speaks during their joint news conference with Toyota Motor Corp President Akio Toyoda (not pictured) in Tokyo, Japan October 4, 2018. REUTERS/Issei Kato Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Nov 10 (Reuters Breakingviews) - All credit to SoftBank’s (9984.T) finance chief for trying to accentuate the positive. The weakening currency lopped off 183 billion yen. Taking such a big loss when analysts, per S&P Capital IQ, expected a $1.2 billion profit, though, was. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Masayoshi Son, Akio Toyoda, Issei Kato, Yoshimitsu Goto, SoftBank, Antony Currie, Thomas Shum Organizations: SoftBank Group, Toyota Motor Corp, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, X, SEC, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Rights SINGAPORE, Arm’s

☆ SingTel profit jumps 83% in first half on Indonesia gain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Singtel booth is pictured at the Money 20/20 Asia Fintech Trade Show in Singapore March 21, 2019. Telkomsel, the Indonesian associate of Southeast Asia's largest telecom firm, had agreed to merge with its parent's IndiHome broadband arm in an effort to expand into Indonesia's fixed broadband market. SingTel owns a 29.6% stake in the enlarged integrated mobile and fixed broadband company. SingTel said its net profit for the six months ended Sept. 30 was S$2.14 billion ($1.58 billion), compared with S$1.17 billion a year earlier. The company declared an interim dividend of 5.2 Singapore cents per share, higher than the 4.6 Singapore cents per share declared a year earlier.

Persons: Anshuman, SingTel, Archishma Iyer, John Biju, Shilpi Majumdar, Shounak Dasgupta, Subhranshu Organizations: Trade, REUTERS, Singapore Telecommunications, Thomson Locations: Asia, Singapore, Indonesian, Southeast, Telkomsel, Bengaluru

☆ Piyush Gupta: Asia’s most disrupted digital banker
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Group (DBSM.SI) is often lauded as Asia’s top financier and has been tipped as a candidate to lead global rivals. Yet following repeated serious failures in its digital banking services, the Monetary Authority of Singapore has banned DBS from non-essential activities including M&A. It puts dividends at risk and will attract the eye of watchdogs overseas where the lender is busy expanding. On the back of record profits, Gupta earned $11.4 million last year, making him one of Asia’s highest remunerated bank CEOs. MAS will retain a multiplier of 1.8 times to DBS’ risk weighted assets for operational risk, an increase from a multiplier of 1.5 times MAS applied in February 2022.

Persons: Piyush Gupta, Ping, aren’t, OCBC’s, Peter Seah, Gupta, Breakingviews, he’s, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, DBS Group, HK, HSBC, Monetary Authority of, DBS, MAS, Lakshmi, Bank, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Monetary Authority of Singapore, India, Taiwan, Singapore

☆ HSBC’s profit resilience may face sterner tests
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SINGAPORE, Oct 30 (Reuters Breakingviews) - HSBC’s (HSBA.L), (0005.HK) resilient bottom line may face some stiffer challenges. HSBC also flagged that the same exercise would produce another $400 million loss in the final three months of the year. The bank’s net interest margin slipped to 1.7% in the latest quarter, from 1.72% in the previous three months. HSBC shares trade at around 0.9 times the bank’s tangible book value at the end of September. The bank’s London-listed shares were up 0.9% at 606 pence by 0900 GMT on Oct. 30.

Persons: It’s, Noel Quinn’s, Quinn, undemanding, it’s, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, HK, Chartered, HSBC, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, China, London

☆ Japan Inc is only winner in nixed chip deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But this failed tie-up does have a winner of sorts: Japan Inc.That’s precious little consolation for the others involved. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsThe nixed deal also complicates Bain Capital’s exit strategy from Kioxia. Yet Western Digital was set to be the majority partner in the proposed deal. The Nikkei business daily also said that Kioxia and Western Digital were unable to agree on conditions with top Kioxia shareholder Bain Capital. The news sent Western Digital shares down 9%.

Persons: Elliot, Bain, Nobuo Hayasaka, –, Antony Currie, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Japan Inc, Western Digital, Elliot Investment Management, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Toshiba, SK Hynix, Western Digital’s, Development Bank of Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, –, Western, South Korea's SK Hynix, U.S, Nikkei, Bain Capital, Thomson Locations: HYDERABAD, India, Japan, Tokyo

☆ Singapore policy review shift is sign of times
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is pictured at its building in Singapore in this February 21, 2013 file photo. The city-state’s central bank unexpectedly announced on Friday that it would shift to quarterly meetings to assess monetary settings from 2024, switching from biannual reviews. Even though it took local economists by surprise, Singapore’s decision to introduce more frequent monetary policy reviews looked inevitable. Singapore’s unique monetary policy arrangements, and its trade-based economy, made it increasingly hard to use a too-rigid setup. The announcement came after the MAS kept its monetary policy settings unchanged, as expected, and pointed to both upside and downside risks to inflation.

Persons: Edgar Su, Chia Der, it’s, Chia, Lisa Jucca, Thomas Shum Organizations: Monetary Authority of Singapore, Rights, Reuters, Monetary Authority of, Swiss National Bank, People’s Bank of, Singapore, MAS, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Rights SINGAPORE, Monetary Authority of Singapore, People’s Bank of China, China, United States, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Vietnam’s Tesla justifies stock price reversal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A VinFast VF 8 model is seen during a car delivery ceremony at the VinFast car factory in Haiphong province, Vietnam, September 10, 2022. REUTERS/Thinh Nguyen Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Oct 6 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Vietnam’s richest man may have to get used to spending some time in the slow lane. In August, Pham Nhat Vuong closed an unconvincing merger with a blank-cheque company that bestowed a $23 billion market value on his Tesla (TSLA.O) wannabe VinFast . There are no details of sales in the United States, a key target market where it has been burdened by poor reviews. Without some impressive progress outside of Vietnam, though, the EV company’s stock is going nowhere fast.

Persons: Thinh Nguyen, Pham Nhat Vuong, Sandoz, Antony Currie, Thomas Shum Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, EV, X, Alstom, Brookfield, Temasek, Thomson Locations: Haiphong province, Vietnam, Rights SINGAPORE, United States

☆ Temasek units put new spin on SPAC pass the parcel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, Oct 3 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Convincing companies to list in Singapore, the tiny Asian financial hub, has long been a tall order. Hopes that special-purpose acquisition companies would be able to help looked ill-timed: three listed on the city-state’s exchange in January 2022, just as its stock market peaked and the appeal of blank-cheque firms was waning. The SPAC is sponsored by Vertex Venture Holdings, a venture-capital firm indirectly owned by Temasek. The SPAC maintains that Temasek is not involved in the business or operational decisions of any of these entities. Investment firms like Blackstone (BX.N)have offloaded portfolio companies to SPACs in the past – just not usually to ones they set up.

Persons: Antony Currie, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Reuters, Technology, Corp, Vertex Venture Holdings, Temasek . Companies, Temasek, Blackstone, Vertex Technology, Singapore Exchange, X, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan

☆ Indonesia spoils TikTok’s Southeast Asia party
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sandy Saputra, 19, who is one of TikTok's biggest Indonesian stars, uses his smartphone to record a video using the app in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 24, 2020. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan - RC2PMI9KGQ5Q Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Sept 28 (Reuters Breakingviews) - June must now feel like an alternate reality to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. On Wednesday, though, President Joko Widodo’s administration banned e-commerce transactions on social media platforms. Indonesia is key to TikTok’s hopes of growing its e-commerce sales in Southeast Asia. CONTEXT NEWSIndonesian authorities on Wednesday announced new regulations that bar social media companies from conducting direct e-commerce sales on their platforms.

Persons: Sandy Saputra, Willy Kurniawan, Shou Zi Chew, Joko, Zulkifli Hasan, TikTok, “, GoTo, Antony Currie, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Trade, HK, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Indonesian, Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights SINGAPORE, Southeast Asia, Singapore

☆ UBS job cuts are tiny strike at Asia wealth fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of UBS Group is seen at an office building in Hong Kong, China March 20, 2023. The headcount reduction is tiny compared to the thousands it slashed in Europe but it hits on two regional wealth worries. Their risk-taking appetite has diminished as the end of cheap money fuels a shakeout in valuations. More significantly, the pruning of jobs in Hong Kong and Singapore hints at a muted outlook for banks that have thrived on handling assets of rich families. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Una Galani, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: UBS Group, REUTERS, Tyrone, Rights, Reuters, UBS, Credit Suisse, X, Warner Bros Discovery, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Swiss, Asia, Europe, Indonesia, Singapore

☆ Singapore’s wealth boom hits most sensitive phase
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Edgar Su Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Sept 6 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Singapore’s wealth boom may be set for a pause. The amount involved has almost doubled and banks, realtors and jewellery dealers have been caught up in the ring. It is the most eye-catching saga since 2015 when Singapore’s banks were involved in the 1MDB Malaysian sovereign fund mess. As Singapore’s success as a financial centre grows, so too does its vulnerability to dirty money. A thornier problem is Singapore’s desire to avoid perceptions it is capitalising on the troubles of China, its top trade partner.

Persons: Edgar Su, Una Galani, Katrina Hamlin, Pranav Kiran Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, realtors, DBS, Deutsche Bank, Bloomberg, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Monetary Authority of, U.S, Police, Thomson Locations: Marina Bay, Singapore, Rights SINGAPORE, China, Malaysian, Hong Kong, Monetary Authority of Singapore

☆ Singapore’s central bank boss faces a tough start
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, Sept 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Central banks pride themselves on being predictable. He is a former deputy to Menon, and currently a permanent secretary at the manpower ministry after spending 18 years in various stints at the central bank. He has led MAS’ financial stability assessment of the city state and completed a two-year secondment to the International Monetary Fund. During his 12-year term, he built up Singapore’s reputation as a global fintech hub and boosted its appeal as a leading financial centre. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Ravi Menon, Chia Der, There’s, Chia, Menon, Pernod Ricard, Una Galani, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Reuters, Monetary Authority of, MAS, International Monetary Fund, X, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Singapore, China

☆ UBS inherits tricky wealth legacy in Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SINGAPORE, Aug 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - UBS (UBSG.S) CEO Sergio Ermotti is facing an Asian wealth bonanza after acquiring Credit Suisse, which has been particularly strong in Indonesia and neighbouring countries. Tidjane Thiam, who ran Credit Suisse from 2015 to 2020, placed a big bet on the region by creating g a standalone Asian unit led by Indonesian banker Helman Sitohang. Former UBS CEO Ralph Hamers said in March that in Asia, more than anywhere globally, the interplay between wealth management and investment banking was important to lure clients. That working combination helped Credit Suisse regularly top equity capital markets and M&A league tables in Southeast Asian markets. UBS regional chief Edmund Koh told an industry event in July that the Swiss bank will manage about $800 billion of assets in Asia this year, Asia Private Banker reported.

Persons: Sergio Ermotti, Tidjane Thiam, Helman Sitohang, Ralph Hamers, Edmund Koh, Ermotti, Francesco De Ferrari, Benjamin Cavalli, Lisa Jucca, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, UBS, Credit Suisse, Suisse, Credit Suisse’s, Credit, Asia, Banker, HSBC, HK, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Indonesia, Swiss, Asia

☆ Xpeng’s Didi deal is smart shortcut to growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An Xpeng P5 electric vehicle (EV) is seen displayed during a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China April 19, 2021. It’s buying compatriot Didi’s smart EV unit and paying $744 million, or 3.25% of its own stock. For its part, Didi seems to have given up its ambition to break into capital-intensive EV manufacturing, and that’s probably a smart move for a company stuck in listing limbo. It’s unclear if the deal with Didi will dilute VW’s shareholding but Xpeng’s worth is at least rising. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Aly, Didi, that’s, Li Auto, BYD, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Auto Shanghai, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, HK, Volkswagen, EV maker’s, X, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China

☆ Vietnam’s Tesla charges itself up for a big fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

VinFast (VFS.O) shares leapt 270% on Tuesday following the group’s $27 billion merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). It catapults the enterprise’s value to $90 billion, a grand outcome only possible because Vuong and related entities still own 99% of the Tesla (TSLA.O) wannabe. The pop values the unprofitable Vietnamese company at 142 times its sales in 2022, some 16 times Tesla’s multiple. VinFast has pushed back plans to operate its $4 billion plant in North Carolina by a year to 2025. Ultimately, VinFast is heavily reliant on Vuong who is betting big on electric vehicles.

Persons: Mike Blake, Pham Nhat Vuong, Rivian, VinFast, topline, David Mansfield, Reuters Breakingviews, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Tesla, Elon Musk’s, P Global Mobility, Nasdaq, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, North Carolina, Vingroup

☆ Ant group quarterly profit rises 17.5% on year to 13.37 bln yuan - Alibaba filing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A booth of Ant Group is pictured at the Singapore FinTech Festival, Singapore, November 4, 2022. REUTERS/Anshuman DagaSHANGHAI, Aug 10 (Reuters) - China's Ant Group made net profit of 13.37 billion yuan ($1.85 billion) in the three months to March 31, up 17.5% from a year earlier, according to Reuters calculations from Alibaba Group Holding's (9988.HK) earnings report released Thursday. The e-commerce giant reports profit from Ant one quarter in arrears. Chinese authorities in July announced a fine of 7.12 billion yuan ($984 million) for Ant Group for violating laws concerning consumer protection and corporate governance, ending a years-long regulatory overhaul of the fintech company. ($1 = 7.2097 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Casey Hall Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ant's, Casey Hall, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Ant, Singapore FinTech Festival, REUTERS, Alibaba, HK, Ant Group, Thomson Locations: Singapore, SHANGHAI

☆ Japan market rally fails to mask Nomura’s woes
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It also powered a near-fivefold increase in pre-tax earnings at the bank’s retail unit from the same period last year. Nomura’s own stock has also benefitted, though its 20% rise this year to a two-year high lags the broader market. And the rally did nothing to fix the abysmal underperformance at its mainstay wholesale division. Revenue at the unit that comprises the volatile investment banking and trading businesses fell 4% to 191 billion yen ($1.3 billion). They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Nomura, Morgan Stanley, Kentaro Okuda, Steve Cohen, Antony Currie, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Revenue, Global, Twitter, Sequoia, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, India

☆ Soaring StanChart still has lots of work to do
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, July 28 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Bill Winters’ bank is finally getting its act together – to an extent. London-listed Standard Chartered (STAN.L) on Friday reported its highest first-half revenue and earnings since Winters joined as CEO in 2015. The upgraded 12%-14% top-line growth for this year, from 10% previously, caught investors' eyes, as did a chunky $1 billion share buyback programme. Winters managed to get costs down to 61% of revenue in the first half, close to his 2024 target of around 60%. Even after Friday’s bump, StanChart trades at just two-thirds of 12-month forward tangible book value, using analyst estimates gathered by Refinitiv Datastream.

Persons: Bill Winters, Winters, It’s, Refinitiv Datastream, Liam Proud, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, “, HSBC, DBS, Twitter, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, London

☆ Thailand’s political drama raises the stakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, July 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Investors in Thailand are long used to twists and turns in the country’s politics but a court’s move on Wednesday to suspend the leader of the election-winning Move Forward Party as a lawmaker has raised the stakes. Pita Limjaroenrat's supporters are protesting as it’s now unlikely that the liberal and would-be aggressive reformer of the underperforming $500 billion economy will become the prime minister. It’s not a good outcome, however. Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat's, Pita, It’s, It's, whir, Xavier Niel’s, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Investors, Party, SETI, Gulf Energy, Asian Development Bank, Twitter, Xavier Niel’s GAM, Commonwealth Games, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Thailand, Asia

☆ Singapore’s clean reputation gets a timely test
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SINGAPORE, July 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Singapore could turn a governance crisis into an opportunity. Its transport minister S. Iswaran and Ong Beng Seng, the property billionaire credited with bringing Formula One to the city, were arrested and released on bail last week. The rare high-profile probe involving a public official by the hub’s anti-graft agency is a timely test of the Asian centre’s willingness to act tough on corruption. It's been six days since Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed the investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and the exact details remain unclear. S. Iswaran and businessman Ong Beng Seng were arrested on July 11 and subsequently released on bail, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau said.

Persons: Ong Beng Seng, It's, Lee Hsien Loong, Iswaran, Ong, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Formula, Practices, Beijing, DBS, Hotel Properties, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Asia, Hong Kong, COMO

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