Oil ‘Barrels’ Past $100, Shares Slide, Rates Spike
Oil prices surged past $100 a barrel as the Middle East conflict intensified, prompting global equity markets to tumble. The spike reignited inflation worries, leading central banks worldwide to raise borrowing costs. Despite the price rally, the International Energy Agency announced a record release of strategic reserves to temper supply pressures. The combined shockwaves left investors scrambling for stability across equities, bonds, and currencies.
Thai Cargo Ship Attacked, Iran Warns of Oil At US$200 a Barrel
On March 11, Iranian military forces launched an attack on a Thai‑flagged bulk carrier transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The strike underscores Tehran’s willingness to target commercial shipping amid heightened regional tensions. In the same statement, Iran warned that if...
Prepare for Oil at US$200 a Barrel: Iran
Iran’s military spokesperson warned that a regional war could push crude oil to $200 a barrel, citing recent hostilities. The statement followed an Iranian attack on a Thai‑flagged bulk carrier transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The warning underscores Tehran’s leverage...
US Trade Probe and Iran Tensions Add to Global Market Uncertainty
On March 12, 2026, the United States announced a formal trade probe into several of its major trading partners, signaling a potential shift in tariff policy. Simultaneously, escalating geopolitical tensions with Iran have tightened global energy markets, pushing crude oil...
US Strikes Iranian Vessels as Markets Weigh Energy Risks
US forces struck Iranian vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, 2026, reviving fears over the security of a critical oil transit corridor. The engagement sent crude prices higher as traders priced in potential supply disruptions. Simultaneously, the...
Middle East Conflict Plunges Oil, Lifts Safe-Havens
On March 10, 2026, heightened expectations of a broader Middle East conflict jolted global markets. U.S. officials’ comments briefly lifted equity indices, but Iran’s defiant stance quickly erased those gains. Crude oil prices plunged as supply‑risk premiums evaporated, while gold...
Best Ideas for 2026, and the Barbell Approach to Investing
The WealthBT podcast spotlights DBS’s chief investment officer Wayfolk’s outlook for 2026, centering on the barbell investment framework that pairs high‑growth secular themes with stable income assets. He outlines five headline ideas – artificial intelligence as the dominant growth engine,...
S$9.6m Pay Package for DBS CEO Tan Su Shan
DBS Group appointed Tan Su Shan as CEO and awarded her a S$9.6 million compensation package for fiscal year 2025, her inaugural year in the role. Under her leadership, the bank’s market capitalisation surged to US$124 billion, propelling DBS into the top‑25...
UK Tightens Borders, Asian Stocks Hit Records as Singapore Debates Surplus
The Business Times podcast covered a string of cross‑regional developments, from the United Kingdom’s new electronic travel‑authorization requirement to President Donald Trump’s 10% global tariff rollout, while also highlighting inflation pressures in Australia, record highs in Asian equity markets and...
Who Calls the Shots in OCBC’s Corridors of Power?
The video, titled “Who calls the shots in OCBC’s corridors of power?” ostensibly aims to examine the internal power structure of OCBC, a major Asian bank. Such a focus would typically explore senior executives, board dynamics, and strategic decision‑making processes. However,...
S2E32: Tech Jitters, Fed Splits, Dollar Gains: Nerves Rise
Global markets slipped as the U.S. dollar surged to multi‑month highs and oil prices climbed on heightened geopolitical risk. Hosts Howie Lim and Hugh Chung highlighted AI‑related stock turbulence, a split among Federal Reserve officials on future rate moves, and...
Robot Kung Fu? CMG Gala's Humanoid Tech Spectacle
China Media Group’s spring gala featured a headline act—Wubot—a synchronized martial-arts performance by humanoid robots from Unitary alongside young kung fu practitioners. The robots executed complex routines including staff fighting, drunken boxing and nunchaku, tightly choreographed to music with movement...
Nickel Giant Vale Indonesia’s Huge Bet On EVs
Nickel giant Vale Indonesia is pressing ahead with a multibillion-dollar pivot into battery-grade nickel, betting that demand for nickel-based EV batteries will remain resilient even as lithium iron phosphate batteries gain ground globally.
Global Stocks up on Japan Win; Yen, Dollar, Commodities Dip
Global equities rose in Asian trading on Tuesday, led by a sharp rally in Japan’s Nikkei 225 after Prime Minister‑designate Sayia Teachi secured a decisive election victory over the weekend. The broader MSCI Asia‑Pacific index outside Japan gained 0.6%, while...