The Stock Exchange of Thailand ( SET ) has announced listings of eight depositary receipts ( DRs ) for Chinese technology and telecommunication companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange ( HKEX ).
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SINGAPORE: Red Dot United (RDU) has unveiled its five potential candidates who will likely contest the Jurong East-Bukit Batok Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
They are: non-profit organisation manager Liyana Dhamirah, waste management company director Osman Sulaiman, artist Ben Puah, marketing agency director Marcus Neo and principal software engineer Harish Mohanadas.
Ms Liyana had previously contested under RDU in the 2020 General Election for Jurong GRC, while Mr Osman contested under the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) banner for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.
Ms Liyana, Mr Puah and Mr Harish were earlier this month unveiled as “team leads” for the party’s campaign at the five-member GRC.
RDU presented the potential candidates to the media on Wednesday (Apr 16) at 255 Jurong East Street 24, near Jurong-Clementi Town Council, which is within Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.
The quintet, if fielded on Nomination Day on Apr 23, will be up against a People’s Action Party (PAP) slate that will be led by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and former Yuhua SMC MP Grace Fu.
Joining her are two new faces: charity director David Hoe and former Hougang representative Lee Hong Chuang. Also on the team are current Jurong GRC MP and Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mazam, as well as Bukit Batok SMC MP and Minister of State for Transport and Law Murali Pillai.
Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC was formed from a merger of Bukit Batok SMC and parts of Jurong GRC, Yuhua SMC and Hong Kah North SMC following the latest electoral boundaries review. The GRC has 142,510 voters.
Jurong GRC was PAP’s best-performing GRC in the last two elections, securing 79.29 per cent of votes in 2015 and 74.61 per cent in 2020. It was previously anchored by former Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who left politics to contest the presidency in 2023.
Singapore will head to the polls on May 3.
LIYANA DHAMIRAH
Ms Liyana, 38, is the manager of a non-profit organisation focused on gender equality. She also runs a virtual services business.
In 2020, she was fielded as part of RDU’s team contesting Jurong GRC alongside Ms Michelle Lee Juen, Mr Ravi Philemon, Mr Nicholas Tang and Mr Alec Tok. They attained 25.39 per cent of the vote.
That same year, Ms Liyana was named one of the SG100 Women in Tech for her contributions to the tech and entrepreneurial space. Her book Homeless: The Untold Story of a Mother’s Struggle in Crazy Rich Singapore won the best non-fiction title at the Singapore Book Awards.
RDU said Ms Liyana has brought her “authenticity and grassroots spirit to the national stage” during the previous election.
“She continues to champion policies that uplift families, support small businesses, and address systemic inequality – with a focus on lived experience, empathy, and action,” the party added.
OSMAN SULAIMAN
Mr Osman, 50, is a director of a waste management company in Cebu, Philippines, and has contested in the last three General Elections.
His latest outing was under the SPP banner in 2020, when he contested Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC with Mr Steve Chia, Mr Melvyn Chiu, and Mr Williiamson Lee, attaining 32.77 per cent of the vote.
He is an entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience, having helmed two companies – one in interior design and another in debt consolidation.
“Osman believes that it’s time to stop overlooking the workers who keep this country running,” said RDU in a statement on Wednesday.
“He stands for a Singapore where every honest job is respected, and where government policies reflect the value of every citizen – not just the privileged few.”
Mr Puah, 48, is a contemporary artist and community art organiser.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and has exhibited his works across Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United States.
In 2005, Mr Puah founded Colours of Life, a community arts initiative that uses collaborative and community art to strengthen social bonds, promote well-being, and give marginalised groups a platform to express themselves. The initiative was officially opened by the late President S R Nathan and his wife.
RDU said in its statement that Mr Puah brings a “deeply empathetic and community-grounded approach to politics”.
“He believes in policies that support mental well-being, cultural inclusion, and holistic education – values he has long championed through his artistic and social practice,” the party added.
The 33-year-old is a director of a boutique marketing agency serving law firms in Singapore.
RDU said in its statement that Mr Neo had experienced financial hardship growing up that “shaped his understanding of inequality”.
He also believes that parliament must include more people with lived experience – those who “didn’t start from privilege but built their lives through grit, failure, and perseverance”, said the party.
“With a background in data-driven marketing and a deep understanding of ground realities, Marcus hopes to bring fresh insights to policy making and champion long-term, inclusive solutions.”
Mr Harish, 39, is a principal software engineer who develops digital solutions for government and industry clients.
Prior to this, he was a civil engineer with over a decade of experience in Singapore’s built environment sector. Projects he has contributed to include Phase 2 of Singapore’s Deep Tunnel Sewerage System.
Mr Harish also contributes to public discourse through opinion pieces published on socio-political news sites.
“With first-hand experience in shaping modern Singapore’s infrastructure and a strong belief in evidence-based policy, he hopes to bring a forward-thinking, systems-driven approach to parliament – one that promotes resilience, equity, and long-term national wellbeing,” said RDU.
Delhi, BBC News
Getty ImagesAfter the country’s economic crimes firm charged senior officials Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and others with cash fraud, India’s opposition Congress party has announced it will hold countrywide protests on Wednesday.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) presented its findings in a Delhi court on Tuesday, accusing the Gandhis of forming a shell company to illegally acquire assets of the National Herald newspaper worth more than 20bn rupees ($233mn; £176mn).
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh called the charges “politics of vendetta and intimidation” by the government.
The Gandhis, who have earlier denied any wrongdoing, have never made any comments regarding the allegations.
Getty ImagesVarious members of the Congress party are named in the investigation, including its outside leader Sam Pitroda, according to ANI news agency.
Subramanian Swamy, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP), filed a private complaint in 2021 that led the Enforcement Directorate ( ED ) to begin looking into the case.
Swamy claimed that the Gandhis illegally acquired properties worth millions through Associated Journals Limited ( AJL), which published the now-defunct National Herald newspaper, and that the Gandhis used party funds to buy Associated Journals Limited ( AJL ) from the newspaper.
The Congress maintains that it lent more than 900 million pounds to AJL over the years and that it bailed out the publisher as a result of its historic reputation.
By converting its debt for equity and giving the stock to a newly established company called Young Indian, which the gathering claims is a “not-for-profit business” with no income paid to its shareholders and directors, AJL became debt-free in 2010.
The managers of Young Indian, Rahul and Sonia, each individual 38 % of the business. Congress leaders, including Motilal Vora and Sam Pitroda, own the remaining 24 %, including the remaining 24 %.
The Enforcement Directorate reported last week that Young Indian had purchased AJL qualities worth 20 billion rupees for only 5 million, considerably undervaluing their value.
It also served several notices to seize assets worth 6.6bn rupees across several Indian cities – including Delhi and Mumbai – which are connected to Young Indian.
On April 25th, the event is scheduled to be heard.
Getty ImagesJawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister and Rahul Gandhi’s great-grandfather, founded The National Herald paper in 1938.
It stopped being published in 2008 after experiencing financial difficulties, but the Congress after purchased it in 2010 and relaunched as a digital media shop in 2017.
Associated Journals Limited ( AJL), which was founded in 1937 and had 5, 000 freedom fighters as shareholders, published it. Additionally, AJL published Navjeevan and Qaumi Awaz in Hindi and Urdu.
The National Herald gained notoriety for its connection with India’s struggle for independence and its patriotic outlook.
Nehru’s frequent writing of incisive columns resulted in the American government’s 1942 ban on the paper. It reopened three years later.
Nehru resigned as news president in 1947 as prime minister of India.
However, the Congress continued to have a significant influence on the paper’s philosophy.
Nehru addressed the National Herald to discuss the paper’s “generally favoring Congress plan” in a message from 1963 to its metallic jubilee while maintaining” an independent outlook.”
The National Herald eventually grew to become a prominent American daily with support from the Congress group before closing in 2008 due to years of financial difficulties.
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In Singapore, an AXS shop is a well-known view. However, whether you’ve had a job since the mid-2000s or whether you were born before or after, or whether you’ve had to give your own expenses for the past 25 years or so, will determine how well you know how they operate.  ,
According to class CEO Jeffrey Goh, the latter class accounts for the majority of calls to Press whenever a system is removed.
” There is actually a great hoo-ha.” They’ll ask their MPs ( Members of Parliament ) to “do not remove,” he continued, comparing the situation to having a store they’ve frequented suddenly vanish.
How many Singaporeans believe that AXS shops are a public good that the government runs for their comfort, according to Mr. Goh, complicating issues.
Not everyone had a pc with internet access at home when the Singapore-based company was founded in 2000. The 57-year-old recalls that post offices remained empty until 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday to allow for working adults to pay their bills.  ,
How many times do you want to operate down to the post office, best?- Having multiple bills meant several due dates.
This idea served as the foundation for AXS’s key business model, which is both bill payments and payment aggregation. The business was even given a name to resemble how “access” is pronounced.
A longer list of items you can now pay for using AXS’ services includes utility bills, phone bills, credit card bills, medical bills, road tax, income taxes, membership membership fees, school fees, traffic fines, season parking fees, car loans, shipping costs, service and conservancy fees, and insurance premiums.
The government’s digital services were being provided for the people by this, but it’s being run by a secret company, not a government initiative, according to Mr. Goh.  ,
Today, there are still about 640 AXS restaurants or facilities in Singapore, making up about 35 % of all trades. The remainder are accomplished online.
There were almost 800 AXS facilities at one stage scattered throughout the area. Mr. Goh was open to the difficulties of keeping these physical shops about; together, they cost” a bunch” in book, that is, millions of dollars.  ,
AXS made a brief appearance in the media earlier this year when dessert financing, a financial services company, removed its Visa debit card from the transaction platform in March, less than a fortnight after the collaboration began.
Users of Chocolate debit cards could immediately earn two miles per dollar on all purchases, including those that were typically exempted from the program like college expenses, bills, and AXS payments.
However, the relationship became “unsustainable” due to the surge in bill payment, particularly from AXS, according to Chocolate founder and CEO Walter de Oude.  ,
People typically turn into AXS clients when they begin working, homeownership, and bill payments, according to Mr. Goh.  ,
Paying energy, credit cards, and telco bills are AXS’s three most well-liked activities.
According to Mr. Goh, who gladly demonstrated paying his own expenses on his phone, almost all the features at a shop can also be accessed on AXS’ m-Station software.  ,
However, even those who use wireless internet finance apps to pay their bills might be using AXS solutions without realizing it.  ,
AXS processes the bills paid through the banks ‘ own internet banking functions for 11 banks in Singapore, including Standard Chartered, HSBC, and Maybank, according to Mr. Goh.  ,
” We are the ones who provide all of these links,” the statement goes. Due to the fact that they only connect with AXS, it’s even simple for the billers, right? If not, they must communicate with 11 businesses, he said, noting that doing so increases productivity overall.  ,
Essentially, AXS makes its money by charging bank and billers costs for sorting out all the necessary trades.
A twist has been added to the proliferation of online  scams as well: some customers are returning to natural AXS kiosks because they feel more secure entering their PIN numbers and receiving a notice right away.  ,
Mr. Goh was a member of the team that co-founded AXS 25 years earlier. Five years later, he left to lead the electronic payment service provider NETS, which was a DBS company.  ,
After working for Grab for eight countries on payment infrastructure, he returned to AXS as part of a deal that saw the private equity firm Tower Capital Asia seizing control of a 77.8 % stake in the business from DBS.  ,
” We need to reevaluate and completely change the business,” said Mr. Goh.  ,
We must then add a monetary problems, one capable of making the others little, much worse, to a political crisis and an economic crisis. President Donald Trump abruptly retreated from his tariff policy to the worst version, a retreat that any ordinary leader would have found humiliating. This was because he and his Wall Street supporters realized that by midweek US economic markets were on the verge of disaster, a disaster that could rival or even surpass the 2007-08 crash.
Trump was persuaded to move back a few feet from the rock’s border to which he had taken America and the world, but that threat has been for the time being. However, the mountain is still standing and is still standing. Trump’s business war has caused a loss of faith in US government bill, but that is where the biggest danger lies.
The lira sovereign debt crisis of 2010 appears to be much more recent. US Treasury securities have been viewed as the safest of all economic assets, just like German government bonds were back then by the most reliable of governments. Interest has turned to the now shattered believe as a result.
Additionally, the fact that Trump has already declared a total siege against imports from China by imposing a 135 percent price may increase the chances that China may dump its US Treasuries in answer, even if it would suffer a significant reduction in doing so. China is one of the largest foreign holders of US Treasuries. The$ 759 billion of US Treasuries it held at the end of 2024 represent an obvious weapon since Beijing has stated it is willing to fight the trade war” to the end.”
Trade taxes are bad enough, but this economic collapse poses a serious threat to consumers. Businesses are incredibly dependent on the endurance and great belief of the counterparties with whom business is conducted, many of whom have looked powerful because of their holdings of US Treasuries. When healthy assets begin to appear illegal, all financial institution risk factors start to change, and one’s financing costs start to rise.
A similar trend may be occurring in America today, just as the decline of the Lehman Brothers investment bank in 2008 led to a number of other crises. The US Federal Reserve Board can still be relied upon to help the financial structure by purchasing Treasuries, just as the European Central Bank did by promising to get German bill after 2010; however, the country’s chaotic state makes it impossible to rely on the US Treasury and White House in the same way.
Several fundamental information about Trump must be kept in mind. He has filed for bankruptcy four days to mistake on his debt as a business. He is a globe expert at using energy for self-advancement and knowing everything about international trade and finance.
Sad to say, he is capable of deciding that forcing a renewal of its debts would be wise for America and of overriding experts who might have been averse to do so.
This leaves America and the rest of the world dealing with three difficult realities: one about trade, one about confidence and uncertainty, and one about how the countries ‘ current relationships are becoming at least as significant as their interactions with the world’s most powerful nation, the United States.
Trump’s tax surrender has essentially changed the label for his trade policy from “disastrous” to “hugely damaging.” The imports tax of 10 %, which will now be applied to virtually all nations but China, is also three times as high as it was when he took office, and the additional tariffs he has placed on steel, aluminum, and cars also indicate that the general barrier he is putting in place is higher than America has been for a century.
The doubt that the plan is creating is also devastating. No big business, whether domestic or international, can easily plan long-term investments in the United States with the understanding that Trump might have major changes at any time.
Just weeks after declaring that the 90-day “pause” did not reduce tariffs on Chinese goods, he abruptly announced that all exports of phones and other electronic items would gain from the delay, before confirming that this digital deduction would only be for a short period of time. 80 % of Apple’s smartphones are built in China. Nobody is aware of their position.
The deterioration of the rule of law through attacks on courts and big law firms also raises the risk of conducting business in America. Trump may believe that his trade legislation will encourage hordes of businesses to set up factories inside his tax walls, but the doubt and lack of trust are actually causing a lot of people to leave.
The rest of the world is becoming distant from America, who was once a powerful ally and significant business for everyone, both politically and economically. An separation is not always permanent, as in a relationship, but it fundamentally alters behavior and leaves behind long-term harm.
Second fact: This alienation must be resolved by developing new associations with others. Countries must look for ways to establish and maintain international organizations without the influence of America.
Because trade blocs like the European Union, Mercosur in Latin America, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership in Asia now exist and you bargain collectively, that is fairly simple. China won’t get a full participant of those groups, but discussions with it will be simpler than they currently are with Trump’s United States, because typical interests will be simpler to get.
Because the US dollar will be the world’s major reserve currency and the importance of British banks may be difficult and costly to tremble off, the task is more difficult and takes longer. Making sure our personal financial institutions are strong enough to survive a problems is what must be the first task. Countries will need to consider ways to reduce their dependence on the US dollars and reduce their risk of being exposed to American economic bullying over the long term.
Prior to the US’s restrictions, countries like China, Russia, and Iran felt threatened about this. We are certainly in a completely new world.
Bill Emmott, who was previously The Economist’s editor-in-chief, is already president of the , Japan Society of the UK, the , International Institute for Strategic Studies, and the , International Trade Institute.
This post, which was previously published in La Stampa in Italy on April 12, has been republished with kind agreement.
The People’s Action Party ( PAP ) officially announced its slate of four candidates for the Workers ‘ Party-held Sengkang GRC in the upcoming General Elections on Sunday ( Apr 13 ).
They are original mature minister of state Lam Pin Min, 56, Elmie Nekmat, 43, Theodora Lai Xi Yi, 39, business development director, and Bernadette Giam, 38, business director.
The PAP’s Sengkang West tree, which is located at Block 303A Anchorvale Link, was led by team president Lam.  ,
Our staff has equitable gender picture and an average period of 43. Despite having different professional backgrounds, he said,” we all have the same desire to win back Sengkang people ‘ believe.”  ,
” A vote for our group means experienced management, renewed enthusiasm, and a , unwavering support for Sengkang’s progress,” says the statement.
Dr. Lam, an optician and CEO of Eagle Eye Centre, was formerly a member of the Sengkang GRC crew, where he represented the ruling party in the 2020 General Election.
Additionally, the 2020 squad included attorney Raymond Lye, older attorney Raymond Lye, and labor chief Ng Chee Meng, senior senator for household affairs and wellness Amrin Amin.  ,
With 52 % of the ballot, the WP largely defeated the PAP. The ruling party accounted for 47.28 % of the GRC’s population.  ,
Dr. Lam stated,” I’m still committed to serving the residents of Sengkang West Branch as a community consultant and branch chairman.”
Dr. Lam made his political comeback in 2016 as a member of a five-person PAP team competing in the Ang Mo Kio GRC, and he eventually won the seat in Sengkang West in 2011 and both in 2015.
He served from 2017 to 2020 as the Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport, and he is currently serving as a local adviser in Sengkang. Dr. Lam will be the only candidate to enter the upcoming surveys alongside the preceding team.
In 2024, he was even chosen to serve on the PAP’s Central Executive Committee. The commission is the group’s main system for making decisions.  ,  ,
No one of the three people introduced on Sunday has any prior knowledge winning the general election. They are one of the roughly 30 fresh candidates to become fielded by the PAP in the upcoming election, which has its largest slate of fresh heads in recent history.
Assoc Prof. Elmie, a PAP advocate since 2016, teaches contacts and new media at the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
He serves on a number of sheets and authorities, including the Media Literacy Council, the National Library, and the Singapore Sports Council.
He serves as assistant director in the group’s Malay Affairs Bureau and serves as an assistant to the ruling party’s Young PAP.
In terms of Ms. Lai, she began her activism in the group in 2009 and served as the PAP Policy Forum chairwoman from 2019 to 2020.  ,
Moringa Ventures, a venture capital firm, is led by Ms. Lai. She serves as the principal of Tembusu Partners, a private equity firm.  ,
She is also the former chairperson and founding member of the Young Women’s Leadership Connection, a network that aims to motivate and link younger women leaders.  ,
Despite being a relatively new political figure, Mrs. Giam is currently the director of Creative Restaurant, a neighborhood food and beverage company with a long list of companies under its awning, including Bangkok Jam and Suki-Ya.
She succeeds Marcus Loh, a communications expert, as tree chairman of the ruling side’s Sengkang East division on January 23.
From 2016 to 2022, Mrs. Giam was a part of Nanyang Polytechnic’s Business Management Advisory Committee and served on the Women’s Register of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organizations.
She has also served on the Alumni Association of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus ( CHIJ) and the Business Management Advisory Committee at Nanyang Polytechnic ( NYP ) since 2016.
Before the 2020 General Election, there was no four-member district.  ,
It was created by combining parts of the former Sengkang West Single Member Constituency ( SMC), Punggol East SMC, and Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC before the polls.
WP’s campaign group, which includes attorney He Ting Ru, capital research scientist Louis Chua, cultural advocate Raeesah Khan, and associate professor of economics Jamus Lim, won the district in 2020.  ,
Compared to the rest of the country, Sengkang’s community is comparatively younger. Official data indicates that only 19.2 % of its residents are older than 40 years old, compared to 19.2 % of those who are older than that.
The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s statement from last month made no changes to the constituency’s restrictions.
After admitting making unfounded allegations in parliament on numerous occasions, Ms. Khan after resigned from WP and her status as MP for Sengkang GRC.  ,  ,
Residents of the district can expect new society spaces, enhanced features in their area, such as a dog work, butterfly temple, and a rooftop garden, according to the Sengkang GRC MPs ‘ new five-year expert strategy for the district last week.  ,
By November 23rd of this year, the second General Election may be held. Following the release of the nation’s updated political chart last month, the results are anticipated to be released quickly.
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After a year in which Asian stocks posted both their biggest-ever decline and their largest one-day obtain since 2008, place investors are working weekends, skipping sleep, interfering with business trips, poring on social media, and focusing on short-term trades, aware that one man at the world’s furthest reaches may destroy markets again at any moment.
No wonder the region’s economic experts are hysterical. In addition to the uncertainty in stocks, Japanese government bonds posted their worst day ever on Tuesday, credit expands blew out the worst in a row since 2000, the Chinese yuan dropped to its weakest levels since 2007, and the Indonesian rupiah hit an all-time small.  ,
The American penny dropped the most in a moment on Friday before the global financial crisis.
All those maneuvers shifted with regard to US President Donald Trump’s decisions regarding business and officials ‘ responses to those in Asia Pacific. And that’s why it’s proving to be so destructive to regional areas.
Forex traders will be the first to respond as markets reopen on Monday morning, regional time, after the dollar fell against almost all of the main counterparts.
This past year was “horribly tiring and emotionally draining because a new level of mad hits you,” according to Vishnu Varathan, head of economics and strategy at Mizuho Bank,” as soon as a set of parameters that’s put in front of you, as mad as that set is, a new level of mad hits you.”  ,
The global financial crisis was” a lot more severe, much more urgent.” The main difference was that it was designed by us as a team rather than just one person’s desires. That’s how it’s different.
Even though last weekend’s events terrified investors, the market reaction was more extreme than many expected.
Nearly half the portfolio had been transferred into cash by Nick Ferres, chief investment officer of Vantage Point Asset Management in Singapore, which runs a global macro fund with an emphasis on Asia.  ,
As markets began, he realized this wasn’t enough. We were defensive, he said, but” I wish I had done more.” In its three-decade history, MSCI’s Asia Pacific Index experienced the worst decline.  ,
” I worked Sunday through Monday, working.” This week, Ferres reported that I have averaged three hours of sleep per night.
People” completely underestimated the scale and scope of change Trump was going to bring,” said Prashant Newnaha, a Singapore-based strategist at TD Securities, “until the headlines.” They weren’t prepared for it, which is important.
By Wednesday, Vantage Point’s Ferres had spotted a turbulence in the Asian trading market that would compel the administration to soften its grip on tariffs. When yields suddenly spiked on fears of an unwind to the basis trade, the market was in turmoil.  ,
He was correct. Trump’s decision to halt some tariffs for 90 days caused Wall Street to rise and eased jitters in the bond market.
He claimed that” the stress in the bond market contributed to the pivot.” However, he still questioned whether a rebound would last long, and he instead chose to use the rally to divert more risk. The call was successful. The rally had reverted by Thursday in New York. He claimed that he put more risk into the rally than the other way around.
The more the episode drags on, the more your chances of seeing a decline in growth and profits are. It will result in a fundamental shock that is still being weighed against the market, according to Ferres.
The most enthralling aspect of Trump’s policy is the potential for quick turnarounds.
However, it’s odd because one person can flip the switch at any time, which is unusual for multi-strategy hedge fund GAO Capital in Singapore.  ,
According to Trump,” the recession genie has been let out of the bottle so people are going to be more careful,” and traders may now opt to stay up at night and avoid Truth Social for hints on Trump’s next action.  ,
After the rally, we witnessed profit-taking, with few people rushing in to take on new positions. We are still trading short-term and are acting reactively rather than fundamentally long-term.
All that volatility is also affecting regional business plans, aside from the markets. Indonesia’s markets fell on reopening following the weeklong Eid holiday, and Brian Tan, the head of non-China EM Asia economics research at Barclays Plc in Singapore, was in Jakarta for a business trip during the week.
After Trump announced the 90-day pause, he had to squeeze in time to deliver a note to clients early on Thursday morning. He then hopped into his car to juggling a few meetings.
Kok Hoong Wong, Maybank Securities ‘ head of institutional equities trading, said,” Everyone is still on edge.” It appeared as though the financial world was about to end on Wednesday morning, with stocks falling, stock futures falling, and the yen strengthening sharply. We experienced some panic buying at the open on Thursday morning, and by Friday it appeared that people had reacted to the rising sentiment.
” The awareness that Trump may not be the bottom has begun to percolate. Perhaps we will experience a longer-than-expected adjustment period following this trade tariff episode.
According to Louis Gave of Gavekal, a group that runs the Hong Kong-based asset-allocation consultancy Gavekal Research and some global funds, the volatility may have a positive effect.
In a note dated April 10, he wrote,” The past week has demonstrated that the ice investors are skating on is much thinner than most had believed.”  ,
Trump had to significantly reduce his threat of a trade war to stop the crisis. This implies that the majority of tariffs are currently back in the box. Trump is now aware that if he reopens the box, he will run the risk of another equity and bond market collapse. In consequence, it appears likely that the box will remain closed.
Even so, for traders trying to figure out how and where to invest their money after the week’s wild swings, the risk of a rebound is almost as dangerous as that of a new selloff.
” We started covering shorts in a lot of names and closing some short positions during the falling market on Monday,” said Jun Bei Liu, lead portfolio manager at Ten Cap, a long-short equity fund with a focus on Australian equities in Sydney.  ,
The fund increased the number of long positions it found to be less fortunate from a trade war, including those held by Australian companies like Fisher &, Paykel Healthcare Corp., Cochlear Ltd., and Pro Medicus Ltd.
However, it’s impossible to be complacent.
The market is “oversold on this pessimism,” she said, adding that even the slightest positive attitude is causing the market to move so quickly. Shorts are dangerous in this sector because some businesses are oversold and we have no idea how quickly they will recover.
–With the assistance of Cormac Mullen, Ruth Carson, Winnie Hsu, Abhishek Vishnoi, Prima Wirayani, and Winnie Hsu.
— ©2025 Bloomberg L. P.
The Liberal Party of Canada is beginning to recover after months of social deterioration, which some claim is driven by a wave of national pride in response to Donald Trump’s price battle and threats to American sovereignty.
The Conservative Party of Canada’s ( CPC )’s ) growing appeal among immigrants and their children is obscured by this apparent rebound, which is more surprising.
The centrist Liberal Party has usually been supported by immigrants and members of apparent minority groups. Chinese and South Asian Canadians have long been a significant part of the Liberal base in the Greater Toronto Area ( GTA ), where over half of all residents identify as “visible minority” ( the category used by StatCan ).
However, recent polling reveal a unique perspective. According to a survey conducted in October 2024, 44 % of immigrants have changed their political affiliations since immigrating to Canada, with several then leaning Conservative.
In addition, another national survey from January 2025 found that the majority of East Asian ( 55 % ) and South Asian ( 56 % ) respondents voted in favor of the Conservative Party, far outpacing the Liberals or the NDP.
The two largest populations in Canada are South Asians and Chinese Canadians, accounting for more than 26 % of the country’s population.
The couple available data points suggest a significant shift, despite the rarity of detailed cultural breakdowns in American voting. This style also reflects a wider pattern: South Asian and Chinese Indians in the GTA are becoming more socially active, with a rise in voter participation and a broader political split.
For its part, the Conservative Party has taken see. Under Pierre Poilievre’s leadership, the CPC has constantly recruited racial candidates and increased awareness to residential swing ridings, specially through ethnic media ads and messages centered on family values and financial self-reliance.
This racial voter’s shift to the right perhaps seem counterintuitive. Under Stephen Harper’s leadership from 2006 to 2015, the Conservative Party has previously represented white, wealthy voters, and has implemented policies that have overwhelmingly harmed racial communities.
Why, then, do racialized Canadians extremely turn to the right?
In a study I just published, I spoke with 50 white, South Asian, and black children who were born in the Greater Toronto Area ( GTA ) through a study I recently conducted. This change, in my opinion, is not in contradiction with the previous one but provides a glass into how racial groups deal with inequality, isolation, and the research for belonging.
Although there are many reasons why second-generation racist Canadians may back the Conservative Party, this study provides one unexplored explanation. Second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians may seek approval when power is related to white by voting for a right-wing party that represents the interests of light, wealthy citizens.
In other words, many of these racist Canadians don’t voting Traditional because they are ignorant of inequality. They choose to be Traditional because they are navigating it.
The younger people I interviewed watched their immigrant families face deskilling and upward mobility despite having professional certifications and growing up in dangerously middle-class families.
They were pressured by their families to” Canadianize” their titles and accents, only to be let down by companies who also supported white.
And they were raised in a society that frequently ignores structural racism while celebrating historical symbols.
In this environment, supporting the Conservatives reflects a way to overcome exclusion rather than ignorance of it. Having a proper alignment is a sign of belonging.
One younger South Asian American gentleman put it this way:
You’ve arrived, I tell you. You are a French. Thus, begin casting your ballot like a fool.”
This apprehension to relate doesn’t manifest in a pump. It is shaped by cultural scripts that compensation compliance and punish dissention, most notably the design minority stereotype.
Eastern Canadians are portrayed as diligent and silently effective by the model minority stereotype. It appears to be acclaim at first. In reality, it conceals inequality and needs silence in exchange for contingent belonging.
That tolerance is delicate. Some South Asians, especially those who were perceived as Muslims, were immediately recast as dangerous outsiders after Sept. 11, 2001.
Similar themes surfaced again during the Covid-19 pandemic, when racial harassment in Eastern People dramatically increased. In both instances, those who were once hailed as “model” residents were abruptly threatened.
Social caution, such as keeping silent or avoiding protest, can serve as a survival tactic in some situations. However, that’s not what I observed in this review.
The second-generation Canadians I spoke with were not socially calm. They vehemently backed the Conservative Party. Voting Conservative was a way for them to show they were already there, not by requesting incorporation, but by demonstrating they did not need to. Conservative conservatism became a sign of success, independence, and connection to the people who were at the heart of American life.
This idea is reinforced by Canada’s established embrace of multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is unclear how racism actually operates, despite being frequently praised as a regional strength. Behind feel-good stories of addition, architectural restrictions are hidden.
Race, school, and dignity are frequently the factors that influence who belongs in Canada. Racially divided folks must not only show that they are diligent and upholding the law, but also that they have “fit in.” Voting Conservative is a way for some to demonstrate that they have done the same, as saying,” I’m not like them. One of you is me.
However, this approach has a price. Racialized voters perhaps gain personal recognition while promoting the very structures that marginalize them while furthering social exclusion. And they might avoid the procedures that would contribute to the development of a more just community by rejecting equity-based platforms.
This fluid is not limited to the next generation. Four in five newcomers, according to a recent CBC study, think Canada has accepted to many immigrants and foreign students without appropriate planning.
Some newcomers are becoming more and more expressing their anti-social opinions, frequently toward those who have arrived more just. This also embodies ambitious politicians. And it demonstrates how vehemently intertwined are culture, precarity, and belonging today in Canada.
None of this imply that conservatives who are racialized are nave. Their choices frequently reflect a thorough knowledge of how electricity functions.
But if we want a fairer political future, we must consider how race, class, and nationalism affect belonging, not just at the polls but also in the narratives we tell about who qualifies as” Canadian.”
Inclusion shouldn’t be seen as an act of generosity, as sociology Ruha Benjamin reminds us. It’s not about “helping” the underprivileged; rather, it’s about acknowledging that we are all interconnected. Everyone suffers when fear is removed from public policy and commodities.
Emine Fidan Elcioglu is a University of Toronto associate professor of sociology.
This content was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Learn the article’s introduction.
Buying or renting a home has become unaffordable for the average Australian, driven by a perfect storm of astronomical house prices, relentless rental increases and a lack of social housing.
With less than a month until the federal election, housing remains among the top issues for voters, and the country’s two major parties – the Labor Party and the Liberal-National Coalition – have both pledged to tackle the crisis in a range of ways.
Australians are now dealing with rising living costs and anticipating Donald Trump’s impact on the world economy. And whether either party’s campaign promises to restore the American dream did win the election.
Getty ImagesJust put, Australia hasn’t been producing sufficiently homes to meet the needs of its rapidly expanding people, leading to a shortage that makes any available house more expensive to purchase or lease.
The issue is exacerbated by Australia’s restrictive planning regulations, which prevent new homes being constructed in areas like big cities where the majority of people want to survive.
Popular urban areas like Melbourne and Sydney are significantly less deep than comparable-sized cities around the world due to red tape.
People are being pushed into poverty or overcrowded living conditions as a result of the steadily declining public enclosure market and the exploding waitlists that are currently filling the air.
Numerous other places are becoming increasingly unlivable as a result of natural disasters like wildfires and severe hurricanes destroying large swathes of land.
Home ownership has been commercialized in the wake of ages of government policies. The notion of owning a home, when viewed as a proper in Australia, has now become an investment opportunity.
In essence, it depends on your location.
According to a 2023 Demographia International Housing Affordability study, Sydney is now the second-least cheap city in the world for purchasing real estate.
The most recent data from CoreLogic, a provider of property analytics, shows that the average Sydney home costs almost A$ 1.2 million ( £570, 294,$ 742, 026 ).
The average home price in each of the nation’s capital cities is really over A$ 900,000.
Overall, house prices in Australia have increased by 39.1 % over the past five years, and wages have struggled to keep up.
According to a report from the 2024 Status of the Housing System, the typical prospective renter now needs about 10 years to save the 20 % loan needed to purchase a typical household.
Getty ImagesPrices have increased by 36.1 % nationwide since the start of Covid, or an equal increase of A$ 117 per week, which is negated by the rental market.
Sydney topped the tables, according to CoreLogic’s most recent hire evaluation, with a median regular book of A$ 773. The second-highest prices, Canberra at A$ 667 per year, were paid for in Perth, with average prices of A$ 695 per month.
Immigration and buying of foreign real estate are frequently cited as the causes of Australia’s housing crisis. However, researchers contend that they don’t mathematically contribute significantly.
According to Michael Fotheringham, head of the American Housing and Urban Research Institute, many people who move to Australia are temporary immigrants, such as foreign students who live in designated student housing more than attempting to buy real estate.
According to Mr. Fotheringham,” The impact ] of migrants on the housing market is not as significant as some observers have suggested.”
According to Brendan Coates, a public policy think container from the Grattan Institute, home buying are” a very small problem” with little significant impact on housing pressure.
Homes purchased by international buyers in 2022-23 represent less than one cent of all income, according to the most recent information released by the Australian Taxation Office.
According to the current international funding regulations, it’s already very difficult for foreigners to buy homes. They are content to a wide range of income, especially in some states, Mr. Coates explains.
Labor and the Coalition both pledged to invest in more houses, with the Coalition promising to uncover 500,000 while Labor offered 1.2 million by 2029.
In their most recent finances, Labor made a$ 33 billion housing investment plan that promises to assist first-time consumers in getting shared-equity money to buy properties with smaller deposits.
Additionally, they have pledged to increase social enclosure and grant incentives to aid low-to-moderate-income people in renting and owning more comfortably.
Cutting movement, reducing the number of foreign students, and enforcing a two-year restrictions on international investment in existing properties are key components of the Coalition’s housing affordability strategy.
Additionally, they have promised a$ 5 billion boost to the infrastructure to pay for the construction of housing development sites ‘ water, power, and sewerage costs.
Getty ImagesMeanwhile, the Greens ‘ policies have focused on lowering renters ‘ demands by calling for national rent caps and freezes.
Additionally, they have stated that they will work to reform taxes incentives for owners in the event of a minority government.
In summary, according to experts, neither Labor nor the Coalition’s guidelines are effective at resolving the housing crisis.
According to Mr. Coates,” a combination of the parties ‘ systems may get better than what we’re seeing individually.”
According to an Urban Development Institute of Australia statement from 2025, the federal government may fall short of delivering its goal of 1.2 million new houses by 2029, or about 400,000.
According to Mr. Coates, the Coalition’s efforts to reduce emigration will only contribute to Australia becoming less affordable in the long run while reducing the cost of cover.
Getty ImagesHe claims that the relocation cuts will result in fewer skilled migrants, and Australians may pay more in taxes as a result of the loss of income from those migrants.
Decades of underinvestment in social housing also result in a marked increase in demand in that sector, which, according to Mr. Fotheringham, is considerably lower than supply, which accounts for 4 % of housing inventory.
Additionally, there is problem about grants for second consumers, which increase costs even further.
While he applauds the progress made in taking these issues really, Mr. Fotheringham believes it will take years to get Australia out of a housing crises that has been raging for years.
He claims that the country has been” sleeping into this for a while.” The political class is paying attention, according to the statement,” Now ] the nation is paying attention.”
Kellie Highet provided further monitoring and videos in Sydney.
A&#; SINGAPORE: The reduction of diversity, equity, and inclusion ( DEI ) programs will “deepen divisions” and “exacerbate inequality,” according to a report from DEI. Edwin Tong, the minister for culture, community, and youth, said on Friday ( Apr 11 ).
US President Donald Trump’s administration has reverted almost 80 professional orders from the Trump era, many of which were in favor of La programs, since taking office in January.
Big firms like Pepsi, General Motors, and others In response, Google, Disney, Intel, and PayPal have all cut back on or removed DEI links from their quarterly reports to traders.
Dismissing Defined as” a risk” in La structures “rives risks sending the wrong message to the rest of the world at a time when there are growing conflicts and polarizations, casting doubt on gender equality and equity as an international priority,” Mr. Tong said. at a dinner to raise money for SG Her Empowerment ( SHE), a non-profit organization.
He added that launching a divisive rhetoric of “us” vs.” them” does end years of fought-for benefits.
He claimed that in recent months, global standards and discussion have been attacked.
There has been a “massive reset” of La programs in the US federal government as a result of changes in the US political leadership, he said, adding that this has spilt into the private business as a result.
The secretary noted that it can include transnational results, particularly when some businesses have operations abroad.
He cited a Financial Times document that claimed some of the biggest players in the S&& market. Since Mr. Trump’s re-election, the P 500 Index has reduced or eliminated DEI words in its annual reports.
What’s troubling me the most is that these businesses have actually axed their La programs because of the shift in social attitudes and mindsets, which suggests to me that the La programs were only created because of optics, and I don’t believe that is acceptable,” he said.
Della supporters defend it on the grounds that it is unfair and ; should be replaced with a “color blind and merit-based ” society, according to Mr. Tong.
This totally misses the purpose of DEI, he continued.
We are aware of the existence of administrative discrimination and invisible biases that prevent the creation of a really fair and meritocratic society in Singapore.
This disregards the lived experience of those that DEI was meant to serve and gain by assuming that the playing area is level to begin with, which may sometimes not be the case. “
