The Afternoon Update with Lynlee Foo

According to a special report by consultancy, XDI - close to one in 10 assets belonging to Reits across Asia-Pacific will be at high risk from the effects of climate change and extreme weather by 2050.  The 2024 Singapore Governance and Transparency Index has also indicated that S-Reits commonly identified climate change as a material issue. To get a clearer picture when it comes to the impact of climate change on Reits Rachel Kelly spoke with Lee Wei Hock, Deputy Assurance Leader, Ernst & Young LLP.

Travelling is such a big pastime for many of us here in Singapore. While we all love to travel, most of us do not give much thought to buying insurance. If you often find yourself caught up with pre-travel logistics (accommodation, airport and hotel transfers, data access etc) and forget to buy travel insurance, there is now a solution. Income Insurance has recently launched FlexiTravel Plus, which is Singapore’s first and only travel insurance that enables travellers to get travel protection, as needed by the hour, to 19 Asian destinations even after you have boarded your flight. Annie Chua, Vice President and Head of Key Accounts Management at Income Insurance, shares insights on travel insurance trends and more.

The energy sector is changing rapidly and undergoing a disruptive transformation. As alternative fuels such as hydrogen, methanol, ammonia, and biofuel become more important in reducing global emissions, what role do fuel additives play? How are industry players supporting decarbonisation efforts? Bruce Royan, EVP of Energy Applications at global fuel additives firm Infineum, shares some insights.

Malaysia's ringgit is set for a blockbuster quarter in what could be its best since January 1973. It rose more than 12 per cent against the US so far this quarter and if the trend continues, the currency could become the best-performing emerging market currency. It is also up about 6 per cent against the Singapore dollar. In the light of this development, Yeap Junrong, Market Strategist from online trading provider IG, shares his analysis and a trade idea.

Alaska is well-known for waters that are home to the largest and healthiest populations of seafood on the planet and also known for its emphasis to preserve a healthy and sustainable marine ecosystem. It is also highly prized for its purity, taste, and nutritional value.  Chef Elvin Chew, F&B Consultant at Kiam Sng Di, a food consulting firm here in Singapore, tells us more about the attractive and expensive characteristics of Alaskan seafood.

Fresh URA data shows new private home sales plunging to a record 16-year low for the month of August with only 208 private homes sold. Developers held back on new launches during the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, also known as the Hungry Ghost month, and the impact of elevated interest rates. Meanwhile, the leasing market remained muted for both HDB and private condominiums. As we head into the last quarter of 2024, will the real estate market improve? Donny Lee, ERA Senior Executive Group Division Director, shares his views. 

Wall Street exploded to the upside as markets soared to fresh records following the Fed rate cuts. How are currencies reacting, especially the Singapore dollar, which was testing highs against the US dollar in the weeks leading up to the announcement?  Yeap Junrong, Market Strategist from online trading provider IG, gives us an update and shares an idea of how to trade the USD / SGD forex pair. 

There has been increased efforts to deliver on Singapore's commitment to peak emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050. Under a new requirement passed in Parliament earlier on September 10, existing buildings in Singapore that are deemed energy-intensive must implement measures to improve their energy use or face a fine of up to S$150,000. With rising mandatory sustainability regulations, the significance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting has magnified, and there is an increased number of companies seeking technology solutions to meet their sustainability goals.  Benjamin Soh, Founder and Managing Director of ESGpedia, Asia’s leading ESG data and technology company shares insights into the role of technology solutions in sustainability reporting and the critical data needs of businesses for ESG compliance.

The US rate cut has finally been announced officially at 50 basis points, in a supersized move that is aimed at boosting a cooling job market, while continuing to push down on inflation. Dan Chang, Investment Specialist and Trading Representative at PhillipCapital, shares his views on what does this means for Singapore markets as we head into 2025. 

According to reports, Mars Wrigley, the producer of snacks like Mars and Snickers chocolate bars has maintained its title as the world's biggest confectionery firm in 2023 with $22bn of sales. The company is targeting high growth markets including  Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand…markets that have significant opportunities for growth and innovation for the snacking category in a complex and diverse region. What's its strategy to conquer emerging markets in Asia? What kind of challenges is the company facing in such a culturally diverse region? Kalpesh Parmar, Regional General Manager for Mars Wrigley Asia, tells us more.