News

Daily Markets Briefing: STI down 1.2%

Wall Street's weakness could weign on the local bourse today.

Middle East's Utico submits $400m binding offer to invest in Hyflux

The move comes after the private utility and developer submitted a non-binding letter of intent in May 3.

Singapore to launch corporate structure for investment funds

The move aims to encourage fund managers to set up operations in Singapore.

ThaiBev profit surges 40% to $570.3m in H1

Its food business saw the highest revenue increase to $163.3m in Q2.

UOL Group's profit fell 5% to $72.4m in Q1

The firm’s expenses more than doubled to $182.3m.

Keppel O&M arm clinches offshore wind farm contract worth over $150m

It will engineer and construct two 600MW offshore wind farm substations in Taiwan.

Wilmar International profits jumped 26.4% to $349.3m in Q1

Pre-tax profit in the tropical oils segment skyrocketed 81% to $250.88m. Wilmar International started the year with a bang as net profit climbed 26.4% YoY to $349.3m (US$257m) in Q1 driven by better results in tropical oils, sugar and consumer products. The firm noted that its tropical oils (plantation, manufacturing & merchandising) saw an 81% surge in pretax profit to $250.88m (US$183.8m) boosted by stronger sales volume and margins from the manufacturing and merchandising businesses. However, this was partially offset by lower crude palm oil (CPO) prices and production yields, which reduced the contributions from the plantation business. Meanwhile, the oilseeds & grains (manufacturing & consumer products) business saw its pretax profit almost halved (47.2%) to $124.35m (US$91.1m) from $235.59m (US$172.6m) a year ago. The segment succumbed to weaker results from the crushing business, which had been impacted by the African swine fever outbreak in China and a sharp drop in Brazilian soybean basis. For the sugar (milling, merchandising, refining and consumer products), pretax profit recovered to $2.32m (US$1.7m) from a loss of $53.23m (US$39m) a year ago, thanks to the stronger performance from refining and merchandising activities as well as the contributions from Shree Renuka Sugars Limited, in line with the ongoing sugar milling season in India. Meanwhile, the share of results from joint ventures & associates saw a 50% decrease to $28.53m (US$20.9m) as the stronger performances by the group’s Europe and Vietnam investments were offset by weaker contributions from the African associates and investments in China. Wilmar’s earnings per share jumped 28.1% to $0.56 (US$0.41) from $0.44 (US$0.32) a year ago.  

Oyster Bay Fund mulls $500m investment into Hyflux

It is also looking to buy Hyflux shares for up to $26m.

Chart of the Day: Retail sales down 1% in March

Sales of optical goods & books, food & beverages and telecommunications & computers declined.

Nanjing opens up more innovation opportunities to Singapore firms

Firms can leverage on the Singapore-Nanjing Eco Hi-Tech Island to trial sustainable urban solutions.

MAS issues prohibition orders against three individuals for dishonest conduct

They include former representatives of Jefferies Singapore and Legacy FA.

Changi nabs seventh spot in global airport rankings

It lags behind Hamad International Airport and Tokyo International Airport.

OCBC's profit jumped 11% to $1.23b in Q1

Non-interest income surged 24% to $1.14b.