Apple bites back - Cupertino unseats Nvidia as Asia rallies on AI relief

Market news for November 2nd 2026: Asian markets rebounded as investors anticipated Apple’s earnings to ease growing AI cash burn anxieties. Meanwhile, oil prices declined amid ongoing Middle East diplomatic talks. Apple officially surpassed Nvidia to become the world’s most valuable listed company…

Vietnam faces Nov 29 US trade deadline; Asia factory growth slows 

Headline news for November 2, 2026: Businesses are divided over possible US tariffs on Vietnam ahead of a November 29 trade-probe deadline. Japan and South Korea report slower factory growth, Asian shares slip, and in Singapore, more than 112,000 people dropped private health insurance riders.  Sy…

AI spending, oil and rate hikes: What is really steering markets

Alphabet gets punished for spending on AI. Microsoft gets applause for the exact same thing. Meanwhile, oil's flirting with $115 and central banks are pretending they're not cornered. Correspondent Howie Lim speaks to Paul Chew from Phillips Securities Research to dissect the $400 billion AI realit…

Singapore names haze panel; Indonesia names 20 suspects and Israel’s final vote 

Headline news for October 30, 2026: Singapore appoints a seven-member panel, including FTI Consulting and WongPartnership, to examine firms linked to Indonesia’s haze fires, as Indonesian police name 20 suspect companies. Also: Israel’s final election results, China’s party congress date, Malaysia’…

Singapore to Amend Haze Law, Spain Train Crash Kills at Least 68 and Samsung Confirms Record Profit 

Headline news for October 29, 2026: Singapore will table amendments to its haze law when Parliament sits on November third, after ministers met ten firms served notices over the fires. A high-speed train collision in Spain kills at least sixty-eight, and the toll may rise. Samsung confirms record p…

AI split - big tech's bumper cash vs. heavy burn

Market news for October 29 2026: Alphabet's shares tumbled 10% on heavy AI cash burn, erasing nearly $400 billion in market value, while Microsoft beat forecasts with robust cash flows to lift its shares, highlighting a stark Big Tech divergence ahead of key earnings. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily …

Asian shares rally on SK Hynix’s profit surge and Anthropic’s $63B funding deal

Market news for October 27 2026: Asian stocks rallied, buoyed by renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, following a fresh wave of AI-related funding announcements and SK Hynix's profit surge, and US$75B shareholder return plan. Investors now await key US tech earnings, and the upcoming Fed…

Israel Election Looks Deadlocked, Muse Launches in Singapore and ASEAN Envoy Visits Myanmar 

Headline news for October 28, 2026: Israel’s election appears to have ended in deadlock, exit polls show, with no final result yet. Meta launches its Muse AI agent in Singapore from today. ASEAN’s Myanmar envoy begins a two-day humanitarian mission, and the Fed decision is due early tomorrow Singap…

Anthropic IPO and Meta's mega-fundraising spark Asian surge

Market news for October 27 2026: Asian stocks surged as Anthropic's IPO filing and Meta's massive fundraising boosted sentiment. Investors now await pivotal central bank meetings and critical tech earnings to test the ongoing AI trade amid fragile regional tensions and shifting global interest rate…

Indonesia Defends Gas Export Cut, Israel Votes and Korea’s Economy Beats Forecasts 

Headline news for October 27, 2026: Indonesia defends cutting piped gas exports to Singapore by about 8 per cent, saying the cut is within contract limits. Israelis vote in an election with no result yet, and polls show no clear majority. South Korea’s economy grows 1 per cent in the third quarter.…