Walk through almost any major shopping mall in Singapore today and you’ll notice a subtle but significant shift. Spaces once occupied by sprawling department stores or large-format retailers are increasingly being divided into clusters of smaller shops, restaurants, wellness operators and lifestyle brands. To many shoppers, the change simply reflects evolving tastes. To landlords, however,
I recently watched a thought-provoking interview (video below) that challenged many of the popular beliefs surrounding passive income, financial freedom, and investing. It resonated with me because it addressed something that many of us have probably experienced at some point—being attracted to the promise of easy wealth. The conversation featured financial adviser Christopher Tan alongside
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When million-dollar HDB resale flats first made headlines more than a decade ago, they were often portrayed as aspirational purchases by affluent buyers stretching for prestigious public housing. Today, a different story is unfolding. Increasingly, some of Singapore’s wealthiest homeowners are moving in the opposite direction—not from HDB to private property, but from private condominiums
For many Singapore investors, ValueMax still conjures the image of a traditional neighbourhood pawnbroker—a defensive business that performs well during economic downturns as consumers pledge jewellery and watches for short-term loans. That perception is no longer entirely accurate. Over the past decade, the SGX-listed group has quietly transformed itself into a diversified player spanning jewellery
With gold prices hovering near record highs, interest in the precious metal has surged among retail and institutional investors alike. Walk into a bullion dealer in Singapore today, and you’re likely to find a growing number of buyers purchasing gold bars—not as jewellery, but as long-term investments. At the same time, investors can also gain
Artificial intelligence has become the defining competitive battleground for Singapore’s banks. But while both DBS and OCBC are investing heavily in AI, their latest announcements reveal two distinctly different philosophies. Under CEO Tan Su Shan, DBS is doubling down on enterprise-wide AI transformation, embedding generative and agentic AI across virtually every function of the bank.
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Singapore’s two largest regional banking champions are taking increasingly distinct paths as they position themselves for the next phase of growth in Asia. While DBS is building a pan-Asian franchise centred on wealth management and cross-border capital flows, UOB has sharpened its focus on ASEAN, leveraging its deep regional network to capture rising trade, investment
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I recently watched an insightful interview with investment professional Chris Tan (video is below), and it got me reflecting on my own approach to money and investing. In a world where social media is constantly filled with stock tips, crypto predictions and promises of quick wealth, it was refreshing to hear someone advocate something far
Maybank Securities has marginally lowered its 2026 year-end target for the Straits Times Index (STI) to 5,500 points from approximately 5,600, citing modest downgrades to corporate earnings expectations amid a more challenging global macroeconomic environment. The revision follows a 2% reduction in consensus earnings-per-share forecasts, driven primarily by higher energy costs linked to geopolitical tensions
The Johor Singapore Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is emerging as one of Southeast Asia’s most significant economic initiatives. Designed to strengthen economic integration between Malaysia and Singapore, the JS-SEZ has the potential to reshape investment flows, manufacturing, logistics, financial services, and real estate across the region. While much of the attention has focused on Johor’s industrial
How the Johor Singapore Economic Zone Could Transform Singapore’s Stock Market? Read More »