| 1 | Malaysia Secures Favorable 19% Tariff Deal with U.S. Amid Trade Tensions In a significant diplomatic move, Malaysia’s trade ministry has announced a new 19% tariff deal with the U.S. The agreement is being hailed as a “positive outcome” that protects key national policies and avoids the higher tariffs imposed on many other countries. | https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3321528/win-sovereign-rights-malaysia-agrees-19-tariff-deal-trump |
| 2 | Automation Stalls Hiring at Singapore’s Top Banks A new report reveals that the adoption of automation and AI technology is causing a slowdown in hiring at Singapore’s leading banks. Lenders are focusing on upskilling their current workforce to adapt to the new technological landscape. | https://sbr.com.sg/financial-services/exclusive/automation-stalls-hiring-top-banks |
| 3 | Lululemon Doubles Down on Physical Expansion in Singapore and Southeast Asia Despite the rise of e-commerce, Lululemon is increasing its physical store presence across Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian region. The apparel brand believes that brick-and-mortar stores are essential for building a stronger connection with customers beyond online platforms. | https://www.businesstimesintl.com/asean/lululemon-doubles-down-physical-expansion-singapore-and-across-south-east-asia |
| 4 | Hong Kong Eases Listing Rules to Boost Red-Hot IPO Market To capitalize on its booming market for initial public offerings, Hong Kong has relaxed some of its listing rules. The move is aimed at attracting more companies to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and further cementing its position as a major financial hub. | https://www.businesstimesintl.com/companies/hong-kong-eases-listing-rules-boost-red-hot-ipo-market |
| 5 | Chinese EVs Gaining Ground in Singapore Market Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are making significant inroads in Singapore. A combination of competitive pricing, advanced features, and strong government incentives under the city-state’s Green Plan is fueling their growing popularity. | https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/economics/article/3321529/chinese-evs-are-making-inroads-singapore-and-heres-why |
| 6 | GIC Warns of ‘High Transition Risk’ in Climate Scenarios Amid Geopolitical Headwinds Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, GIC, has warned that the probability of “delayed disorderly transition” and “too little too late” climate scenarios has increased. The fund cites current economic and geopolitical headwinds as the primary reasons for the heightened risks. | https://www.eco-business.com/news/high-transition-risk-climate-scenarios-becoming-more-probable-gic/ |
| 7 | Oil Prices Fall Amid Market Jitters Over Global Trade Crude oil prices are on the decline as global markets react to the new tariffs announced by the U.S. The increased trade uncertainty is causing jitters among investors and raising concerns about potential slowdowns in the global economy, which could impact oil demand. | https://www.thestreet.com/markets/oil-prices-fall-amid-market-jitters-global-trade |
| 8 | BCA Digital’s Banking App Tops 3 Million Users BCA Digital, the digital-only banking arm of Indonesia’s largest private bank, Bank Central Asia, has announced that its banking app has surpassed 3 million users. The milestone is a strong indicator of the growing adoption of digital banking services in the country. | https://asianbusinessreview.com/fintech/exclusive/bca-digitals-banking-app-tops-3-million-users |
| 9 | Jardine Matheson’s Underlying Profit Soars 45% in First Half of 2025 The multinational conglomerate Jardine Matheson has reported a significant jump in its underlying profit for the first half of 2025, with earnings soaring 45% year-on-year. The strong performance reflects a positive trend across its diverse business portfolio. | https://sbr.com.sg/markets-investing/news/jardine-matheson-underlying-profit-soars-45-yoy-h1-2025 |
| 10 | APAC Ad Fatigue Rises, But Consumers Remain Open to Relevant Ads A new report from The Trade Desk highlights a growing ad fatigue among consumers in Southeast Asia, with two out of three saying they tune out repetitive ads. However, the study also indicates that a majority of consumers still feel influenced by relevant, well-executed advertising, presenting an opportunity for marketers using omnichannel strategies. | https://en.antaranews.com/news/370649/ad-fatigue-hits-hard-in-southeast-asia-2-in-3-consumers-tune-out-repetitive-ads |
