22nd November 2017South China Morning Post
Effective immediately, no new licenses can be issued for online platforms, while brick-and-mortar lenders can only operate within their registered locations, according to the central bank’s November 21 instructions.
22nd November 2017The Straits Times
The consumer and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) banking business in Singapore and Hong Kong is DBS Group's "jewel in the crown" that could contribute half of the bank's income in five years, chief executive officer Piyush Gupta said earlier this week.
20th November 2017The Business Times
There are many in the industry today, who believe that disruption came almost like a tsunami, out of nowhere and swept away all existing trends, processes and practices in place. Whereas, the universal truth of life is, that change is the only factor that is inevitable. This is the first advice I give to all the firms that I mentor.
20th November 2017The Business Times
FINTECH (financial technology) is starting to be plugged into Singapore for real economic value, as the city-state seizes technology such as blockchain and goes international with its fintech approach.
20th November 2017The Business Times
FINTECH (financial technology) is starting to be plugged into Singapore for real economic value, as the city-state seizes technology such as blockchain and goes international with its fintech approach.
31st October 2017The Business Times
The merger of IE Singapore and SPRING Singapore is good news for SMEs. Here are some suggestions for improvement. SMALL and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are the primary focus and largest beneficiaries of the economic measures in Budget 2017 and the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE) report.
27th October 2017The Asset
SMEs don’t need loans, they need cash flow solutions, says Dianrong CEO. If you’re an SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) in China, who would you go to for financing? A bank? Or a fintech? The answer, of course, depends on your needs.
17th October 2017The Business Times
A FRESH survey from a prominent business chamber on Monday showed that challenges from disruptive technology was a top business challenge for over 20 per cent of respondents.
11th October 2017Global Trade Review
Global insurer AIG and fintech firm TradeIX are building a blockchain-powered platform for invoice finance. Having completed their first pilot transaction with Standard Chartered and a global logistics company, the parties are now ready to scale up to more corporates and banks.
28th September 2017CFO Innovation
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore remain upbeat over the local economy in the next 12 months, despite the political situation in the U.S., China’s slowing growth, protectionism and declining international trade, according to a survey by independent financial services firm Bibby Financial Services (BFS).
28th September 2017ASEAN Today
DBS, OCBC and UOB dominate the banking sector in Singapore. The state regulator harnesses and supports Fintech, but it could do more.
27th September 2017Crowdfund Insider
Funding Societies, Singapore’s and Southeast Asia’s SME crowdfunding platform, has announced the launch of its new chatbot “Miyu”. This is described as the first such chatbot created by a crowdfunding company in Southeast Asia. Miyu was jointly developed by two Singapore Management University interns at Funding Societies along with bot platforms meya.ai and api.ai, using machine learning, and natural language processing.
6th September 2017Straits Times
It aims to create 10,000 new jobs by 2020, help companies digitalise, build digital marketplaces and set up training programmes.
6th September 2017The Asset
Businesses particularly the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) continue to face challenges in accessing sufficient credit, resulting in a global trade finance gap of US$1.5 trillion in 2016. Even as technology is introducing new ways to assess and manage risk, the fundamental causes of unmet demand for trade finance have not been addressed.
4th September 2017The Edge Singapore
For small and medium-sized enterprises, a single delayed payment from a customer can mean a major dent in cash flows. Invoice crowdfunding start-up Validus Capital thinks it has a good solution to this problem.
4th September 2017Global Trade Review
Global Trade Review (GTR) has launched an investment arm, supporting fintech companies in the trade space. GTR Ventures (GTRV) will be launched at this week’s GTR Asia Trade & Treasury Week in Singapore, the world’s largest trade finance event.
30th August 2017Global Trade Review
A new blockchain-based solution has been launched with the aim of stopping the double financing of invoices. The tool allows banks and factors to check if another funder has already paid an invoice, by cross-referencing it against a blockchain-based central registry.
16th August 2017Forbes
Are banks here to stay? A recent report by Accenture has highlighted how digital disruption is shrinking the role and relevance of banks.
2nd August 2017Reuters
Chinese peer-to-peer lending platform Dianrong has raised $220 million from Singapore sovereign fund GIC Pte Ltd [GIC.UL] and other investors to fund R&D in China and potential ventures elsewhere in Asia.
2nd August 2017GT Review
A Singapore-based company is aiming to cut the time it takes big banks to conduct investigations on suspicious trade finance transactions.
17th July 2017Inquirer.net
Ask a small entrepreneur what her/his most formidable hurdle is to sustaining her/his business, let alone expanding it, and chances are she/he will point to financing. Data recently cited by the World Bank show how pathetically behind the Philippines is relative to its Asean-5 neighbors in bank loans extended to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). As of 2014, Thailand had US$171 billion, Malaysia US$61 billion, Singapore US$57 billion, Indonesia US$51 billion, and the Philippines a paltry US$9 billion.
17th July 2017South China Morning Post
China’s second-largest peer-to-peer lending platform, founded by the Ping An Group, has been granted a licence to operate in Singapore, giving the city a leg up in its competition against Hong Kong in attracting investments to nurture financial technology and innovation.
7th July 2017TODAY
This month marks 20 years since the Asian financial crisis. It is appropriate to consider at this juncture why the crisis happened, and what we have learnt about how countries can safeguard their economies from future shocks and deliver sustainable and inclusive growth.
20th June 2017GT News
As traditional banks grapple with the challenges posed by fintechs, legacy constraints and traditional operational models, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as the savior. Organisations involved in the business of wealth are sparing no efforts to start to tap the potential of AI by experimenting and prototyping: intelligent digital assistants to amplify service, data-models to automate smart lending decisions, fraud detection through pattern recognition and speech/face recognition.
20th June 2017The Business Times
MID-2016, Yonathan Juandro was faced with a quandary: how to raise US$20,000 to expand his small catering business fast.
16th June 2017Forbes
In more ways than one, alternative finance has made borrowing simple, swift and suitable. Over the last few years, alternative finance providers have grown in number and garnered significant acknowledgement and traction from stakeholders such as regulators, venture capitalists, banks, enterprises and investors. They provide financing outside the parameters of traditional lenders, most commonly banks. Breaking it down even further, alternative finance includes domains such as crowdfunding, peer-to-peer financing, and invoice financing.
15th June 2017Ignites Asia
Singapore and Hong Kong have become global wealth engine powerhouses that expect to attract foreign cash two times faster than Switzerland in the next four years, Bloomberg reports.
9th June 2017The Asset
Due to the financial risks resulting from delayed payments, companies have been exploring new ways to get cash as soon as possible. This has led to the rapid growth in the invoice trading market in Asia-Pacific.
8th June 2017Today Online
Investors will soon have the option to log into an online platform, answer some questions about themselves, and have a personalised investment portfolio prepared for them. All this will be made possible through robo-advisory financial services using automated, algorithm-based tools. Services are provided online with limited or no human interaction with clients.
7th June 2017Crowdfund Insider
CreditEase, a China based peer to peer lender, has announced its plans to open a new office in the Asia Square Tower in Singapore.
6th June 2017The Straits Times
Business confidence in Singapore improved for the second consecutive quarter despite downside risks, the a quarterly survey found.
5th June 2017Channel News Asia
Helping small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) digitise amid tech disruptions is the focus of the latest campaign under the 99%SME movement, launched on Monday (Jun 5).
17 May 2017The Business Times
EXPECT a bigger Singapore Fintech Festival this year, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) hoping to create matchmaking opportunities between Singapore-based fintechs and investors.
28th March 2017The Business Times
SMEs remain hindered by poor cash-flow visibility issues primarily caused by reliance on manual processes and payment methods.
22nd March 2017The Business Times
EMERGING technologies help reduce risks in the financial sector, but they may also accentuate some risks or even create new ones, such as cyberattacks and runaway algorithms, warned Ravi Menon, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
21st March 2017The Straits Times
Cash flow is king when it comes to managing a business. However, for many small businesses, delays in being paid can have an immediate impact on cash flow and the day-to-day management of operations.
21st March 2017Financial Times
Institutional investors have been forced to become more adventurous in their hunt for income and are investing in a more eclectic range of assets.
21st March 2017Bridging and Commercial
A many-to-many model that works well and in which – much like the US experience – the lender base has changed quite a bit since it started. These online exchanges mostly appeared following the 2008 financial crisis to alleviate the shortfall in lending to individuals and were viable as a result of low-cost technology and fair margins. P2P today embraces lending to SMEs, student loans, personal credit and real estate lending.
20th March 2017mybusiness
What is trade finance and how does it support growth? My Business asks a trade finance supplier to set the record straight.
17th March 2017Nikkei Asian Review
Peer-to-peer lending is surging in China as conventional financial products lose their appeal -- creating new opportunities and substantial risks for yield-hungry retail investors.
1st March 2017Today Online
Business sentiments for the second quarter of the year has picked up, following a pessimistic outlook in the preceding quarter, according to the Singapore Commercial Credit Bureau’s (SCCB) latest quarterly Business Optimism Index (BOI). The BOI is a measure of business confidence in the economy. Released quarterly, it is based on a business sentiment survey designed to capture business expectations.
1st March 2017The Straits Times
Amid the challenges they face in a slowing economy - and a changing world - small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will get all possible help from the Government to transform themselves into future engines of growth.
23rd February 2017CFO Innovation
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced regulatory changes to strengthen the resilience of finance companies and enhance their ability to provide financing to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
22nd February 2017Deal Breaker
However one might feel about peer-to-peer lenders, you have to give them this: They’re really, really trying to make it happen. For Lending Club, SoFi and their ilk, each successive wallop just encourages them to keep fighting. But increasingly it seems that, like Harrison Ford’s aviation career, the P2P industry has hit that point where doubt and genuine concern outweigh whatever goodwill its novelty once attracted.
22nd February 2017Asia Asset
A Malaysian-born entrepreneur and his Indonesian business partner have started a crowd-funding company to provide financial assistance to local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
20th February 2017Channel News Asia
The Government’s Budget statement for financial year 2017 was delivered on Monday (Feb 20) by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat who outlined three main themes of economy, environment and society.
20th February 2017Straits Times
In his Budget address on Monday (Feb 20), Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced some measures that will give companies some near-term support to weather the current economic slowdown, as well as new measures that will help them innovate, scale up and go global.
16th February 2017Asia Asset
This is in line with the recent ruling introduced by MAS, two days ago. MAS reported that it would be announcing specific initiatives to strengthen funding for growth companies shortly.
15th February 2017The Asian Banker
Competitor Funding Societies has introduced a mobile app for SME lending. It offers loans with quantum up to S$20,000 for companies incorporated in Singapore.
14th February 2017Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced today regulatory changes to strengthen the resilience of finance companies and enhance their ability to provide financing to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
9th February 2017Nikkei Asian Review
Zooming into Funding Socities business in the Indonesian market. The website Fansuri used is run by Funding Societies, a fintech startup that operates in Indonesia, Singapore and soon in Malaysia.
6th February 2017PYMNTS
There is a sea of new FinTechs looking to challenge traditional banks in the U.K., and there is another sea of FinTechs exploring how to take blockchain from a hypothetical disruptor to a real-world one. A new company, Populous, is looking to be a strait that connects these two seas.
25th January 2017Small Business UK
Research conducted in UK shows that people aged 18-34 are four times more likely than over-55s to have money invested in a peer to peer platform.
13th January 2017Straits Times
The article touches upon how companies face upcoming interest rate hikes which will increase the cost of funds, as well as slower L-shaped growth.
13th January 2017The Asset
Financial regulators in Asia have been looking at how to handle the growth in Asian P2P activity.
12th January 2017Fintech News
The article explores three alternative ways for SMEs to raise funds while avoiding bank loans.
11th January 2017AsiaOne
The article discusses the impact of the new law passed by the parliament which provides more stringent protections for retail investors. Also, changes made to the Securities and Futures Act will, will tighten the criteria for accredited investors, making it harder for individuals to qualify as accredited investors. In addition to that, A mechanism will also be introduced to let investors opt out of being recognised as accredited investors even if they meet the criteria.
1st January 2017Financial Times
China’s regulators have sent inspection teams to companies to ensure that they meet a list of new rules issued last year, and threaten to shut down those that fail to comply. This is expected to eradicate more than 2,400 lending platforms in the country.
21st December 2016Singapore Business Review
Don’t be caught sleeping this Year of the Rooster and start sitting on these golden investment eggs; but as with any investment idea, these eggs are best taken with a grain of salt.
1st December 2016International Banker
An overview on the emergence and the future of the global alternative-finance market.
23rd November 2016Cryptocoins News
A report states that London is still leading the global fintech race followed by Singapore and New York.
22nd November 2016Fintech
A key finding of the 2016 Asia Financial Forum is the recognition that de-risking measures and reluctance by banks to offer loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are being the growth of shadow banking in Asia.
21st November 2016The Middle Ground
The relationship between banks and Fintech is hard to pinpoint as “adversarial” or “co-operative”. Many FinTechs have begun to be seen as a threat by banks; an overview of Fintech ideas that banks are already adopting.
20th November 2016The Edge Markets
An overview of the 6 P2P lenders in Malaysia.
19th November 2016The Edge Markets
The relationship between banks and Fintech is hard to pinpoint as “adversarial” or “co-operative”. Many FinTechs have begun to be seen as a threat by banks; an overview of Fintech ideas that banks are already adopting.
7th November 2016Press Release
Capital Springboard (S) Pte Ltd, a peer-to-peer invoice financing platform for accredited investors, has transacted over SGD$110 million on its platform since its’ pilot testing phase. Launched in June this year, Capital Springboard has garnered strong interest amongst accredited investors and local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
1st November 2016Human Resources Online
A feature on the recently hosted BritCham Awards.
3rd November 2016CFO Innovation
The global top five FinTech hubs in 2016 are London, Singapore, New York, Silicon Valley, and Hong Kong, according to the report Connecting Global FinTech: Hub Review 2016 recently issued by Deloitte.
3rd November 2016Business Times
SMEs now have to deal with higher interest rates, tightened access to credit and higher collateral
2nd November 2016Channel News Asia
Access to financing has emerged as a growing challenge faced by small and medium-sized enterprises, according to the latest SME Development Survey which polled 2,513 local enterprises across a range of sectors
25th October 2016Medianama
India’s first invoice discounting platform has raised $6 million as Series A investment led by Sequoia Capital and existing investor, Prime Venture Partners, reports Inc42.com. Investors of the platform can also be NRI’s (Non-Residing Indians), in addition to individuals, proprietors, institutional investors, banks, NBFCs, NRI investors and other financial institutions
25th October 2016Finextra
A wave of new digital tools will complement, not replace, finacial advisors, according to senior Credit Suisse exec
21st October 2016FMT News
The growing risk of a recession in Singapore has raised the prospects of an off-cycle easing in policy, although for now the consensus among economists is for the central bank to sit tight in the economy sparks to life
20th October 2016Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
An overview of findings on how Fintech influence the rapid growth of Asia’s e-commerce and regional trade, trends that complement SME development
20th October 2016JD Supra Business Advisor
Hong Kong is putting substantial focus on financial technology, or fintech, to compete with Singapore and Tokyo as the fintech capital of Asia
20th October 2016Straits Times
Two start-ups aim to help bring together investors and mid-sized Asian businesses seeking growth
11th October 2016Straits Times
Economic slowdown is expected ahead, however recession has been ruled out. Minister for Trade and Industry has stated that depending on the nature and severity of the downturn, the Government is prepared introduce a range of contingency measures. These include the SME Working Capital Loan scheme to help small companies with cash-flow concerns and financing needs for growth
19th September 2016Legal Business Online
With world-leader London compromised by Brexit, the Asian tigers sniff blood in the arena of financial technology
16th September 2016Legal Business Online
Equity crowdfunding is rapidly gaining ground in Asia, but the region has yet to embrace it fully
5th September 2016Singapore Business Review
After the global downturn that followed 2008, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) emerged as one of the pillars of the economy, withstanding turbulent times whilst banking titans collapsed around them - See more at: http://sbr.com.sg/financial-services/commentary/asias-hunger-alternative-finance#sthash.oPgqBFYX.dpuf
2nd September2016Finews Asia
Vaalidus Capital, which is a peer-to-peer lending firm in Singapore is featured in this article. The article gives a general overview of their business and future plans
1st September2016Deal Street Asia
Southeast Asia’s largest market Indonesia has been witnessing an emergence of a number of fintech companies
1st September2016The Straits Times
An overview on the decreasing rate of bank loans in Singapore, amidst a sluggish economy
1st September2016The Standard
Vaalidus Capital, which is a peer-to-peer lending firm in Singapore is featured in this article. The article gives a general overview of their business and future plans
17th August 2016Mortgage Introducer
An overview of the readiness of the P2P lending platforms to embrace digital disruptions of the future
17th August 2016Yahoo! Finance
The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global P2P lending market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the analyst considers the lending amount through P2P platforms in the Americas, Asia Pacific (APAC), and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market
1st August 2016The Business Times
Even as regulations soon come into force for Singapore's crowdfunding scene, there are fears among a few that the floodgates have been flung open too soon for new players to enter this nascent segment
26th July 2016GT News
As with the global economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) provide the backbone of Asia’s economic growth
29th June 2016Fortune
The mega-bank needs to counter a new wave of financial technology startups
24th June 2016The Paypers
Capital Springboard has announced the Singapore launch of its peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platform for accredited investors seeking high returns on short-term invoices
24th June 2016MintAsia
Singapore based Capital Springboard yesterday launched a peer-to-peer invoice financing platform for savvy accredited investors seeking high returns on short term invoices
24th June 2016The Asset
Singapore based Capital Springboard yesterday launched a peer-to-peer invoice financing platform for savvy accredited investors seeking high returns on short term invoices
24th June 2016TechPortal
Singapore based Capital Springboard yesterday launched a peer-to-peer invoice financing platform for savvy accredited investors seeking high returns on short term invoices
24th June 2016SME & Entrepreneurship Magazine
Capital Springboard (S) Pte Ltd launched today a peer-to-peer financing platform for savvy accredited investors seeking high returns on short-term invoices
23rd June 2016Yahoo! Finance
The Singapore-based company Capital Springboard has already seen S$80 million (US$60 million) traded on its platform since its pilot in July 2015
23rd June 2016Finextra
Capital Springboard (S) Pte Ltd launched today a peer-to-peer financing platform for savvy accredited investors seeking high returns on short-term invoices
23rd June 2016The Straits Times
Fund to provide seed money, growth capital. A fintech fund called Dymon Asia Ventures has been set up to invest in areas such as asset management, remittances and foreign exchange
22nd June 2016Kopitiam Bot
Singapore-based p2p financing company Capital Springboard has announced its official launch today. The platform, which allows investors to purchase short term invoices. have already incurred over 1,300 invoices worth S$80 million (US$60 million) in trades since it launched its pilot in July 2015
22nd June 2016The Asian Banker
Capital Springboard (S) Pte Ltd launched today a peer-to-peer financing platform for savvy accredited investors seeking high returns on short-term invoices
22nd June 2016e27
Singapore-based p2p financing company Capital Springboard has announced its official launch today. The platform, which allows investors to purchase short term invoices. have already incurred over 1,300 invoices worth S$80 million (US$60 million) in trades since it launched its pilot in July 2015
22nd June 2016Fintechnews.sg
Capital Springboard – backed by London-based investment advisor Centurion Portfolio Managers – has announced the Singapore launch of its peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platform for accredited investors seeking high returns on short-term invoices
22nd June 2016DealStreetAsia
Capital Springboard – backed by London-based investment advisor Centurion Portfolio Managers – has announced the Singapore launch of its peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platform for accredited investors seeking high returns on short-term invoices
22nd June 2016Finews.asia
Capital Springboard has launched a peer-to-peer financing platform for sophisticated investors seeking high returns on short-term invoices
22nd June 2016FinTech Innovation
Capital Springboard has launched a peer-to-peer financing platform for accredited investors seeking high returns on short-term invoices
22nd June 2016Yahoo! Finance
Capital Springboard (S) Pte Ltd launched today a peer-to-peer financing platform for savvy accredited investors seeking high returns on short-term invoices
9th June 2016The Straits Times
Offshore marine group Otto Marine has received a formal acquisition offer for its shares and is likely to become the first company from the hard-pressed sector to be delisted. In an exchange filing yesterday, the company said it has received an exit offer of 32 cents per share from RHB Securities, the potential buyer's financial adviser
9th June 2016The Straits Times
Singapore's productivity growth is often criticised for being lacklustre, but an economist from Oxford Economics said the country has done "remarkably well". Productivity grew 1.5 per cent between 2000 and 2015, outpacing gains in similarly high-income countries such as the United States and Britain. The US recorded productivity growth of 1.2 per cent while the United Kingdom posted a 0.9 per cent expansion, said Ms Priyanka Kishore, lead Asia economist at the British-based global advisory organisation
9th June 2016The Business Times
AVERAGE prime retail rents on Orchard Road fell for the sixth consecutive quarter in the second quarter of this year, CBRE Research said on Thursday. Prime Orchard Road rents stood at S$32.50 per square foot per month (psf/month), on average, in the second quarter, down 1.1 per cent from the first quarter of 2016
8th June 2016The Straits Times
Start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMES) will now find it easier to tap securities crowdfunding (SCF) under new steps announced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Wednesday (June 8). Securities crowdfunding is the online offering of private company securities to investors. It enables broad groups of investors to fund startup companies and small businesses in return for some form of securities like shares in the company
8th June 2016The Straits Times
Developers of uncompleted projects were reminded to comply with the rules when offering incentive schemes to buyers. The notice from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) comes in the wake of the increasing use of ever more creative incentives by developers to move units
8th June 2016The Business Times
THE government will release land for 7,545 private homes (including 780 executive condo (EC) units) as well as 277,080 sq metres gross floor area (GFA) of commercial space on both confirmed and reserve lists in the second half of this year. This is just slightly more than the 7,415 private housing units (inclusive of 1,455 EC units) and 272,580 sq m of commercial space for the current first half Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme
8th June 2016The Business Times
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said on Wednesday that no bank in Singapore received the US$3 billion wire transfer from Goldman Sachs which had arranged the bond issuance for Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). It is rare for MAS to issue statements about specific banking transactions, and it said it was doing so in response to media queries
8th June 2016The Business Times
AFTER years of disappointing returns, commodities have now entered into a bull market and become the best-performing asset class this year. Prices are expected to stay high in the second half of the year with tightening physical and supply fundamentals across the complex, said analysts
8th June 2016Channel News Asia
In the past five years, Singapore jumped 13 spots from 31st to 18th in the global ranking of the most expensive locations for expatriates, according to a cost of living survey by consultancy firm ECA International. It has, however, been overtaken by other Asian cities such as Hong Kong, which rose 26 places to 9th place globally from March 2012 to March 2016, and Guangzhou, which rose 40 places to be ranked 15th worldwide. The island-state is now the 10th most expensive city in Asia for expatriates, according to the survey
7th June 2016The Business Times
Great Eastern Holdings Ltd has sold its Vietnam business to FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Ltd, a unit of Hong Kong's Pacific Century Group, for S$48.2 million in cash. The net book value of Great Eastern Life (Vietnam) Co Ltd (GELV) as at May 31 was S$47.5 million, the company said in a filing to the Singapore Exchange on Tuesday (June 7)
7th June 2016Channel News Asia
New manufacturing lines for Huggies baby wipes and diaper pants were launched at Kimberly-Clark's Tuas Plant today (June 7). The multi-million dollar investment brings Kimberly-Clark's total investment in Singapore to S$400 million. The company first set up its Singapore office in 1981, and established its ASEAN office and Asia-Pacific headquarters here in 2012
7th June 2016Channel News Asia
Tech giant Microsoft and state investment firm Temasek have entered a global partnership to help support and scale startups across the world. The collaboration sees Temasek, together with six of its portfolio companies, join the Microsoft Accelerator programme as official global network partners in Seattle, Berlin, Tel Aviv and Bangalore
7th June 2016Channel News Asia
Under an agreement between ICBC and IE Singapore, the Chinese bank will provide financing services and look at ways to support Singapore companies in infrastructure projects across Asia. To help Singapore companies tap infrastructure opportunities in China's "One Belt, One Road” initiative, International Enterprise (IE) Singapore has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)
7th June 2016The Edge Markets
Q&M Dental Group is seeking to buy a 47.14% equity interest in Shenzhen New Perfect Dental Research (SZNP) for RMB66 million ($13.75 million). SZNP is a China-based dental prosthetic devices provider, focusing on custom-making prostheses for individual dental patients
7th June 2016The Business Times
Corporate bond offerings by some of Singapore's biggest companies are drawing such strong demand from investors that they are artificially lowering borrowing costs for weaker borrowers, according to S&P Global Ratings. Recent offerings from issuers such as state investment company Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd, port operator PSA Corp and electricity distributor Singapore Power Ltd were "well over-subscribed" amid heightened threat of non-payments by riskier borrowers across South-east Asia, analysts Bertrand Jabouley and Xavier Jean wrote in an e-mail interview
7th June 2016Channel News Asia
The order for Swiss Bank BSI’s shut-down late last month sent shockwaves across the financial industry, and highlighted one particular challenge that Singapore faces in its drive to be a leading hub for private wealth – its exposure to illicit money. Being a private banking hub exposes the city-state to tainted money, analysts tell Money Mind. But bankers have been sent a strong message to play by compliance rules - or else
6th June 2016Channel News Asia
Funan DigitaLife Mall closes for renovations this month, and while some retailers at the IT and electronics hub have indicated they are moving operations online, at least two players said they are sticking with brick-and-mortar stores. Stores are likely to need to engage with customers on an e-commerce system, on top of the essential physical shopping experience, said businesses like AddOn and Challenger
6th June 2016The Straits Times
Frasers Centrepoint (FCL) has appointed a new chief executive officer to take over from Mr Lim Ee Seng, who will retire on Sept 30, 2016, and announced other organisational changes in a filing to the Singapore Exchange on Monday morning (June 6). Mr Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi, currently CEO of Thai-listed real estate company Univentures Public Company, has been a non-executive and non-independent director of FCL since March 2013. He is also a member of FCL's board executive committee, risk management committee and remuneration committee
6th June 2016The Edge Markets
Engineering and construction firm Yongnam has secured two contracts worth $29.6 million for projects in Singapore and Hong Kong. The first is awarded by Vanguard Properties for sites on 1 & 3 Kallang Junction
6th June 2016The Business Times
THE downtrend in the supply of state land in the confirmed list for private housing (excluding executive condos) development may be reversed in the second-half of this year. Some property consultants predict a moderate rise in supply, citing developers' strong appetite for land replenishment and a recent pick-up in private home sales. The timing of any potential tweaking of cooling measures would also come into play in crafting the state's land sales strategy. "The cards are in the hands of the government. They will have an idea of when they will ease the measures; so they would adjust the GLS (Government Land Sales) supply quantum in tandem," says an industry observer
6th June 2016Channel News Asia
As more Japanese small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) seek to expand in Southeast Asia, banks in Singapore are eyeing lending opportunities. United Overseas Bank (UOB), for example, has reported a sizeable jump in deposit flows from Japanese clients. The bank has recently received approval from Japan’s Foreign Bank Agency Business to offer regional financial products and services in the country, and extend regional Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) advisory services to companies venturing out
6th June 2016Channel News Asia
Singapore's reputation as a shoppers' paradise, which saw investors pour S$10 billion into retail developments here in the past five years, is taking a pummelling because of weakness in the local economy and a drop in spending by tourists
6th June 2016Channel News Asia
It might be easier for financial institutions and other companies here to experiment with financial technology (FinTech) offerings in the future, with regulator Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issuing guidelines for a regulatory sandbox for such services on Monday (May 6). The central bank said in its press release that while the fast-evolving FinTech landscape encourages financial institutions to test and introduce such innovations, there are circumstances where it is less clear whether the FinTech offering complies with regulatory requirements or poses unacceptable risks
5th June 2016The Straits Times
Higher returns are a big draw for small-time investors, but there's little recourse if things go wrong
3rd June 2016Channel News Asia
Noble Group is raising US$500 million in a rights issue and its chairman plans to step down within 12 months - the latest in unexpected measures this week as Asia's largest commodity trader struggles with the fallout from an accounting dispute and weak markets. The resignation plans by Chairman Richard Elman, who is also Noble's founder and largest shareholder with a fifth of the company, come just days after its chief executive quit and the firm said it would sell a North American energy business, its crown jewel
3rd June 2016Channel News Asia
A tripartite delegation from Singapore will attend the 105th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, the Ministry of Manpower said on Friday (Jun 3). Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say will lead the delegation, which includes Singapore National Employers Federation President Dr Robert Yap, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) President Mary Liew, NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Heng Chee How, union representatives, employer representatives and officials from Manpower Ministry
1st June 2016The Straits Times
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore is checking on the Singapore taxpayers identified in the leaked "Panama Papers" for any non-compliance with Singapore tax laws, regulators told The Straits Times on Wednesday. This comes as the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Finance detailed the actions of several agencies in the crackdown on the use of offshore firms for money laundering and tax evasion
30th May 2016The Business Times
THE Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced the re-appointment of four members to the MAS board of directors, with effect from June 1. Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade), has been re-appointed as member and deputy chairman of the MAS board for a further term of three years. Meanwhile Lim Chee Onn, senior international adviser to the Ascendas-Singbridge Group, head of Civil Service and Permanent Secretary (Prime Minister's Office) (Strategy) Peter Ong Boon Kwee, and Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, president of National University of Singapore, have been re-appointed as members of the MAS Board for a further term of two years
9th May 2016The Straits Times
2Collabrations between banks and fintechs could also play a big part in addressing the traditional gap in small company funding here
6th May 2016The Straits Times
2NOL’s group president and CEO, Ng Yat Chung says worsening overcapacity of shipping tonnage has hit the industry, while freight rates are expected to remain weak. NOL Group has posted a first-quarter net loss after tax of US$105 million (S$142.7 million). Its first-quarter Core Earnings before Interest, Taxes and Non-Recurring Items was a loss of US$84 million, while Core Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation remained positive at US$18 million, it said in a press release on Friday (May 6)
May 2016Accenture
Venture capitalists, private equity firms, corporates and a number of other players have poured an unprecedented amount of money into global financial technology (fintech) start-ups. More than $50 billion has been invested in almost 2,500 companies since 2010 as these innovators redefine the way in which we store, save, borrow, invest, move, spend and protect money
29th April 2016CFO Innovation
Eyebrows were raised in March when Epicentre Holdings Limited, a reseller of Apple products, raised S$1.5 million on Singapore-based peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform MoolahSense
20th April 2016The Straits Times
DBS Bank is teaming up with two peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms to expand funding sources available to small businesses
14th April 2016The Straits Times
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) must manage the tension between the need to allow innovation in finance and the need to preserve trust in its financial system as it pushes to develop the financial technology sector, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam
1st April 2016Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) announced today that a FinTech Office will be set up on 3 May 2016 to serve as a one-stop virtual entity for all FinTech matters and to promote Singapore as a FinTech hub
9th March 2016The Business Times
SINGAPORE'S nascent peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector may see its first loan default soon amid weak economic conditions, with at least one such online platform reporting a recent rise in "payment issues" during the Chinese New Year period
9th Feb 2016Financial Times
Europe casts envious eyes at depth of UScapital markets and broad range of investmentstructures available
30th Jan 2016The Business Times
Britain's peer-to-peer lenders lent more than 1.3 billion pounds (US$2 billion) during 2014, taking total lending by the industry to more than 2.1 billion, double what it was at the end of 2013
18th Jan 2016TIME Magazine
A new poll reveals the size of the peer-to-peer revolution
15th Jan 2016FINTECH Singapore
Singapore, which started as an independent, separate country in 1965, quickly grew from being a tiny underdeveloped country to becoming one of the 20th century’s most successful development story
21st Dec 2016FINTECH Singapore
Fintech, an abbreviation for financial technology, is most certainly one of the hottest new trends in the digital age
3rd Dec 2015Trade Financing Matters
You can't automate B2B lending 100% just on API, human element will always remain...20 year veteran in lending
10th Dec 2015Trade Financing Matters
In some ways it feels like 1999 all over again in the fintech B2B lending world
6th Nov 2015Forbes
When peer-to-peer lending started, it truly was peer-to-peer
27th Oct 2015Trade Financing Matters
In Goldman Sachs report, Future of Finance, the focus was on where new entrants and shadow banks were most likely to gain entrance
22nd Jun 2015European CEO
Supply chain management is developing rapidly. New and alternative payment methods are helping both buyers and sellers
17th June 2015Morgan Stanley
With their low operating costs, minimal regulatory constraints and data-driven models, marketplace lenders are giving borrowers easier access to credit, and answering the needs of yield-starved investors. Morgan Stanley Research looks at how this trend is playing out globally
25th Feb 2015Trade Financing Matters
This post on Electronic Invoice Marketplaces kicks off Trade Financing Matters six part series
30th Jan 2015City A.M.
Loan-based alternative finance might be victim to sloppy definitions, but it is too significant to ignore
30th Jan 2015Kyriba
It’s widely known that payments from large buyers can often be slow, and this can cause a significant pressure on SMBs’ working capital
7th Nov 2014Nesta
This large scale study examines the growth, trends and dynamics within the UK alternative finance sector, including crowdfunding and P2P lending
7th Feb 2014The Telegraph
Invoice financing is on the rise as an atlernative form of lending to small businesses