Posts by Liam Redmond
Middle Eastern banks tap China growth by beefing up presence in Hong Kong
Gulf lenders have been expanding outside of their home turfs in the Middle East and beyond in recent years Published Fri, May 8, 2026 · 11:29 AM [HONG KONG] The UAE’s top lender and two other Middle Eastern banks are launching or expanding operations in Hong Kong, as they target better China connectivity and foreign…
Read MoreAnt-infested Canadian hospital pauses surgeries after insect invasion
This hospital could make anybody antsy. A Canadian hospital was forced to suspend surgeries for many of its patients after an army of ants overtook the medical facility. Carman Memorial Hospital in southern Manitoba has temporarily paused certain procedures after the infestation impeded staff’s ability to keep operating rooms sterile — and ant-free, the CBC…
Read MoreSumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank targeting US$500 million for new aircraft lease fund
The fund will purchase Boeing and Airbus aircraft and lease them to airlines globally Published Fri, May 8, 2026 · 11:12 AM [TOKYO] Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group (SMTG) is planning to launch a new aircraft lease fund, aiming to raise US$500 million from investors in Japan, Asia and the Middle East, an executive said.…
Read MoreCitigroup targets hedge funds, private equity in FX growth push
Options have become a growing focus within FX as trading activity accelerates, making it a priority for the Wall Street bank Published Fri, May 8, 2026 · 11:03 AM [SINGAPORE] Citigroup is expanding its foreign-exchange (FX) business with hedge fund and private-equity clients, part of a broader push as global trading volumes rise. The bank…
Read MoreTrump administration invites Nvidia, Boeing CEOs for China trip: report
Executives from Qualcomm, Blackstone, Citigroup, and Visa are also on the invitation list, according to the report Published Fri, May 8, 2026 · 10:41 AM [WASHINGTON] The Trump administration is inviting CEOs from Nvidia, Apple, Exxon, Boeing and other big companies to accompany the president on his trip to China next week, Semafor reported on…
Read MoreConverse CEO promises staff new brand strategy will work amid layoffs, dismal quarterly sales
As the company’s challenges deepen, questions have swirled about whether Nike will keep it in the fold Published Fri, May 8, 2026 · 10:16 AM [NEW YORK] After layoffs and its worst quarterly sales in more than a decade, Converse’s top executive attempted to reassure his staff that the brand’s strategy will succeed. “I promise…
Read MoreJerry Seinfeld takes jab at ‘Friends,’ claims it copied his sitcom ‘Seinfeld’
Jerry Seinfeld thew a little shade at “Friends” during at the 2026 Netflix Is a Joke Festival, claiming the show was inspired by his own iconic sitcom, “Seinfeld.” The comedian made the comment during his set at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles Tuesday during a bit in which he asked the audience to guess…
Read MoreSK Hynix flooded with unprecedented offers from big tech firms to secure chip supplies
Published Fri, May 8, 2026 · 10:03 AM [SEOUL/SINGAPORE] SK Hynix is being aggressively courted by big global tech firms with offers to invest in its new production lines and fund purchases of pricey manufacturing tools as they rush to secure memory chips, people familiar with the matter said. The offers, unprecedented in the global…
Read MoreCalifornia tech company Cloudflare to lay off more than 1,000 workers, cites AI
Cloudflare is laying off 20% of its staff, the latest technology company to announce big cuts as it uses more artificial intelligence-powered tools. The San Francisco web performance and cybersecurity company said it was getting rid of 1,100 people. “The way we work at Cloudflare has fundamentally changed,” Chief Executive Matthew Prince and Chief Operating…
Read MoreOCBC shares pare gains to close 0.2% up after Q1 profit beats estimates
[SINGAPORE] Shares of OCBC Bank rose as much as 3.1 per cent on Friday (May 8) after the bank reported better-than-expected first quarter profits – but pared almost all the gains by the close of trading. The counter climbed as high as S$22.56 within seconds of market open, adding S$0.68, with more than 1.7 million…
Read MoreOCBC shares up as much as 3.1% after Q1 profit beats estimates
The lender’s earnings for the first quarter are up 5%, driven by growth in wealth management [SINGAPORE] Shares of OCBC Bank rose as much as 3.1 per cent on Friday (May 8) after the bank reported better-than-expected first quarter profits. The counter climbed as high as S$22.56 within seconds of market open, adding S$0.68, with…
Read MoreUAB softball coach accused of mental, physical abuse, making racist remarks in bombshell allegations
Startling allegations have been made against University of Alabama Birmingham softball coach Taylor Smartt in a damming report that outlined alleged incidents of racist remarks and mental and physical abuse toward players. Smartt had “taken a step back” from the softball program last month, and a report from Sports Illustrated now shines a light on…
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