Posts by Nathan Pine
South Korea central bank sees upside inflation risk with a weaker won
[SEOUL] South Korea’s central bank said on Wednesday (Dec 17) that headline inflation in 2026 could exceed earlier forecasts, if the won stays at its current level against the dollar. “If the KRW-USD exchange rate continues to stay at the current high level of around 1,470 won (S$1.28) throughout next year, the consumer-price growth rate…
Read MoreThai central bank cuts policy rate by 25 bps, as expected
The reduction is the fifth since October 2024, with rates down by a total of 125 basis points [BANGKOK] Thailand’s central bank cut its key interest rate on Wednesday (Dec 17), as widely expected, as it looks to support a slowing economy grappling with multiple challenges including political uncertainty, a strengthening baht and US tariffs.…
Read MoreGold could hit US$5,000 an ounce in 2026 if risk hedging persists: market watchers
Returns are expected to moderate for the precious metal in the new year, say analysts [SINGAPORE] Gold has surged more than 60 per cent since the beginning of 2025 – its strongest annual performance since 1979 – and is now firmly consolidating above US$4,000 an ounce. While the precious metal may not perform quite as…
Read MoreSingapore to pilot ‘overhang’ solar power structure, as it nears deployment target
The Republic is more than halfway to its 2 GWp target, equivalent to the annual electricity needs of about 350,000 households [SINGAPORE] Industrial landlord JTC Corp on Wednesday (Dec 17) launched a tender to develop Singapore’s first “overhang” solar photovoltaic (PV) system – comprising large structures built across the spaces between multi-storey industrial buildings. The…
Read MoreChip-sector linchpin Resonac seeks to tap China’s AI ambitions
Japan is home to a network of little-known companies that dominate in key materials that are indispensable for semiconductor manufacturing [HONG KONG] Semiconductor materials linchpin Resonac Holdings is eyeing solid growth from Beijing’s ambition to build its own chip industry, leaving the door open for further investment in China in the years ahead. Tokyo-based Resonac,…
Read MoreLSU, Lane Kiffin could land program-altering transfer QB
The LSU Tigers are entering a new era of football under the leadership of head coach Lane Kiffin. After making the decision to move on from Brian Kelly, LSU quickly zeroed in on Kiffin as its primary target in the coaching search. It took a lot of hard work, but the Tigers were able to…
Read MoreTada commits S$1 million to put brakes on high-commission ride-hailing models
The initiative aims to reverse falling driver earnings and rising ride-hail prices [SINGAPORE] Ride-hailing platform Tada is challenging rivals such as Grab and Gojek with a new S$1 million pilot initiative to help drivers reject high-commission platforms. The initiative, named Hotpot, seeks to pull drivers away from high-commission platforms that use algorithms which squeeze drivers’…
Read MoreTada commits S$1 million to put brakes on high-commission models
The initiative aims to reverse falling driver earnings and rising ride-hail prices [SINGAPORE] Ride-hailing platform Tada has set its sights on its rivals like Grab and GoJek with a new S$1 million pilot initiative to help drivers reject high-commission platforms. The initiative, named Hotpot, seeks to pull drivers away from high-commission platforms with algorithms that…
Read MoreGil Gerard Dies: Star Of ‘Buck Rogers In The 25th Century’ Was 82
Gil Gerard, the handsome hero of early-Eighties TV hit Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, died early this morning after a battle with cancer. He was 82. The news was announced by his wife, Janet Gerard on social media. Early this morning Gil – my soulmate – lost his fight with a rare and viciously…
Read MoreNick Reiner Had Strange Interaction With Bill Hader at Party Before Parents’ Murders
“He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife,” the district attorney said during a Dec. 16 press conference. “These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty.” As for what the coming days will…
Read MoreBessent sees one or two more Fed chair interviews this week
Trump is slated to interview the central bank governor Chris Waller on Dec 17 for the chair job [WASHINGTON] Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there are one or two more interviews this week for the next chair of the US Federal Reserve, with a likely announcement by US President Donald Trump sometime in early January.…
Read More‘M3GAN’ Universe Movie ‘Soulm8te’ Dropped From Release Calendar; Being Shopped
EXCLUSIVE: Universal, we understand, is pulling the Blumhouse and Atomic Monster sci-fi thriller Soulm8te from its Jan. 9 release calendar next year. We hear that the studio is shopping the Kate Dolan-directed movie, which was originally billed as being connected to the M3GAN universe. While that first 2022 PG-13 killer doll movie was a sensation…
Read More