Blame Washington

Article Abstract:

The US influence that helped Singapore's economy boom in 1993 and 1994 forebodes a slowdown in 1995 and 1996. Rising US interest rates will reduce demand for imports from Singapore, and have already pushed Singapore's interest rates up from 2.86% to 4.38%. Most economists expect Singapore's GDP growth to slow from a double-digit pace in 1994 to 8.5% in 1995, perhaps heading off impending wage inflation. Singapore's currency may strengthen through 1995, possibly hurting export competitiveness but shielding against outside inflation.

Gross domestic product, Prime rate

---

Lost Barings

Article Abstract:

Merchant bank Barings' huge exposures in Nikkei 225 futures were common knowledge on the Singapore and Osaka exchanges, but no one checked on their validity or purpose. Nick Leeson's actions were as highly public as those of Michael Fay, and horrendously more damaging, but no one at either Barings' London headquarters or the exchanges cared enough to find out that the bank was acting anomalously. The two exchanges do not communicate much, due in part to mutual upset over Singapore's offerings of the Nikkei 225 futures.

Management, Stock-exchange, Stock exchanges, Futures market, Futures markets, Barings PLC

---

Small matters

Article Abstract:

Crosby Securities' Asian Smaller Companies Index finds that companies with a market capitalization of $100 million to $600 million outperform their larger brethren in Singapore, but lag them in Hong Kong. That may be due to the Singapore govt's aggressive promoting of technology and a concomitant move up the value-added ladder, while Hong Kong companies pursue low-value- added Chinese production. Also, close family control of smaller Hong Kong companies makes prices volatile and managers hard to influence.

Hong Kong

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Blasts from the past. CMA Awards 2004
• Abstracts: Game on. Too close to the sun
• Abstracts: InBev blames malt, other costs for missing earnings forecasts. InBev net jumps as demand rises
• Abstracts: Following the boom. The trend watchers. Creative ear
• Abstracts: Alone in a man's world. A venerable veranda. Political handicap: few women choose to enter public life

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.