Archive for the ‘Singapore’ category

Why Singapore is a Good Investment Option

February 21st, 2017

According to head of Fixed Income (Singapore) at Manulife Asset Management, Murray Collins, Asia is a good investment option right now, in particular Singapore.  As such, the company has established the Manulife SGD Income Fund which seeks to “deliver higher stability and lower risk, with an emphasis on income” for its clients, with at least 50 percent of holdings in Singapore dollar-denominated bonds. The way the firm limits its clients’ currency risks is by transferring all the non-Singapore dollar exposures into Singapore dollars.

Boasting over two decades of experience in the industry, Collins has the knowledge to realistically anticipate that there are existing options for income-focused investors to gain exposure in the higher-quality issuers in the Singapore market with investment-grade bonds predicated by Singapore’s solid credit rating, still look good.

Indian firms are finding the region attractive too with it being the top destination for total direct overseas investment in 2016.  Overall that investment figure escalated by 32 percent and in December alone, companies from India invested a staggering $2.06 billion into Singapore (more than 82.5 percent of the total commitment).

Furthermore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced earlier this month that an additional 3 application channels have been opened for the Singapore Savings Bond (SSB) program. Attractive to small savers, these are: OCBC’s Internet banking portal, OCBC’s mobile app and UOB’s Internet banking portal.

iSirona Expands Into Asia

September 3rd, 2013

Medical software company iSirona recently partnered with a Singapore-based technology company as part of its plan to extend its reach to the Asian continent. The Singaporean company, myHealth Sentinel, will help iSirona with sales, as well as implement its medical products throughout Asia.

CEO Dave Dyell explained:

“We’re looking forward to working with a respected Singaporean company to effectively support our groundbreaking software solutions in the Asia-Pacific region. Our goal is to work with Singapore’s Regional Healthcare Service providers to showcase iSirona’s industry leading solution.”

Referring to iSirona as “the number one device integration vendor in the industry,” myHealth stated it was “honored and excited” by the new partnership. William Chew, CEO and co-founder of the Singaporean company, said:

“As leaders in our respective fields, the combination of our telehealth expertise and iSirona’s advanced device connectivity solution provides a modular and cost-effective approach for integrating patient device data from across an extended enterprise to the EMR.”

Many hospitals in the United States utilize iSirona’s systems, including Duke University Health System, ProHealth Care, Ohio State University Medical Center, Children’s of Alabama and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Intel Capital Invests $16M in 3 Asian Companies

June 11th, 2013

Intel Capital, the global investment arm of Intel Corp., recently invested almost $16 million in three Asian online retail companies. Two of the companies are based in India: Snapdeal.com and Healthkart.com operator Bright Lifecare Pvt. Ltd. The last investment was in Reebonz.com, a Singapore-based portfolio company.

The investments were announced last Friday at the World Economic Forum in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

“We see start-up companies across Asia-Pacific taking advantage of new business opportunities created by the spread of personal computing and broadband Internet access. These technologies allow entrepreneurs to reach new markets and customers, and offer innovative new services that will help enrich the lives of people across Asia,” Intel Asia-Pacific vice president and general manager Gregory Bryant said.

Intel is one of the largest technology investors in the world today, and has been investing in Asia since 1998. The company invested $352 million across the globe last year, and has invested more than $2 billion in the Asia-Pacific region alone.

Managing Partners Limited Appoints New Asia Business Development Director

April 7th, 2013

Managing Partners Limited has recently appointed a new business development director for Asia.

Benjamin Lim has over a decade of experience in the asset management industry, and previously served as chief marketing officer at Allianz Global Investors in Asia. He also served as head of business development Asia for Aviva Investors Singapore and Aberdeen Asset Management.

Now, Benjamin will work with MPL’s sales operation in Asia from Singapore. He will report to the company’s managing director Jeremy Leach.

“Benjamin has the experience and network of contacts to add a great deal of strength to our business development team in Asia, where investors have a strong appetite for the steady, incremental returns that TLPs offer,” Leach said.

Indians are Asia’s Big Spenders Says Survey

August 1st, 2012

Indian business travelers have the second largest budget for spending per trip, with only Singaporean businessmen topping them, spending $339 versus $468, according to a recent survey.

The survey showed that the most important elements of a business trip to travelers from the Asia-Pacific region were the location, a free Wifi connection and competitive prices of hotel rooms.  Asian businessmen based their choice of hotels on the closeness of the hotel to the business venue, with 53% saying it was an important feature of their choice. The presence of Wifi influenced their decision of where to stay 49% of the time, while competitive rates were slightly less important, with 46% saying that fact influenced their decision.

Thailand is the up and coming star as a top business destination according to the survey, which was conducted by Accor Asia-Pacific Business Traveler. The most visited destination today is Hong Kong, with Singapore following closely in second place.

The survey was done during July 10-16 and asked 2,500 travelers from a total of nine countries in the Asian region, including Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. All the respondents made business trips during the first half of 2012.

The Rise of Asia

August 23rd, 2010

The stock market in Asia – Pacific region is unique in the world to keep green in most of the trading week , except week session key swing by the action from Europe and America .

As of the week , the index MSCI Asia – Pacific increased 0.4 % to 118.29 points , after declining 3.7 % in the previous week. Index is down 8.4 % from the peak years of the date 15/04/2010 . Shanghai ‘s Composite Index of China increased 1.4 % . Nikkei 225 down 0.8 % in Japan . South Korea ‘s Kospi rose 1.7 % .

Although Japanese economic decline in the second quarter , but the opportunities to create momentum for China ahead . According to data released Tuesday by the Japanese 16 / 8 , the total domestic product ( GDP ) of Japan is 1286 billion dollars , lower than the figure of 1335 billion U.S. dollars in China.

Along with the change of his two economies Japan, China , a number of countries and territories in Asia last week has emerged stronger . Central Bank of Malaysia , Zeti Akhtar Aziz said the country’s economy grew 8.9 % in quarter 2 / 2010 over the same period last year and expected to grow 6 % in 2010.

But according to the statistical offices of Taiwan (China ) , GDP quarterly 2 / 2010 of the area has grown 12.53 % over the same period last year . Quarter 1 / 2010 , the rate of economic growth in Taiwan reached 13.71 % . Taiwan ‘s exports could grow more than 30 % this year .

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Monday 20 / 8 expressed confidence that the export sector will help boost gross domestic product ( GDP ) this year of at least 7 % . Mr. Abhisit said Thai economic growth of 10% in first 6 months of 2010 primarily due to strong export growth .

Quarter 2 / 2010 , European economic growth 1 % quarter U.S. economic growth 1 / 2010 the first published data is 2.4 % and could be adjusted downward to 1.4 % last week , can assert Asian economic growth will be the first ship of the global economy in 2010 .

Britain’s Telegraph newspaper recently described a series of statistical data was very positive about the growth of the Southeast Asian country . Accordingly, in 2010, Singapore will achieve economic growth record of 15 % , 7 % followed by Malaysia , Indonesia, Philippines 6.6 % and 6 % .

The newspaper said that following the global economic downturn 2008-2009 , some Southeast Asian countries have recovered quickly . This area is becoming attractive investment in the context of Vietnam and Thailand is rising next to the economy is considered development in the region such as Singapore .

According to the newspaper , the national investment funds and individual investors now want to choose Asia and Southeast Asia to increase investment by the ability to achieve high profits . Last year, Fidelity Investment Fund has spent 25% of investment in Southeast Asia , while Aberdeen and First State Fund respectively for 35 % and 25 % investment in the region.

Meanwhile, today 19 / 8 , the Asian Development Bank ( ADB ) has published a report said the middle class (the consumers from U.S. $ 2-30 per day ) of the rapidly expanding Asia will be able to act as leading consumer and help re- balance the economy .

This report is in a special edition of the main indicators for Asia and the Asia – Pacific 2010 . Accordingly, studies show that Asian consumers consumption around 4300 billion dollars , equivalent to one third of the consumption of industrialized countries ( OECD ) .