Monday, 21 Jul 2025

Asia

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S&P 500 closes at record high, even as EPS growth stagnates

(Reuters) – Wall Street set a record high on Tuesday, confirming that a decade-old bull market is still kicking following a slump late last year, even as corporate earnings stagnate and the U.S.-China trade dispute drags on. The widely followed S&P 500 marked its highest ever close, beating its previous record closing high on Sept. […]

U.S. business borrowing for equipment falls 10% in March: ELFA

(Reuters) – U.S. companies’ borrowing to spend on capital investments fell 10 percent in March from a year earlier, the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) said on Tuesday. Companies signed up for $8.2 billion in new loans, leases and lines of credit last month, down from $9.1 billion a year earlier. Borrowings jumped 39 […]

ING shareholders vote down motion on management liability

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Shareholders of Dutch bank ING on Tuesday voted against a motion granting executives discharge from legal liability for 2018, the company said, in a rare rebuke for the $900 million fine the company incurred in September for failing to prevent money laundering. The largely symbolic vote means the company could, theoretically, seek […]

Sri Lanka president vows security shake-up over attacks

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president on Tuesday (April 23) vowed a major shake-up of the military’s top brass in the wake of the deadly Easter suicide bombings, after the government admitted warnings were ignored. President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also defence and law and order minister, said he will carry out a complete reorganisation […]

Brazilian markets boosted as pension reform vote to go ahead

BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s government reached a deal with lawmakers on Tuesday paving the way for a congressional committee to vote on its key pension reform bill later in the day, boosting investor sentiment and lifting local financial markets. The benchmark Bovespa stock market index rose 1.8 per cent to above 96,000 points, its best […]

Philippines Struck by Another Powerful Earthquake

MANILA — The Philippines was hit by a powerful earthquake on Tuesday afternoon, a day after a deadly tremor hit the north of the country. The earthquake on Tuesday registered a magnitude of 6.4 and was centered in Samar, an island in the central eastern part of the country, the United States Geological Survey said. […]

Photos From Sri Lanka: Grappling With Tragedy

Attacks by suicide bombers in Sri Lanka on Sunday killed at least 321 people. The victims came from at least eight countries and included worshipers at Easter Sunday services at three churches that were among the targets of the coordinated bombings. Mass funerals began on Tuesday, a national day of mourning. Coffins arrived one by […]

Heng Swee Keat: 'I am honoured by PM's trust and will do my very best'

SINGAPORE – Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, who will assume the mantle of Deputy Prime Minister from next month, has said he is honoured by the trust placed in him by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. “I am honoured by PM’s trust and will do my very best, together with my colleagues, to fulfil our […]

ST Podcast: Why sleep habits need to be formed when young

Health Check Ep 9: Why sleep habits need to be formed when young 9:35 mins Synopsis: In this fortnightly podcast series on Tuesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living, debunks the myths, and examines the impact of national policies with expert guests. ST correspondent Joyce Teo and podcasting head Ernest Luis host Prof […]