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Articles by Benjamin Lim
AI doesn’t destroy art but raises the bar for even better content creation, says Adobe APAC chief
SINGAPORE – Extra fingers. Illegible text. Facial features that look eerily symmetrical. These are the telltale signs of AI-generated visuals that you may spot in an advertisement poster or social media post today. These common mistakes are fuelling negative sentiment about AI among the creative community, with many perceiving the drastically increased accessibility to graphic design and content creation more as a bane than a boon.
Anthropic’s IPO filing lifts markets but raises AI safety fears. What should S’pore investors know? Original
SINGAPORE – Anthropic’s filing of its initial public offering (IPO) on Oct 26 gave the stock market a much-needed boost, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closing higher after declines over the last few weeks led by waves of tech stock sell-offs on Wall Street. The timing could not have been better, as more than a third of S&P 500 companies are expected to report earnings this week.
Singapore factory output growth slows to 3.4% in September as pharmaceutical production fell
SINGAPORE - Singapore’s manufacturing output grew at a slower pace in September, weighed down by a sharp contraction in pharmaceutical production, even as demand for artificial intelligence-related products continued to support the electronics and precision engineering sectors. Factory output rose 3.4% year on year in September, easing from the 15.4% expansion recorded in August, according to data released by the Economic Development Board (EDB) on Oct 26.
SGX CEO Loh Boon Chye to step down in 2027
SINGAPORE – Singapore Exchange (SGX) has begun its search for a new chief executive, as current CEO Loh Boon Chye will step down from his role in 2027. Loh, who took the helm of SGX Group in 2015, announced his decision at the company’s annual general meeting on Oct 23 held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre.
Singapore-based semiconductor firm Mi Material to expand into US, Malaysia in $215m IPO Original
SINGAPORE – The future of chip manufacturing lies in producing customised chips with specialised materials that improve reliability and heat management, and Mi Material sees enormous potential as a major supplier in this sector ahead of its listing on the Singapore Exchange.
Fire-protection specialist Deluge launches SGX IPO to raise over $23 million for acquisitions
SINGAPORE - Homegrown fire protection company Deluge is looking to raise gross proceeds of $23.4 million for new infrastructure and acquisitions through an initial public offering (IPO) on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange. The company on Oct 6 lodged documents for the IPO comprising 15.6 million shares at 60 cents per share, with 14.8 million placement shares and 800,000 public offer shares. A separate cornerstone tranche will account for the remainder of the funds raised.
When Singapore encourages failure, the talents will come: Malaysia semiconductor CEO
Mi Technovation will use Singapore as its base for research and development in silicon carbide, as well as autonomous vehicle technologies, said group CEO Oh Kuang Eng. PHOTO: MI TECHNOVATION Singapore can attract top tech talent by fostering a culture that accepts failure and encourages risk-taking, crucial for innovation and semiconductor industry growth.
Not SGX’s fault if stocks have no liquidity, says chairman: Markets this week
SINGAPORE – Listed companies should proactively disclose their three- to five-year strategies so that investors can better understand their businesses and growth prospects, with board chairs leading the effort, Singapore Exchange chairman Koh Boon Hwee said on Oct 1. He was speaking at an event organised by the Singapore Institute of Directors. Koh said Singapore has strongly signalled its desire to reform its stock market, and more capital is already starting to flow in.
S’pore ride-hailing platform Ryde faces legal trouble in the US and Cayman Islands
SINGAPORE - Homegrown ride-hailing firm Ryde has come under mounting legal pressure after the company was named in two legal cases filed in the US and the Cayman Islands recently. It is facing a class action lawsuit for allegedly making false or misleading statements about its business, which led to a collapse of its stock price in Sept 2024 - a few months after it launched its initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange.
A race behind the F1 race: How logistics and banking come together to power the Grands Prix
SINGAPORE – Right after this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, a fleet of about 200 to 300 trucks will cross the Causeway to Singapore in a race against time. The F1 race, originally scheduled for April 10-12, was abruptly cancelled along with Saudi Arabia’s after the US and Israel attacked Iran on Feb 28.
Income Insurance appoints former Manulife Singapore top man as new CEO
[SINGAPORE] Income Insurance has appointed insurance veteran Khoo Kah Siang as its new chief executive. He will succeed Andrew Yeo, who resigned from his position on Aug 28, after more than seven years in the role. Subject to regulatory approval by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Khoo will assume his new position on Jan 23, 2027. In the meantime, at the request of the board, Yeo will continue to lead the business until Dec 31.
英康保险任命前宏利新加坡总裁为新任总裁
[新加坡] 新加坡英康保险 (Income Insurance) 已任命保险业资深人士Khoo Kah Siang为新任总裁。 他将接替于8月28日辞职的Andrew Yeo。Andrew Yeo担任该职位已超过七年。 在获得新加坡金融管理局 (金管局) 的监管批准后，Khoo将于2027年1月23日履新。在此期间，应董事会要求，Yeo将继续领导公司业务至12月31日。 Khoo曾于2018年至2025年担任宏利新加坡 (Manulife Singapore) 的总裁。 之后，他执掌宏利亚州的新兴市场部门，负责管理包括柬埔寨、印度尼西亚、马来西亚、缅甸和菲律宾在内的业务组合，并推动这些市场的可持续增长，以实现业务多元化。 他在金融服务领域拥有超过30年的经验，曾在大东方 (Great Eastern) 和新加坡金融管理局 (金管局) 等其他机构担任精算、监管、财务和盈亏管理等领导职务。他拥有精算学学位和统计学博士学位。 Get insights into businesses across South-east Asia Get the free report...
Income Insurance appoints former Manulife Singapore top man as new CEO
Insurance veteran Khoo Kah Siang will assume his new position on Jan 23, 2027. PHOTO: INCOME INSURANCE SINGAPORE – Income Insurance has appointed insurance veteran Khoo Kah Siang as its new chief executive. He will succeed Andrew Yeo, who resigned from his position on Aug 28 after more than seven years in the role. Subject to regulatory approval by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Khoo will assume his new position on Jan 23, 2027.
SGX raises the bar on shareholder engagement and transparency, including what goes into CEO pay
SINGAPORE – Shareholders in Singapore can expect better communication and transparency from the companies they invest in as the government implements new rules. For one, every listed firm must have a dedicated investor relations website or section on its company website with relevant information for shareholders and contact details, the Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) said on Sept 23.
AI safety warnings rattle tech stocks: Should Singapore investors worry?
SINGAPORE - Tech stocks in the US and Singapore have come under pressure after warnings from prominent artificial intelligence officials last week revived fears that the rapid development of increasingly powerful models could pose an existential threat to humanity. The shift in sentiment followed warnings from researchers on Sept 10 that AI could threaten humanity within the decade, prompting rare calls for restraint from industry leaders.
Singapore’s key exports jump 46.2% in August, exceeding forecasts
Both electronic and non-electronic shipments expanded in August. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE – Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports (NODX) rose 46.2 per cent in August, extending July’s 24.1 per cent expansion, as electronics shipments continued to surge due to AI-related demand. This far exceeded economists’ forecast of 35.1 per cent in a Bloomberg poll.
Why Keppel DC REIT runs its data centres like shopping malls: CEO
SINGAPORE – For most people, the term data centre brings to mind endless rows of cabinets filled with black boxes and blinking lights, housed inside a vault-like windowless building with few human beings. It sounds like a mundane and soulless real estate business. But there is so much more to a data centre operator than just keeping the servers on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Latest Optus outage less severe than before, but could affect Singtel’s minority stake sale: Analysts
[SINGAPORE] The market’s reaction to the recent Optus telecommunications outage underscores growing pressure on its parent company Singtel and the Australian authorities to improve the telco’s infrastructure and network reliability. Singtel shares opened at S$4.43 on Sept 14, down about 1.3 per cent from S$4.49 on Sept 11. They recovered to close at S$4.45, but slipped further on Sept 15 before paring losses.
分析师：Optus近期断网事故虽不及上次严重，但或影响新电信出售少数股权
【新加坡】市场对近期Optus电信服务中断事件的反应，凸显其母公司新电信 (Singtel) 及澳大利亚当局面临日益增长的压力，要求其改善该电信公司的基础设施和网络可靠性。 新电信股价于9月14日以4.43新元开盘，较9月11日的4.49新元下跌约1.3%。股价随后回升至4.45新元收盘，但在9月15日进一步下滑后收复部分失地。 9月11日一次长达76分钟的技术故障影响了Optus在维多利亚州、南澳大利亚州、塔斯马尼亚州和北领地的部分语音通话服务，一些客户遇到了“间歇性掉线”问题。 此次服务中断是该国一系列网络故障中的最新一起，其中一些故障也曾影响到紧急服务通话。 尽管根据当地警方消息，此次中断没有造成不良后果，其严重程度也相对低于2025年9月长达13小时的断网事故，但它仍然影响了部分紧急服务通话。 此次断网事件发生之际，新电信正在探讨出售其全资子公司Optus少数股权的可能性。 Get insights into businesses across South-east Asia Get the free report...
Latest Optus outage less severe than before, but could affect Singtel’s minority stake sale: Analysts
SINGAPORE – The market’s reaction to the recent Optus telecommunications outage underscores growing pressure on its parent company Singtel and the Australian authorities to improve the telco’s infrastructure and network reliability. Singtel shares opened at $4.43 on Sept 14, down about 1.3 per cent from $4.49 on Sept 11. They recovered to close at $4.45, but slipped further on Sept 15 before paring losses.
Singapore’s great mall makeover: Will investors reap the rewards?
SINGAPORE - Singapore’s shopping malls are being reinvented. Orchard Road, once the Republic’s premier shopping strip, is now making room for more offices, while suburban malls are undergoing extensive facelifts and tenant revamps. The mix of shops and experiences is also changing, with once-empty plazas now hosting temporary pickleball courts and malls installing permanent climbing walls.
Air India investment does not impede SIA’s operational capabilities: Jeffrey Siow Original
SINGAPORE – Singapore Airlines' (SIA) investment in Air India has no adverse impact on its ability to operate and serve Singaporeans, and it must continue to stay the course in challenging markets to remain competitive globally, Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said on Sept 8. While SIA has a 25.1 per cent stake in Air India, the latter's finances are not SIA's and thus its losses do not automatically become the Singapore carrier's liabilities.
AI strategies must protect workers, not just profits, says tech boss
SINGAPORE - While boardroom conversations about artificial intelligence (AI) have focused largely on its potential to lift productivity and profits, companies must also confront a more consequential question: What happens to the workers whose jobs AI displaces, and who is responsible for helping them adapt?
Culture media alter retinal organoid physiology promoting AAV transduction and retinal ganglion cell survival
Abstract Human iPSC-derived retinal organoids offer a human-relevant platform for inherited retinal disease (IRD) gene therapy, yet robust AAV transduction in vitro remains challenging. Here we show that culture in BrainPhys™ (BP) medium markedly enhances AAV-mediated gene delivery. Brief BP exposure during the transduction window improves uptake, whereas continuous BP culture yields the strongest effects, indicating contributions from acute entry processes and longer-term cellular remodelling.
UltraGreen.ai share-price plunge poses early test for SGX’s push for a wider variety of IPOs
SINGAPORE - Singapore-listed medical technology company UltraGreen.ai’s shares have more than halved since its listing nine months ago, testing SGX’s push to attract a greater variety of IPOs and underscoring the need for investors to understand the specialised risks before buying into unfamiliar businesses. The counter last traded at 68.5 US cents on Aug 31, less than half its value when it commenced trading on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) mainboard at US$1.45 on Dec 3, 2025.
Nvidia’s valuation sparks tech rally but S’pore companies lose out: Markets this week
Nvidia’s results are widely regarded as a bellwether for the AI industry. PHOTO: REUTERS SINGAPORE - If there were any mounting fears of an AI bubble, they were put to rest by Nvidia this week as robust AI demand saw the chipmaker’s market value balloon by another US$442 billion. The chipmaker’s shares surged 8.7 per cent on Aug 27, producing the second-largest single-day increase in market value by any company on record.
Thomson Medical diversifies beyond obstetrics amid falling birth rates, narrows FY2026 losses
SINGAPORE – Thomson Medical Group (TMG) will increase its focus on building out its specialties beyond obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) as birth rates here continue to fall, putting a dent in its Singapore business. Group chief executive Melvin Heng told The Straits Times that although the business was driven by higher revenue intensity and reduced discounts to corporate customers, profitability was hit by higher costs of drugs and consumables, and increased headcount.
S’pore does not support ‘cheating’ on tariffs, in talks with US on trade probes: DPM Gan
SINGAPORE – Singapore has raised its concerns over the recent US trade probes during a meeting with US officials this week, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. Fresh from his ministerial trip to the US, DPM Gan, who is also the Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade), said on Aug 27 that he had discussed the Section 301 investigations with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
NDR 2026: S'pore to strengthen S-E Asian unity as ASEAN chair in 2027, build resilience to face crisis Original
SINGAPORE - Singapore will strengthen South-east Asia’s centrality and unity when it takes on the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Aug 23. As the world becomes increasingly contested and more unstable than before, Singapore will focus on deepening regional integration and strengthening partnerships beyond the region to make ASEAN a more effective single market.
NDR 2026: S’pore to strengthen S-E Asian unity as ASEAN chair in 2027, build resilience to face crisis
Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Singapore will strengthen South-east Asia's centrality and unity when it takes on the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Aug 23. As the world becomes increasingly contested and more unstable than before, Singapore will focus on deepening regional integration and strengthening partnerships beyond the region to make ASEAN a more effective single market.
Good timing for S’pore reforms as competition for fund managers with Hong Kong heats up: Analysts
SINGAPORE – Singapore’s bid to become the region’s leading asset management hub could receive a much-needed boost from measures announced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Aug 19, as the Republic and Hong Kong compete to attract the industry’s top talent.
New foreign work pass track, tax exemption perks to strengthen asset management in Singapore
SINGAPORE - Singapore is seeking to strengthen its position as a leading asset management hub with three new measures that would make the industry more attractive to fund managers and encourage them to anchor their business activities, capital allocation and talent deployment here.
Self-driving vehicles are the future, but happy drivers are still central to transportation: Ryde founder
SINGAPORE – If you have booked a car on ride-hailing app Ryde, there is a slim chance that the company’s chief executive himself might have been in the driver’s seat. Terence Zou has clocked over 700 rides since he founded the company in 2014, and he has had his fair share of interesting experiences with passengers. He recalls being scolded by one because he could not find the correct drop-off point, as it was marked ambiguously on the map. There have also been pleasant surprises.
Singapore’s key exports rise 24.2% due to strong AI demand but miss forecasts
Electronic NODX grew 112 per cent, with disk media products seeing the largest increase at 339.1 per cent. PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE - Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports (NODX) rose 24.2 per cent in July, extending the 20.8 per cent rise in June, as electronics shipments continued to surge due to AI-related demand. It fell short of economists’ forecast of 26.5 per cent in a Bloomberg poll.
‘We don’t need to hold 100%’: CapitaLand Investment weighs partial sale of Ascott stake
SINGAPORE - CapitaLand Investment (CLI) is considering divesting a stake in its hospitality business, The Ascott Limited, to accelerate its growth. Chief executive Lee Chee Koon said at the real estate manager’s results briefing on Aug 13 that Ascott’s steady growth has attracted interest from investors and limited partners, and having another investor could help grow the business further. “We don’t need to hold 100 per cent of Ascott,” Lee said.
StarHub to move all MyRepublic Mobile customers onto its network
Announced by StarHub on Aug 6, the agreement builds on the two companies’ existing mobile virtual network operator 5G partnership established in 2022. ST PHOTO: JASEL POH StarHub will move all MyRepublic’s 4G and 5G customers onto its network, expanding its market share and expecting minimal service disruption. This move follows StarHub’s full acquisition of MyRepublic’s broadband business and builds on their existing 5G MVNO partnership.
New Next 50 active ETF tracking small and mid-cap stocks launches on SGX
SINGAPORE - Singapore investors can soon diversify their portfolios beyond the Straits Times Index (STI) with a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) that gives them exposure to small- and mid-cap (SMID) stocks listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX). Announced on Aug 6, the CGS Fullgoal Singapore Next 50 Active ETF by financial services firm CGS International Securities Singapore is the first ETF benchmarked to the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index.
Singapore’s IPOs are returning – but why are so many trading below their offer prices?
SINGAPORE - Singapore’s efforts to revive its stock market have yet to translate into gains for investors in this year’s biggest new listings. Seven companies had listed on the Singapore Exchange as at late July, an average of one a month, compared with 15 IPOs in the whole of 2025. Three out of the four companies that debuted on the Mainboard this year - co-working space operator JustCo, Foundation Healthcare Holdings and UI Boustead Reit - are trading below their offer prices.
Why has Singtel’s share price fallen? Executives explain at telco’s AGM
SINGAPORE - Singtel’s management explained why it believes the telco’s falling share price does not reflect its financial performance and growth prospects, after the issue was raised by a shareholder at its annual general meeting on July 29. The telco also gave shareholders more details about the growth prospects and long-term viability of its data centre and digital infrastructure arms, and addressed concerns about its Singapore business amid intense competition.
Caso Foxconn: il ransomware ora punta alle identità digitali
La mattina del 1° maggio 2026, nello stabilimento Foxconn di Mount Pleasant, nel Wisconsin, la produzione si è fermata e i dipendenti sono tornati a compilare registri cartacei. Non a causa di un blackout elettrico, ma per un’interruzione totale dei sistemi digitali. Pochi giorni dopo, il gruppo ransomware Nitrogen ha rivendicato il furto di circa otto terabyte di dati, inclusi documenti relativi a infrastrutture e progetti di alcuni tra i principali operatori tecnologici mondiali.
S’pore factory output rises in June, with AI demand continuing to drive electronics production
SINGAPORE – June’s manufacturing output increased by 7.2 per cent year on year, on the back of increased demand in the electronics, precision engineering and transport engineering clusters. This fell short of the 9.3 per cent forecast by analysts in a Bloomberg poll, as production declined across the other clusters of chemicals, biomedical and general manufacturing.
Singtel supports potential listing of its data centre business in India, it tells shareholders
SINGAPORE – Singtel said it is “supportive” of a potential listing of its data centre business in India to fund further expansion of its digital infrastructure business. The telco was responding to questions from shareholders and the Securities Investors Association (Singapore), or SIAS, ahead of its annual general meeting on July 29. In a filing with the Singapore Exchange on July 24, Singtel also answered questions on its capital management strategy and other matters.
Global founder network Endeavor launches Singapore hub to spark ‘multiplier effect’
SINGAPORE – AI start-up founder Lenard Tan needed additional resources and guidance when he was thinking of expanding his business to the US this year. His Singapore-based software company Ailytics, which was founded in 2021 and develops AI models to enhance existing security camera infrastructure, was already in more than 10 countries. Tan had mostly relied on a clutch of founders and contacts to establish his company’s presence overseas, with most of its markets in Asia.
Logistics must up its game as on-time delivery is now just ‘table stakes’: Fedex Asia-Pac chief
SINGAPORE – Getting packages delivered on time, without losing them, is no longer enough – it is just the bare minimum “table stakes” expected of any logistics industry player today, says FedEx’s Asia-Pacific president Salil Chari. The bigger opportunity, he tells The Straits Times, is making supply chains smarter and simpler with more advanced technology, and helping customers navigate the disruptions now facing supply chains.
Singapore investors can now buy Grab, Sea and SpaceX on SGX
SINGAPORE - Retail investors can now invest in US-listed Grab and Sea Limited through the local exchange, without the higher costs and complexity of investing directly on Wall Street. The Singapore Exchange (SGX) on July 21 launched Singapore Depository Receipts (SDRs) for three companies listed in the US.
AI demand drives Singapore GDP but Q2 growth eases; global chipmakers hit hard
SINGAPORE – AI-related demand continued to drive Singapore’s manufacturing output in the second quarter of 2026, primarily for electronics and precision engineering, but it was not enough to sustain the momentum of economic growth from the previous quarter. The Republic’s economy expanded 5.7 per cent year on year in the April to June period, slower than Q1’s 6.3 per cent, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on July 14.
We are the last generation of managers who manage only humans: Salesforce S-E Asia CEO
SINGAPORE – Ask a worker in a modern and advanced country such as Singapore about artificial intelligence, and you may hear apprehension. Ask one in India, and you are more likely to hear hope. In advanced economies, by contrast, people who already enjoy a comfortable standard of living may simply have less to aspire to.
Higher rates, higher risk: Are Singapore REITs still worth buying?
SINGAPORE - Singapore’s $100 billion REIT market is expected to remain resilient despite heightened interest rate volatility under a new Federal Reserve chairman, although analysts say refinements to the REIT framework and the introduction of new listed real estate investment vehicles could strengthen its long-term appeal. That will be music to the ears of investors like David Ong, who has grown concerned about the slowing returns of his REIT investments in recent years.
Foundation Healthcare closes 7.9% below IPO price on SGX debut despite stabilisation support
SINGAPORE - Shares of private healthcare group Foundation Healthcare Holdings (FHH), the first healthcare business to list on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) in four years, fell on their first day of trading on July 8. The counter opened on the Mainboard 1 cent above its initial public offering (IPO) price of 76 cents a share, but failed to sustain the upward momentum. It dropped below its IPO price at 10.37am and continued to fall, closing its first day of trading at 70 cents, down 7.9 per cent.
Temasek doubles down on net-zero goal, says sustainable investments make profit
SINGAPORE – Temasek is expanding its sustainable-living portfolio after its sustainability-related investments delivered strong long-term returns, with the investor doubling down on energy infrastructure as the Middle East conflict underscores the importance of energy security. It also plans to increase its investments in artificial intelligence, including data centres that are driving higher electricity demand.
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