Market Insights - Deglobalisation, Debt, Demographics and AI
About the show:
Join a panel of financial experts as they unpack the key investment trends defining the second half of 2025 amid rapid economic and technological shifts. Discover how AI and deglobalisation are reshaping opportunities. Learn how to navigate market volatility, build resilient portfolios and position your investments for growth.
Brought to you by UOB Privilege Banking.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
29 minutes ago
- CNA
Hedge funds pile back into Japan stocks, add shorts on South Korea, Morgan Stanley says
HONG KONG :Global hedge funds ramped up risk appetite and added exposure to Japanese equities ahead of the Nikkei's surge to an all-time high as tariff worries eased, while stepping up short positions in South Korea, a Morgan Stanley note showed. Hedge funds boosted gross exposure to Japan "in relatively large size" last week, with long bets outpacing short positions, according to a Morgan Stanley prime brokerage team note sent to clients on Tuesday, following a July pullback in positions. A fund manager survey by BofA showed that within Asia, Japan continues to be the most favoured market by a significant margin. Japan's benchmark Nikkei rose above 43,000 for the first time on Wednesday, with the broader Topix index also hitting an all-time high. Uncertainty over Japanese exports to the United States has eased after Tokyo reached a framework deal with Washington on tariffs in July, helping to push the market higher. The U.S. government last week promised to amend a presidential executive order to remove overlapping tariffs on Japanese goods, Japan's trade negotiator said. Morgan Stanley said hedge funds built positions across Japan's technology and industrial sectors. Shares of Nintendo soared to a historic high this week on robust sales of the Switch 2, while tech firm SoftBank Group also raced to an all-time high on optimism around artificial intelligence. In other Asian markets, hedge funds were buying Taiwan and Australia but increased bearish positions toward Korea last week, Morgan Stanley said. Hedge funds' net allocations to South Korea at the beginning of August sat just under peak levels of the past decade, as investors significantly increased their long and short bets in the market since the country lifted short sale ban, Morgan Stanley said in a separate note. Korea is the best performing Asian market this year, up more than 30 per cent.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
S'pore life insurance sales surged in first half, led by strong growth in investment-linked plans
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Weighted new business premiums, which is a rough measure of new sales, rose 7.7 per cent to $2.99 billion in the six months to June 30. SINGAPORE – Sales of life insurance policies surged in the first half of 2025 as consumers sought balance between protection and wealth accumulation. Weighted new business premiums, which is a rough measure of new sales, rose 7.7 per cent to $2.99 billion in the six months to June 30 – the highest first-half figure since the Covid-19 pandemic. The increase was driven largely by annual premium policies, which rose 22 per cent to $2.26 billion as compared to the same six months in 2024, noted the Life Insurance Association (LIA) Singapore on Aug 13. By contrast, single premium policies fell 21.3 per cent to $722.9 million in weighted premiums. Investment-linked policies (ILPs) continued to set the pace, with weighted new business premiums rising 31.3 per cent to $1.28 billion in the first half. These policies accounted for 43 per cent of total new business. LIA Singapore president Wong Sze Keed said that the continued growth in annual premium policies and ILPs demonstrates Singaporeans' focus on long-term financial planning and security. 'Amid existing global uncertainties and market volatility, consumers are seeking balance between protection and wealth accumulation,' she added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore banks face headwinds in rest of 2025, but DBS is pulling ahead: Analysts Singapore Allianz insures Singapore's first fully driverless bus amid challenges posed by autonomous vehicles Asia Mixed reactions among Malaysia drivers on S'pore move to clamp down on illegal ride-hailing services Business Singtel Q1 profit soars 317.4% to $2.9 billion on exceptional gains of $2.2 billion Asia Diamonds, watches and shoes: Luxury items at heart of probe into South Korea's former first lady Singapore Yishun man admits to making etomidate-laced pods for vaporisers; first Kpod case conviction Sport New Hui Fen becomes first Singaporean bowler to win PWBA Tour Player of the Year Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story 'The sustained demand for ILPs reflects a prudent yet ambitious mindset – one focused on safeguarding against global current unpredictability while capturing growth opportunities in an evolving financial landscape.' Total sum assured in the first half rose 1.8 per cent to $71.4 billion, with financial advisers accounting for 42.6 per cent or $30.4 billion, while tied representatives brought in 29.9 per cent or $21.4 billion. While total sum assured and total weighted premium rose, the total number of policies in the first half declined 18.6 per cent year on year to 579,343. LIA Singapore said this could suggest that consumers may be buying fewer, but more comprehensive policies, opting for coverage that offers greater protection or investment potential. About 69,000 Singaporeans and Permanent Residents took up new Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) in the first half. Nearly three million people – about 72 per cent of the resident population – have IPs, which provide coverage on top of the MediShield Life health coverage scheme. Total new business premiums for individual health insurance increased 69.3 per cent year on year to $373.7 million in the first half. IPs and IP rider premiums made up 89.9 per cent, or $336.1 million, with the remaining 10.1 per cent, or $37.6 million, comprising other medical plans and riders. Around $6.35 billion was paid out to policyholders and beneficiaries in the first half, down 42.1 per cent from the same period a year earlier.
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Thai central bank cuts key rate by 25 bps, as expected
BANGKOK :Thailand's central bank lowered its key interest rate by a quarter point on Wednesday, its fourth cut in 10 months as it looks to support a sluggish economy grappling with negative inflation and the impact of U.S. tariffs. The Bank of Thailand's monetary policy committee unanimously voted to reduce the one-day repurchase rate by 25 basis points to 1.50 per cent, the lowest in more than two years. The BOT had held the key rate at its June meeting following back-to-back cuts at reviews in February and April. It had also cut rates in October last year. Twenty-three of 28 economists in a Reuters poll had predicted a quarter-point reduction this week. The other five had expected no rate change. Among those who provided a longer-term outlook on rates in the poll, 19 of 26 saw the policy rate at 1.25 per cent by the end of 2025, seven said 1.50 per cent and one forecast 1.00 per cent.
