CNA938 Rewind - Stock take today: US stocks snap three-day gains, Japan's rice prices out of reach
On the daily markets analysis on Open For Business, Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman speak with Naomi Fink, Chief Global Strategist at Nikko Asset Management.
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CNA
39 minutes ago
- CNA
Long hunts, few replies: Singapore university graduates finding it tough in job market, CNA poll finds
More than half of those polled by CNA (56.2 per cent) said that understanding employer expectations would improve their confidence in job applications. Others said they would benefit from paid internships or traineeships (55.2 per cent) and more interview opportunities (54.3 per cent). For Mr Wee Lian Kit, who majored in economics at NUS, vague job listings made it difficult to gauge his suitability for roles. 'You send a lot of applications that you think you are qualified for, but at the end, you might not even make it past the screening stage,' said the 27-year-old, who now works in an executive search firm. He recalls applying to over 100 roles when he graduated last year. NTU graduate Mr Ong agreed, saying more clarity from employers would help applicants understand rejections. 'At least when I get rejected, I will understand why I got rejected,' he said. Group CEO of recruitment firm Reeracoen, Mr Kenji Naito, said employers could help bridge the gap by sharing clearer job scopes and valuing potential and cultural fit, not just qualifications. He added that amid global shifts and growing use of artificial intelligence, soft skills such as empathy and adaptability are increasingly valuable. Graduates can also take short courses, volunteer for leadership roles or seek mentorship to strengthen their profile. Mr Derrick Teo, a certified Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) senior professional, said AI tools are reshaping job functions and graduates need to learn how to use such tools effectively. Mr Teo, who is also the CEO of HR solutions provider Elitez Group, also noted that job competition now extends across borders. 'Rather than fixating on salary benchmarks – which can be influenced by recruitment marketing – graduates should focus on differentiating their skills, adaptability and commercial awareness,' he said. BE PROACTIVE The government has said it is working to improve employment outcomes for fresh graduates. Minister of State for Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang said on Jul 9 that authorities are 'closely monitoring' the employment situation. Institutes of higher learning are also working with agencies such as Workforce Singapore and the NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute to organise career fairs, workshops and mentoring sessions. The Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce, led by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, is also exploring ways to support new graduates. The task force was set up in April to address the impact of US-imposed tariffs. Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng said on Jul 10 that entry-level job vacancies remain steady. "To our 2025 graduates, it is still early in your job search. We encourage everyone to keep an open mind to different opportunities in their job searches," he said. Career experts encouraged graduates to be proactive by networking at industry events and tapping on their professional contacts. In CNA's straw poll, 40 per cent of respondents said a lack of industry contacts or networking opportunities was a challenge. Randstad Singapore's country director David Blasco said even conversations that don't lead to offers can offer insights into industry trends and in-demand traits. He added that graduates can leverage platforms such as LinkedIn and industry events to ask working professionals about industry trends, in-demand skills and personality traits that employers value in young hires. For Mr Ye Jun Zheng, a Yale-NUS graduate in urban studies, a friend's referral helped him land a role as a customer support specialist at a tech multinational corporation. 'I was lucky to find a fit at a place I least expected – with a friend who introduced the job to me and another to refer me in,' said the 25-year-old. Mr Zac Ng, managing director of recruitment agency Cultivar Asia, said there is no fixed timeline for fresh graduates to land a job, but it is important to stay active by taking on temporary or contract roles. 'The goal should be to keep moving forward – be it through employment, training or internships – so that the momentum is not lost,' he said, adding that such roles offer both income and transferable skills. 'They are stepping stones, if not a long-term career.' As for Ms Kuek, she sees a ray of hope in her job search after securing an interview with a publishing company. "I'll see how this one goes … If it falls through, then I have to keep trying."
CNA
39 minutes ago
- CNA
Work It - Delayed salaries: What can you do when your boss doesn't pay up?
Your salary is late and your employer blames the bank. Should you give your boss the benefit of the doubt? What can employees do to secure what they're owed? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts [at]
Business Times
2 hours ago
- Business Times
Temasek-backed ST Telemedia is said to consider selling stake in data centre operator GDS: sources
[SINGAPORE] ST Telemedia (STT) is considering selling its holding in Chinese data centre operator GDS Holdings, people familiar with the situation said. The company, backed by Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings, holds almost 34 per cent of GDS' Class A shares, representing about 20 per cent of aggregate voting power, the latest GDS annual report shows. ST Telemedia is sounding out interest from potential buyers for the entire stake, the people said, asking not to be identified as the deliberations are private. Data centres are in strong demand globally, thanks in large part to the artificial intelligence boom. That has reflected in the share price of GDS, which is up almost 60 per cent in Hong Kong this year and more than 220 per cent over the past 12 months. The company has a market value of around US$7.4 billion. The rally in GDS, which also has American depositary receipts, could make it harder for ST Telemedia to find a buyer for its stake, the people said, adding that it may offload the holding in blocks. The company may also decide not to sell, they said, noting that deliberations are at an early stage. ST Telemedia declined to comment. GDS did not respond to requests for comment. Singapore-headquartered ST Telemedia invests in communications, media, data centres and infrastructure technology businesses. ST Telemedia also owns one of Asia's largest data centre operators, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres. Bloomberg News reported in July that KKR is in talks about potentially buying STT GDC in a deal that could value the firm at more than US$5 billion. Meanwhile, GDS has a presence beyond mainland China with a stake in DayOne Data Centers Singapore Pte, which runs facilities in Hong Kong, Tokyo and South-east Asia. DayOne is considering an initial public offering in the US, Bloomberg reported in February. GDS posted revenue of US$375 million for the quarter through March, with net income of US$105 million, reversing a US$48 million loss a year earlier. BLOOMBERG
