
Plans to enhance efficiency of last-mile deliveries underway
Dedicated delivery bays and collection lockers could be made mandatory for new private condominium developments this year. The move by a tripartite workgroup aims to enhance efficiency of last-mile deliveries. This follows an increased volume of e-commerce and food deliveries in the past five years. Claudia Lim with more.
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CNA
24 minutes ago
- CNA
Some attractions in Singapore seeing dip in local visitors during June holidays
Some attractions are seeing a dip in local visitors this June school holidays, compared to the same period last year. They say the strong Sing dollar means airfares and overseas experiences are more affordable. But as Caitlin Ng finds out, some attractions are pushing out incentives like bulk discounts to lure the local residents back.


Independent Singapore
36 minutes ago
- Independent Singapore
"Equity", "ETF", and "GDP" are the top financial terms Singaporeans don't understand
SINGAPORE: More younger adults in Singapore have become interested in investing , with some starting as early as university. However, new research from forex broker experts at BrokerChooser shows that many still struggle to understand financial jargon. According to the report, 'equity' is the most confusing financial term both globally and in Singapore, with 2,170 searches a month locally and over 247,000 worldwide. Adam Nasli, Head Analyst at BrokerChooser, said the confusion about what equity is comes from its broad usage in different contexts. He defined it as the amount an owner would retain if they sold an asset or business after settling any debts tied to it. 'In simple terms, it's the value you truly own. If you own a house worth $300,000 and you owe $200,000 on the mortgage, your equity in the home is $100,000,' he said, citing an example. Meanwhile, in the stock market, equity usually refers to shares in a company, giving investors partial ownership, potential voting rights, and a share in the profits. 'As with a home, a company's equity represents the difference between its assets and liabilities—what the owners would effectively be left with after selling all assets and settling all obligations,' he added. ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) ranked the second most confusing financial term for Singaporeans, racking up 1,800 local searches and 142,230 globally. While many people are drawn to ETFs because of their low fees, tax efficiency, and flexibility, many still struggle to understand what ETFs are. 'Think of it as a ready-made investment portfolio that trades on the market,' Mr Nasli said. 'Whether you're looking to invest in a specific sector, track a major index like the S&P 500, or gain exposure to gold or tech stocks, there's likely an ETF for it,' he added. Meanwhile, GDP (Gross Domestic Product) ranked third on the list, even though it's often mentioned in the news. Singaporeans search for what it means 1,500 times on a monthly average, while 176,800 do so globally. See also Hedge Funds vs Mutual Funds vs ETFs – Which Should I Invest In? Other financial terms Singaporeans find most confusing include: arrears, correlation, yield, annuity, capital, APR (annual percentage rate), and principal. While 55% of Singaporeans said they are financially illiterate, 52% don't even know how much they spend each month, costing the average Singaporean household between S$1,997 and S$5,410 every year. The study also highlighted that those with low financial literacy are 'worse off', even when they're earning similar income levels compared to their financially literate peers. Mr Nasli said, 'People need to be better equipped not only to manage their money wisely but also to protect themselves from misleading offers and deceptive financial products.' /TISG Read also: More women take seats on the board in Singapore's top 100 SGX-listed companies Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)
Business Times
an hour ago
- Business Times
Consortium's privatisation offer for Amara closes with 97.74% valid acceptances
[SINGAPORE] The privatisation offer for hotel and property group Amara finally succeeded on Tuesday (Jun 10), with valid acceptances representing 97.74 per cent of the total shares. As at the close of the offer at 5.30 pm on Tuesday, the total number of shares owned, controlled or agreed to be acquired by DRC Investments, together with valid acceptances of the offer, amounted to 562 million shares. DRC, a consortium led by property developer Hwa Hong, will exercise its right to compulsorily acquire all remaining shares at the offer price of S$0.895 a share. Amara will subsequently be delisted from the Singapore Exchange. DRC said it has no intention to preserve the group's listing status and will instead make it a wholly owned subsidiary. DRC is a special-purpose vehicle that is 35 per cent held by a fund sponsored by formerly Singapore-listed Hwa Hong and Malaysia-based Newfields. Another 35 per cent shareholder is a wholly owned subsidiary of local developer Wing Tai. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up Albert Teo, Amara's chairman and chief executive officer, and his daughter, chief operating officer Dawn Teo, hold the remaining 30 per cent of DRC. The S$0.895 offer price represents a 27 per cent premium over Amara's closing price of S$0.705 on Apr 23, ahead of the trading halt called by the company the following day. It is also a 33 per cent premium over Amara's net asset value per share as at end-December 2024. In a previous bourse filing, DRC cited low trading liquidity and challenging macroeconomic conditions for Amara's privatisation. This includes a rise in protectionist policies and shifting trade agreements, which could disrupt supply chains and increase costs for businesses. These may result in higher operations costs, squeezing profit margins and affecting long-term growth prospects, it said. 'The offer represents a unique cash exit opportunity for shareholders to liquidate and realise their entire investment at a premium, an option which may not otherwise be readily available due to the low trading liquidity of the shares,' it added. The latest privatisation offer was the second time Amara was the target of a privatisation deal. In 2023, the group received a voluntary cash offer at S$0.60 a share from Amethyst Assets, a consortium linked to Albert Teo, other members of his family and private equity investor Dymon Asia. But the attempt fell short of the 90 per cent threshold for acceptances, at 88.39 per cent in shareholding interest.