logo
Bank of Korea to lower interest rates cautiously, minutes show

Bank of Korea to lower interest rates cautiously, minutes show

CNA5 hours ago

SEOUL :Board members of South Korea's central bank said it was necessary to continue to ease monetary policy to support economic growth, but with caution over associated risks, minutes of their May 29 policy meeting showed on Tuesday.
Last month, the Bank of Korea lowered interest rates by 25 basis points to 2.50 per cent in an unanimous decision.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Petronas, Eni to form Southeast Asia-focused gas venture by end-2025
Petronas, Eni to form Southeast Asia-focused gas venture by end-2025

CNA

time2 hours ago

  • CNA

Petronas, Eni to form Southeast Asia-focused gas venture by end-2025

KUALA LUMPUR :Malaysian state energy company Petronas and Italian energy group Eni said on Tuesday they were pressing ahead with a planned joint venture to develop gas assets in Indonesia and Malaysia with the signing expected by the end of this year. The final agreement will be subject to regulatory approvals by governments, authorities and partners, state-controlled Eni said in a statement, without providing a time frame. Petronas said the whole process could take one to two years from now. Tuesday's announcement follows a pact the companies signed in February, which they said could deliver in the medium term up to 500,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent (boe), combining about 3 billion boe of reserves with an additional 10 billion boe of potential exploration upside. By comparison, Eni's total hydrocarbon production was 1.71 million boe last year. "Asia has huge, huge potential," Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi told Reuters on the sidelines of the Energy Asia conference. "The cooperation between countries, to find synergies and exchange energies and put together resources and competencies, is essential. And that is a very strong example, Indonesia and Malaysia together," Descalzi said. The asset combination will likely focus on Indonesia's Kutai Basin, where Eni's portfolio includes developments in the Northern and Gendalo-Gandang hubs, which hold substantial gas reserves. "The new company will have a strong regional impact on gas production, bringing additional energy, infrastructure and employment for the benefit of both Indonesia and Malaysia," Eni said in a statement. The new company, based on existing gas production, is expected to develop its projects without burdening the balance sheets of Petronas and Eni, while paying dividends to its parent companies. "The whole idea of having this as a combination is to have an independent entity created in order to be self-financed," Mohd Jukris Abdul Wahab, executive vice-president and CEO - upstream at Petronas, said at the conference. This venture is part of Eni's "satellite" strategy under which the Italian group has created several spin-offs centred around specific businesses and has supported their growth to make them independent. In a similar transaction, Eni teamed up with BP in Angola to create their Azule Energy joint venture. Eni and Petronas will share assets in order to have a 50:50 proportion in the new company. Petronas has said it was looking to include oil and gas projects in Indonesia's Kutai Basin in the planned new company, proposing to swap interests for its assets in Malaysia and Indonesia with Eni's blocks there. However, Petronas said it would exclude Indonesian assets recently awarded to the company, such as the Binaiya and Serpang blocks.

Malaysia PM says Shell to boost its investments in country by $2 billion
Malaysia PM says Shell to boost its investments in country by $2 billion

CNA

time2 hours ago

  • CNA

Malaysia PM says Shell to boost its investments in country by $2 billion

KUALA LUMPUR :Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday that Shell has committed to increasing its investments in Malaysia by 9 billion ringgit ($2.12 billion) over the next two to three years. The boost in Shell's investments will create high-skilled job opportunities for Malaysians, Anwar said in a Facebook post following a meeting with Shell CEO Wael Sawan. He did not provide further details. "This decision stands as a resounding vote of confidence from a world-class investor in our sound economic policies, clarity in our leadership, and promise in our future," Anwar said.

MAS end-June deadline for overseas crypto players aligns with global moves
MAS end-June deadline for overseas crypto players aligns with global moves

Independent Singapore

time2 hours ago

  • Independent Singapore

MAS end-June deadline for overseas crypto players aligns with global moves

SINGAPORE: Singapore's financial regulator, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), has mandated that all Singapore-based crypto firms serving customers overseas must obtain a licence by June 30, 2025, or cease such operations immediately. This latest move extends MAS's Digital Payment Token (DPT) framework to cover 'digital token service providers' (DTSPs). These entities operate from Singapore but only serve overseas clients. The move closes a regulatory loophole perceived as a conduit for money laundering and illicit finance. MAS's May 30 consultation response confirms that any provider of digital token services outside Singapore must hold a licence under the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) by Jun 30 or suspend activities. The central bank said licences will be granted only in 'extremely limited circumstances.' This reflects MAS's concern about its ability to supervise offshore activities and the heightened AML/CFT risks involved. Non-compliance carries penalties of up to S$250,000 in fines and up to three years' imprisonment. The Jun 30 deadline has prompted offshore-focused exchanges such as WazirX to announce relocation plans, while others weigh exit strategies. The ban also risks hundreds of jobs among unlicensed operators, according to industry observers. MAS has emphasised that DPT providers who are already licensed can continue to service both domestic and international customers without interruption. While suggestive of a reversal of its crypto-friendly stance, Singapore's central bank has remained consistent in its compliance push. Singapore's Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) states that Singapore-based businesses offering digital token services to clients overseas must be licensed. Simply put, the central bank has completed public consultations and has informed service providers that their unlicensed tenure is over. In a statement on Jun 6, MAS explained: 'Due to the higher risks presented by the specific circumstances set out above, existing DTSPs serving only customers outside of Singapore will be required to cease this activity when the regime comes into effect on 30 June 2025. MAS' position on this has been consistently communicated for a few years since the first response to public consultation issued on 14 February 2022 and in subsequent publications on 4 October 2024 and 30 May 2025.' The move aligns with jurisdictions like Singapore, Thailand, Dubai, Hong Kong, and others. This is part of a broader global crackdown. Stricter licensing and risk-management standards target money laundering and terrorism financing. For instance, in the European Union (EU), the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation has been in force since June 2023. It similarly imposes authorisation, transparency, and reserve-backing requirements on crypto-asset service providers in member states. Malta and Luxembourg have already begun licensing major exchanges under MiCA, illustrating a move towards harmonised oversight in mature financial centres. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the STABLE Act and GENIUS Act aim to establish comprehensive stablecoin frameworks, mandating licensing, reserve standards, and anti-money laundering measures within one year of enactment. Closer to home, in the rival business hub of Hong Kong, its Legislative Council passed the Stablecoins Bill on May 21, 2025. This institutes a licensing regime for fiat-referenced stablecoin issuers. It is set to take effect on Aug 1, 2025. See also Singapore ranked among the top talent networks around the world This framework requires robust reserve management, redemption protocols, and risk-based supervision by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). It also aligns with Singapore's emphasis on safeguarding financial integrity. By enforcing the Jun 30 deadline, MAS is aligning Singapore with global regulations and safeguarding the reputation of its financial centre as a transparent, well-regulated crypto hub.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store