Podcast · Business

BT Market Focus

by The Business Times · English · Business

Market Focus Daily is a closing bell look at markets and the news that drove its movements-every trading day. Market Focus Weekly rounds up the week with expert analysis and insights for a big picture look at the trading week ahead. Produced by BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media.

New episodes: Daily
Typical length: 3 min
Latest: 14 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026 · 3 minNew

Asian shares bounce on AI tech relief, oil gains curb optimism

Market news for October 14, 2026: Asian equities rebounded as bargain-hunting in AI tech stocks offset previous losses. However, persistent oil supply anxieties and cautious sentiment ahead of crucial US inflation data capped broader market gains. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media Produced with AI…

Play episodeWhatsApp Download

Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S2 · E590 · 13 Oct 2026 · 3 minNew
Asian chipmaker rout sparks broader AI trade rethink
Market news for October 13 2026: A sharp selloff in Asian chipmakers sparked a broader AI trade rethink amid rising Chinese competition. Regional stocks plunged, bond yields slid, and crude holding near high levels kept markets cautious as earnings loom. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media Produced with AI…
S2 · E589 · 12 Oct 2026 · 3 minNew
Tech valuations tested as oil slippage sparks market erraticism
Market news for October 12 2026: Tech valuations face a critical test as earnings season opens, while oil prices slide amid supply uncertainty. Asian equities showed mixed results, European currencies weakened, and gold edged higher as global bond markets remained under pressure. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH…
S1 · E62 · 9 Oct 2026 · 18 min
Singapore’s bank sell-off: A reset in expectations, not fundamentals
The STI just suffered its sharpest two-session rout in months, led by a sudden sell-off in Singapore's banking giants. Profit-taking or something deeper? With US 10-year yields above 5 per cent competing directly with dividend equities, S-Reits squeezed by rising borrowing costs, and institutions quietly rotating into industrials and semiconductors — the question isn't whether growth exists, but which companies can actually convert it into earnings. Geoff Howie, market strategist at SGX, joins us to separate signal from noise. Highlights: 01:07 Reset in expectations, not fundamentals…
S2 · E588 · 8 Oct 2026 · 3 min
Tech debt and Gulf shipping attacks send Asian equities sliding
Market news for October 8 2026: Tech debt sales and Gulf shipping attacks sent Asian equities sliding, while oil prices jumped and Treasuries faced pressure. Soaring yields buoyed the dollar, the euro hit 17-month lows, and corporate borrowing added to global sovereign bond market stress. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business…
S2 · E587 · 7 Oct 2026 · 3 min
Asian and European stocks slide as surging oil prices fuel global anxiety
Market news for October 7 2026: European stocks and the euro fell as Brent crude surged past $100 on Middle East tensions and supply disruptions. US Treasury yields climbed to multi-decade highs ahead of key auctions. Gold slipped on dollar strength, while investors awaited Federal Reserve minutes for fresh rate clues. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced…
S2 · E586 · 6 Oct 2026 · 3 min
Asian markets lifted by Nasdaq record and soaring Nvidia shares; Treasury yields hit 24-year highs
Market news for October 6 2026: Asian stocks advanced after a tech-fuelled rally pushed the Nasdaq to a record close, boosted by soaring Nvidia shares. Concurrently, the euro touched 17-month lows amid French fiscal concerns, while US Treasury yields hit fresh 24-year highs today across markets. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The…
S2 · E585 · 5 Oct 2026 · 3 min
Asian stocks rally as Fed rate hike bets cool while Euro hits 17-month low
Market news for October 5 2026: Asian stocks rallied as Fed rate hike expectations cooled, while the euro hit a 17-month low amid French fiscal concerns. US Treasury yields held steady, oil prices eased, and Foxconn posted robust third-quarter revenue driven by strong artificial intelligence demand. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The…
S2 · E61 · 2 Oct 2026 · 19 min
10-year Treasury hits 5.3%, oil surges and gold stumbles: M&G's Vikas Pershad on a market under pressure
Global bond yields hit multi-decade highs as oil prices surge, raising concerns over inflation and interest rates. Are markets underestimating the risks of higher-for-longer rates and the AI investment boom? Nicole Teo speaks with Vikas Pershad, portfolio manager, APAC Equities at M&G Investments, about AI valuations, China’s equity opportunities, US-China technology restrictions, and fiscal pressures across Asia. As investors navigate market volatility, the region’s broader investment opportunities may lie beyond the AI rally. Highlights: 03:53 Higher-for-longer bond yields and…
S2 · E584 · 1 Oct 2026 · 3 min
Oil pullback eases bond panic as global yields touch multi-decade peaks
Market news for October 1 2026: US Treasury yields surged to multi-decade highs amid soaring energy costs and inflation fears, while Asian tech stocks rallied on strong AI demand. Although falling oil prices provided brief relief, investors remain cautious regarding potential Federal Reserve rate hikes. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts,…
S2 · E583 · 30 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Global bonds wobble in worst month for years as AI hopes buoy stocks
Market news for September 30 2026: Global bonds face their worst month in years amid rising inflation and soaring energy costs from the prolonged US-Israeli conflict. Meanwhile, Asian stocks remain resilient and upbeat today, driven entirely by surging investor optimism and strong hopes in artificial intelligence. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT…
S2 · E582 · 29 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Surging oil and bond yields signal higher-for-longer interest rates
Market news for September 29 2026: Surging oil prices and rising US Treasury yields pressured stocks as markets braced for prolonged high interest rates. Australia raised rates to a 15-year high, while Anthropic’s $2 trillion valuation target highlighted high-stakes AI optimism amidst broader market headwinds. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by:…
S1 · E581 · 28 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Global markets rattled by surging oil, rate hike fears as Asia stocks sink
Market news for September 28 2026: Global markets slumped as surging oil prices and growing rate hike fears rattled investors. With the US rejecting Iran’s Strait of Hormuz truce proposal, Brent crude climbed past $107, pressing bonds and sinking Asian equities amid heavy economic headwinds. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The…
S2 · E60 · 25 Sep 2026 · 14 min
Bonds, oil, AI and copper - Decoding divergent signals in a shifting global economy
Treasury yields at 20-year highs. Oil swinging wildly above US$100. Gold sliding while copper soars. Are markets pricing in reality — or just riding the hype? Correspondent Howie Lim sits down with Desmond Fu, head of investment management Singapore at Western Asset Management, to discuss AI productivity puzzle, bond market tremors, US-China rare earth leverage, Fed hawkishness, and Asian currency wars. In a higher-for-longer world, the difference between resilience and recklessness could be one rate hike. Highlights: 01:19 AI hype vs reality: Is the productivity boom real? 03:15 Bond…
S2 · E580 · 24 Sep 2026 · 3 min
JGB yields hit 30-year high as Middle East risks and US-China talks weigh on markets
Market news for September 24 2026: Japanese bond yields surged to thirty-year highs as global debt markets tumbled, while Asian equities traded mixed. Investors weighed persistent Middle East tensions and upcoming US and China trade talks against sticky inflation and hawkish central bank rate hike expectations. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT…
S2 · E579 · 23 Sep 2026 · 3 min
AI optimism fuels Asian stock rally as oil slumps on Middle East supply hopes
Market news for September 23 2026: Asian equities extended gains for a sixth straight session, driven by surging consumer enthusiasm for AI apps and tech hardware. Meanwhile, oil prices dropped on expanding Middle East supply, and markets anticipated high-stakes US-China trade and AI talks. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business…
S2 · E578 · 22 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Tech rallies on AI assistant revival as oil stalls
Market news for September 22 2026: Technology stocks propelled Asian markets higher as stalling oil prices and strong demand for Meta’s Muse AI assistant boosted sentiment. Investors eagerly anticipated upcoming US-Iran talks while monitoring a strong dollar driven by expectations of further central bank rate hikes. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro…
S2 · E577 · 21 Sep 2026 · 3 min
AI fires up Asian markets as bond yields hit mid-2024 highs
Market news for September 21 2026: AI demand for chips buoyed Asian equities despite thin holiday trade, while crude oil slid on Middle East diplomatic hopes and recovering shipments. Meanwhile, surging Treasury yields and hawkish central bank tightening expectations kept broader global bond markets highly tense. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT…
S2 · E59 · 18 Sep 2026 · 22 min
Unpacking macro shifts and AI realities
Sticky inflation and rising rates are pulling global markets in different directions. In this episode of Market Focus Weekly, Nicole Teo speaks with State Street Investment Management’s Ninghui Liu about how higher energy prices and the AI boom are keeping inflation stubborn in many economies — while China remains stuck in deflation. He also unpacks the opportunities emerging from Japan’s rising bond yields, where higher funding costs could put the brakes on the AI boom, and what cheap, powerful Chinese open-source models mean for the global AI race. Highlights: 03:26 China…
S2 · E576 · 17 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Fed rate hike calms global bond rout as Asian markets edge up
Market news for September 17 2026: Asian shares edged up as the Federal Reserve delivered its first rate hike in over three years, calming a global bond selloff. A surging U.S. dollar weighed on commodities, while focus shifted to central bank decisions in London and Tokyo. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media…
S2 · E575 · 16 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Asian stocks steady ahead of pivotal Fed decision as bond rout pauses
Market news for September 16, 2026: Asian stocks edged higher as a respite in the global bond selloff and falling oil prices steadied market nerves ahead of the pivotal Federal Reserve decision, with traders pricing an implied 93% probability of a 25-basis-point rate hike. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media…
S2 · E574 · 15 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Oil, yields, and rate fears collide
Market news for September 15, 2026: Asian markets slide as AI leaders urge caution and traders brace for pivotal Fed and BOJ rate decisions. Treasury yields breach 5% for the first time since 2007, oil climbs, and bitcoin retreats — signalling a tense, pivotal week ahead for global markets. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The…
S2 · E573 · 14 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Asian shares slip as oil climbs, rate hikes take shape
Market news for September 14, 2026: Asian shares slid as AI leaders urged a development slowdown, while Middle East strikes pushed Brent crude over $107. Meanwhile, investors braced for likely rate hikes from both the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan this week. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media…
S2 · E58 · 11 Sep 2026 · 19 min
What oil, yields, and AI capex boom are really telling us
Oil prices just broke US$110 a barrel, bond yields are hitting multi-decade highs, and the yen carry trade is unwinding fast — this week's markets are a powder keg. In this episode of Market Focus Weekly, correspondent Howie Lim sits down with HSBC's Herald van der Linde to unpack the Strait of Hormuz shock, why AI capex — not fear — is now driving bond yields, Korea's staggering profit boom, and the one indicator every investor should watch next. Highlights: 03:03 Central banks vs. inflation expectations 06:00 Google's €13B AI bet amid market nerves 08:12 Asia's great…
S2 · E572 · 10 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Global markets brace for central bank wave as oil nears $101 a barrel
Market news for September 10, 2026: Asian markets slid as escalating Middle East shipping attacks pushed oil above $100 a barrel, spooking investors ahead of US inflation data. Treasury yields held near multi-year highs, while Wall Street, Europe, and Asia all retreated amid mounting bets on further central bank rate hikes. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro…
S2 · E571 · 9 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Crude shock - Brent’s climb to $100, Asian markets rattled
Market news for September 9, 2026: Brent crude surged near $100 as Middle East conflict escalated, subduing Asian stocks amid inflation jitters before US CPI data. Conversely, chip stocks rebounded, and Alphabet announced a record €13 billion AI infrastructure investment in Finland. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business…
S2 · E570 · 8 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Yen strength, copper record and oil surge
Market news for September 8, 2026: The yen surges to a seven-month high as carry trades unwind, while Iranian threats to Gulf energy infrastructure push oil and bond yields higher. Asian markets trade mixed, copper hits a record, and Singapore Airlines' Air India stake faces new scrutiny. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business…
S2 · E569 · 7 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Between the Fed and earnings: Markets search for direction
Market news for September 7, 2026: Asian tech shares rallied on a robust US jobs report signaling growth, though rate hike odds narrowed. Meanwhile, oil prices edged higher following renewed US-Iran ship attacks in the Gulf, as traders monitor inflation and energy risks. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media…
S2 · E568 · 4 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Asian markets rally on Fed relief as investors brace for payroll showdown
Market news for September 4, 2026: Asian shares surged today, buoyed by cooling Fed rate hike fears that weakened the dollar and ignited a relief rally. Investors now hold their breath for the looming US payroll showdown while Middle East tensions keep oil prices elevated. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media…
S2 · E567 · 3 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Relief rally in Asian markets as investors turn attention to crucial U.S. jobs data
Market news for September 3, 2026: Asian shares and bonds rallied as the yen climbed, with investors cautiously awaiting critical U.S. payroll data. Markets weighed central bank policy signals against ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions, as oil prices slipped following recent volatile spikes in global borrowing costs. Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region. Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: BT Podcasts,…

About BT Market Focus

BT Market Focus is a English business podcast from The Business Times. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: The Business Times
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Daily
Typical length: 3 min
Latest episode: 14 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1631981701

RSS feed Apple Podcasts

More English business

Take it with you

The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.