Rising competition, particularly from BYD, has significantly impacted Tesla's sales, with Tesla's global market share slipping as BYD outsold it in several regions, including Europe and China. In Q1 2025, Tesla’s sales dropped 13% to their weakest in nearly three years, while BYD’s affordable models, like the Seagull (priced under $10,000 in some markets), captured a 15.7% global EV market share compared to Tesla’s 15.3%. BYD’s pricing strategy, diverse model lineup, and in-house battery production give it a cost advantage, especially in emerging markets and Europe, where it registered 7,231 EVs in April 2025, outpacing Tesla’s 7,165. Tesla’s high prices and limited new models—relying heavily on the Model Y and Model 3—have led to declining demand, particularly in China and Europe, exacerb
🇸🇬 Singapore REITs: The Dawn of the Yield Hunter's Era?
With the US Federal Reserve poised to cut interest rates, Singapore Real Estate Investment Trusts (S-REITs), long under pressure, are showing signs of a compelling turnaround. The anticipated drop in borrowing costs and a renewed "yield hunt" make S-REITs an increasingly attractive proposition for income-focused investors. The high-interest-rate environment of the past few years has been a significant headwind for S-REITs. Their heavy reliance on debt to finance acquisitions and operations meant rising borrowing costs squeezed margins and led to declines in Distribution Per Unit (DPU) for many. The Triple Tailwind from Rate Cuts The impending rate cuts create a powerful three-pronged tailwind for S-REITs: Lower Borrowing Costs: This is the most direct and impactful
The first quarter of 2025 saw a volatile yet generally positive performance across global stock markets, with significant regional divergences. The U.S. markets, represented by the S&P 500, likely posted modest gains of around 3-5%, buoyed by a resilient economy and corporate earnings growth, though tempered by high valuations and policy uncertainty. European markets, tracked by indices like the MSCI Europe, possibly lagged with flat or slightly negative returns, reflecting slower economic growth and trade concerns. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 may have risen by 4-6%, driven by export strength and a weaker yen, while China’s CSI 300 could have declined by 2-4%, weighed down by structural challenges and U.S. tariff threats. Emerging markets as a whole likely saw mixed results, with an av
Four Underestimated Investment Themes Poised for Strong Performance in 2025
With 2025 drawing to a close, several structural trends appear significantly underpriced relative to their long-term fundamentals. Below are four areas that, in my view, remain attractive despite recent market rotation. Uranium and the Next Phase of Nuclear Deployment Major hyperscalers (Amazon, Microsoft, Google) have signed power purchase agreements for new nuclear generation, while governments in the U.S., Canada, UK, and Europe have reaffirmed nuclear as a core component of net-zero strategies. Small modular reactor (SMR) projects are moving from demonstration to firm orders. Spot uranium remains around $80/lb, yet the incentive price for new primary supply is widely estimated at $90–$110/lb. Leading producers with low-cost, permitted assets include Cameco (CCJ), Uranium Energy Corp (U
Achieving FIRE in Singapore: Tailored Investment Strategies by Age Bracket
The Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement has gained significant traction in Singapore, a city-state known for its high cost of living, competitive job market, and robust financial systems. FIRE isn't about quitting your job tomorrow—it's a disciplined approach to saving aggressively (often 50-70% of income) and investing wisely to build a nest egg that generates passive income, allowing you to retire decades ahead of the traditional 65. In Singapore, tools like the Central Provident Fund (CPF), tax-advantaged schemes such as the Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS), and access to global markets via the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and low-cost brokers make this achievable.But success hinges on starting early and adapting to life stages. Your age determines your risk tolerance,
Analysis of Frasers Centrepoint Trust (FCT) Rights Issue
Rationale for the Rights Issue The rights issue aligns with FCT’s growth-oriented strategy and financial prudence: Funding the Northpoint City South Wing Acquisition: The S$1.17 billion deal increases FCT’s ownership of Northpoint City to 100%, consolidating its control over one of Singapore’s largest suburban retail complexes (combined NLA of ~1.1 million sq ft). This acquisition taps into a stable, necessity-driven shopper base in Yishun, enhancing portfolio resilience. Portfolio Synergies: Owning both North Wing (already 100% owned) and South Wing allows FCT to optimize leasing, marketing, and asset enhancement strategies across the integrated complex, potentially boosting rental income and operational efficiency. Maintaining Financial Flexibility: With gearing at 36.1% post-divestments
Gold and Bitcoin Smash All-Time Highs: Bubble Alert or the Dawn of a New Bull Market?
As of today, October 5, 2025, gold has surged to a record $3,919 per ounce, capping off a stellar September and marking its seventh straight weekly gain. Meanwhile, Bitcoin just blasted through its previous peak, hitting a jaw-dropping $125,700 earlier today—its first all-time high since August. That's right, both assets are dancing at levels that would have seemed like pie-in-the-sky dreams just a few years ago. But here's the million-dollar question (or should I say, the $125K Bitcoin question?): Is this a screaming sign of an overheated market ready to pop, or the kickoff to an epic new era of growth? Let's break it down. The Surge: What's Fueling the Fire?First off, let's get the facts straight. Gold didn't just creep up—it's up over 45% year-to-date, trading just shy of $3,900 amid a
Nucor Corporation (NUE - NYSE) Why Invest: A leading U.S. steel producer, Nucor thrives under tariffs that protect domestic steel from cheap imports (e.g., Section 232 tariffs). Rising infrastructure spending amplifies this. Upside: Strong pricing power and U.S. focus. Risk: Steel price corrections. Caterpillar Inc. (CAT - NYSE) Why Invest: Caterpillar’s heavy machinery benefits from reduced foreign competition and potential U.S. infrastructure boosts tied to tariff-driven domestic growth. Upside: Global reach with U.S.-centric gains. Risk: Trade war escalation hurting exports. ExxonMobil (XOM - NYSE) Why Invest: If tariffs disrupt Canadian or Mexican oil imports, ExxonMobil’s domestic production and refining capacity could see higher utilization and profits. Upside: Energy price stability
The Hidden Costs of Fiat Currency: Navigating Devaluation and Protecting Your Portfolio
In an era where central banks wield unprecedented control over money supply, fiat currency—the government-issued legal tender not backed by a physical commodity like gold—dominates global economies. From the U.S. dollar to the euro, these currencies derive their value from trust in issuing authorities rather than intrinsic worth. While fiat systems enable flexible monetary policies to stimulate growth, they also sow seeds of instability through inflation and devaluation, eroding savers' purchasing power over time. As of September 2025, with U.S. inflation ticking up to 2.9% annually in August, investors are increasingly questioning how to safeguard their wealth against these forces. This article explores the ripple effects of fiat currency on economies and investments, then outlines practi
Nvidia (NVDA) Why to Watch: Nvidia is hosting its GPU Technology Conference (GTC) from March 17-21, with CEO Jensen Huang delivering a keynote on March 18. Updates on its Blackwell Ultra chip and Vera Rubin architecture could impact its stock, especially after a big drop in 2025. The conference would give investors a glimpse of Blackwell capabilities and show Nvdia as the clear leader in AI space
🚀 The AI Pivot: Analyzing Alibaba's Bold Bet on Qwen and the Global AI Race
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA) is navigating a critical strategic shift, moving beyond its e-commerce roots to become a technology-driven powerhouse anchored in Cloud and Artificial Intelligence. Facing headwinds from intense domestic competition and China's deflationary pressures, the company's aggressive, multi-billion-dollar commitment to AI—specifically through its Qwen Large Language Model (LLM)—is becoming the central pillar of its investment thesis. 💰 Investment Outlook: Pressures and Potential Alibaba's near-term financials reflect the cost of this transition. While the company's shares have shown impressive gains year-to-date (surging over 80% as of late November 2025), significant investments in AI infrastructure and e-commerce subsidies are compressing margins. * Financ
Temasek's Real Estate Shake-Up: CapitaLand and Mapletree Merger Talks Could Forge Asia's $150B Giant
In a move that could redefine Singapore's dominance in Asian real estate investment management, Temasek Holdings is reportedly orchestrating early-stage discussions for a blockbuster merger between two of its flagship property arms: CapitaLand Investment (CLI) and Mapletree Investments. The Wall Street Journal broke the story on November 3, revealing that the potential tie-up aims to consolidate over $150 billion in assets under management (AUM), spanning REITs, private funds, logistics, commercial offices, data centers, and student housing. With CLI's AUM at $90 billion as of August 2025 and Mapletree's at $61.7 billion through March, this union would catapult the combined entity into the ranks of global heavyweights like Blackstone or Brookfield in the real estate sector.While both compa