Cash & Liquidity

The Singapore telecoms firm is set to spend S$1.2bn on data centres, equipment and fit-outs for GPU-as-a-service facilities and AI; in February it invested in a data centre firm with KKR.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka said the decision to raise its interest rate to 8.75% is aimed at curbing inflation risks, as the Iran war keeps global oil prices elevated; the bank is also trying to increase US dollar liquidity to curb currency depreciation.

The expansion of the blended finance programme under Singapore’s Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership, includes funding for hard-to-abate sectors from BII. The IEA has also issued a warning around the huge funding required for SEA's transition from coal.

The central bank said the surprise decision is a "pre-emptive" measure to keep inflation in check and to stablise the rupiah as the Iran war drags on. Exports of "strategic natural resources" will need to go through state-owned enterprises.

April's US inflation reading was the highest since May 2023. The Philippines has also been hit with inflation of 7.2% in April as the result of the high oil price as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.

Many larger companies across the region are creating shareholder value and sustaining their dividends amid growth in the region, making it a go-to destination for investors; however experts expect some moderation in 2026.

18 banks involved in Hong Kong's SME Lending Taskforce have increased their SME loan funding to over HK$450bn, in part to help mitigate rising fuel prices.

From blocked shipping lanes to soaring raw material costs, senior company executives warn that supply chain pressures are structural, not cyclical, and the bill is heading to consumers, with long-term finance planning becoming harder.

Despite the race to adopt AI and use fintech tools, CFOs and treasury leaders say communication, judgement and teams matter, and that career paths in finance are becoming anything but linear, said a panel at CTWeek.

The renewal and modernisation of container ships is a priority for the global firm, including the use of green methanol-powered ships.

As oil prices soar, one senior economist argues the currency is "adjusting to a new global equilibrium". Foreign investors pulled over $10bn from Indian shares in March and the RBI is introducing controls on banks' FX positions.

Amid rising inflation, interest rates, and liquidity pressures, Apac corporates are seeing efficient cash flow management as essential, according to Visa's latest Growth Corporates Working Capital Index.