- A + A (May 18): Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani are profiting from a surge in global commodity prices triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, burnishing their fossil-fuel credentials even as Asia’s richest men publicly push their pivots toward greener energy. With coal prices skyrocketing to a record, Adani’s conglomerate is expanding a controversial mine in Australia to meet demand. Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd is snapping up distressed crude-oil cargoes at discounts to feed its refining complex, the biggest in the world. Reliance even deferred a scheduled maintenance of the facility to help churn out more diesel and gasoline, whose margins have shot up to touch a three-year high. The two Indian tycoons are stepping in at a time when many developed countries are scrambling for alternative sources of fuels as they try to back away from Russian supplies. This month, the Group of Seven most-industrialized nations pledged to ban imports of Russian oil. The … [Read more...] about Asia’s two richest men reap windfall from surging oil, coal
Reliance industries ltd reliance industries
US pries into over 100 trader and banker phones in texting probe
Reuters filepix for illustration purpose only - A + A NEW YORK (May 18): The US is forcing Wall Street banks to embark on a systematic search through more than 100 personal mobile phones carried by top traders and dealmakers in the largest-ever probe into clandestine messaging on platforms such as WhatsApp. The Securities and Exchange Commission has been sending firms lists of key positions — in some cases pointing to around 30 people including heads of certain investment banking teams or trading desks — that are subject to the review, according to people with direct knowledge of the requests. Personnel in those roles are being ordered to hand over phones so devices can be examined by lawyers. The aim is to gauge how pervasively Wall Street professionals use unauthorized messaging platforms to chat with each other or clients as regulators decide which firms to punish, and how hard, for failing to preserve business-related messages sent via unapproved platforms. … [Read more...] about US pries into over 100 trader and banker phones in texting probe
CFPB Orders Debt-Relief Payment Processors to Pay Over $11 Total Million Penalty
On Wednesday, May 11, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal watchdog agency responsible for consumer protection in the financial services industry, finalized an enforcement action against debt-relief payment processors RAM Payment and Account Management Systems (AMS) as well as AMS’s co-founders, Gregory Winters and Stephen Chaya. The respondents have been accused of illegally collecting debt-relief fees, misleading borrowers about when said fees would be paid to debt-relief companies, sending illegal advance fees to debt-relief companies, and failing to return funds to consumers who cancelled their student loan debt-relief agreements. The CFPB has ordered RAM Payment, AMS, Winters, and Chaya to pay over $11 million in consumer redress and civil money penalties, in addition to banning AMS, Winters, and Chaya from the debt-relief payment processing and account maintenance industry. Key Takeaways The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has … [Read more...] about CFPB Orders Debt-Relief Payment Processors to Pay Over $11 Total Million Penalty
Malaysia is ready to work with US, UK on timber shortage, says Zuraida
Reuters filepix for illustration purpose only - A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): Malaysia is prepared to work closely with the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) to address the shortage of timber and timber products faced by the two countries. Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin said this can be done by sourcing and value-adding from other countries, especially for PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) — certified timber products. In a statement on Wednesday (May 18), she said the sanctions on Russian timber products imports to the US have undoubtedly led to American importers looking for alternative sources of material, especially for plywood. “The current market sentiments on Malaysian timber in the US is positive, especially for Meranti and Keruing, with year-on-year demand for Meranti and Keruing sawn timber increasing by 9% and 467% respectively,” she said. Zuraida noted that the … [Read more...] about Malaysia is ready to work with US, UK on timber shortage, says Zuraida
Sunway REIT’s 1Q net property income jumps 77% on strong pick up in business activities
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): Sunway Real Estate Investment Trust's (Sunway REIT) net property income (NPI) for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 (1QFY22) jumped 77.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM118.9 million from RM67.02 million driven by strong pick up in business activities for the retail and hotel segments due to the relaxation in movement restrictions. Earnings per unit rose to 2.96 sen from 0.94 sen a year earlier, Sunway REIT informed Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday (May 18). Quarterly revenue grew 47.67% to RM153.97 million from RM104.27 million underpinned by higher revenue from all segments. Gross revenue for the retail segment soared 83.5% to RM98.4 million from RM53.7 million a year ago, primarily contributed by strong performance from all retail malls on the back of pent-up demand, festive spending, relaxation of Covid-19 safety measures and marginal rental support. The hotel segment’s gross revenue increased 28.6% y-o-y to RM18.5 million compared … [Read more...] about Sunway REIT’s 1Q net property income jumps 77% on strong pick up in business activities
Chin Hin founder Chiau Beng Teik and Signature International emerge as Fiamma’s controlling shareholders
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): Signature International Bhd and its largest shareholder-cum-chairman Datuk Seri Chiau Beng Teik have emerged as the largest shareholders of Fiamma Holdings Bhd after acquiring a combined 29.59% equity interest in Fiamma. The 29.59% stake or 150 million shares, was acquired from Fiamma's chief executive officer and group managing director, Lim Choo Hong, at RM1.50 per share. Following the disposal of shares in Fiamma, Lim ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Fiamma, holding a 0.413% direct equity interest and 0.118% indirect interest in the company. A filing with Bursa Malaysia showed that Signature had entered into a conditional share sale agreement (SSA) with Lim, to acquire 120 million shares or 23.67% equity interest for RM180 million cash. On a separate note, Divine Inventions Sdn Bhd, a private entity controlled by Chiau’s family, entered into an SSA with Lim to purchase 30 million shares or 5.92% equity interest in Fiamma … [Read more...] about Chin Hin founder Chiau Beng Teik and Signature International emerge as Fiamma’s controlling shareholders
Investor Bill Ackman’s take on the Terra Luna crypto crash
Bill Ackman stressed on the need for self-regulation in the cryptocurrency industry. American investor Bill Ackman has said that schemes like Luna are a threat to the whole cryptocurrency ecosystem. His remark came after Luna, the sister token of stablecoin TerraUSD, crashed 100 percent on May 13. Bill Ackman said in a Twitter thread that to him, the algorithm of Terra seemed like a " crypto version of a pyramid scheme". "Investors were promised 20% returns backed by a token whose value is driven only by demand from new investors in the token," he added. "There is no fundamental underlying business." When I read about the ‘algorithm’ of @terra_money it sounds just like a crypto version of a pyramid scheme. Investors were promised 20% returns backed by a token whose value is driven only by demand from new investors in the token. There is no fundamental underlying business. — Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) May 17, 2022 Close Ackman said Luna gained … [Read more...] about Investor Bill Ackman’s take on the Terra Luna crypto crash
India will need around 1 lakh drone pilots in the future: Jyotiraditya Scindia
Representative image. Drone manufacturing and services will create a multitude of jobs and is touted to be an over Rs 30,000-crore industry, Ministry of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia said on May 10. Addressing the “Experience Studio on Drones” event organised by the government think tank Niti Aayog, Scindia said, "The potential is huge in the drone industry. On the manufacturing side, we are looking at Rs 5,000 crore investments and creation of 10,000 jobs. On the services side, we are looking at creating a Rs 30,000-crore industry." In the coming years, the country would need nearly a lakh drone pilots, the minister said. "Today a drone pilot can be trained without requiring any college degrees. They just need to (be) 12th class pass. They can be into a job within two-three months, and get Rs 30,000 per month salary," he added. Moneycontrol recently wrote about four transgender community members who were the first to be appointed as Directorate General of Civil … [Read more...] about India will need around 1 lakh drone pilots in the future: Jyotiraditya Scindia
Singapore Airlines’ second-half loss narrows as travel picks up
- A + A (May 18): A welcome revival in travel and cargo demand helped Singapore Airlines Ltd narrow losses in the second half of the fiscal year through March, though the high price of oil weighed on the carrier, its annual results showed. The airline’s net loss in the October-March period was S$125 million (US$90 million), it said in a statement Wednesday, compared with a loss of S$804 million a year earlier. Sales more than doubled in the six-month period to S$4.79 billion. Singapore started unraveling tight Covid-19 travel restrictions in September, allowing fully-vaccinated people from certain countries to enter without having to quarantine — a boost to the flag carrier, which had suffered record losses in the height of the pandemic. With Singapore further loosening curbs in April, quarantine-free entry is available for inoculated travelers from anywhere. “Key markets around the world have further eased travel restrictions, supporting a strong recovery in … [Read more...] about Singapore Airlines’ second-half loss narrows as travel picks up
Parliamentary panel terms drone ‘misuse’ a significant threat, asks MHA to create anti-drone tech
Representative image. While claiming that “drone technology poses a significant threat to governments…”, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to create a pool of anti-drone technology and let all States and Union Territories access it. The committee also sought and received information from several States, including West Bengal and Punjab, regarding the steps taken to deal with drone attacks. These recommendations and inquiries are part of the committee's 237th report on Police — Training, Modernisation and Reforms, released in February 2022. They come at a time when the Indian government has been trying to give the sector a boost through its Drone Rules – 2021, and the more recent PLI Scheme for Drones . In addition, there has also been a growing impetus for the use of drones in varied industries, including agriculture and health (medicine delivery). “The Committee... recommends that the MHA may take up with concerned … [Read more...] about Parliamentary panel terms drone ‘misuse’ a significant threat, asks MHA to create anti-drone tech