Week ending Sunday, March 22, 2026 This week was rougher than the usual “risk-off” pattern because almost every major market had to digest the same shock at once: higher energy costs, higher inflation risk, and less room for central banks to step in and calm things down. By late Friday and into Sunday trading, Brent… Continue reading
In platform economies, trust is fundamental. When it fails, the entire system is affected. The recent controversy in Vietnam involving a public figure, a ride-hailing driver, and Grab demonstrates how quickly a local conflict can escalate into a significant reputational and economic crisis. The incident centers on a familiar imbalance: a well-known individual allegedly acted… Continue reading
People often describe Singapore’s economy as stable, disciplined, and resilient. Growth remains steady, unemployment is low, and the government is known for strong fiscal management. At first glance, things seem reassuring. But beneath these positive numbers, the rising cost of living has become a steady concern. The real test for Singapore’s economic model isn’t about… Continue reading
In venture capital, “scaling a startup” has become almost a default goal. Founders are urged to move fast, grab market share early, and optimise for growth above everything else. Yet behind that familiar storyline sits a quieter, more uncomfortable truth: startups don’t scale. Systems do. At the beginning, a startup is inherently unstable. It isn’t… Continue reading
Week ending Sunday, March 15, 2026. Market snapshot: Friday close / latest reported prices through March 16 This week, markets remained under pressure. Gold ended the week lower at approximately $5,052 per ounce, down more than 2%, while silver also declined before rebounding to about $80.79 per ounce on Monday. Brent crude rose above $100… Continue reading
When global politics become unstable, economies often return to strategies used in past crises. This seems to be happening now. Recent tensions in the Middle East, especially near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key shipping routes, are raising concerns about oil supply disruptions, energy security, and higher transportation costs. If oil supplies… Continue reading
The University of Melbourne consistently ranks among the leading institutions for economics education in Australia. While the country hosts several strong universities, Melbourne distinguishes itself through the depth of its economics tradition and its significant influence on policy, research, and business leadership throughout the Asia–Pacific region. The Faculty of Business and Economics at the University… Continue reading
When starting a company, most founders pay attention to the obvious things like launching the product, entering the market, raising funds, and hiring the first team. But the decisions that matter most are often the quiet ones made before any of that really begins. The biggest early mistake rarely looks dramatic at first. Instead, it… Continue reading
Week ending Sunday, March 8, 2026. Market snapshot: Friday close / latest reported prices, March 6. This past week didn’t really trade off a clean macro theme. It was driven by a single geopolitical shock that suddenly forced markets to reprice energy, logistics, and inflation risk simultaneously. Spot gold finished Friday at $5,149.14/oz, up on… Continue reading
We talk about growth like it’s the gold standard for entrepreneurs. More users, higher revenue, breaking into new markets, ramping up hiring—these are the milestones that get everyone excited. In meetings and pitch decks, nobody really questions growth. It’s pretty much assumed you need it, and that it must be a good thing. But the… Continue reading
(An economic critique of Fiverr’s fee model) Freelance marketplaces started with a clean idea: cut friction between people with skills and those who need them, anywhere in the world. Platforms like Fiverr presented themselves as neutral infrastructure, a digital bridge where trust, efficiency, and opportunity could flow across borders. Over time, that picture has shifted…. Continue reading
The global auto industry gets called a lot of things: cyclical, capital-hungry, fiercely competitive. All true. Yet, even with wars, recessions, oil shocks, strict climate rules, and waves of new tech, cars have stuck around as one of the world’s toughest and most lasting businesses. It’s not that they’re glamorous or prestigious—modern life just can’t… Continue reading
February 2026 brought an unusual overlap of geopolitical shocks and economic volatility that rippled through almost every major market. Military escalation in the Middle East, shifting policy signals from large economies, and new security moves in Europe and Asia all fed into markets simultaneously. Energy flows, trade routes, and overall risk sentiment were pulled into… Continue reading
From Singapore’s point of view, Nordic businesses come across as calm, grounded, and quietly capable. You rarely see them making a big fuss or exaggerating what they can do. They tend to move at their own pace—sometimes a bit too slowly for Singapore’s taste—but once they commit to something, they usually follow through. For a… Continue reading
Nordic startups have a knack for looking “fine,” but not in the flashy, high-adrenaline way you might see in Silicon Valley. There’s no big show of ambition, none of those charts meant to impress, and definitely not the vibe of a founder running on nothing but caffeine and maybe a little self-mythology. Nordic “fine” is… Continue reading
The slides click off, and a tense silence fills the room. The founder takes a breath, sensing that the real challenge has just begun. In these moments, most experienced investors are no longer swayed by slick graphics or bold statements. They seek the truth beneath the polish: a genuine understanding of how the business truly… Continue reading
This week’s moves didn’t really feel like the start of a fresh trend. It was more about markets tightening the screws on two existing themes: geopolitical risk premiums and interest-rate expectations. Spot gold pushed up to about $5,230.56/oz, close to a one‑month high, helped by softer U.S. yields and another round of safe-haven buying. Silver… Continue reading
