Podcasts about Apac

US and Israel launched a large-scale joint military operation against Iran on Saturday, 28th February; Iranian state television officially confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Iran launched immediate retaliatory missile and drone attacks against Israel, and multiple US military installations across the Gulf and multiple Gulf states, including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.Iran's IRGC declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to international navigation until further notice; IRGC also announced on Sunday that they hit 3 US and UK oil tankers with missiles in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.US President Trump suggested that the fighting with Iran could go on for four weeks; US Secretary of War Hegseth is to hold a press conference at 08:00EST/13:00GMT.Crude futures surged at the reopen but retreated from best levels, spot gold rallied on a haven bid but then mildly pulled back. APAC stocks were mostly pressured, while European equity futures indicate a drop at the cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 1.5%.Russia is said to consider a halt in peace talks unless Ukraine cedes land. Talks planned for the week ahead will be decisive on whether or not the sides can agree on terms to end the war.Looking ahead, highlights include German Retail Sales (Jan), EZ/UK/US Final Manufacturing PMIs (Feb), US ISM Manufacturing PMI (Feb), Japanese Unemployment Rate (Jan), Speakers including BoE's Taylor & Ramsden, BoC's Kozicki & Macklem, Earnings from Riot Platforms, Norwegian Cruise Line & ASM International.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Industry leaders from Auros, GSR, and Selini take the stage Consensus Hong Kong to dismantle the "evil" market maker narrative and explain their role as a defense against catastrophic volatility. Leaders from market makers took the stage at Consensus Hong Kong to dismantle the "evil" market maker narrative that dominates social media. In this candid panel, Auros Chief Commercial Officer, Jason Atkins, GSR's Managing Director and Head of APAC and EMEA Sales, Chuan Jin, and Selini's CEO and Founder, Jordi Alexander, explain why market makers are the primary defense against catastrophic volatility rather than the cause of it.

The Asia-Pacific region is home to more than half the world's population - at 60% - with approximately 4.75 billion people. In recent years, India and Vietnam, to name just two, have enacted comprehensive data protection laws. Near the end of 2025, India finalized its highly anticipated regulations for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and Vietnam's Personal Data Protection Law became effective on the first of January this year.    Hogan Lovells Partner Charmian Aw has long practiced in the region, specializing in APAC data protection, privacy, AI governance and cybersecurity law and offers developments of the region in the IAPP's Asia-Pacific Dashboard Digest. She also joined the IAPP Publications Advisory Board this year. While attending the UK Data Protection Intensive in London, IAPP Editorial Director Jedidiah Bracy sat down with Charmian Aw to discuss the latest developments in the region, specifically regarding India and Vietnam. Here's what she had to say. 

APAC stocks were ultimately higher heading into month-end but with price action choppy following the weak handover from the US, where sentiment was clouded by tech weakness, while participants also digested the recent US-Iran talks in Geneva - which ended in no deal.Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said they entered serious talks about sanctions relief and the nuclear issue, while he added it was one of the most serious talks they have had with the US, and technical talks will start in Vienna from Monday.Ukrainian President Zelensky said the next trilateral talks will likely occur in the UAE in early March.PBoC announced it will cut the FX Risk Reserve Ratio for forward FX sales to 0% from 20%, effective March 2nd to promote FX market development and support corporate exchange rate risk management.European equity futures indicate an uneventful cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures flat after the cash market closed with losses of 0.2% on Thursday.Looking ahead, highlights include German Import Prices (Jan), French/Spanish/German CPI (Feb), German Unemployment Rate (Feb), Canadian GDP (Jan), US PPI (Jan), Comments from BoE's Pill, Earnings from Holcim & BASF.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Brian Keenan leads international strategy and AI consultancy for WE Communications, a ~$200M integrated marketing firm. Brian counsels senior leaders from companies such as Adobe, HEINEKEN and Amazon to succeed in an AI-enabled future. Latest interest areas including AI search, agentic commerce, synthetic audiences, and autonomous workflows. He is a regular presenter at industry conferences such as ICCO, PRCA, WARC, and Mumbrella across EMEA & APAC. He brings a global and grounded mindset to his work from living in four countries and raising three children.

APAC stocks are mostly positive as the majority of the region took its cue from gains on Wall Street, where tech led the advances, and NVIDIA posted stronger-than-expected earnings.US equity futures initially saw support following NVIDIA's earnings results, as the world's most valuable company beat on top and bottom lines, although gains were pared as NVIDIA ultimately returned to flat territory after hours.BoJ's Governor Ueda said there is no change from January to the BoJ's projected timing for hitting its price target, and inflation is expected to re-accelerate from the current slowdown.US VP Vance said they see evidence that Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon; US Secretary of State Rubio said Iran poses a grave threat and seeks nuclear capability.European equity futures indicate a slightly lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.2% after the cash market closed with gains of 0.9% on Wednesday.Looking ahead, highlights include EZ Consumer Confidence Final (Feb), US Jobless Claims, Japanese Tokyo CPI (Feb), Retail Sales (Jan). Speakers include ECB's Lagarde, BoE's Lombardelli & Fed's Bowman. Supply from Italy & US. Earnings from CoreWeave, Intuit, Vistra Energy, Autodesk, Dell, Baidu, Warner Bros Discovery, Munich Re, Schneider Electric, AXA, Engie & Saint-Gobain.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

In this era of "permacrisis" and constant disruption, adaptability and resilience are vital traits that require collaboration and an increasing focus on human-centric skills. That's the messaging to come out of the 2025 Global Talent Competitive Index (GTCI), an annual report that highlights the latest talent trends and offers insights into the current global talent landscape.For this episode of “The INSEAD Perspective: Spotlight on Asia” podcast series, Sameer Hasija, Dean of Asia at INSEAD, analyses the results and implications of the 11th edition of the GTCI through an APAC lens alongside two of its authors: L. Felipe Monteiro, Academic Director of the GTCI and Senior Affiliate Professor of Strategy, and Paul Evans, Emeritus Professor of Organisational Behaviour.   Perhaps the most notable theme from the 2025 report is the shifting value of human capabilities, where soft human-centric skills are becoming just as vital as hard digital or technical skills. As AI handles increasingly complex technical tasks, Monteiro and Evans suggest that "generalist adaptive skills" – including leadership, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship – will increasingly take centre stage.Reflecting on the high ranking of certain countries such as Singapore, Switzerland and the Nordic nations, Evans points to the strength of their integrated ecosystems, where government, business, educational institutions and labour organisations work together to solve problems using a forward-looking approach. He warns that without this deep ecosystem collaboration and a long-term vision, even technologically advanced nations may struggle to implement the systemic changes required to thrive in today's disrupted global economy.That potential danger is highlighted in a concerning trend identified in the report, where several upper-middle-income countries, such as Malaysia, Brazil and Mexico, appear to have reached a "talent plateau" or “trap". Despite making good headway in the earlier stages of their development, these countries have seen their progress stall as they find themselves squeezed between high-innovating top-tier countries and lower-income countries with cost advantages.   Levels of optimism for the future were mixed among the three speakers.However, they agreed that greater collaboration, an increased emphasis on lifelong education and the ability of individuals to learn and adjust on the job will be vital if countries and companies hope to successfully navigate the uncertain waters of the next five years – and beyond.  

APAC stocks traded higher as the region took impetus from the rebound on Wall Street after Anthropic's presentation helped soothe some AI/software concerns, and with tech also bolstered by the USD 60bln Meta-AMD chip deal; Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.2% after the cash market closed flat on Tuesday.US President Trump talked up the economy in his State of the Union Address, saying that the nation is back, bigger, better and stronger than before, while he added that we've seen nothing yet.Regarding tariffs, Trump said the Supreme Court decision on tariffs is very unfortunate but added that tariffs will remain in place and nearly all countries want to keep the trade deals.Trump also commented on Iran, which he claimed is working on missiles that could soon reach the US, and noted Iran wants to make a deal but hasn't yet said that it won't pursue nuclear weapons.Antipodeans were firmer amid the positive risk appetite, and with AUD/USD leading the advances following firmer-than-expected monthly CPI data from Australia.Looking ahead, highlights include German GfK (Mar), GDP Final (Q4), Swiss Sentiment (Feb), EZ HICP Final (Jan). Speakers include RBA's Bullock, Fed's Musalem, Barkin & Schmid. Supply from Germany & US. Earnings from NVIDIA, Salesforce, Snowflake, TJX Companies, Lowe's, Synopsys & Bayer.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

How do high-growth, born-global SMEs tackle cross-border complexity, multi-entity management, and the trust gap in payments? Howie Lim talks to Payoneer's Nagesh Devata about why Singapore is the ultimate launchpad, the power of looking local globally, and the unified strategy needed to scale with speed and flexibility across the region. Synopsis: The Business Times Podcast Channel presents diverse perspectives, in-depth analysis and news covering career, business, markets, investing, current affairs and tech. This episode is produced in collaboration with Payoneer. Highlights: 02:08 Singapore's unique position 04:38 APAC expansion challenges 08:30 Payoneer provides speed, flexibility 09:54 Bridging the trust gap 12:13 Build unified infrastructure More about: Payoneer Business Payment Services & Online Payment Processing Scaling From Singapore into ASEAN: A Practical Expansion Guide --- Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to btpodcasts@sph.com.sg. --- Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg) With Nagesh Devata, senior vice president for APAC GTM at Payoneer Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: Howie Lim & Chai Pei Chieh Executive producer: Claressa Monteiro A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media --- Follow BT Podcasts: Channel: bt.sg/pcOM Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/pcAP Spotify: bt.sg/pcSP YouTube Music: bt.sg/giK9 Website: bt.sg/btpod Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. --- Discover more BT podcast series: BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlensonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stellar's Raja Chakravorti and Marketnode's Rehan Ahmed discuss how APAC's massive wealth and regulatory tailwinds are driving the commercialization of onchain assets. Raja Chakravorti, Chief Business Officer at Stellar Development Foundation, and Rehan Ahmed, CEO of Marketnode, joined CoinDesk Live at Consensus Hong Kong to discuss the shift from blockchain experimentation to full-scale commercialization in the Asia-Pacific region. With 7 million millionaires projected in the region by 2030 and $10 trillion in assets managed between Singapore and Hong Kong, the duo outlines how APAC is outperforming the West in the race for onchain settlement. - This episode was hosted live by Jennifer Sanasie at Consensus Hong Kong 2026, presented by Hex Trust.

Solana's Lu Yin discusses the shift to Internet Capital Markets and how the network is scaling to bridge global finance with the APAC region. Solana Foundation's Head of APAC, Lu Yin, joins CoinDesk Live at Consensus Hong Kong to break down why Solana is the emerging infrastructure for global finance. In this interview, Yin explores the transition toward Internet Capital Markets, where global assets and payments settle natively on-chain. From navigating Asia's complex regulatory landscape to scaling for 3,000+ builders, discover how Solana is bridging the gap between Wall Street and the APAC region. - This episode was hosted live by Jennifer Sanasie at Consensus Hong Kong 2026, presented by Hex Trust.

APAC mostly firmer as China returned, somewhat shrugging off the weak Wall St. finish on AI disruption concerns.DXY marginally firmer, EUR/USD directionless, while USD/JPY edged higher and above 155.00.USTs pulled back from Monday's best, Bunds remained near highs, while JGBs saw choppy action after the long weekend.Crude remained tentative amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, XAU faded while copper rallied as China returned.Looking ahead, highlights include US ADP Weekly, House Prices (Dec), Consumer Confidence (Feb), Dallas/Richmond Fed (Feb), Atlanta Fed GDP, NBH Policy Announcement, Speakers including ECB's Lagarde, BoE's Bailey, Lombardelli, Greene, Taylor & Pill, Fed's Goolsbee, Collins, Bostic, Waller, Cook & Barkin, Supply from UK, Italy & US, Earnings from Home Depot & Keurig Dr Pepper.Click for the Newsquawk Week Ahead.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

If most B2B buyers already know who they're going to choose before they even speak to sales, what does that mean for your B2B marketing strategy?In this episode of the Smarter Marketer Podcast, James Lawrence sits down with Stuart Jaffray, Managing Director of Green Hat, to unpack the latest findings from the APAC B2B Buyer Journey Research Report. With data from over 800 buyers across the region, the message is clear: the rhythm of B2B buying has changed under the current economic and technological conditions.Read Green Hat's report: The APAC B2B Buyer Journey Research Report 2025Key Takeaways:What happens before a buyer speaks to sales, and why that's where most decisions are actually madeWhy “demand generation” might really just be demand captureThe changes in buying group size and timing, and what's driving itHow AI is accelerating first contact, even as buyers try to self-serveWhat a Millennial and Gen Z-led buying committee expects from your contentWhy ungating content is uncomfortable but increasingly necessaryThe one metric revenue teams should prioritise over MQLsGuest:Stuart Jaffray is the Managing Director of Green Hat, a specialist B2B marketing agency operating across the APAC region. He's spent his career working at the intersection of brand, demand and revenue, helping complex organisations align marketing and sales around how buying decisions actually get made. Previously he has steered strategy and growth at global advertising giant Starcom and shaped premium brand experiences at BMW Australia, bringing a deep understanding of customer behaviour, brand positioning and commercial impact.With this blend of big-brand marketing and agency-led demand acceleration, Stuart brings a commercial and strategic lens to B2B growth.You can follow Stuart on LinkedIn.Find Us Online:James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/ Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/ Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/Buy Smarter Marketer:Hardcover:

APAC stocks were mixed amid trade uncertainty as the region digested the latest tariff developments after the US Supreme Court ruled against IEEPA tariffs on Friday, prompting President Trump to impose a global 10% flat-rate tariff, which he later raised to 15% over the weekend.US officials said that tariff deal partners should honour their agreements, while USTR Greer said he sought to separate the tariff agreements from the 15% global tariff that US President Trump announced.European Parliament's trade chief is to propose freezing the ratification of the EU's trade agreement with the US until they receive details from the Trump administration regarding its trade policy.Goldman Sachs analysts indicate that most Asian economies will experience slightly lower US tariffs after the Supreme Court ruling on IEEPA tariffs, with China expected to see the largest decline.US President Trump reportedly considers a targeted strike on Iran, followed by a larger attack and is open to deposing the Supreme Leader by force if Iran is stubborn, according to the NYT.Looking ahead, highlights include German Ifo (Feb), Chicago Fed National Activity Index (Dec/Jan). Speakers include BoE's Taylor & Fed's Waller. Supply from the EU, Earnings from Hims & Hers.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Singapore shares nudged higher today as investors continue to digest developments on the global trade front. The Straits Times Index was up 0.16% at 5,025.75 points at 2.32pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$1.05B seen in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have United Overseas Insurance, after the insurance arm of UOB on Friday posted a net profit of S$23.7 million for the second half of its 2025 fiscal year ended Dec 31 – a 51.5 per cent increase from S$15.6 million in the year-ago period. Elsewhere, from how markets in Asia-Pacific largely shrugged off US President Donald Trump’s latest decision to increase global tariffs to 15 per cent from 10 per cent, to how Singapore’s core inflation eased to 1 per cent in January – more economic and international headlines remained in focus. Also on deck – a look ahead to earnings due this week, with all eyes laser focused on Nvidia’s latest results. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Hans Moningka, Director, APAC from RM PLC Group (rm.com) to explore the evolving landscape of digital assessment. He brings a global perspective shaped by partnerships with major assessment authorities and education systems. Throughout the conversation, Hans unpacks how digital exams are steadily replacing paper-based models. Rather than describing a sudden revolution, he outlines a careful and strategic shift. Moreover, he explains why accessibility is driving student preference for online assessment. Research across several countries shows most students favour digital formats, especially after direct experience. Importantly, Hans addresses the balance between innovation and integrity. While digital platforms offer flexibility, assessment authenticity must remain central. Therefore, the discussion explores tools such as secure exam browsers, focus tracking, and AI-supported proctoring. These technologies strengthen oversight, yet they also raise ethical considerations. In addition, the episode examines the growing influence of artificial intelligence in schools. AI-generated content is becoming more common. Consequently, educators must rethink how originality and authorship are assessed. Hans shares practical insights into responsible AI use, emphasising preparation over panic. For teachers and school leaders, the conversation highlights two key gaps: availability and preparation. Infrastructure, device access, and professional learning all shape readiness. Furthermore, mindset plays a critical role. Small, deliberate steps towards digital integration can build long-term confidence. Ultimately, this episode offers cautious optimism. Assessment will continue to evolve, yet humane and credible practice can remain at its core. For educators navigating change, the insights from Hans provide clarity, reassurance, and strategic direction. Powered by: xuno.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Hans Moningka, Director, APAC from RM PLC Group (rm.com) to explore the evolving landscape of digital assessment. He brings a global perspective shaped by partnerships with major assessment authorities and education systems. Throughout the conversation, Hans unpacks how digital exams are steadily replacing paper-based models. Rather than describing a sudden revolution, he outlines a careful and strategic shift. Moreover, he explains why accessibility is driving student preference for online assessment. Research across several countries shows most students favour digital formats, especially after direct experience. Importantly, Hans addresses the balance between innovation and integrity. While digital platforms offer flexibility, assessment authenticity must remain central. Therefore, the discussion explores tools such as secure exam browsers, focus tracking, and AI-supported proctoring. These technologies strengthen oversight, yet they also raise ethical considerations. In addition, the episode examines the growing influence of artificial intelligence in schools. AI-generated content is becoming more common. Consequently, educators must rethink how originality and authorship are assessed. Hans shares practical insights into responsible AI use, emphasising preparation over panic. For teachers and school leaders, the conversation highlights two key gaps: availability and preparation. Infrastructure, device access, and professional learning all shape readiness. Furthermore, mindset plays a critical role. Small, deliberate steps towards digital integration can build long-term confidence. Ultimately, this episode offers cautious optimism. Assessment will continue to evolve, yet humane and credible practice can remain at its core. For educators navigating change, the insights from Hans provide clarity, reassurance, and strategic direction. Powered by: xuno.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

APAC stocks followed suit to the predominantly negative mood on Wall Street, where risk appetite was subdued amid private credit fund concerns and geopolitical risks.Hang Seng retreated on return from the Lunar New Year holidays, with the big tech names leading the declines in the index, while mainland markets and the Stock Connect remained shut and won't open until next Tuesday.USD/JPY lingered near the prior day's best levels north of 155.00, with some mild support seen as the cooling of Japanese inflation essentially provides the BoJ additional policy space.US President Trump said 15 days is the maximum deadline to reach an agreement with Iran; otherwise, it will be very unfortunate for them, according to Al Jazeera; US President Trump reportedly weighs a limited strike to force Iran into a nuclear deal, WSJ reported.European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.5% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.7% on Thursday.Looking ahead, highlights include ECB EZ Indicator of Negotiated Wages; UK Retail Sales (Jan), PSNB (Jan), German PPI (Jan), Global Flash PMIs (Feb), Canadian Retail Sales (Jan), US PCE/GDP (Dec/Q4). Speakers include Fed's Logan & Bostic, Earnings from Anglo American.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

APAC stocks traded higher following the positive handover from the US and with South Korea outperforming amid tech strength on return from the Lunar New Year holidays.FOMC's January meeting minutes showed a broad agreement to hold rates, but views diverged on the path ahead.US senior official told Axios that the round of talks with Iran in Geneva was "a hamburger stuffed with nothing" and is one of the reasons why Trump is close to making a decision on the issue of going to war with Iran, according to Axios's Ravid.US senior official stated that all US forces involved in the Middle East build-up should be in place by mid-March and that Secretary of State Rubio will travel to Israel to meet Israeli PM Netanyahu to discuss Iran on the weekend of February 28th.US President Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks on the economy at 16:00 EST/21:00 GMT on Thursday.Looking ahead, highlights include US Trade Balance (Dec), Weekly/Continuing Claims, Philadelphia Fed (Feb), Pending Home Sales (Jan), EZ Flash Consumer Confidence (Feb), New Zealand Trade Balance (Jan), Australian Flash PMIs (Feb), Japanese CPI (Jan). Speakers include ECB's Cipollone, ECB's de Guindos, Fed's Bostic, Kashkari, Goolsbee & Bowman. Supply from Spain, France & US. Earnings from Walmart, Deere, Wayfair, Klarna, Opendoor, Newmont Mining, Southern & Constellation Energy.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Today's MadTech Daily covers Perplexity stopping ads to protect AI trust, Havas posting APAC gains in a ‘transformative' year, and Nvidia landing a multibillion-dollar deal with Meta.

In the first Human Capital Insight episode of On Aon, Jason Trull and Aon talent and rewards leaders unpack how organizations can turn rapid workforce change into a performance advantage across technology, life sciences and financial services. Drawing on Aon data and current market signals, the group explores what's shifting fastest: accelerating AI adoption and governance needs, skills evolving beyond traditional role-based models and rising expectations for personalization, flexibility and career pathways.Key Takeaways:   AI is reshaping skills demand and pushing new governance and reskilling priorities across industries.Skills are evolving faster than traditional talent models. Routine and transactional tasks are declining as higher-value analytical and digital skills rise.Employee expectations continue to evolve, increasing the importance of personalization, flexibility and clear career pathways.Experts in this episode:   Jason Trull — Global Head of Talent Data Solutions, AonChris Tanana — US HCS Rewards Solutions Partner, North America, AonTanaz Moazami — US HCS Rewards Solutions Partner, North America, AonEphraim Edelman — Head of Talent Data Solutions, North America, AonRahul Chawla — Advisory Best Practices, APAC, AonKey moments:   (1:05) The global labor market is in a state of flux. Employee turnover, shifts in hiring trends, the spread of AI and healthcare costs are all piling the pressure on people leaders, and each industry is moving through really its own version of disruption.(5:00) We believe that about 96% of life sciences firms plan to invest in reskilling to stay competitive.(6:00) The tech sector, maybe more than any other, is facing a fundamental shift of the skills that companies need as AI adoption accelerates.(14:15) Today's employee value proposition requires companies to refocus and consider various elements, including skills, pathways and growth. Soundbites:     Jason Trull:“Demand for professionals with AI skills is only going to increase, making it all the more necessary for leaders to seek out reskilling opportunities for their teams.” Chris Tanana:“It's a difficult balance staying cost efficient without undermining the ability to attract and retain critical talent.”Tanaz Moazami:“Firms are navigating multi-generational needs, evolving expectations on well-being and ongoing reinvestment in employee value proposition to keep pace.”Ephraim Edelman:“Companies are rebuilding a very different kind of talent model. We're seeing a shift towards a more skilled, more specialized and more globally distributed workforce.”Rahul Chawla:“Our clients are focused on delivering personalized benefits and communicating that value through non-traditional methods.”

幻冬舎の暗号資産（仮想通貨）/ブロックチェーンなどWeb3領域の専門メディア「あたらしい経済 https://www.neweconomy.jp/ 」がおくる、Podcast番組です。 ーーーーー 【番組スポンサー】 この番組は、暗号資産取引におけるフルラインナップサービスを提供する「SBI VCトレード」のスポンサーでお届けします。 ーーーーー SBI VCトレードは、「暗号資産もSBI」のスローガンのもと、国内最大級のインターネット総合金融グループであるSBIグループの総合力を生かし、暗号資産取引におけるフルラインナップサービスを提供しております。暗号資産交換業者・第一種金融商品取引業者・電子決済手段等取引業者として高いセキュリティ体制のもと、暗号資産の売買にとどまらない暗号資産運用サービスや法人向けサービスの展開、さらにステーブルコインのユーエスディーシー（USDC）を国内で初めて取り扱っております。 ーーーーー SBI VCトレード公式サイト：https://account.sbivc.co.jp/signup?hc_ak=1RNML.3.M06AS ーーーーー 【紹介したニュース】 ・OpenAIとパラダイム、AIエージェントのスマコン脆弱性対応能力を測る「EVMbench」公開 ・コインベース開発のL2「Base」、OPスタックから独自の統合スタックへ移行 ・米国初、「スイ（SUI）」ステーキング現物ETFが2本上場。カナリーとグレースケールが組成 ・ブラックロック、ステーキング対応「イーサリアム（ETH）」現物ETFの修正申請 ・ナイジェリアと南アで「ステーブルコイン需要」が急伸、決済利用拡大求める声も＝調査 ・TORICOが約1億円でイーサリアム追加購入、総取得数1,787ETH超に ・KLab、2億円でビットコインとゴールドを追加購入 ・カナダの金ロイヤルティ企業Elemental Royalty、配当を「テザーゴールド（XAUT）」で提供へ ・トン財団がOSL傘下バンザと提携、APACでステーブルコイン決済インフラ提供へ ・ヴィタリック、イーサリアムの「中立性」と「パーミッションレス」の意味を説明。思想的議論を背景に ・レジャーやトレザー利用者に郵送型フィッシング、物理的手紙で偽更新を装う手口 ・世界最大イーサリアムDAT「BitMine」のトム・リー、2/25正午に緊急来日公演 【あたらしい経済関連リンク】 ニュースの詳細や、アーカイブやその他の記事はこちらから https://www.neweconomy.jp/

Leaders don't need to be Hollywood-style hype machines to motivate people. In modern workplaces—especially in bilingual environments like Japan—effective motivation is more personal: diagnose what's really blocking performance, then respond with education, training, coaching, clarity, or genuine intrinsic motivation. Do I need to be a charismatic leader to motivate my team? No—charisma is optional; precision is essential. The myth of the rousing locker-room speech doesn't translate well to most modern organisations, especially across languages and cultures. In Japan-based teams where English and Japanese are both in play, persuasion often depends less on "big speeches" and more on consistent one-to-one conversations. In 2025-style hybrid work, people don't experience motivation as a group event; they experience it in the moments where their boss notices what's stuck, removes friction, and helps them win. Think of leadership more like a coach in elite sport: individual feedback, role clarity, and targeted support—not constant emotional theatre. Do now: Replace "pep talk leadership" with "diagnostic leadership": meet people individually, ask what's blocking them, then match the fix to the real issue.  When someone underperforms, is it always a motivation problem? Often it isn't motivation at all—it's confusion, missing skills, or low confidence. Leaders sometimes label non-performance as "they don't care," when the person actually doesn't know what to do, doesn't know how to do it, or doesn't believe they can do it. In fast-moving environments—post-pandemic, AI-accelerated work, constant tools and notifications—people can fall behind silently. The key is to stop guessing. Treat performance gaps like a troubleshooting process: identify whether the barrier is knowledge, skill, belief, clarity, or willingness. Only the last one is truly a motivation issue; the rest are leadership system issues. Do now: Before you "motivate," run a five-part check: Know what? Know how? Believe I can? Know why? Want to? What if my team member says, "I don't know what to do"? That's a knowledge gap—solve it with education and better onboarding. Many organisations do a perfunctory onboarding, then dump people into "figure it out" mode with thin on-the-job training. In a high-pressure Japan HQ or APAC regional role, that can create quiet failure: people look busy, but don't actually know what "good" looks like. Fixing this isn't about speeches—it's about auditing what they're missing. Map the role: key responsibilities, expected outputs, who approves what, which systems matter, and what "done" means. Then schedule consistent boss time to close those gaps. Do now: Do a simple onboarding audit: list the top 10 things they must know, then verify what they truly understand—don't assume.  What if they say, "I don't know how to do it"? That's a skills/process gap—solve it with training and clear steps. Even experienced hires struggle when your company's systems, compliance rules, customer expectations, and internal decision-making rhythms are different. In multinationals, the gap can be brutal: global standards plus local realities, especially in Japan where stakeholder alignment and risk sensitivity can slow execution. The leadership move here is to break the work into steps and teach the method. Training isn't a one-off event—it's guided repetition until the person can execute unassisted. If you want speed later, you invest time now. Do now: Write the "steps to succeed" as a checklist for the task, walk through it once together, then watch them do it and coach the gaps.  What if they say, "I don't believe I can"? That's a confidence gap—solve it with coaching and capability proof. Organisations change: mergers, restructures, new tech stacks, shifting customer demands. A person who was winning in 2019 may feel out of their depth now. When results drop, self-belief drops—and then performance drops further. Coaching means helping them rebuild belief through small wins: tighten the goal, shorten the feedback cycle, and show evidence of progress. Confidence is not "positive thinking"; it's earned through repeated success with support. Leaders who ignore this tend to get blame, fear, and avoidance. Do now: Create a 30-day confidence plan: one measurable goal, weekly check-ins, and a visible record of wins (even small ones).  What if they say, "I don't know why we're doing this"? That's a purpose/clarity gap—solve it by making the "why" explicit and local. Executives often assume the "why" is obvious, but it frequently doesn't travel past middle management. In 2024–2026 workplaces, employees want context: how does this task connect to customers, risk, revenue, brand trust, or team success? Your job isn't to deliver a slogan—it's to co-create meaning. Explain what changes if this doesn't get done. Show the trade-offs. Link the task to real-world outcomes: customer churn, quality failures, compliance exposure, lost market share, slower cycle times. Then repeat it. Clarity fades quickly in busy environments. Do now: In your next team conversation, answer: "What happens if we don't do this?" and "Who benefits if we do?"  What if they say, "I don't want to"? That's the true motivation issue—solve it by uncovering intrinsic drivers, not by assuming money or promotion.Many leaders default to "pay rises" or "career ladder" logic, but not everyone wants to be the boss. Some people value mastery, autonomy, stability, recognition, flexibility, or contribution more than title. Instead of projecting your motives onto them, ask questions until you understand what they genuinely want from work and life. Then design the work—where possible—to meet those drivers. Your role is to create an environment where people motivate themselves, because forced motivation is fragile and usually short-lived. Do now: Have a 1:1 built around three questions: "What do you want more of?", "What drains you?", and "What would make this role a win this year?"  Conclusion Motivating a team isn't about volume; it's about accuracy. Most performance issues aren't solved by "inspiration"—they're solved by education, training, coaching, clarity, and then (only then) true intrinsic motivation. The common thread is boss time: consistent attention to individuals. If leaders don't allocate time to understand and support people, they'll waste even more time dealing with avoidable underperformance later. 

APAC stocks traded higher in continued thin conditions as many regional bourses remained closed for holidays.RBNZ kept the OCR at 2.25%, as expected, and the central bank refrained from any hawkish surprises; NZD heavily underperforms.US VP Vance said in some ways Iran talks went well, while he added that Iranians are not yet willing to acknowledge some of President Trump's red lines.US Special Envoy Witkoff said the US facilitated the trilateral meeting between Ukraine and Russia, while he added that Ukraine and Russia agreed to update leaders and pursue an agreement.European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.2% after the cash market finished with gains of 0.7% on Tuesday.Looking ahead, highlights include UK CPI (Jan), US Durable Goods, Industrial Production (Jan), Housing Starts (Nov/Dec), Atlanta Fed GDP, FOMC Minutes (Jan), US-Ukraine-Russia talks to take place (17-18 Feb). Speakers include ECB's Cipollone, Schnabel & Fed's Bowman. Supply from Germany & US. Earnings from Analog, Carvana, DoorDash, Booking Holdings, Moody's, Garmin, Glencore & Orange.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

In this episode, host Sandy Vance chats with Sophie Cheng, the Senior Vice President of Product Marketing at Sinch. They discuss the most common communication pitfalls and share a handful of remedies so you can start sending smarter messages. You'll walk away with tangible tips on how to: ✔️ switch from omnichannel to optimal channel✔️ leverage AI to fix your no-show problem✔️ build patient trust through advanced messagingIn this episode, they talk about:What Sinch does and how it uses AI to simplify and personalize communication for customersHow AI-driven communication is being applied in healthcare and what leaders need to understandWhy better communication leads to faster interactions, improved patient experiences, and higher conversion ratesHow omnichannel communication strategies streamline workflows for healthcare organizationsHow Sinch helps organizations identify the right channels and interfaces for their patient populationsWhat it means to operate at the speed of trust, and why transparency mattersHow AI can make patient interactions feel more empathetic and humanWhy organizations should never underestimate the impact of their communication strategyA Little About Sophie:Sophie Cheng is the Senior Vice President of Product Marketing at Sinch, the global leader in CPaaS and the company behind the Customer Communications Cloud. With more than 15 years of international marketing experience, Sophie has held strategic roles across Europe, Asia, and North America, partnering closely with Product, Growth, and M&A leaders to manage complex, global portfolios. At Sinch, she leads global product marketing, partner marketing, and analyst relations, helping organizations deliver seamless, trusted communication experiences across messaging, voice, and email.Before Sinch, Sophie served as VP of Global Product and Customer Marketing at ZoomInfo and led Product Marketing at Chorus.ai. A true global citizen, she has worked extensively across EMEA, APAC, and the U.S. Sophie holds advanced degrees from the University of St. Gallen and Singapore University and is an active member of the CMO Alliance.

Today's podcast is the fourth in our four part series in partnership with Enfinity Global.Enfinity is one of Europe's leading IPPs and the winner of inspiratia's 2025 Developer of the Year and Financial Structure of the Year awards. In our series together, we explore the challenges, opportunities, and key decisions that European developers are faced with today and take a deep dive into understanding Enfinity's approach to navigating - and shaping - the continent's energy future.  In this episode, Maya is joined by Enfinity's European leadership team, including Julio Fournier, CEO Europe, and Alessandro Ceschiat, General Manager for Italy, to unpack how the company has rapidly evolved from a “quiet” renewables player into a global IPP and partner of choice. They discuss what it means to build a 35 GW+ pipeline across multiple markets, how lessons from Latin America and APAC are being applied in Europe, and why Enfinity Global believes trust, repeat partnerships, and local community engagement are central to long‑term value creation.This episode is hosted by Maya Chavvakula, Head of News at inspiratia.    This episode edited by Leonard Müller, Reporter at inspiratia.  This episode is sponsored by Enfinity Global.Reach out to us at: podcasts@inspiratia.comFind all of our latest news and analysis by subscribing to inspiratia For tickets to our events email conferences@inspiratia.com or buy them directly on our website. Listen to all our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other providers. Music credit: NDA/Show You instrumental/Tribe of Noise©2025 inspiratia. All rights reserved.This content is protected by copyright. Please respect the author's rights and do not copy or reproduce it without permission.

APAC stocks traded mixed amid the extremely thinned conditions due to the Lunar New Year holiday and in the absence of a lead from the US, where markets were closed for Washington's Birthday/Presidents Day.Nikkei 225 retreated shortly after the open with SoftBank and heavy industry stocks leading the declines, as the post-election euphoria petered out following the recent underwhelming GDP data. USD/JPY pulled back with pressure seen as risk sentiment in Japan deteriorated shortly after the open.US President Trump said he will be involved in the Iran talks indirectly and that Iran wants to make a deal, while he also stated that Iran "are bad negotiators" and he hopes they will be more reasonable in talks.European equity futures indicate a subdued cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.3% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.1% on Monday.Looking ahead, highlights include UK Unemployment/Wages (Dec), German/EZ ZEW (Feb), US ADP Weekly, NY Fed (Feb), Canadian CPI (Jan), Japanese Balance of Trade (Jan), US-Iran talks, US-Ukraine-Russia talks (Feb. 17th-18th). Speakers include Fed's Barr & Daly, Supply from Germany. Earnings from Medtronic, Leidos, Palo Alto, Cadence Design Systems, Republic Services, Vulcan Materials, Kenvue, Antofagasta. Holiday: Chinese Spring Festival Golden Week (17-24 Feb).Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

In this episode of The Venture Capital Podcast (VC.fm), hosts Peter Harris and Jon Bradshaw talk with Wally Wang, Founding Managing Partner at Scale Asia Ventures and a Business Insider Seed 100 (2025) investor, about identifying AI winners early — and scaling them across the U.S. and Asia (Japan, Korea, APAC).Wally brings a unique mix of experience as a machine learning scientist (NYU / CMU / Microsoft), a former operator (YC-backed Pebble, acquired by Fitbit), and an enterprise founder who helped grow DataVisor (raised $150M+). Today, he backs AI infrastructure, enterprise AI agents, cybersecurity, developer tools, and robotics, with a strong cross-border thesis that helps founders expand globally and access strategic distribution partners in Asia.We discuss:How to evaluate “real” AI founders vs hypeAI moats: why product-market fit isn't enough anymoreWhat actually creates defensibility in enterprise AI (data, trust, workflows, integrations)Build vs buy in AI: when enterprises DIY vs purchase softwareWhy vertical AI agents are safer than horizontal AI wrappersCross-border expansion strategy: U.S. → Asia vs Asia → U.S.Robotics + physical AI opportunities and Asia's hardware advantageWhy enterprise + government budgets are still under-targetedFollow the PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/venturecapitalfm/Twitter: https://twitter.com/vcpodcastfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venturecapitalfm/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7BQimY8NJ6cr617lqtRr7N?si=ftylo2qHQiCgmT9dfloD_g&nd=1&dlsi=7b868f1b72094351Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/venture-capital/id1575351789Website: https://www.venturecapital.fm/Follow Jon BradshawLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrbradshaw/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjonbradshaw/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrjonbradshawFollow Peter HarrisLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterharris1Twitter: https://twitter.com/thevcstudentInstagram: https://instagram.com/shodanpeteYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@peterharris2812

AI is no longer optional in fashion, it's infrastructure.In this episode of The Retail Podcast, we sit down with Antonia Dumitriu, Co-Founder & CEO of @Irisphera, to explore how AI-powered virtual styling is transforming online fashion retail.Irisphera offers online brands a plug-in virtual personal shopper that:• Detects correct sizing based on brand size charts• Identifies body shape and colour palette• Automatically selects best-fit clothing items• Enables outfit visualisation on a shopper's own image or private avatarThe results?✔️ Conversion rates doubled✔️ Returns reduced by up to 30%✔️ Increased customer confidence✔️ Stronger brand positioningAntonia shares her journey from working as a stylist at 16 — including editorial work for Vogue Italy — to building proprietary AI technology before the current AI wave took off.We cover:Why AI must solve real problems (not invented ones)The psychology behind purchase confidenceWhy small brands shouldn't “start from zero”Why the Middle East is adopting fashion AI faster than EuropeThe future of fashion: personalization, sustainability & omnichannelIf you're in retail, fashion, e-commerce, AI, or brand building — this is essential listening.⏱ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Derived Only From Transcript)00:00 – Why Brands Don't Need to Start From Zero00:25 – Introduction & Why Early Retail Tech Matters00:48 – Meet Antonia Dumitriu01:21 – Antonia's Background: From Stylist to Founder02:13 – Identifying the Problem in Fashion02:35 – Where AI Fits in Fashion03:02 – Building Proprietary Technology Before the AI Wave03:30 – AI Should Solve Real Problems03:50 – What Is Irisphera?04:18 – How the Virtual Personal Shopper Works04:55 – Privacy & Middle East Deployment05:31 – In-Store Omnichannel Experience05:52 – Customer Feedback & Education07:19 – Why Brands Hesitate to Adopt08:13 – Influencers & Viral Adoption Strategy09:06 – Shopify, WooCommerce & API Integration09:32 – The Future of Fashion & AI10:29 – Target Market: Why the Middle East Leads11:49 – Closing Thoughts

In this episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John sits down with Saif Khan, Regional VP of EMEA and APAC at Semrush, one of the top SaaS platforms helping digital marketers drive visibility, traffic, and growth. But this episode isn't just about tools or tactics—it's about the real human side of sales leadership.From growing up in a council estate in West London to building elite sales teams across two continents, Saif shares how a single ride-along with his uncle sparked his lifelong passion for sales. He breaks down how five years in retail taught him more about buyer psychology than any formal sales training ever could—and why emotional intelligence, not just methodology, is the real differentiator in today's market.The conversation dives into:• How burnout creeps in even during “success”• Why Saif hit pause on his career for a solo journey through Southeast Asia• The coaching crisis in frontline management• The line between AI augmentation and AI dependency—and what it means for the future of leadership.Whether you're an SDR, a VP, or somewhere in between, this episode is packed with real stories, fresh takes, and valuable lessons for anyone navigating the evolving world of modern sales.Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today's AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let's Make It Happen together!Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1 Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletterConnect with Saif on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saif-khan-cism/Check out Saif's Website Semrush: https://www.semrush.com/Check out these additional links for SemrushEmployment Opportunities: https://careers.semrush.com/jobs/Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/technically-her/id1871241654?l=en-GBSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nBfeFVia9d7ClK7CVOBcV?si=9ef5467e40644435Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/semrush_life/#Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SemrushLifeLinkedIn:

People in the corporate world are buzzing this week after LinkedIn released it's latest report introducing the latest buzzword "Talent Velocity." However, it's worth noting this is more than just buzz. The data reveals a much more sobering reality that shouldn't come as a surprise. 86% of companies are stuck in neutral or burned out the clutch while 14% of organizations are racing ahead. In summary, the vast majority are spinning their wheels "planning" transformation rather than executing it. While many are quick to claim it's a technology problem, it's clear we've got a crisis of organizational metabolism.  This week, I'm deconstructing the massive 2026 LinkedIn Talent Report, based on data from 1 billion members and 14 million jobs, not as a news update, but as a reality check. I explain why this report may not come as a "discovery" of new trends for many, but a validation of the things we've known for years but continue to fail to act on. I'm also stripping away the HR buzzwords to show you why "velocity" isn't about moving faster; it's about getting surgical about the friction that is currently burning out your workforce.  My goal is to move you out of "Planning" to "Progressing" by exposing the specific blind spots, from bad data to American complacency, that are keeping you in the 86%.​ The Validation Gap (No More Excuses): We've known for years that skills matter more than titles, yet most companies are still just "talking" about it. I break down why the "Leaders" aren't smarter than you—they just treat talent agility as a business imperative rather than an HR project, leading to massive gains in confidence around profitability.  ​ The "American" Blind Spot (Data Arrogance): We love to think we are leading the charge, but the data proves otherwise. I call out the uncomfortable truth that North America is lagging far behind APAC (22% vs. 41%) in skills-based planning, and why relying on static job descriptions means your AI strategy is effectively hallucinating.  ​ The "Human" Premium (S-Tier Change Management): You cannot add velocity to a system that is already at max capacity. I dive into my own contribution to the report regarding "S-Tier Change Management" and explain why the companies winning at AI are actually 5.5x more focused on "Building Trust" than their competitors.  By the end, I hope you see this data not as a reason to feel behind, but as a blueprint for subtraction. You cannot simply "add" AI to a broken system; you have to do the surgical work of removing the friction first.⸻If this conversation helps you think more clearly about the future we're building, make sure to like, share, and subscribe. You can also support the show by ⁠buying me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/christopherlindAnd if your organization is wrestling with how to lead responsibly in the AI era, balancing performance, technology, and people, that's the work I do every day through my consulting and coaching. Learn more at https://christopherlind.co⸻Chapters00:00 – The Hook: The 14% vs. The 86%04:00 – The Validation: Why "Nothing New" is the Real Problem07:00 – The 5 Accelerators: From Culture to Career Power14:00 – The Skills Blind Spot: Why the US is Falling Behind24:00 – The "Lind" Take: S-Tier Change Management & The Trust Multiplier33:00 – The "Now What": Auditing Your Data & Subtracting Friction#TalentVelocity #LinkedInReport #FutureOfWork #SkillsBasedHiring #ChangeManagement #AIStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #ChristopherLind #FutureFocused #WorkforcePlanning

APAC stocks began the week in the green but with gains limited following a lack of major fresh catalysts from over the weekend and amid thinned conditions owing to holiday closures in the region and North America.Nikkei 225 traded indecisively, with the index constrained by disappointing Japanese preliminary Q4 GDP dataEuropean equity futures indicate a mildly positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.1%, after the cash market closed with losses of 0.4% on Friday.US President Trump said on Friday that Ukrainian President Zelensky is going to have to get moving and that Russia wants to get a deal.Looking ahead, highlights include Swedish Unemployment (Jan), EZ Industrial Production (Dec), and Japanese PM Takaichi is to meet with BoJ Governor Ueda. Speakers include Fed's Bowman.Holiday: US Holiday (Presidents Day); Chinese Spring Festival Golden Week.Desk: Newsquawk EU coverage will commence as normal on Monday, 16th February. Thereafter, the desk will shut at 18:00GMT/13:00ET and then re-open on the same day for APAC coverage at 22:00GMT/17:00ET.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

This week, we discuss US labor markets and preview US core PCE, UK CPI and other key data in Europe. In Japan Post-election policies are in focus while RBNZ, BI and BSP decisions are on tap. In a special segment, we feature two anchor reports by our APAC rates strategists and their views on the outlook. Chapters: US: 2:36; Europe: 10:17; Japan: 15:38; Asia Rates Special: 20:40

APAC stocks were mostly lower as the region took its cue from the losses stateside, where tech underperformed as AI-disruption concerns re-emerged, and logistics/industrials stocks were also pressured after Algorhythm Holdings (RIME) released its AI freight scaling tool.US President Trump said we have to make a deal with Iran and could reach a deal over the next month.US President Trump reiterated he is going to China in April and that Chinese President Xi will visit the US later this year, while he added the relationship with China is very good right now.European equity futures indicate an uneventful cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.1% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.4% on Thursday.Looking ahead, highlights include German Wholesale Prices (Jan), Swiss CPI (Jan), EZ Prelim Employment (Q4), GDP 2nd Estimate (Q4), US CPI (Jan), Speakers including ECB's de Guindos, BoE's Pill, Earnings from Moderna & NatWest.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Dive into the future of wealth with AI in Asia!

Send a textSee our faces! Watch this episode on YouTube.In this episode of Cavell Cloud Conversations, Patrick Watson is joined by Trent Webby to preview the upcoming Cavell Summit APAC in Sydney and explore why the region represents one of the most exciting growth opportunities in cloud communications.Book your ticket to Cavell Summit APAC here.They discuss the unique dynamics of the APAC market, from the rapid expansion of cloud and contact centre services across Southeast Asia to the role Australia and New Zealand play as strategic springboards into the wider region. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding local market trends, regulatory environments, and cultural nuances that shape business success across APAC.Patrick and Trent also share what attendees can expect from the Summit itself — including keynote sessions, expert panels, fresh research insights, and what they describe as phenomenal networking opportunities with service providers, vendors, and industry leaders.For anyone interested in the fast-evolving APAC cloud market — or considering attending the event — this episode provides essential context, insight, and a clear sense of why the region should be firmly on your radar. Tickets are still available for those looking to join the conversation in Sydney.

Leading multiple countries across Asia Pacific requires far more than operational excellence—it demands deep cultural understanding, intentional relationship-building, and the strategic ability to represent your region within a global enterprise. In this episode of UNSCRIPTED, host Sarah Nicastro sits down with Madhu Oza, Director of Global Technical and Service Excellence for APAC at Abbott Laboratories, to explore what it takes to build trust, bridge cultural divides, and amplify regional impact while maintaining alignment with global standards. Whether you're navigating the complexities of international leadership or looking to elevate your team's impact on the world stage, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you lead with cultural intelligence and authenticity.

APAC stocks traded higher but with some of the gains in the region capped after the weak handover from the US and with the NFP report on the horizon, while participants also digested earnings and data in thinned conditions, with Japanese markets shut for a holiday.Ukrainian President Zelensky plans spring elections alongside a referendum on the peace deal after a US push.US President Trump said he might send a second carrier to strike Iran if talks fail and stated that "Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time".European equity futures indicate a quiet cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures +0.1% after the cash market finished with losses of 0.2% on Tuesday.Looking ahead, highlights include ECB Wage Tracker, US NFP (Jan), Japanese PPI (Jan), BoC Minutes (Jan), OPEC MOMR. Speakers include ECB's Cipollone & Schnabel, Fed's Schmid, Bowman & Hammack. Supply from Germany & US. Earnings from T-Mobile, McDonalds, AppLovin, Equinix, Motorola Solutions, Hilton, Kraft Heinz, TotalEnergies, Michelin.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

APAC stocks were mostly higher as the region took impetus from the gains on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 approached closer towards its record levels, and the Nasdaq outperformed as the tech rebound persisted.US President Trump and Chinese President Xi's summit is reportedly set for the first week of April, POLITICO reported, but the White House later clarified that the Trump-Xi meeting has not been finalised.The EU is reportedly readying options to give Ukraine gradual membership rights and is preparing a series of options to embed Ukraine's membership in a future peace deal.UK PM Starmer told Labour MPs that he is "not prepared to walk away" from power or "plunge us into chaos" as previous prime ministers have done.European equity futures indicate a slightly lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.1% after the cash market closed with gains of 1.0% on Monday.Looking ahead, highlights include Norwegian CPI (Jan), US NFIB (Jan), Weekly ADP, ECI (Q4), Retail Sales (Dec) & EIA STEO. Speakers include Fed's Hammack & Logan, Supply from the Netherlands, UK, Germany & US. Earnings from Coca-Cola, S&P, Gilead, Robinhood, Welltower, Duke Energy, Datadog, Ford, AIG, Xylem, Spotify, AstraZeneca, BP, Barclays, Ferrari and Mediobanca.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Dinakar Munagala, CEO & Co- Dinakar Munagala Founder of Blaize, and Joseph Sulistyo, SVP of Corporate Marketing, about Blaize's push to make AI inference practical outside the data center—and why a new strategic collaboration with Nokia is designed to accelerate that shift, especially across Asia Pacific. Blaize positions itself as an AI computing company built around a purpose-built, fully programmable processor architecture it calls a graph streaming processor, paired with software intended to simplify development of “real-world” AI. Munagala framed the company's focus as practical AI inference for environments like smart factories, smart cities, agriculture, defense, and other edge and hybrid deployments where latency, power, thermal limits, and operating conditions are non-negotiable. A centerpiece of the discussion was Blaize's announcement that Nokia is strengthening edge AI capabilities through a strategic collaboration with Blaize to deliver hybrid inference solutions across APAC. Munagala and Sulistyo described the move as a signal that AI's next phase isn't only about large-scale training in centralized data centers, but about deploying inference where outcomes are realized—near cameras, sensors, machines, and field infrastructure. In their view, Nokia's global reach in networking, automation, and integration creates a path to deliver end-to-end solutions that combine connectivity and compute for real deployments, not demos. Sulistyo emphasized the economics driving hybrid inference: cost-sensitive, power-constrained environments often cannot justify a single “monolithic” compute approach. Instead, he argued, the market is moving toward heterogeneous architectures—mixing different compute types to hit performance targets while controlling total cost of ownership. In APAC, he noted, the scale of deployments makes marginal savings meaningful, and hybrid designs become an operational requirement, not a preference. The conversation also connected edge inference to public-sector and community outcomes. Both executives highlighted smart-city use cases—such as traffic management, tolling, and first-responder automation—where real-time inference can improve accuracy and responsiveness while reducing labor-intensive processes. They extended that point to rural and underserved regions, arguing that “smart city” also includes municipalities and regional governments, where automation and analytics can unlock revenue (e.g., tolls and fines) while improving safety. Doug pushed on definitions and practicality, prompting Munagala to describe edge inference as compute performed as close as possible to the sensor—for example, processing video near a camera mounted on a pole, at a toll booth, or in a factory—so systems can detect events and respond with low latency. He added that some deployments may route inference to nearby on-prem servers or regional data centers, depending on architecture and proximity, and Blaize aims to support these variations with a common hardware/software platform. Blaize also addressed the “AI energy speed bump” impacting communities and operators—particularly where power availability and cost are constrained. Munagala said low power is foundational to Blaize's design goals and argued that purpose-built inference architectures can reduce the burden associated with power-hungry AI approaches. Sulistyo added that the broader infrastructure conversation increasingly includes cooling realities (air and liquid) and the need to match the deployment environment to the right compute profile. To ground “real-world AI” in examples, the guests pointed to deployments including license plate recognition in complex, variable conditions and traffic anomaly detection (identifying behavior that deviates from normal flow). They described these as compute-intensive workloads that must run reliably outdoors and under harsh conditions, where latency and endurance matter as much as accuracy. They also discussed retail analytics as another example of edge inference delivering measurable business outcomes by connecting what happens in-store to revenue-driving decisions. Looking ahead, Munagala described the Nokia collaboration as a model for additional partnerships that bring inference solutions into production environments at scale. Sulistyo noted APAC is the initial focus, with other regions expected to follow based on demand, proof points, and the prioritization of specific use cases. To learn more about Blaize and its technology, visit https://www.blaize.com/.

THE electronic bill of lading has been one of the most talked-about innovations in container shipping for years now. Advocates say it can slash costs, cut fraud, and ultimately unlock an entirely new world of digital trade finance. Sceptics say we've been hearing that promise for a decade — and paper still dominates. The latest DCSA figures put global EBL adoption at around eleven percent. That's growing, but it's a long way from the one-hundred-percent target that container shipping carriers have set themselves for 2030. So where do we actually stand? To find out, APAC editor Cichen Shen sat down with two people at the centre of the shift: George Guo, the chief executive of IQAX, one of the two largest EBL providers in the world by volume; and Peter Hartz, Maersk's head of ocean surcharges, value-added services and energy products.

APAC stocks began the week higher after last Friday's rally on Wall St, where the DJIA topped the 50k level for the first time.The Nikkei 225 also hit a fresh record high after PM Takaichi's landslide election victory and supermajority.China is reportedly urging banks to curb US Treasuries exposure amid market risk, Bloomberg reports, citing sources; guidance does not apply to China's state holdings of US Treasuries.European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.4% after the cash market closed higher by 1.2% on Friday.Highlights include Swiss Consumer Confidence (Jan), Norwegian GDP (Q4), Mexican Inflation (Jan), US Consumer Inflation Expectations (Jan), BoC Market Participants Survey. Speakers include ECB's Lane & Lagarde, Fed's Waller & Bostic, Earnings from Apollo, Becton Dickinson, Loews, On Semiconductor & Cleveland-Cliffs.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Companies rely on thousands of suppliers, yet struggle to answer a simple question: do we really know who we're doing business with right now? With 2,677 ESG and sustainability policies globally, supplier diligence has become a moving target, turning supplier intelligence into core enterprise infrastructure.Givvable addresses this by embedding continuously verified supplier data directly into procurement, ERP, and risk systems. Instead of one-off surveys or static reports, enterprises can continuously screen, vet, and assess suppliers using trusted credential data at the point where decisions are actually made.In this episode, Frances Atkins and Naomi Vowels, co-founders of Givvable, share how they built a supplier intelligence platform now supporting 65+ enterprise customers across APAC, the US, and the UK, and why supplier data is becoming unavoidable infrastructure in an increasingly regulated world.Angel investor [NAME] joins the Investor Talk at the end of this podcast.Hosted by Maaike Doyer & Hester Spiegel, founders of Epic Angels.

Dive into the future of wealth with AI in Asia!

The FX team discusses a variety of topics: the euro bloc/ APAC FX rotation, RBA hawkish pivot, scenarios around upcoming JP elections, the dovish BoE surprise and recent US data.   This podcast was recorded on 06 February 2026. This communication is provided for information purposes only. Institutional clients can view the related report at https://www.jpmm.com/research/content/GPS-5195273-0 for more information; please visit www.jpmm.com/research/disclosures for important disclosures. © 2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. This material or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold or redistributed without the written consent of J.P. Morgan. It is strictly prohibited to use or share without prior written consent from J.P. Morgan any research material received from J.P. Morgan or an authorized third-party (“J.P. Morgan Data”) in any third-party artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems or models when such J.P. Morgan Data is accessible by a third-party.

APAC stocks were ultimately mixed after the global market rout rolled over into the region following the continued tech woes stateside and weak US labour market data.US equity futures were lower but off worst levels with headwinds seen after Amazon shares dropped 10% post-earnings.European equity futures indicate an uneventful cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.1% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.8% on Thursday.RBI maintained its Repurchase Rate at 5.25%, as expected, via a unanimous decision and voted to maintain its neutral policy stance; Banxico held rates at 7.00%, as expected, in a unanimous decision.Looking ahead, highlights include German Trade Balance (Dec), Swedish CPIF prelim. (Jan), Swiss Unemployment (Jan), Canadian Jobs Report (Jan), US Prelim. Michigan (Feb), ECB Survey of Professional Forecasters. Speakers include ECB's Cipollone, BoE's Pill & Fed's Jefferson.Earnings from Biogen, Under Armour, Carlyle Group, Philip Morris International, SocGen & Sabadell.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

APAC stocks were mostly lower following the continued tech selling stateside and flip-flopping regarding US-Iran talks, while commodities were pressured overnight with silver prices dropping by a double-digit percentage.Earnings saw Alphabet shares fall 2.0%, ARM Holdings slip 8.6%, and Qualcomm slump 10.3% after market.US President Trump said not much doubt that interest rates will be lowered and thinks that Warsh wants to cut rates anyway.US BLS rescheduled the January employment report for Feb. 11th, while it rescheduled December job openings and labour turnover report for February 5th, and rescheduled January CPI to February 13th.Looking ahead, highlights include German Factory Orders (Dec), EZ Retail Sales (Dec), US Challenger (Jan), Weekly/Continuing Jobless Claims, Revelio PLS, ECB Announcement, BoE Announcement & MPR, Banxico Announcement, CNB Announcement. Speakers include BoE's Bailey, ECB's Lagarde, Fed's Bostic, BoC's Macklem & RBA's Bullock. Supply from Spain & France.Earnings from Amazon, Strategy, Roblox, Reddit, Bloom Energy, ConocoPhillips, Bristol Myers Squibb, Barrick Mining, Cigna, Linde, Shell, Unilever & UniCredit.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

What if your biggest growth problem isn't marketing—but sales?In this episode of The Business Ownership Podcast I interviewed William Gilchrist. William has over 15 years of experience in tech sales across the globe, including North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. He holds a B.A. in International Relations from Bowdoin College and certifications in Mandarin and TEFL. Starting his career in Shanghai's media scene, he later directed admissions strategies in Chicago and led business development in Singapore. William eventually joined Google in APAC roles before founding Konsyg, overseeing global sales processes as CEO. What if sales is the missing piece in your business?Check this out!Show Links:Konsyg Website: https://konsyg.com/William on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamgilchristkonsyg/Book a call with Michelle: https://go.appointmentcore.com/book/IcFD4cGJoin our Facebook group for business owners to get help or help other business owners!The Business Ownership Group - Secrets to Scaling: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessownershipsecretstoscalingLooking to scale your business? Get free gifts here to help you on your way: https://www.awarenessstrategies.com/ 

In this episode, Lex speaks with John Caplan — CEO of Payoneer, a public fintech company driving over $85 billion in annual cross-border payment volume. With roots as a prepaid card provider, Payoneer has evolved into a global financial operating platform serving 2 million entrepreneurs across 190 countries.Caplan shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey—from building OpenSky and scaling it to $50 million in revenue before its acquisition by Alibaba, to now leading Payoneer's transformation into a full-service banking alternative for global SMBs.We explore how Payoneer is addressing the complex financial needs of international businesses, competing in a dynamic payments landscape, and preparing for a future that includes stablecoins, workforce management, and potentially $1 trillion in annual volume.NOTABLE DISCUSSION POINTS:Payoneer's Strategic Evolution from Payout Processor to Global SMB Bank AlternativeUnder John Caplan's leadership, Payoneer expanded beyond marketplace payouts to become a comprehensive cross-border financial platform, offering AR/AP, intra-network transfers, cards, and global workforce management. This shift has significantly increased customer retention, take rate, and profitability—highlighting how product expansion and upmarket focus can unlock durable growth in fintech.Execution Over Hype in Global Fintech InfrastructurePayoneer operates in 190 countries with 100+ banking partners and 7,000 payment routes—demonstrating the importance of deep regulatory compliance, local licensing, and multi-entity support in building resilient cross-border infrastructure. Unlike crypto-native entrants, Payoneer emphasizes last-mile utility and customer trust as core differentiators for scaling in complex markets.Profitable Scale and Global Demand for SMB Financial ServicesWith $1B+ revenue, $200M+ EBITDA, and $7.5B in customer funds held, Payoneer is proving that serving cross-border SMBs is not just a mission, but a highly profitable business. Their customer base spans from Bangladeshi freelancers to European firms doing $1M+ in volume, signaling massive, underserved global demand for modern financial tools outside the traditional banking system.TOPICSPayoneer, Alibaba, OpenSky, Stripe, Wise, Airwallex, Mercury, NuBank, digital banking, embedded finance, stablecoins, blockchain, regtech, B2B payments, SPAC, supple chain, ecommerce ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT