Investing Updates: Commentary: Singapore’s stock market is no longer just about the big boys

Source:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/sgx-singapore-stock-market-sti-record-high-new-equity-index-mid-caps-5348586

ChatGPT:

After years of sluggishness, Singapore’s stock market is showing renewed vitality. The Straits Times Index (STI) rebounded 29 per cent from an April low to a record 4,375 in September 2025, driven by the big banks and Singtel. Yet the focus is shifting beyond these blue-chip counters. National Development Minister and MAS Deputy Chairman Chee Hong Tat announced plans for a new index to track large, liquid companies outside the STI, recognising that the STI’s 30 components represent just 5 per cent of over 600 SGX-listed firms.

The timing reflects a broader market upswing. Once-neglected mid-caps and second liners such as Boustead, LHN, Centurion, Wee Hur, and Kingsmen are hitting record levels. Trading since the second quarter has been dominated by these stocks, supported by the MAS’s S$5 billion Equity Market Development Programme, with S$1 billion already allocated to funds boosting mid-cap activity. A dedicated index could further draw institutional money and enable passive ETF trackers, expanding liquidity.

However, structural improvements also require companies to engage investors more actively. Beyond earnings briefings, management must communicate consistently and consider “safe harbour” rules for forward-looking disclosures to reduce regulatory fears. Such outreach would strengthen investor confidence, raise liquidity, and lower funding costs by allowing firms to tap equity markets instead of borrowings—creating a virtuous cycle of growth and capital access.

Global conditions add momentum. With funds flowing into Singapore amid geopolitical uncertainty and interest rates set to decline, equities are increasingly attractive. For investors who once overlooked Singapore in favour of regional plays, the tide may be turning. If the US economy stays steady and shocks are avoided, Singapore’s stock market could be on track for its strongest year in more than a decade.

Opinion:

Positive messaging from Singapore's press.

Investing Updates: What to Expect in the Week Ahead (Fed Interest Rate Decision; FedEx earnings and Meta Connect )

Source:

https://www.moomoo.com/news/post/58444309/what-to-expect-in-the-week-ahead-fed-interest-rate?level=1&data_ticket=1757896023524503

ChatGPT:

What to Expect in the Week Ahead: Fed Decision, FedEx Earnings, and Meta Connect

Investors are focused on the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting starting Tuesday, alongside several key corporate earnings and events.

On the earnings front, General Mills and Bullish will report Wednesday, followed by Darden Restaurants before the market opens Thursday and FedEx after the close. Analysts expect Bullish to post Q2 2025 revenue of USD 56.3M with EPS of USD 0.88. FedEx is forecast to deliver Q1 2026 revenue of USD 21.67B, up 0.44% year-over-year, with EPS of USD 3.32, reflecting a 3.4% increase. However, FedEx continues to face headwinds including sluggish business-to-business demand, weakening e-commerce volumes, and the drag from U.S. trade policies on global shipping.

Separately, Meta Platforms will host its Meta Connect developer conference, spotlighting AI, extended reality (XR), and wearable technology. The highlight will be the unveiling of Meta’s next-generation smart glasses—its first consumer-ready eyewear with a built-in display.

Macroeconomic data will also shape market sentiment. Monday brings the Empire State Manufacturing Index, followed by Retail Sales and Industrial Production Tuesday. Wednesday will see Housing Starts, Building Permits, and the Fed’s policy decision, with Jobless Claims due Thursday.

The Fed meeting is widely anticipated, with markets and Bloomberg Intelligence expecting a 25-basis-point rate cut—the first since December. This cut appears less driven by core economic data and more by investor expectations and political pressure from the White House. Chair Jerome Powell is expected to strike a cautious, neutral tone in his press conference, emphasizing the Fed’s balance between price stability and employment, while signaling independence in decision-making.

Opinion:

Predicting bullish week! 💪

Entertainment Updates: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle 2025

ChatGPT:

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Critical Reviews

What critics generally liked:

• The animation and visuals are widely praised. Ufotable’s work on the fight sequences, especially the depiction of the Infinity Castle itself, is considered spectacular. (The Guardian)

• Emotional weight: many reviews appreciate the flashbacks and character arcs (notably of Akaza), giving more depth to the villains. (The Guardian)

• Faithful adaptation of the manga: the movie is seen to deliver many of the chapters’ biggest moments in ways that resonate. (The Guardian)

What critics found less successful:

• Pacing issues: the heavy use of flashbacks tends to slow down the forward momentum. For some viewers, it breaks the tension built by the action. (The Guardian)

• The film doesn’t resolve all narrative threads — as a first part of a trilogy, some felt it ended too “on a cliff” without enough payoff. (Rotten Tomatoes)

• Some supporting characters get less screen time, which disappointed fans who enjoy the full ensemble. (Metacritic)

Scores from critics:

• Metacritic’s early reviews: e.g. Total Film gave it ~80/100, Screen Daily ~70/100, IGN ~60/100. (Metacritic)

• The Guardian (Phuong Le) gave it 4/5 stars, calling it “a spectacular treat” with strong visuals and emotional impact (though noting some flashback slowdowns). (The Guardian)

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Netizen / Fan / Audience Reviews

Highlights:

• Many viewers say the movie is emotionally powerful, several noting they were moved / cried during certain scenes. (The Times of India)

• Huge praise for the animation (“breathtaking,” “best work yet”, “Ufotable is GOAT”) and sound / music — fans especially behind fight scenes on big screens. (The Times of India)

• Fans appreciate how manga moments are visualised: they like seeing key panels brought to life. (The Times of India)

Criticisms from netizens:

• Some felt the flashbacks and backstory segments (especially for Akaza / the Upper Rank demons) were too long — they disrupted flow. (IMDb)

• A few say that certain character moments or fights didn’t feel as strong as expected, or that some characters were underused. (IMDb)

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Average Ratings

Putting together what’s available:

• On Rotten Tomatoes, the critical “Tomatometer” (percentage of positive reviews) is very high: ~95%. (GamesRadar+)

• On Filmarks in Japan, first-day satisfaction from user reviews is about 4.36/5 (based on ~8,114 people). (Wikipedia)

• On IMDb, audience reception is very positive; one article notes it has become the “highest-rated original anime movie” there, around 8.9/10. (GamesRadar+)

• On RatingGraph, the average rating is about 8.7/10 with many votes. (Rating Graph)

If we convert things to a common “out of 5” scale, many audience scores map to ~ 4.3-4.5 / 5. Critics’ star ratings tend to cluster around 4/5 as well, though some are more mixed (~3-3.5/5) because of pacing or structure.

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Memorable Quotes & “Best Lines”

I wasn’t able to find many reliable full quotes from the movie (especially in English translation) from the sources I checked. One fan note, though, is about a Giyu Tomioka quote that was cut from the movie (present in the manga) and many fans mourn its absence. The line is:

“I must pass on what was entrusted to me. Never again will I let family and friends die before my eyes. I will save him. I will save Tanjiro… the same way I was saved.”
— Giyu Tomioka (ComicBook.com)

Because it was cut, fans consider it one of the most powerful quotes that could have been in the film but wasn’t. (ComicBook.com)

If you like, I can try compiling a list of accurate translated quotes from the film (Japanese & English) once more screenings have completed / more transcripts are available.

Opinion:

Agree with 3.5 rating.

I think it's more suited as a TV series rather than a movie with the multiple long flashbacks.

Sports Updates: Grand Slam Winners

Source:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1WTD8SshLb/

Opinion:

Start of a New Era.

Entertainment Updates: Nintendo Confirms The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Coming April 2026 With First Teaser Trailer

Source:

https://sea.ign.com/super-mario-galaxy/232810/news/nintendo-confirms-the-super-mario-galaxy-movie-coming-april-2026-with-first-teaser-trailer

ChatGPT:

Nintendo officially confirmed during the September 2025 Nintendo Direct that Illumination, the studio behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie, will return to produce The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The project adapts the beloved 2007 Wii platformer and will debut in U.S. theaters on April 3, 2026, followed by a Japanese release on April 24, 2026. The announcement was accompanied by a brief teaser trailer that concluded with the film’s title and logo reveal.

As expected, much of the original cast from the 2023 box office hit will reprise their roles. Chris Pratt returns as Mario, alongside Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, and Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek. This continuity ensures fans will once again hear familiar voices bringing Nintendo’s iconic characters to life.

The casting also opens the door for fresh additions. Foremost among fan speculation is who will portray Rosalina, a central character introduced in the Super Mario Galaxy game but absent from the previous movie. Many viewers are eager to see how Illumination adapts her cosmic role in the story. Another mystery is Yoshi’s involvement, teased in the post-credits sequence of the prior film. Whether Mario’s loyal dinosaur companion will speak or simply appear remains unknown.

Nintendo’s decision to expand the cinematic Mario universe underscores its growing commitment to cross-media storytelling. The original film grossed over a billion dollars globally, making a sequel all but inevitable. By focusing on one of the franchise’s most critically acclaimed titles, Nintendo and Illumination are setting expectations high for fans of both the games and the first movie. With just months to go until release, anticipation for The Super Mario Galaxy Movieis already building rapidly.

Opinion:

Kids are excited about this movie.

Me too 😋

Technology Updates: Amazon Just Launched Its Zoox Robotaxis In Las Vegas And We Took A Ride

Opinion:

I think robotics with optimised AI engines will have huge use cases in future.

Investing Updates: SGX to launch index that tracks listcos beyond STI: Chee Hong Tat

Source:

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/sgx-launch-index-tracks-non-sti-listcos-chee-hong-tat

ChatGPT:

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) will launch a new index to track listed companies beyond the Straits Times Index (STI), said Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) deputy chairman and Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat on Sept 12. The initiative aims to showcase a broader segment of Singapore’s equity market, given that the STI – comprising the 30 largest firms by market capitalisation – only represents part of SGX’s listed companies.

Chee, who also chairs MAS’ equities review group, explained that the new index will highlight the performance of the next tier of large and liquid companies, focusing on business transformation, governance, and capital management. The move comes alongside a S$5 billion equity market development programme to boost liquidity, complemented by tax incentives for listings and streamlined disclosure processes.

Chee noted growing investor interest in non-STI stocks, and said more indices may follow, covering areas such as corporate governance and sustainability. Indices, he added, act as recognition mechanisms that enhance company visibility and investor awareness. SGX is also working on roadshows, trade fairs, and media features to help smaller companies improve exposure.

However, Chee emphasised that companies must also take responsibility by actively communicating their strategies, growth stories, and long-term plans. Effective communication—through regular updates, media engagement, and forward-looking guidance—builds investor confidence and ultimately drives shareholder value. MAS is reviewing regulatory frameworks to reduce legal concerns around such disclosures.

Industry leaders echoed the call for stronger corporate practices and more proactive investor engagement. SGX executives stressed that unlocking shareholder value and greater transparency are essential to sustaining market growth. Further measures from the review group will be unveiled later this year to support listed companies in strengthening value creation and visibility.

Opinion:

Nice development on local market.

Let's see what this new index is about and whether it's worth considering.

Technology Updates: Apple’s new iPhone 17 makes signing safer for frequent crypto users

Source:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/iphone-17-memory-protection-boosts-crypto-security?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

ChatGPT:

Apple’s newly launched iPhone 17 introduces Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE), a security upgrade designed to protect frequent crypto users from sophisticated cyberattacks. The system, enabled by default, applies Enhanced Memory Tagging Extension (EMTE)-style protections that detect and block unsafe memory access, such as out-of-bounds and use-after-free errors. These vulnerabilities account for nearly 70% of software flaws and are a common entry point for zero-day exploits targeting crypto wallets and Passkey approvals.

Cybersecurity firm Hacken highlighted that MIE “meaningfully” reduces risks by preventing attackers from hijacking signing code. By applying protections across both kernel and user-level processes, the system makes spyware and exploit development more difficult and expensive. Hacken noted that the feature directly benefits crypto wallet apps and Passkey flows, particularly for high-net-worth individuals or frequent signers.

Still, Apple’s MIE is not a cure-all. It does not address phishing, social engineering, malicious websites, or compromised applications. Users are urged to remain vigilant, as MIE complements but does not replace secure hardware wallets or basic security hygiene.

The upgrade comes amid rising threats to Apple’s crypto community. Just last month, a zero-click exploit was discovered that could compromise iPhones, iPads, and Macs without user interaction, prompting Apple to issue emergency patches. Earlier this year, Kaspersky reported malicious SDKs in app stores scanning photo galleries for wallet recovery phrases, while Trust Wallet previously warned users to disable iMessage due to an active zero-day threat.

By raising the difficulty and cost of attacks, iPhone 17’s MIE significantly improves baseline defenses for crypto users, but experts caution that layered security and user awareness remain essential.

Entertainment Updates: Superman 2025

ChatGPT:

Here’s what I found about the 2025 Superman film directed by James Gunn:

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Major Reviews & Reception

Critic Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes (Critics' Score):

  • Around 83–87%, based on 400–480+ reviews (Rotten Tomatoes, Wikipedia, GamesRadar+, Beebom, Indiatimes).

  • Critics called it “fun,” “charming,” and “a breath of fresh air” (GamesRadar+, Indiatimes).

• Metacritic (Metascore):

  • 68/100 (“generally favorable”) from about 58 critics (metacritic.com, Wikipedia).

• CinemaScore (Audience Poll):

  • Graded A−, matching the reception of Man of Steel (Wikipedia, Wikipedia).

• PostTrak:

  • 86% gave positive scores; 74% said they would definitely recommend it (Wikipedia, detikcom).

• Other Ratings:

  • IMDb: ~7.7/10 (approx. 3.85/5) (detikcom).

  • A reviewer from detikpop gave it 4/5 (detikcom).

Summary:

Critics and audiences largely embraced the film for its vibrant tone, heartfelt portrayal, and reinvention of Superman, though some noted a degree of narrative overcrowding. Key performances—including those of Corenswet, Brosnahan, and Hoult—received particular praise (Wikipedia, GamesRadar+, Reuters, Rotten Tomatoes).

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Netizen Feedback

Positive Impressions:

• Many users celebrated the film’s emotional depth and charm.

• From Thought Catalog:

  “It’s a bird! It’s a plane!... David Corenswet’s kind, sweet, and righteous performance… reminds us that the classic superhero story isn’t dead.” (Thought Catalog)

• Reddit chatter highlighted quotes and themes fans found moving and resonant.

Criticism & Mixed Thoughts:

• A user on r/moviecritic commented:

  “Its a bit overrated ngl… Its pretty long… could have been cut by 25–35 mins.” (Reddit)

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Best 5 Quotes from the Movie

Pulled from Thought Catalog and fan-voted lists:

1. Jonathan Kent: “Your choices. Your actions. That’s what makes you who you are.” (Thought Catalog, Ranker)

2. Superman: “They’ve always been wrong about me. I love. I get scared. But that is being human. And that’s my greatest strength.” (Thought Catalog, Ranker)

3. Superman: “Hey, Buddy. Eyes up here.” (Thought Catalog, Ranker)

4. Lex Luthor: “My envy is a calling. It is the sole hope for humanity, because it is what has driven me to annihilate you.” (Thought Catalog)

5. Superman (reflecting purpose):
   “The ship my parents sent me... I’m not here to rule over anybody, Lois.” (Thought Catalog)

These lines capture key themes of identity, humanity, conflict, and Superman's moral compass.

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Average Rating (Out of 5)

Let’s convert and average available scores:

Source	Score (out of 5)
Rotten Tomatoes (≈83–87%)	≈4.2
Metacritic (68/100)	≈3.4
IMDb (7.7/10)	≈3.85
detikpop reviewer	4.0
CinemaScore “A−” (≈4.3/5)	≈4.3

Approximate average:
$(4.2+3.4+3.85+4.0+4.3)\mathrm{/}5\approx 3.95$

So, the movie’s average rating is around 4.0 out of 5—indicating a generally strong and enjoyable reception.

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Summary

• Critical Reception: Strongly positive—~83–87% critics rating, 68/100 Metacritic.

• Audience Reception: Very favorable—A− CinemaScore, 86% PostTrak positive.

• Netizen Vibe: Mostly enthusiastic, praising its warmth and modern resonance; some concerns about length.

• Memorable Quotes: Center on choices, humanity, inner conflict, and purpose.

• Average Rating: About 4.0/5.

  tomsguide.com

  GamesRadar+

  Reuters

Opinion:

Agree with 4.0 rating. Show's not too bad.

Superman is quite weak. Not like in the past movies.

Entertainment Updates: The Monkey 2025

ChatGPT:

Here’s a detailed breakdown of The Monkey (2025)—a darkly humorous horror-comedy, based on a Stephen King short story:

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What Netizens and Critics Said

Critics’ Viewpoints

• RogerEbert.com praised the film’s tone and creative kills: “A toy monkey that malevolently bangs a drum, leading to unimaginably brutal death… Perkins keeps upping the ante on his film’s comedic brand of insanity.” (Roger Ebert)

• Rotten Tomatoes summaries ranged from acclaim for the gore-comedy blend (“An amusing, blood-soaked horror comedy” – Screen Realm, 3.5/5) to criticism of its uneven tone (“a badly cast lead… not-so-fun ride,” 6/10) (Rotten Tomatoes).

• Everything Movie Reviews called it “unexpectedly fun, funny and unique,” praising its satirical gore and tone (Everything Movie Reviews).

• The Guardian was harsh: “Smug, nihilistic tone… juvenile humor… creates a grating and insufferable watch.” (The Guardian).

Netizen and Reddit Reactions

From r/horror:

“In my opinion The Monkey was the most fun I have had in a theater in quite some time. It was over the top… such a feast for the senses…” — Jonqbanana (Reddit)

“I loved it… Didn’t expect it to be so funny. I’ll definitely watch it again.” — Important_Fortune25 (Reddit)

“If you go into it as a horror-comedy and not a horror movie, it’s okay. A little awkward.” — TIX3(Reddit)

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Best 5 Quotes from the Movie

According to fan rankings and transcripts, here are five of the most memorable lines:

1. “The coroner said it was an accident, but it was no accident. It was a monkey.” — Hal (Ranker)

2. “The monkey that likes killing our family, it's back. It must be vanquished.” — Bill (Ranker)

3. “We have been chosen to witness its power over life and death in its most devious ways.” — Hal (Ranker)

4. “It’s evil. It’s basically the devil.” — Hal (Ranker)

5. “Everybody dies, and that’s life.” — Lois (Ranker)

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⭐ Average Rating (Out of 5)

Here's how the movie fared numerically:

• Rotten Tomatoes:

  • Critics: ~77–78% fresh (Rotten Tomatoes, Wikipedia, Decider)

• Metacritic:

  • Score: ~62/100 (~3.1/5) (Wikipedia, Decider)

• Audience Grades:

  • CinemaScore: C+ (mid-range) (Wikipedia)

  • PostTrak: average 2.5 out of 5 stars, with 49% saying they'd “definitely recommend” (Wikipedia)

Estimated Average Rating: ~3.2 out of 5

Taking into account critic scores, audience surveys, and floating averages, the overall rating lands around 3.2/5—a moderate, mixed-to-positive consensus.

Opinion:

Agree with 3.2 rating.

The movie's just pass-able.