Investments

• Amazon announced plans to invest over $33 billion in cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand by 2039. • These investments are projected to contribute more than $64 billion to the collective GDP of the four nations and support over 56,300 annual full-time equivalent jobs in the data center supply chain. • The move aligns with the rapid growth of the ASEAN region, which is expected to become the world’s fourth largest economy with a digital economy valued at $560 billion by 2030.

Survey shows businesses ‘struggling to absorb latest economic shock’, while data says April vacancies down 7.7%The worsening fallout from the Iran war is forcing businesses to halt their UK investment and hiring plans, bosses have warned, as Britain enters a renewed period of political and economic instability.More than two months into the US-Israeli war on Iran, leading surveys of UK employers showed companies were increasingly prioritising cost management over growth as rising costs and global uncertainty weigh on confidence. Continue reading...

• SoftBank announced a deepened push into AI through a new venture involving OpenAI, targeting enterprise applications in the US market. • The move comes as rival venture capital firms increase funding for AI startups, intensifying competition for talent and tech. • This investment bolsters SoftBank's position in the booming US AI sector, potentially accelerating model deployments.

• Crossfin is broadening its investment focus into emerging markets outside South Africa following successful exits from Retail Capital, Adumo, and iKhokha. • The firm maintains a strong emphasis on Africa but has established a presence in Mauritius with backing for three businesses. • In 2025, Crossfin launched a Singapore-based investment vehicle targeting opportunities in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other regions.

• India emerged as top global investment destination, surpassing China with strong capital inflows per Quant Mutual Fund report. • Nominal GDP growth outpaced China's, bolstered by stable fiscal policies, liquidity support, and credit expansion. • Investor shift to large-caps with selective mid/small-cap plays follows equity correction stabilization and improving earnings outlook.

• Mainland Chinese companies surged to second-largest investors in Singapore's fixed assets in 2025, capturing 21% of S$14.16 billion (US$11.07 billion) total, up from 2.5% the prior year amid the city-state's safe-haven appeal. • Key deals included CNQC Realty (Prime), Forsea Residence, and Jianan Realty Investments buying a 145,500 sq ft Dover Drive site for S$951 million in Q1 2026, projected to yield 625 residential units. • Europe held top spot at 25% while US share dropped to 17.3% from 55.5%; other transactions featured SingHaiyi Group and Haiyi Holdings acquiring Bayshore Road parcel for S$658.9 million (515 units) and Qingjian Realty group's S$315 million Media Circle buy (345 flats).

Treasurer Jim Chalmers had indicated ‘transitional’ proposed changes as Labor attempts to repair a ‘structurally flawed’ budgetFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOnly applying changes to the CGT discount and negative gearing rules to new investments would “severely delay” desperately needed reforms required to repair a “structurally flawed” budget and boost the economy, Deloitte says.The consulting firm estimated that a policy which cut the 50% capital gains tax discount to 33% and abolished negative gearing would only generate $500m over the first four years of operation if existing investments were not included – an approach known as “grandfathering”. Continue reading...

• Fraud incidents continue climbing at US banks even with substantial spending on advanced detection tools and analytics. • The gap highlights limitations in current tech defenses against evolving fraudster tactics. • This trend matters as it pressures financial institutions to innovate faster, amid rising economic impacts from cyber fraud.

• A survey by AirMDR released on April 14, 2026, in Palo Alto, CA, reveals 80% of US-based cybersecurity investors intend to increase AI cybersecurity funding next year. • 71% expect decisive ROI from AI tools, with capital shifting toward companies proving operational impact and cost reductions over mere product enhancements. • Investors prioritize defensible AI technologies delivering real outcomes, signaling strong market confidence but heightened selectivity for enterprise-ready solutions.