SG Morning Highlights | CapitaLand Investment Acquires Wingate Group's Investment Management Business

– Moomoo News SG

Advancers / Decliners is 69 / 77, with 90.86M securities worth S$83.78M changing hands.

The signing of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) agreement, originally set for December 9, has been postponed to January following the COVID-19 diagnosis of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. This delay is causing uncertainty among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) looking to expand in the SEZ. Dr. Cai Dailu from NUS Business School notes that the postponement could prompt SMEs to adopt a wait-and-see approach, potentially undermining the benefits of the agreement. Amidst global economic volatility and concerns about trade disruptions, the SEZ agreement is seen as a stabilizing factor that could mitigate economic shocks. However, the current delay adds to the unpredictability facing businesses.

Over two-thirds of Singaporean companies are reducing their AI investments due to trust concerns, a rate higher than the global average of 61%. The primary challenges include data governance, budget constraints, and unreliable data. Additionally, skill shortages in AI development and deployment are significant barriers. Despite these issues, 90% of Singapore's decision-makers believe AI is crucial for success, yet 34% have numerous AI projects stalled in planning, far exceeding the global trend.