Market View: Nasdaq’s record close; Asian investors react to political uncertainty in Japan, Indonesia Finance Minister’s exit; Reserve Bank of India steadily reduced purchases of US Treasuries, increased gold buying even before Trump’s tariffs; Gold surges to record high above US$3,600/oz; Tencent reportedly considering first public debt offering in four years, joining the dim sum run; MetaOptics’ surges 25% on Catalist debut; Thakral, SGX to watch

Singapore shares fell today, as all eyes remained on the upcoming US inflation prints out mid-week. The Straits Times Index was down 0.41% at 4,291.04 points at 2.14pm Singapore time, with a value turnover of S$830.22M seen in the broader market. In terms of counters to watch, we have Thakral. That’s as the company hopes to benefit from the proposed London listing of Project Glow Topco, which is the parent of UK-based The Beauty Tech Group. Thakral holds a 9.32 per cent effective interest in The Beauty Tech Group. Elsewhere, from movements in Asia amid political uncertainties in Japan and in Indonesia, to MetaOptics surging 25 per cent on its Catalist debut on the SGX, more corporate and international headlines remained in focus. Also on deck, the Nasdaq’s record close, and how Tencent is reportedly considering its first public debt offering in four years, this time, targeting the dim sum market. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Equity Research, Maybank Securities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.