7 Aug 2026, 00:05 UTC206 views2 reactionsread 7 August 2026 🧭 Morning Compass
7 August 2026
The memory-chip giant most investors have never heard of
Most investors know Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron. Together, these three companies control nearly 90% of the global DRAM market.
But few have heard of China’s ChangXin Memory Technologies—or CXMT.
DRAM is the working memory used in smartphones, computers and AI servers. As AI models become larger, they require significantly mo…
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Signed Ivan Guan
6 Aug 2026, 01:19 UTC276 views1 reactionsread 7 August 2026 🧭 Morning Compass
6 August 2026
Gold surged—but not for the reason you think
Gold futures jumped 3.7% overnight to around US$4,246, reaching a seven-week high.
Many people assume gold rises mainly because of wars and geopolitical uncertainty. But US interest rates often have a much greater influence.
Hopes of easing Middle East tensions pushed oil prices lower, reducing inflation concerns. At the same time, weak …
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Signed Ivan Guan
5 Aug 2026, 02:09 UTC296 views0 reactionsread 7 August 2026 🧭 Morning Compass | 5 August 2026
Cheap Chinese EVs Are Quietly Changing the Oil Story
You can already see the change on Singapore roads.
BYD’s market share here rose from just 2.5% in 2022 to 21.2% in 2025. In the first five months of 2026, it became Singapore’s market leader with a 26% share. Other Chinese brands such as GAC, Chery, MG and Xpeng are also becoming increasingly visible.
But this is no longer merel…
Signed Ivan Guan
4 Aug 2026, 00:59 UTC311 viewsread 7 August 2026 🧭 MORNING COMPASS — 4 AUGUST 2026
The Japanese Yen Is Becoming Stronger
For the past few years, Japan has felt unusually affordable to Singaporeans.
A stronger Singapore dollar meant cheaper hotels, meals and shopping. But the SGD/JPY chart is now showing a sudden change in direction.
At the end of July, S$1 could buy nearly ¥127. Today, it buys only about ¥122.80.
That is a drop of more than 3% in less than a w…
Signed Ivan Guan
2 Aug 2026, 23:29 UTC344 viewsread 7 August 2026 🧭 Morning Compass | 3 August 2026
No more 15-month wait—but should you right-size now?
Private-property owners can now buy a non-subsidised HDB resale flat without waiting 15 months, provided they do not take an HDB loan and dispose of their private properties within six months.
This makes right-sizing much easier for people preparing for retirement. But easier does not necessarily mean straightforward.
Consider …
Signed Ivan Guan
31 Jul 2026, 00:30 UTC469 views7 reactionsread 7 August 2026 🧭 Morning Compass | 31 July
AI is entering a new phase
For the past two years, simply mentioning "AI" was often enough to excite investors.
That is beginning to change.
This week, Microsoft surged after reporting strong earnings, driven by continued growth in its Azure cloud business and increasing demand for AI services. In contrast, another major technology company Meta received a much cooler response as invest…
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Signed Ivan Guan
30 Jul 2026, 00:58 UTC504 views8 reactionsread 7 August 2026 🧭 Morning Compass | 30 July 2026
The Government has removed the 15-month wait-out period for private property owners aged 55 and above who wish to buy a non-subsidised HDB resale flat.
This makes it easier for retirees to right-size their homes and unlock housing equity.
While this may sound like a housing policy, it is really a retirement planning opportunity.
For many Singaporeans, a large portion of their weal…
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Signed Ivan Guan
27 Jul 2026, 03:30 UTC559 views5 reactionsread 7 August 2026 🧭 Morning Compass | 12.5% Tariff On Singapore
For years, many Singapore investors have taken comfort in one belief:
"Singapore is small, neutral and business-friendly. Surely we'll be spared from major trade conflicts."
This week proved otherwise.
The United States has imposed a new 12.5% tariff on around one-third of Singapore's exports under a new trade measure related to forced labour enforcement.
At first gl…
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Signed Ivan Guan
25 Jul 2026, 01:09 UTC550 views1 reactionsread 7 August 2026 🧭 Morning Compass | 25 July 2026
The market finally took a breather. That doesn't mean the story is over.
After months of strong gains, technology stocks stumbled again this week. Chipmakers came under pressure as investors questioned whether the huge amounts being spent on AI will eventually generate enough profits. Even strong earnings from some companies failed to reassure the market. �
At the same time, oil pri…
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Signed Ivan Guan
24 Jul 2026, 00:00 UTC554 views0 reactionsread 7 August 2026 🧭 Morning Compass – 24 July 2026
Alphabet’s Cloud Revenue Jumped 82%. Why Did Its Share Price Fall?
Imagine scoring 90 marks and still disappointing your parents—because they expected 95.
Alphabet reported impressive results, including 82% growth in Google Cloud revenue. Yet its share price fell more than 3%.
The concern was spending. Alphabet increased its planned 2026 investment by another US$15 billion to buil…
Signed Ivan Guan
22 Jul 2026, 00:17 UTC566 views1 reactionsread 7 August 2026 🌅 Morning Compass | 22 July 2026
The AI Rally Is Back. But Has Anything Really Changed?
Just a couple of weeks ago, many investors were asking if the AI boom was over.
Technology stocks pulled back.
Semiconductor shares became volatile. Concerns over valuations, geopolitics and slowing economic growth dominated the headlines.
Fast forward to today, and the mood has changed again.
The semiconductor sector has reb…
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Signed Ivan Guan
21 Jul 2026, 01:38 UTC530 views6 reactionsread 7 August 2026 🌅 Morning Compass | Tuesday, 21 July 2026
🇸🇬 Retirement age is now 64. But here's what really determines when you can retire.
From 1 July, Singapore's retirement age increased from 63 to 64, while the re-employment age increased from 68 to 69.
Whenever there's news like this, many people ask me, "Does this mean I have to retire later?"
My answer is: Not necessarily.
The government's retirement age only determine…
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Signed Ivan Guan
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