Political risk is back in the spotlight, with fresh uncertainty around the US Federal Reserve and rising tensions across Venezuela, Greenland and Iran. 

Yet markets refused to blink. 

In this week’s Market Focus Weekly, host Emily Liu and Aninda Mitra of BNY Advisors Investment Institute unpack why Asian stocks continue to rally, what Japan’s upcoming snap election could mean for equities, bonds and the yen, and why gold and silver have surged,  even as investors stay broadly risk-on.

Highlights:

01:22 Fed independence at risk?

03:25 Geopolitics feeds risk

07:25 “Sell America”

10:04 Yen and Won weakness

11:27 Japan’s snap elections

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Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to [email protected].

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Written and hosted by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

With Aninda Mitra, head of Asia macro and investment strategy, BNY Advisors Investment Institute

Edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: Emily Liu & Chai Pei Chieh

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow Market Focus Weekly podcasts every Friday:

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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

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Market news for January 15, 2026: Nikkei falls from record as tech shares retreat; Australian shares end at two-month high as miners ride metals rally; Silver tumbles, oil retreats.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

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Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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Market news for January 14, 2026: Gold and silver soar to new heights; What’s at stake in the US Supreme Court’s tariff ruling today? China tightens margin financing requirements to cool red-hot stock market.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

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Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

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Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

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Market news for January 13, 2026: Asia markets extend gains on ‘Sell America’ inflows, Trump’s Iran tariff threat; Japan’s Nikkei hits all-time high on Wall Street rally, snap election bets; Yen tumbles following report Japan PM plans snap poll; DBS CIO dismisses bubble fears, doubles down on AI, healthcare.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for January 12, 2026: Gold, silver notch record highs on safe-haven demand, Fed rate-cut bets; US dollar tumbles, Oil edges up as Iran supply risk counters Venezuela export resumption; Chinese food delivery shares jump as government crackdown on price wars.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

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Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

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Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a busy start to 2026 for markets. Asian equities are rallying, AI remains dominant, and Singapore stocks are pushing into record territory. 

On this week’s Market Focus Weekly, Emily Liu is joined by HSBC’s Herald van der Linde to break down what’s powering the early-year optimism — and where risks may be building. They discuss whether the AI trade is becoming overcrowded, what to make of a wave of Chinese IPOs in Hong Kong, and why the market is largely unfazed by geopolitical flashpoints from Venezuela to China–Japan trade tensions.

Highlights:

01:28 Will the AI rally slow down?

08:16 Chinese tech IPOs in Hong Kong

11:14 Singapore’s quiet strength

13:07 So what, Venezuela?

16:23 China vs. Japan

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Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to [email protected].

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Written and hosted by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

With Herald van der Linde, head of Asia equity strategy, HSBC

Edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: Emily Liu & Chai Pei Chieh

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow Market Focus Weekly podcasts every Friday:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for January 8, 2026: Asian stocks fall, while global bond sales surge; Chinese tech firms rise in Hong Kong debut as US-China tech race heats up; UI Boustead said to seek US$700 million Singapore IPO in March.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for January 7, 2026: Asian shares edge lower as global tensions climb, crude oil slumps; Oil falls after Trump says Venezuela will send oil to United States; Gold, silver slide on profit-booking, US dollar strength; Wealthy clients stocking up on Singapore equities to hedge against sliding greenback; Australian dollar hits 15-month top, inflation data a mixed bag.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for January 6, 2026: Asian stocks extend record rally while oil, dollar drift; Gold hits one-week high on rate cut bets and Venezeulan crisis; STI crosses 4,700 mark for first time buoyed by DBS, OCBC gains.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Emily Liu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

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Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for January 5, 2026: Gold and other precious metals climb, Asian markets muted; US and global stocks make a fast start; US dollar firms a bit and Brent crude futures swing.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Howie Lim ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

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Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

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Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: [email protected]

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.