Trade & Supply Chain Finance

The war in the Middle East is causing market volatility leaving Apac treasurers and finance professionals needing to check a large number of variables.

The private healthcare firm has rebuilt its treasury architecture to prioritise liquidity mobility, policy-driven hedging and system-led control amid rate volatility and fragmented capital markets. CT spoke with Manjiv Dodanwela, the firm's transformation lead for group treasury.

The logistics and real estate business, which has operations in Singapore and Japan, raised S$1.2bn on the main exchange but listed in a difficult week for equities amid war in the Middle East.

The plan is to increase global oil supply while the Strait of Hormuz is essentially blocked. Russia is once again exporting oil to India and several Asian governments are introducing fuel subsidies; meanwhile the US is launching trade investigations into 12 Asian countries.

US president Donald Trump has suggested the war in Iran will end soon after the price of a barrel of oil climbed above $100. Countries across Asia have been trying to conserve energy.

The stock exchanges in South Korea and Thailand were temporarily halted on March 4, while Iran has issued a stark warning for the Strait of Hormuz.

Under the MoU, the HKMA, the SDB, and the NTICB, will conduct research on digital technology such as the use of electronic bills of lading and promote it in areas such as cargo trade and finance.

Amid multiple attacks from Iran, and continued Israeli and US strikes, there is great uncertainty in the region. Gas and oil prices are rising as QatarEnergy has stopped liquid natural gas production while the Strait of Hormuz is increasingly dangerous.

After 3.5% GDP growth in 2025, finance secretary Paul Chan offered support for SMEs, residents, treasury centres, AI hubs and the Northern Metropolis; there is also stamp duty relief for the intra-group transfer of assets.

MAS is expected to take a balanced monetary stance in the months ahead; the FY 2026 Budget included a 40% corporate income tax refund for the 2026 year of assessment.

After the historic ruling, one major global company is seeking tariff refunds while US president Donald Trump has issued 15% tariffs on every country, including across Asia; India is delaying talks with the US.

Following the final outcome, political stability could boost sectors such as healthcare, tourism, consumer finance, and industrial estates, with net inflows of foreign investment set to boost The Stock Exchange of Thailand, according to analysts.