Royston Yang

1 week ago | thesmartinvestor.com.sg | Royston Yang

Trump’s recent shock tariff announcement is expected to result in a wave of price increases as companies absorb these higher costs. Naturally, investors are worried about businesses deferring their expansion plans amid a slump in consumer demand as people fret about higher prices. However, some businesses remain resilient to these tariffs as they have a strong business model or sustainable catalysts that can allow them to withstand these headwinds.

1 week ago | thesmartinvestor.com.sg | Royston Yang

With all the SGX-listed companies reporting their full-year results (for the year ending 31 December 2024), the annual general meeting (AGM) season is here once again. Once a year, investors will get the chance to meet management in person and query them about the businesses they own. Such a venue is a useful place to size management up and find out more about the company’s plans for the future and how they intend to mitigate risks.

1 week ago | thesmartinvestor.com.sg | Royston Yang

Trump’s tariffs have unleashed a wave of worry as companies and countries scramble to react. As the US escalates its tariff war with China, investors are naturally worried about whether the two largest nations will engage in a bruising trade war. These tariffs will also result in increased costs across many supply chains, leading to higher prices which will crimp consumer demand. Lower demand, in turn, may tip the global economy into a recession.

1 week ago | thesmartinvestor.com.sg | Royston Yang

President Trump has unleashed a wave of tariffs on more than 180 countries as part of his Liberation Day tactic. Although he has paused these reciprocal tariffs for 90 days and imposed just the baseline tariff of 10%, markets remain on tenterhooks as they do not know what to expect next. Investors can look for stocks with limited exposure to tariffs by buying companies that serve either local or regional customers.

1 week ago | thesmartinvestor.com.sg | Royston Yang

The REIT sector went through tough times over the past three years as high interest rates and soaring inflation crimped REITs’ ability to maintain their distributions. Many REITs saw their distribution per unit (DPU) come under pressure as higher operating expenses and increased finance costs battered them. Luckily, REITs can employ a variety of methods to mitigate the decline and these methods can also help to boost their revenue and asset base.