Tag: rebound

  • Grab Sees Stellar Rebound with First Full-Year Profit, Propelled by Record Q4 Earnings

    Grab Sees Stellar Rebound with First Full-Year Profit, Propelled by Record Q4 Earnings

    Grab Holdings, a Singapore-based technology firm specializing in transportation, food, and e-commerce solutions, has reported a prosperous full-year profit. This marks a significant recovery from the financial deficit experienced in the previous year.

    Strong Financial Performance in 2025

    In the fiscal year of 2025, Grab Holdings generated revenues to the tune of US$3.3 billion and secured profits amounting to $200 million. This powerful comeback effectively eclipsed the previous year’s losses, which stood at $158 million.

    In particular, the fourth quarter of 2025 proved to be a strong period for the company, with earnings totaling $906 million. This figure represents a 19% year-on-year increase.

    Group CEO and co-founder, Anthony Tan, expressed pride in the company’s performance. “We concluded 2025 on a high note, posting our first full year of net profit and surpassing 50 million monthly transacting users,” he said.

    Looking ahead, Tan affirmed plans to maintain this positive trajectory. “Our strategy for the coming years revolves around expanding our market reach through increased affordability and reliability. We also intend to leverage product-led innovations to enhance ecosystem engagement and boost user lifetime values.”

    Growth Across Various Segments

    The company’s robust financial performance was driven by growth across several business segments. Revenues from deliveries increased by 18% year-on-year, while mobility revenues witnessed a 15% growth.

    Peter Oey, CFO of Grab, voiced optimism about the company’s long-term financial prospects, citing the strong foundation built thus far. “We forecast generating $1.5 billion in Adjusted EBITDA with an Adjusted Free Cash Flow conversion of 80% by 2028. This positions us well to accelerate our platform ambitions while maximizing shareholder value,” he stated.

    $500 Million Share Buyback Program

    Reaffirming its commitment to shareholders, Grab Holdings has unveiled a $500 million share buyback program.

    Questions & Answers

    What was Grab Holdings’ financial performance in 2025?
    Grab Holdings reported revenues of US$3.3 billion and a profit of $200 million in 2025.

    What strategies does Grab Holdings plan to implement moving forward?
    Grab intends to expand its market reach through increased affordability and reliability and plans to leverage product-led innovations to enhance ecosystem engagement and boost user lifetime values.

    What does Grab Holdings’ share buyback program entail?
    Grab Holdings has announced a $500 million share buyback program as part of its commitment to providing shareholder value.

  • China’s Luxury Market Primed for Modest Rebound in 2026: A Bain & Company Insight

    China’s Luxury Market Primed for Modest Rebound in 2026: A Bain & Company Insight

    China’s personal luxury goods market is anticipated to experience moderate growth in 2026, according to global management consulting firm, Bain & Company. However, they also caution that this recovery may be unstable and variegated across various brands and product categories.

    A Fragile Recovery

    In 2025, China’s luxury market contracted by 3-5%, showing some recuperation after a decline of 17-19% in 2024. Bain & Company forecasts that China, as the world’s second-largest economy, will persist as a crucial contributor to the growth of the luxury market.

    Brands that cater to the affordable luxury and ultra-premium segments have thrived, providing what the consultancy perceives as ‘true value’.

    China’s consumer confidence, which comprises approximately 25% of luxury expenditure, has been impacted by an extended property crisis and employment concerns. These factors have compelled luxury brands to reassess their strategies within the world’s second-largest economy.

    Despite consumer sentiment appearing cautious for much of 2025, the luxury sector indicated signs of stability from the third quarter onwards. Bain & Company cites a stronger stock market and improved consumer confidence, recovering from the weak economic base of 2024, as catalysts for this stabilisation.

    Future Outlook

    The firm anticipates a ‘modest’ expansion in 2026, facilitated by a burgeoning middle class, escalating consumer confidence, and policy measures intended to boost domestic consumption. However, Bruno Lannes, a senior partner, stated that this growth will remain ‘segment-specific’.

    2025 was viewed as a year of ‘recalibration’ for the world’s second-largest luxury market, with consumers becoming more discerning and gravitating towards items offering ‘true value’.

    Emerging Local Brands

    The study also reveals a preference for travel and wellness experiences over material purchases. The consultancy further highlighted the rise of local players as a significant trend in 2025. Emerging Chinese brands are attracting the attention of consumers with innovative and culturally relevant offerings, positioning them as robust competitors.

    Performance varied across different categories, with beauty being the most resilient, rebounding to growth of 4-7%. Conversely, demand for fashion declined by 5-8%, while the demand for leather goods dropped by 8-11%, partly due to price increases.

    Demand for watches plummeted by an estimated 14-17% as consumers shifted towards investments or second-hand alternatives. The jewellery sector’s decline narrowed to up to 5%.

    The Resilience of Desirable Brands

    Brands that preserve strong desirability and provide clear value through innovation and targeted pricing strategies have proven to be more resilient, according to the report.

    Domestic spending made up 65% of Chinese luxury consumption in 2025, which signifies a reversal of the recovery in overseas demand observed over the previous two years.

    A weaker currency and narrowing global price differences have driven more purchases back to the domestic market, despite a recovery in outbound travel.

    The secondhand luxury sector witnessed growth of 15-20%. Meanwhile, ‘daigou’ sales, a term referring to purchases made on behalf of others and a long-standing pillar of Chinese luxury spending abroad, showed signs of slowing as brands tightened control over unofficial channels.

    Questions & Answers

    How did China’s luxury market perform in 2025?
    In 2025, China’s luxury market experienced a contraction of 3-5%, showing signs of recovery from a more significant decline of 17-19% in 2024.

    What factors are expected to support the growth of China’s luxury market in 2026?
    The expected growth in 2026 is predicted to be supported by an expanding middle class, increasing consumer confidence, and policy measures aimed at stimulating domestic consumption.

    What trends were observed in China’s luxury market in 2025?
    In 2025, a significant trend was the rise of local players, with emerging Chinese brands capturing consumer attention through innovative and culturally relevant offerings. Additionally, consumers showed a preference for travel and wellness experiences over material purchases.

  • Vietnam’s Fuel Prices Rebound Amid Global Market Shifts And Geopolitical Strains

    Vietnam’s Fuel Prices Rebound Amid Global Market Shifts And Geopolitical Strains

    After a three-week decline, Vietnam’s petrol prices began to rebound on Thursday afternoon. The nation’s widely used fuel, RON95, experienced a 0.91% increase, bringing it to VND19,900 (US$0.76) per litre.

    Shifts in Fuel Prices

    Alongside the price increase of RON95, Biofuel E5 RON92 also experienced a slight uptick of 0.47%, settling at VND19,220 per litre. Conversely, the price for diesel dropped by 0.97% to VND18,420 per litre.

    Factors Influencing Fuel Prices

    Several factors have influenced the global petroleum market over the past week. One key element was the announcement by OPEC+ of their plan to increase oil production for the month of November. While the increase was lower than initially expected, it still made significant waves in the market.

    In addition to OPEC+’s decision, weakening worldwide demand for oil and ongoing issues in Ukraine both had an impact on fuel prices. Specifically, the continued escalation of attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure by Ukraine has added instability to the market.

    Global Price Changes

    On a global scale, RON95 saw an increase of 0.9%, bring its price to $79. Diesel prices, however, went in the opposite direction, falling by 1.4% to a price of $86.5.

    Questions & Answers

    What caused the increase in Vietnam’s fuel prices?
    The rise in prices was influenced by several factors including OPEC+’s announcement of increased oil production for November and ongoing geopolitical issues in Ukraine.

    Did all fuel prices in Vietnam increase?
    No, while the prices for RON95 and Biofuel E5 RON92 increased, the price for diesel actually dropped by 0.97% to VND18,420 per litre.

    How did global oil prices change?
    Globally, the price for RON95 increased by 0.9% to $79, whereas diesel prices fell by 1.4% to $86.5.

  • Champion lifting off with sustainable streetwear collection

    Champion lifting off with sustainable streetwear collection

    Athletic apparel brand Champion is to launch a sustainable streetwear collection Re:Bound next month.

    Champion’s Re:Bound Collection will feature a streetwear line made from recycled Reverse Weave fabric, normally discarded during production. According to the company, 45 percent of pre-consumer recycled cotton has been turned into high-quality apparel products for the range.

    The manufacturing process involves three stages: Rescue Waste, Recycle and Rope Dye.

    As part of the launch, Champion invited two Australian influencers and up-cyclers, Philip O’Donahoo and Jaida The Creator, to star in a promotion campaign.

    “Pioneering products is our legacy. Protecting the planet is our long game,” the company said in a statement. “Re:Bound is our first step, and we’re just getting started.”

    The Re:Bound collection is scheduled to launch on August 4.

  • Japan retail gross sales rebound

    Japan retail gross sales rebound

    Japan retail gross sales bounced again in April based on commerce ministry knowledge.

    Rising 5 per cent within the month, yr on yr,  the determine reversed a 3 month lengthy downward development and gave the Financial institution of Japan room for cautious optimism on the general state of the nation’s struggling financial system. In March, retail gross sales fell 9 per cent, though that was largely as a result of an irregular March 2014 when shoppers introduced ahead spending previous to a gross sales tax improve on April 1.

    The BoJ says the retail figures present shoppers are extra assured, easing the strain on the financial institution to extend a stimulus program.

    Based mostly on a seasonally adjusted  month on month foundation, Japan retail gross sales rose zero.four per cent in April following a drop of 1.eight per cent in March.

    The Japanese financial system expanded on the quickest fee in a yr within the first quarter, lastly rising from the 2014 recession.

  • Japan retail sales rebound

    Japan retail sales rebound

    Reported sales from Japanese department stores suggest a significant improvement in spending in April.

    Japan retail sales, based on department stores data, lept 13.7 per cent on a same store basis compared with the same month in 2014.

    The Japan Department Stores Association said a major part of the reason for the increase is that Japanese consumers restrained their spending last year following the increase of the national sales tax to eight per cent.

    Official figures for Japan retail sales in March showed a plunge of nearly 10 per cent, year-on-year. But when that data was released last month, analysts cautioned that in March 2014, sales were artificially high as Japanese brought forward spending to avoid a sales tax increase that took effect on April 1.

    That decrease was the worst March fall since 1998.

    This year, however, tourism is proving a boon to at least some of Japan’s retailers. Foreign tourists are spending more: their purcashes more than trebled for the third month in a row, the most popular items being cosmetics and luxury watches.