Media OutReach

‘It is the U.S. vs the rest’. Global broker’s Octa view on U.S. exceptionalism

Published

11 months ago

22/01/2025

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 January 2025 – The U.S. dollar has been appreciating almost relentlessly since the end of September. In just three and a half months, the Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the greenback relative to a basket of six major foreign currencies, including the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Canadian dollar, Swedish krona, and Swiss franc, was up more than 10% (from 27 September low to 13 January high). On 13 January, it breached the critical 110.00 level and although it has since declined slightly, it remains by far the best-performing currency among other major currencies this year so far.

‘The reasons for such an impressive rally are plentiful and diverse, but generally it all boils down to the widening interest rate differentials between the United States and other major economies’, says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker. Indeed, the Federal Reserve (Fed), the U.S. central bank, currently maintains its benchmark interest rate in the range of 4.25-4.50%, which is the second highest level among eight industrialized economies. Most importantly, however, unlike most other central banks, the Fed is not expected to cut the rates aggressively in 2025 as the U.S. economy continues to demonstrate striking resilience, marked by robust labour market data and strong consumer spending. In addition, geopolitical uncertainty and the risk of trade wars have fuelled safe-haven demand for the U.S. dollar. In fact, the election of Donald Trump as the next U.S. president largely served as a catalyst for the recent rally in the U.S. dollar.

‘It was always assumed that Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential race would be bullish for the U.S. dollar as his trade and immigration policies were viewed as inflationary. Therefore, the market started to price in that outcome well in advance and the dollar began its ascent one month before the election’, says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker. Specifically, Trump has explicitly threatened to impose trade tariffs on Eurozone and Canada, which clearly had a bearish impact on their currencies. For example, the Euro, which has a dominant 58% weight in the DXY, has lost more than 8% against the U.S. dollar since 25 September 2024. The biggest losers, however, have been risk-sensitive currencies such as the Australian dollar (AUD) and the New Zealand dollar (NZD) (see the chart below) both of which devalued by more than 10%.

Major Currencies Performance Since October 2024

To put it simply, the U.S. dollar is rising because of fear that Trump’s policies might spur inflation at best and trigger an all-out trade war at worst. In addition, the U.S. economy is outperforming most of its peers so the Fed is highly likely to ease its monetary policy at a much slower pace compared to other countries. Indeed, a recent Bloomberg survey forecasts a modest 1% growth for the Euro Area this year, slightly better than the 0.8% projected for 2024 but well below the long-term average of 1.4%. It is no surprise that the market continues to expect three or four 25-basis point rate cuts by the European Central Bank (ECB) in 2025 compared with just one or two by the Fed over the same period. In these circumstances, it is hard to expect EURUSD to rebound substantially from its recent lows. ‘I think there is more than a 50% chance that EURUSD will decline towards parity at some point this year and may even temporarily drop below the 1.0000 mark’, comments Kar Yong Ang, adding that Eurozone faces a number of structural challenges ranging from high energy costs and deindustrialization to geopolitical tensions and fiscal instability.

As for the DXY, its rally has started to show some signs of exhaustion lately. Technically, there is a bearish divergence between the DXY price and the Relative Strength Index (RSI). Furthermore, fundamentally, a lot of bullish factors have been already priced in and bulls lack new impulses for the next move higher. ‘I think the market has overly priced in all the dollar-related positives and the greenback actually looks slightly overvalued at this point. I think betting on its continuing appreciation is risky’, says Kar Yong Ang. Indeed, in some respect, the market has factored in a less likely scenario—i.e., that Donald Trump will impose blanket tariffs and destabilize global trade. While such a scenario is certainly possible its probability is relatively low. For example, Bloomberg reported that the U.S. could take a measured approach towards tariffs. ‘The market is forward-looking. Just like it started to price in Trump’s victory well before the elections, so it may now begin to price out the underlying bullish expectations and anticipate a downturn in a classical “buy the rumour sell the news” fashion’, concludes Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker.
Hashtag: #Octa

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Octa

Octa is an international broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools.

The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including the improvement of educational infrastructure and short-notice relief projects supporting local communities.

In the APAC region, Octa received the ‘Best Trading Platform Malaysia 2024’ and the ‘Most Reliable Broker Asia 2023’ awards from Brands and Business Magazine and International Global Forex Awards, respectively.

Media OutReach

Media OutReach Newswire Expands ASEAN Press Release Distribution Network with the Addition of Timor-Leste

Published

9 hours ago

15/12/2025

Media Outreach

Providing press release distribution to media in ASEAN’s newest member state

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 December 2025 – Media OutReach Newswire, Asia Pacific’s first global newswire, has expanded its press release distribution network in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), affirming its position as the leading global newswire for ASEAN, Southeast Asia, and the wider Asia Pacific region.

After a two-decade accession process, Timor-Leste officially became the 11^th member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on 26 October 2025, during the 47^th ASEAN Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The expansion of press release distribution to the new ASEAN member state cements Media OutReach Newswire as the global newswire having local presence, knowledge, and expertise across Asia Pacific. This enables the newswire to build and expand its distribution network in response to any new developments in this dynamic region.

Media OutReach Newswire’s Timor-Leste press release distribution network includes all media in the country, including the nation’s top media outlets, such as Suara Timor Lorosa’e (STL), Timor Post, the Jornal Independente, and Tempo Timor to name a few.

Jennifer Kok, Founder & CEO of Media OutReach Newswire, said: “As a global newswire founded in APAC, we have expert knowledge of the media and needs of PR professionals here, and can respond to any changes in the region. When the news broke, our Media Research Team immediately sprang to work on building the press release distribution network in Timor-Leste. As the only global newswire founded and headquartered in APAC, Media OutReach Newswire is the expert on ASEAN, Southeast Asia, and Asia Pacific, catering to PR professionals in the region, with a comprehensive, targeted, and up-to-date press release distribution network. This is combined with a global network covering North America, Europe, South and Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Our network of real journalists and guaranteed online news postings on authentic media power SEO, GEO, and AI citation – AI models have been proven to trust and cite press releases on real news sites, and we are committed to our clients’ press releases being published on real news media.”

Media OutReach Newswire’s total communications solutions provide PR professionals direct access to real journalists, allowing them to secure earned write-ups and build media relations. Guaranteed and verbatim news postings on real and authoritative news sites – across Asia Pacific, North America, South and Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa – power SEO and GEO, surfacing brands in AI search results citations. The pioneering reporting, with ready-to-use multi-format auto-reports with data insights and PR campaign intelligence, allow PR professionals to demonstrate campaign performance and ROI to stakeholders.

Jennifer added, “At Media OutReach Newswire we have worked steadfastly for over 16 years to build an unparalleled global network of real journalists and editors at trusted media, and KOLs. I am pleased to see Timor-Leste join the ASEAN community, and for us to be able to connect corporations and organisations with the country’s media and people.”

The addition of press release distribution in Timor-Leste is testament to Media OutReach Newswire offering the most comprehensive press release distribution service across ASEAN and Asia Pacific, with the total communications solutions that PR professionals need. It further solidifies the company’s position as Asia Pacific’s global newswire – trusted by the journalists and the media – empowering brands, agencies and PR professionals in the age of AI.

Hashtag: #MediaOutReachNewswire #pressrelease

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Media OutReach Newswire

Media OutReach Newswire is Asia Pacific’s first global newswire, serving as a trusted partner to the media, PR and communications professionals, corporations, and government bureaus, across the region and the globe.

Founded in 2009 as a champion of the PR industry, Media OutReach Newswire leverages next-generation technology to redefine press release distribution and reporting, with data insights and PR campaign intelligence, providing total communications solutions for PR professionals.

With a global network of 200,000 editors and journalists, 70,000+ media titles, from 1,500 media partners in more than 40 languages, Media OutReach Newswire is the only newswire offering guaranteed verbatim postings on real news sites. Press releases on authentic media are trusted by AI models, powering SEO, GEO, and AI search results citations.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, with offices across China, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan, the global press release distribution network spans Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia, the US, Canada, South and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

For more information about our services, solutions and network, please visit www.media-outreach.com

Media OutReach

Nano Singapore Expands Premium Supplement Range in Malaysia to Meet Growing Demand for Science-Backed Wellness

Published

9 hours ago

15/12/2025

Media Outreach

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 December 2025 – Nano Singapore, a Singapore-based health and wellness brand, is expanding its premium supplement range in Malaysia with the introduction of five flagship products. The expansion responds to rising consumer demand for scientifically formulated wellness solutions, as more Malaysians prioritise preventive health and seek supplements backed by research and manufactured to international safety standards.

With Nano Singapore’s expansion, Malaysians now have more options for quality health supplements.

The five formulations introduced include Tongkat Ali Plus, Probiotics 40 Billion CFU with Prebiotic, Magnesium Glycinate 834mg, Turmeric Curcuma Complex with 95% Curcuminoids, and Milk Thistle Complex, which reflect the brand’s multi-ingredient approach to supplementation. Each product is manufactured in GMP-certified, FDA-registered facilities.

Five Flagship Formulations

Tongkat Ali Plus – A multi-herbal vitality formula combining Tongkat Ali with Maca, Ginseng, and 17 synergistic botanicals, offering a more complete men’s wellness solution compared to single-ingredient alternatives.
Probiotics 40 Billion CFU with Prebiotic – A high-potency gut health probiotics formula featuring four clinically researched strains (L. Acidophilus, B. Lactis, L. Plantarum, L. Paracasei) paired with prebiotic fibre to support digestion, gut balance, and long-term immunity.
Magnesium Glycinate 834mg – A gentle, high-absorption form of magnesium that supports muscle relaxation, stress reduction, and sleep quality, with superior bioavailability and reduced gastrointestinal discomfort compared to oxide or citrate forms.
Turmeric Curcuma Complex with 95% Curcuminoids – A high-strength antioxidant formula with 95% standardised curcuminoid content significantly higher than common turmeric powders, designed to support joint comfort, mobility, and inflammation response.
Milk Thistle Complex – A comprehensive liver support supplement combining Milk Thistle with Dandelion, Artichoke, Black Pepper, and Turmeric for broader detoxification and antioxidant protection.

“Consumers today are more informed about what goes into their supplements. They’re looking for products with transparent formulations, credible sourcing, and measurable benefits,” said Joel Fu, General Manager of Nano Singapore. “Our formulations are designed to address real wellness needs like energy, gut balance, and recovery by using ingredients supported by scientific research.”

The expansion strengthens Nano Singapore’s presence in Malaysia, where the brand currently serves customers through its e-commerce platform and a growing network of local pharmacies. Strategic partnerships with Touch ‘n Go, Watsons, and other retail channels are also underway to improve accessibility nationwide.

For more information or to browse the full product range, visit the official Malaysia website at https://my.nanosingaporeshop.com/.
Hashtag: #NanoSingaporeMY

https://my.nanosingaporeshop.com/
https://www.facebook.com/NanoSingaporeMY/
https://www.instagram.com/nanosingaporemy/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NanoSingaporeMY
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nanosingaporemy.os

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Nano Singapore MY

Nano Singapore is a leading wellness brand offering premium, research-backed health supplements designed to support daily wellbeing and long-term vitality. Formulated in Singapore and manufactured in GMP-certified, FDA-registered facilities, the brand focuses on delivering high-quality products across key categories, including gut health probiotics, multivitamins, beauty supplements, men’s health, liver support supplements, and herbal wellness formulas.

Nano Singapore serves customers nationwide through a strong e-commerce presence and an expanding distribution network across local pharmacies in Malaysia. With a commitment to transparency, safety, and measurable results, Nano Singapore continues to be a trusted choice for Malaysians seeking effective and reliable wellness solutions.

Media OutReach

Five Talent Shifts Redefining Hiring in Hong Kong: PERSOL Unveils 2025 Workforce Insights

Published

11 hours ago

15/12/2025

Media Outreach

PERSOL’s latest Industry Insight Report reveals how digitalisation, sustainability and shifting worker expectations are transforming recruitment and retention across Asia Pacific.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 December 2025 – PERSOL has released its Industry Insight Report 2025, revealing an urgent need for employers across Asia Pacific to adapt to a fast-changing talent landscape. With hybrid digital and ESG-related skills in short supply, the study finds that employee expectations for flexibility, purpose and growth now outweigh pay, reshaping talent attraction and retention across the region.

2025 talent trends and hiring priorities

In Hong Kong, hiring remains selective, with steady demand for digital sales talent, bilingual professionals and frontline leaders. Employers are also facing rising wage pressure and waning youth interest in frontline roles, prompting businesses to rethink how they attract and engage talent. To fill critical service and customer-facing roles, companies are increasingly widening their talent search across the broader region to address persistent shortages.

Based on findings from 12 markets and four core sectors – Manufacturing, Consumer, Professional Services and Supply Chain – the report offers a regional view of how work and workforce priorities are evolving.

APAC’s Workforce in Flux

PERSOL’s Industry Insights Report 2025 finds that automation, sustainability regulation and demographic change are reshaping labour markets across the region.

Employers continue to face widespread skills shortages, with demand for digital, analytical and hybrid capabilities outpacing supply in most major markets. ESG awareness and compliance literacy are also becoming essential hiring criteria as organisations respond to growing sustainability expectations.

The report highlights that Generation Z and millennial professionals are reshaping what they value at work, prioritising flexibility, purpose and development opportunities over pay alone. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), Asia and the Pacific remains the world’s fastest-growing employment region, underscoring the need for businesses to evolve workforce strategies in line with these shifting expectations.^{^[1]}

Elvin Tan, Regional Director and Head of Operations APAC said, “The region’s talent economy is at a crossroads. Workforce gaps are no longer just about headcount. They are about adaptability. Employers who balance technology investment with cultural intelligence and purpose-led hiring will emerge stronger in the next cycle.”

The Five Talent Shifts Defining the Future of Work

The report identifies five interconnected shifts reshaping how employers hire, engage and compete for talent across Asia Pacific.

At the heart of this transformation is the rise of hybrid skills, where digital fluency and human capability increasingly go hand in hand. These capabilities are especially important in digital sales and customer-facing roles, where employers look for talent who can combine technical proficiency with strong communication skills.
Closely linked to this is the growing importance of sustainability and compliance literacy. As ESG expectations become more deeply embedded in business strategy, roles once limited to sustainability teams are now expanding across finance, operations and supply chain functions.
The study also points to a major shift in the employer–employee dynamic, with candidates behaving more like consumers. Jobseekers expect transparency, mobile-first communication and a sense of purpose from the hiring process itself. This trend is evident locally, where bilingual candidates increasingly evaluate organisations on culture, stability and clear growth pathways.
These evolving expectations are most visible among younger professionals, particularly Gen Z and millennials, who prioritise flexibility, belonging and personal growth. For many, meaningful work and supportive leadership now matter more than salary alone.
The report also highlights a growing need for stronger collaboration between businesses, educators and government to keep skills development aligned with evolving workforce demands. In Hong Kong, this coordinated approach is becoming increasingly important as industries adapt to rapid digitalisation, rising service expectations and ongoing talent shortages.

Zen Loh, Managing Director & Strategic Business Group Head said, “This report reflects PERSOL’s commitment to equipping our clients with data-driven insights that translate into real workforce strategies. We’re helping businesses and jobseekers prepare for what’s next by understanding the skills, mindsets and motivations shaping the future of work.”

Empowering Organisations for What’s Next

PERSOL believes that insight is only powerful when it drives action. Across Asia Pacific, the company works alongside organisations to turn workforce intelligence into real progress, helping them attract, develop and retain the people who will shape the next generation of work.

Download the PERSOL Industry Insight Report 2025 at www.persolapac.com/industry-insights-2025 to explore the trends transforming how Asia Pacific works, hires and grows.

[1] International Labour Organization (ILO), World Employment and Social Outlook 2025: Asia and the Pacific – May Update. Published May 2025.

Hashtag: #PERSOL

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About PERSOL in APAC

PERSOL is Asia-Pacific’s leading Staffing and HR solutions partner, operating across 13 markets with deep local insight and regional scale. With more than 140 offices and decades of experience, we deliver integrated workforce solutions that are tailored, tech-enabled, and designed for the dynamic world of work.

We combine human expertise with smart technology to help organisations solve workforce challenges, unlock potential, and stay ahead of change. From recruitment and talent management to workforce strategy and advisory, our collaborative approach puts your goals at the centre.

In 2025, we came together under the PERSOL name – reflecting our bold vision for the future of work and our Group’s Vision: ‘Work and Smile’. Whether you’re building teams, growing careers, or transforming how work gets done, we’re here.