While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Aug 23, 2026
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/while-you-were-sleeping-5-stories-you-might-have-missed-aug-23-2026

AIA, Prudential and FWD shares fell on China's 20% levy on offshore insurance income. Two of them look undervalued, but only one is worth a closer look now. Read more [Premium]: https://growthdragons.substack.com/p/hong-kong-insurer-stocks-fell-on

Reports have emerged this week that Temasek is planning to buy Samsung and SK Hynix. Both stocks jumped nearly 10% on the news.

Here's the catch. Temasek actually first invested back in 2024, so this isn't new money chasing a hot trend. Any increase would be part of its strategic plan to grow AI holdings from 6% to 15% of its portfolio over 5 years.

What does this mean for us retail investors?
https://drwealth.com/temasek-buys-sk-hynix-and-samsung-should-you-follow/

AI stocks got hammered in June and July. SanDisk fell more than 50% from peak to trough. Yet the S&P 500 barely moved, and by August it was back at new highs. Is the drawdown over, or is this the calm before a bigger fall? Read more: https://finbiteinsights.substack.com/p/s-and-p-500-hits-new-highs-bull-or

MercadoLibre dominates e-commerce across Latin America while building a fast-growing fintech business through Mercado Pago. Margins are tightening and competition remains intense, but Michael Burry bought back into the stock in 2Q26 following the dip. Is the recent share price weakness a buying opportunity? Read more [Premium]: https://finbiteinsights.substack.com/p/mercadolibre-the-amazon-paypal-of

Are you prepared for retirement? A viral chart says you need around S$1.4 million to retire comfortably in Singapore. But the figure is based on assumptions that may not reflect how most Singaporeans actually retire. Here’s why S$1.4 million may not be your retirement number.

https://drwealth.com/no-you-dont-need-us1-1-million-to-retire-in-singapore/

Singapore investing doesn’t have to stop at DBS, OCBC and UOB.

The new Next 50 Active ETF gives investors access to Singapore’s next tier of listed companies, with greater exposure to areas like technology, healthcare and other small- and mid-cap names.

Could this be an easier way to invest beyond the STI?
https://drwealth.com/cgs-fullgoal-singapore-next-50-active-etf/

Netflix may have won the streaming wars. But YouTube is winning a bigger share of our attention. Can advertising and pricing power keep NFLX growing from here? Read more [Premium]: https://finbiteinsights.substack.com/p/netflix-won-the-streaming-wars-but

What happened in China this week

1. China's new bank loans contracted in July, only the second such drop this year after April. Outstanding loan growth slowed to a record low 5.1% year on year.

2. Total Social Financing, China's widest measure of credit, grew 7.4% year on year.

3. Bond and equity financing made up 47% of new social financing in 2025, overtaking bank loans for the first time.

4. Credit is flowing toward technology, not mortgages. The PBOC held rates steady to protect bank margins.

5. Alibaba's AI capex spend turned free cash flow negative and profits fell 75%. Cloud revenue grew 45%, at least giving some ROI to show for it.

6. Ping An's profits surged 36%, thanks to a market rally and a stronger insurance business.

7. Evergrande founder Xu Jiayin was sentenced to life imprisonment for fraud.

8. Hong Kong developers, meanwhile, are riding a residential recovery as prices and sales rebound. Henderson Land's profits surged 66%.

9. Unitree, one of China's leading humanoid robot makers, began trading on Shanghai's STAR Market and closed 460% higher on debut day.

For more insights, read on [premium]: https://growthdragons.substack.com/p/growth-dragons-weekly-china-borrows

Evening Update: Today’s headlines from The Straits Times on Aug 23, 2026

https://str.sg/udz4

Luxury auto CEOs say there's a K-shaped economy even at the very top of the market
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/luxury-auto-ceos-say-theres-a-k-shaped-economy-even-at-the-very-top-of-the-market-145500874.html

Walmart isn't losing any retail war
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/walmart-isnt-losing-any-retail-war-123000472.html

Nvidia's Q2 earnings to test resurgent AI trade
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nvidias-q2-earnings-to-test-resurgent-ai-trade-112502189.html

Tariff refunds are hitting retailers' wallets. Here's what they're doing with the money.
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/tariff-refunds-are-hitting-retailers-wallets-heres-what-theyre-doing-with-the-money-142951738.html

Gold jumps as Treasury buybacks revive debasement concerns
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/gold-jumps-treasury-buybacks-revive-debasement-concerns

Alibaba plans US$10 billion Hong Kong share placement to fund AI spending

https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/alibaba-seeks-10-billion-share-073532899.html

China tax crackdown forces wealthy investors to assess their offshore trusts
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/china-tax-crackdown-forces-wealthy-investors-assess-their-offshore-trusts

More childcare leave, BTO income ceiling raised: 10 highlights from PM Wong’s National Day Rally speech
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/more-childcare-leave-bto-income-ceiling-raised-10-highlights-from-pm-wongs-national-day-rally-speech

Bessent Has No Easy Fix for What’s Really Driving Bond Yields Up
https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/bessent-no-easy-fix-really-130000330.html

Burry Says He Sold Alibaba, Calling It Pricey Before Share Sale
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/burry-says-sold-alibaba-calling-164915099.html