The Business Times
business-time-50
MIND THE GAP
·
SUBSCRIBERS

Strides in governance could help Asian markets challenge US exceptionalism

But the US’ strength lies in its edge in corporate governance – investors enjoy legal clarity, shareholder empowerment and deep, liquid capital markets

Summarise
google-preferred-sourceAdd BT as a preferred source
Genevieve Cua

Genevieve Cua

Published Wed, Jan 21, 2026 · 07:00 AM
阅读简体中文版 (beta)
    • Traders at Hana Bank in Seoul, South Korea. The country's efforts to improve governance through its Corporate Value-Up Programme has yielded results; the South Korea Value-Up Index recorded an 89.4% gain at end-2025.
    • Traders at Hana Bank in Seoul, South Korea. The country's efforts to improve governance through its Corporate Value-Up Programme has yielded results; the South Korea Value-Up Index recorded an 89.4% gain at end-2025. PHOTO: EPA

    AT THIS time in 2025, optimism reigned over the concept of US exceptionalism, the notion that the US is unique and hence is expected to generate outsized returns.

    But as the year wore on, that narrative lost steam.

    Where does US exceptionalism stand today? The concept is far from dead, based on the many opinions and strategy reports that come my way.

    Mind the GapInvestment portfolios

    TRENDING NOW

    Longest-serving chief minister Taib Mahmud’s legacy looms large over Sarawak as a family feud over his estate threatens to expose skeleton’s in the eastern state’s political closet.

    On the board but frozen out: The Taib family feud tearing Sarawak construction giant apart

    Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the Kremlin in Moscow on April 13.

    As more Asean states turn to Russia for fuel, will Moscow boost its influence in the region?

    Thailand’s target is to export seven million tonnes of rice globally in 2026, but the Middle East war has turned the world topsy-turvy with supply disruptions, high oil prices and economic uncertainty.

    Thai and Vietnamese farmers may stop planting rice because of the Iran war. Here’s why

    Electric vehicles and the changed dynamics of mainstream and luxury car segments mean Certificates of Entitlement should not be used to classify cars.

    Is it time to scrap COE categories for cars? 

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More