Commenting on the success of Pop Mart, SMU Assistant Professor of Marketing Shilpa Madan said that Pop Mart has turned Labubu into a growth engine by fusing cute aesthetics with casino-level unpredictability via surprise-box rarity, limited drops, and social media unboxings that create an addictive loop of anticipation, reveal, and community status. However, she noted that Pop Mart must weigh risks from both consumer behaviour and the wider environment, warning that desirability could decline without fresh silhouettes, storylines, or collaborations.
Commenting on the significance of signboards, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami said signs have the biggest impact on occasional visitors, “for whom visual imagery is what makes the first impression”. However, he added that whether it translated into a sale depends on the combination of assortment, price, and indications of quality, such as a long line of customers, or perhaps an online review or rating average.
Boeing was reportedly in talks to sell 500 planes to China, a move that Chanson & Co Executive Director Shen Meng likened to agricultural products as part of US-China trade negotiations, with potential to support US President Donald Trump’s reshoring agenda.
Commenting on the recent train disruptions, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said he does not see any underlying issues, noting that the incidents have different causes, which could randomly happen. He also pointed out that train operators have a limit to the number of resources and time that they have access to the track to fix or replace things. Asst Prof Fan added that with trains operating more often, the number of disruptions could happen more frequently as well.
In an interview, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan explained that train lines operate on customised systems shaped by factors such as signalling, train age, and mechanical issues, so recent disruptions are varied and not directly linked. He noted that problems often occur when lines are newly launched, like the Thomson-East Coast Line, due to complex integration, or when they age, as with the East-West Line, where wear and rust set in.
A framework agreement on short-form video platform TikTok has been reached in the latest round of trade talks between the US and China. SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian said that both the US and China will seek a solution that is acceptable to both parties. Judging from its spokesperson’s mentions of “technology export” and “intellectual property licensing”, the Chinese government will likely allow ByteDance to grant TikTok’s algorithm licence to the US but restrict the scope of use and implement restriction terms.
SMU's Master of Science in Applied Finance (MAF) programme set a new record in its debut placement in the 2026 QS Global Master's in Finance Rankings, ranking 1st in Singapore, 2nd in Asia and 33rd worldwide among 248 programmes evaluated across 47 locations. In related 2026 QS Global MBA Rankings, the SMU MBA programme advanced a spot to rank 4th in Asia while maintaining its global 41st place, despite an increase in the number of programmes evaluated.
The US and China have reached a framework agreement on transferring TikTok to US-controlled ownership, with analysts suggesting China may settle the key dispute over its recommendation algorithm by licensing the intellectual property. SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian echoed this sentiment, inferring that the Chinese government may allow ByteDance to authorise TikTok in the US to use its recommendation algorithm, but will impose restrictions on the scope and conditions of use.
In an interview, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing Hannah Chang explained that young people are drawn to nostalgic items for their uniqueness, emotional comfort, and connection to past eras, often due to an interest in the historical events or pop culture of those times. While sourcing quality second-hand goods can be difficult, Assoc Prof Chang said that vintage and flea markets provide a reliable supply through community networks that sustain nostalgic culture.
China’s consumer demand remained weak in August 2025, with Consumer Price Index (CPI) falling 0.4% and core CPI rising 0.9%, while Producer Price Index (PPI) dropped 2.9% but showed signs of easing deflation. SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian said that China’s PPI decline narrowed year-on-year in August 2025 while remaining stable month-on-month, which he took as a sign that recent Chinese government measures to curb excessive competition were having some effect and that the economy had begun to stabilise.
