Chinese officials are signalling they're increasingly reluctant to agree to a broad trade deal pursued by US President Donald Trump, ahead of negotiations this week that have raised hopes of a potential truce. Vice-Premier Liu He, who will lead the Chinese contingent in high-level talks that begin this Thursday, told visiting dignitaries he would bring an offer to Washington that won't include commitments on reforming Chinese industrial policy or the government subsidies that have been the target of longstanding US complaints, one of the people said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the European Union on Sunday he will not delay Brexit beyond Oct 31, underlining that his latest proposals are a last chance to reach a deal. The UK premier said he would not request another delay, despite British MPs passing a law last month that requires him to seek another Brexit delay if he fails to secure an agreement by the end of a make-or-break EU summit on Oct 17-18.

HSBC has embarked on a cost-cutting drive that threatens up to 10,000 jobs, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing two people briefed on the matter. Any job cuts implemented as part of latest plan would come on top of 4,700 redundancies HSBC recently announced, and the cuts will focus on high-paid roles.

The Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX) has rejected Innopac Holdings' request for a two-month extension to report its financial results and hold its annual general meeting for FY2019 ended June.

Keppel Offshore & Marine wholly owned subsidiaries, Fernvale and FELS Offshore, have entered into a settlement agreement with subsidiaries of Sete Brasil including Urca, Frade, Bracuhy, Portogalo, Mangaratiba and Botinas, in relation to the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contracts (EPC Contracts) for the construction of six semisubmersible drilling rigs for these six Sete Brasil subsidiaries. Fernvale will take over ownership of the uncompleted rigs which arose from the performance of the EPC Contracts with Bracuhy, Portogalo, Mangaratiba and Botinas.

Source: SGX Masnet, The Business Times, Bloomberg, Channel NewsAsia, Reuters, PSR