1. Indonesia's central bank issued new regulations requiring banks to increase their capital during economic boom periods to protect against possible future losses coming from excessive loan growth.

2. South Korea's central bank chief stressed the need to ensure financial stability in his New Year address, saying high debt levels in the country and rising interest rates could pose risks.

3. After four bitter years, sugar mills can look forward to sweeter prospects in 2016.

4. Of every additional US$1 (S$1.41) Americans spent for items online last year, Amazon captured 51 US cents, according to Macquarie Research. The firm is also likely to grab a quarter - US$22 billion - of new growth in retail sales in 2015.

Prices have rebounded 53 per cent since reaching a seven-year low in August.

5. A Singapore firm that has developed a drug for Alzheimer's Disease is looking to list on the Nasdaq as early as 2017, the Wall Street Journal reported. TauRx counts Temasek as an investor.