Monday Wrap: Telco strain, hiring squeeze, and merger shifts

Singapore's telco market faces strain from the failed Simba-M1 deal, though analysts expect further consolidation. Wealth managers encounter rising recruitment costs and lengthy hiring processes for senior bankers. The education sector leads part-time job postings, while finance lags. Revised merger rules aim to accelerate approvals. Late-stage startups dominated recent funding at $157.8m, and organizations are increasing AI investments despite unclear ROI measurement.