Daily Briefing: Asean currencies end month of two halves; Optus wins Australian rights for Barclays Premier League

And here are steps to lower healthcare costs come retirement.

October’s rally in Southeast Asian exchange rates has slammed into reverse amid prospects for higher U.S. interest rates and a Chinese-induced currency war. The Malaysian ringgit has given up much of its gains since peaking on Oct. 9, while the Thai baht and the Singapore dollar are set for a second week of losses. Read more here.

Singapore Telecommunications’ (Singtel) wholly-owned subsidiary, Optus, has announced it has won the bid for the exclusive Australian rights to the Barclays Premier League for three seasons, commencing in August 2016. Find out more here.

Retirement is a sensitive topic in Singapore. Lots of people, disheartened by the sight of wizened people working in menial jobs, assume that this is a country where people just don’t “do” retirement. The irony is that many middle income Singaporeans would actually be able to retire at a decent age if they could just curb their spending. Read more here.