New York, January 23, 2026, 14:49 ET — Regular session
- Grab shares ticked up on Friday, lingering just below $4.60.
- A report indicated that Grab’s takeover discussions for Indonesia’s GoTo have stalled due to issues around Telkomsel’s stake.
- Grab launched Tap to Pay on iPhone for merchants in Singapore, with investors gearing up for its Feb. 11 earnings report.
Shares of Grab Holdings Limited (GRAB.O) climbed on Friday after news surfaced that its planned acquisition of Indonesian rival GoTo Group hit new obstacles. The stock gained roughly 1.1%, trading at $4.60 in afternoon session.
The deal angle matters because a Grab-GoTo tie-up would reshape ride-hailing and food delivery in Southeast Asia, and it would almost certainly draw scrutiny from regulators and politicians in Indonesia, its biggest market.
The company is also pushing to prove it can expand past rides and meals. A new payments feature aimed at merchants—and the hint of commentary in next month’s earnings—offers traders a fresh near-term angle to watch.
Grab swung between $4.51 and $4.63, kicking off the day at $4.53. Trading volume surged past 48 million shares, well above recent levels, amid a patchy risk appetite.
A report on Friday revealed that talks around Grab’s multibillion-dollar bid for GoTo hit a snag over Telkomsel’s roughly 2% stake in the company. The state-linked carrier is reportedly hesitant to sell at current prices, having bought in at much higher levels. Both Grab and GoTo declined to comment. Telkomsel said it doesn’t respond to market speculation and pointed out that government approval would likely be required for any such transaction. (The Business Times)
Grab announced Thursday it has rolled out Tap to Pay on iPhone for its merchant partners in Singapore. This lets them accept contactless payments via the Grab Merchant iOS app—no additional payment terminal needed. “We’re offering a simpler, more cost-efficient way for merchants to accept contactless payments using just the Grab Merchant app,” said Julianne Heng, Grab’s regional head of payments. (Grab)
Tap-to-pay relies on near-field communication (NFC), the short-range wireless tech powering many contactless card and phone payments, the company said. It’s compatible with newer iPhones running the latest iOS.
The bigger threat, though, comes from Indonesia. A draft decree on the table aims to slash the commission platforms take from drivers, halving it from 20% to 10%. It also demands more insurance and benefit contributions. Industry insiders told Reuters these moves could squeeze profits throughout the sector. (Reuters)
Grab faces an added complication with the GoTo talks: valuation disputes, political factors, and antitrust issues could all stall negotiations. So far, the company hasn’t confirmed any discussions publicly.
Grab will release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings after U.S. markets close on Feb. 11. The company has scheduled a management call for 7 p.m. Eastern.
