<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>SINGAPORE (Jan 11): The Asian USD high-yield (HY) bond primary market in 4Q17 was boosted by the resurgence of offshore-issuance approvals from Chinese regulators and a continued appetite for new paper.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>This was further driven by near-record low yields for Asian speculative-grade bonds as well as abundant liquidity, according to the latest Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) HY Bonds Issuance Report 2017 from intelligence service provider Debtwire, an Acuris company.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Based on the company’s latest data, a total of US$18.69 billion (S$24.9 billion) bonds were issued in the region within 4Q alone – higher than the US$18.65 billion from 52 deals in preceding quarter and 19% more than the US$15.7 billion raised from 47 deals in the same quarter a year ago... <a href="https://www.theedgesingapore.com/asia-ex-japan-may-see-less-bountiful-2018-after-record-year-bond-transactions-debtwire" target="_blank">(Click here to read the full story.)</a></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

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SINGAPORE (Jan 11): The Asian USD high-yield (HY) bond primary market in 4Q17 was boosted by the resurgence of offshore-issuance approvals from Chinese regulators and a continued appetite for new paper.

This was further driven by near-record low yields for Asian speculative-grade bonds ...

Asia ex-Japan may see a less bountiful 2018 after record year of bond transactions: Debtwire

AirAsia X Bhd (AAX), which will be taking over Capital A Bhd's aviation business, has announced the mechanics of its plan via a bourse filing on Thursday.

AirAsia X to buy Capital A's aviation business for RM6.8b via share and debt deal 

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday that the US economy "continues to perform very, very well" and that she still sees inflation falling back to more normal levels.

Yellen says economy performing well, inflation will ebb

In today’s edition of Evening 5: 00:00 EPF unveils the details of flexible Account 3 02:07 AAX to buy Capital A’s airline business for RM6.8 bil 03:47 DNB adds five new members to its board 04:58 PM denies claims about a Forest City casino 05:51 Pantech mulls listing two subsidiaries

EVENING 5: EPF unveils the details of flexible Account 3

Infoline Tec Group Bhd has proposed to transfer its listing from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia as it has met the profit requirements for the transfer.

Infoline Tec seeks transfer from ACE Market to Main Market

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Members of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) who are below 55 years old will have an Account 3 starting from May 11, from which they can make withdrawals at any time for any purpose — subject to a minimum withdrawal amount of RM50. This is on top of the two existing accounts they currently have for retirement savings.

EPF members under age 55 will get Account 3 for flexible withdrawals from May 11

ViTrox Corp Bhd saw its net profit nearly halved for the financial quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024), primarily due to unfavourable product mix and higher research and development (R&D) expenditures to support the introduction of new products.

ViTrox 1Q’s net profit nearly halved, extending declining profits to five quarters

Malaysia nevers forget the sacrifices Australian and New Zealand heroes made during the World War II particularly in Sandakan and the lessons of history will be carried forward to the new generation.

Malaysia never forgets sacrifices of Australian, New Zealand war heroes in Sandakan

The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives hit a two-month low on Thursday, due to weaker soybean oil futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), said a dealer.

Mumbai-based Sunvin Group commodity research head Anilkumar Bagani said the market sentiment was also weighed down by the Dalian Commodity Exchange’s refined, bleached, and deodorised palm olein during Asian trading hours.

CPO futures hit two-month low at the close, in line with weaker rival oils

Universities should implement screening processes for the programmes they conduct, but not to the extent of compromising their autonomy and openness, according to an expert.

Senior Lecturer at the Department of Quran and Sunnah Studies, Faculty of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Dr Abu Hafiz Salleh Hudin, believes this should be done to avoid controversies, especially involving sensitive issues and national policies.

Universities should screen programmes, but not to extent of compromising autonomy, openness — Expert

Malaysia is in early discussions with tycoons on opening a casino in Forest City, people familiar with the matter said, in a bid to revive the beleaguered US$100 billion (RM478.35 billion) property project that counts the country’s monarch as one of its shareholders.

Malaysia is said to mull casino resort to revive Forest City

Members of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) who are below 55 years old will have an Account 3 starting from May 11, from which they can make withdrawals at any time for any purpose — subject to a minimum withdrawal amount of RM50. This is on top of the two existing accounts they currently have for retirement savings.&nbsp;

Sports retailer Al-Ikhsan Sports Sdn Bhd, in which state-owned private equity firm Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) owns a 35% stake, has appointed Datuk Hishammudin Hasan as its new chief executive officer effective April 17.

Ekuinas-backed Al-Ikhsan Sports names former 7-Eleven head as CEO

AirAsia X Bhd (AAX), which will be taking over Capital A Bhd's aviation business, has announced the mechanics of its plan via a bourse filing on Thursday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday denied claims that the government will issue a licence for the operation of a casino in Forest City, Johor.

PM denies claims that govt issuing casino licence for Forest City

IOI Properties Group broke ground on Thursday for Senna Puteri, its latest township development located in Sepang, Selangor. The developer is looking to launch 386 units of townhouses in its first phase before the end of the second quarter.

Spanning 117 acres in southern Klang Valley, the 12-phase Senna Puteri will be developed over the next 10 years, offering residential, commercial, recreational areas, green spaces, community hall, surau and more. It has a gross development value (GDV) of over RM3 billion.

IOI Properties breaks ground for 117-acre Senna Puteri in Sepang

JOHOR BAHRU (April 25): The Johor branch of the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) found parasitic worms Anisakis sp in samples of sardine cans from China that were brought in through the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) here, earlier this month.

Parasitic worms Anisakis sp found in canned sardines from China — Johor dept

Malaysia’s consumer inflation came in lower than expected in March from a year earlier as prices of healthcare and food rose at a slower pace, official data on Thursday showed.

The Consumer Price Index — Malaysia’s main gauge of inflation — rose 1.8% year-on-year, according to the Department of Statistics. The headline figure was a tad lower than the median 2% rise predicted in a Bloomberg survey of economists, and unchanged versus February’s 1.8% gain.

Malaysia’s inflation steady at 1.8% in March

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has confirmed that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is among individuals under investigation by the commission.

Azam Baki confirms Dr M among individuals under MACC probe

The Court of Appeal has allowed a bid by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to have a bench of five judges to hear his review application to restore his acquittal by the High Court of four of his abuse of power charges last year.

His lawyer Chetan Jethwani said that Court of Appeal deputy registrar Muhammad Noor Firdaus Rosli informed the parties of the matter on Thursday morning during case management.

Appellate court grants Muhyiddin five-member bench for review of charges

KUALA LUMPUR (April 25): Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had never instructed 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s (1MDB) management to transfer a total US$1.03 billion to Good Star Ltd, a company linked to the fugitive Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), the court heard on Thursday.

Najib never instructed 1MDB management to transfer monies to Good Star — witness

Luxchem Corp Bhd’s net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024) surged over 54% to RM11.56 million or 1.08 sen per share from RM7.5 million or 0.7 sen per share a year earlier on the back of stronger earnings from both its trading and manufacturing segments.

The industrial chemical and material group’s revenue rose 19.8% to RM183.15 million versus RM152.83 million a year ago as driven by its trading and manufacturing segments, according to a bourse filing on Thursday. &nbsp;

Luxchem 1Q net profit up 54% on stronger trading and manufacturing segment

MKH Oil Palm (East Kalimantan) Bhd (MKHOP), the plantation arm of property developer MKH Bhd, reported RM16.02 million net profit on the back of RM86.05 million revenue for the second quarter ended March 31, 2024 (2QFY2024), ahead of its listing on Bursa Malaysia’s Main Market.

MKH Oil Palm posts RM16 mil net profit in 2Q, q-o-q up 44% ahead of Main Market listing

Shares of CapitaLand Malaysia Trust (CLMT) surged on Thursday to its highest in nearly four years while analysts remained upbeat following better-than-expected first-quarter (1Q) results.

CapitaLand Malaysia Trust surges to near four-year high after strong 1Q

JRG Minerals Sdn Bhd is collaborating with Shandong Huaxin Industry Co Ltd for a development project in Kuantan, Pahang, with an estimated value of RM15 billion.

JRG Minerals teams up with Shandong Huaxin for RM15b development project in Pahang

KUALA LUMPUR (April 25): Malaysia requires an annual allocation of at least RM10 billion for the next three years, which is crucial to boost water infrastructure amid below-cost tariffs and high wastage, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) said on Thursday.

Malaysia needs RM10 bil for next three years to upgrade water infrastructure — SPAN

Global semiconductor firm Nasdaq-listed TTM Technologies Inc has invested US$200 million (about RM958 million) for its first manufacturing plant in Malaysia.

Nasdaq-listed TTM Technologies invests RM958 mil for manufacturing plant in Penang

Chin Teck Plantations Bhd’s net profit surged sevenfold for the financial quarter ended Feb 29, 2024 (2QFY2024) thanks to higher palm oil production as well as lower operating and administrative expenses.

Chin Teck’s 2Q net profit up sevenfold

The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) has called on the European Union to delay the implementation of deforestation rules by at least a year for small businesses, its secretary general said on Thursday.

Palm oil producers urges EU to delay deforestation rules for small businesses

SEPANG (April 25): A&nbsp;manager of a tour agency company pleaded not guilty at&nbsp;the Sessions Court here on Thursday to charges of attempting to murder his wife and causing injury to the woman’s bodyguard.