WHEN Hong Leong Bank Bhd (HLBB) bought into Bank of Chengdu Co Ltd (BoCD) in 2008, many saw it as a strategic triumph for the Malaysian banking group. Its roughly 20% stake in the fast-growing Chinese lender has helped boost its earnings over the years, accounting for more than a fifth of its bot...

Cover Story: The BoCD challenge for Hong Leong Bank

HONG Leong Bank Bhd (HLBB) group managing director and CEO Kevin Lam, who got into the driver’s seat last July, seems to have brought a new energy to the country’s fifth-largest banking group by assets.

Despite being one of the better-performing banks in town, a point acknowledged by an...

Cover Story: Bringing a new energy to the bank

IF there was one thing Kevin Lam was sure of when he took the helm as Hong Leong Bank Bhd (HLBB) group managing director and CEO just over six months ago, it was that he had not been hired to do a business-as-usual (BAU) job.

In an exclusive interview with The Edge, the veteran Singapor...

Cover Story: Hong Leong Bank on mission to become country’s best-run bank

The Sarawak state government plans to raise its holding in Affin Bank Bhd to around 30%, which would result in it overtaking the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) as the banking group’s largest shareholder, sources said.

Sarawak wants to raise stake in Affin Bank to around 30%, sources say

The key focus at home this holiday-shortened week will be the US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decision early Thursday. Bursa Malaysia will be closed on Thursday for the Federal Territory Day holiday.

The Week Ahead: Eyes on monetary decisions in the US, UK and Bursa Malaysia’s 4Q2023 earnings

Hume Cement Industries Bhd

Target price: RM3.03 BUY

Brokers Digest: Local Equities - Hume Cement Industries Bhd, Bursa Malaysia Bhd, Velesto Energy Bhd, Mah Sing Group Bhd

Pavilion REIT’s upsized RM720 million deal largest-ever among Malaysian REITS

Pavilion Real Estate Investment Trust’s (Pavilion REIT) private placement of 590.16 million new units in the second quarter — representing 19.3% of its existing unit base and 16.2% of the enlarged base post-...

Deals Of 2023: Best Share Placement

Time dotCom’s AIMS stake sale a strategic win-win for both sides

 

Time dotCom Bhd’s sale of a stake in AIMS Data Centre Holding Sdn Bhd to DigitalBridge Group Inc that was completed in April this year was packaged as a strategic partnership between the two parties.

Deals of 2023: Best Mergers & Acquisitions

SYARIKAT Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Bhd’s (STMK) launch of a new digital platform three weeks ago strengthens its footprint in the digital insurance and takaful space, a move analysts say will enable it to gain new customer segments and compete more effectively with other players, including upcomi...

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia strengthens its digital play

BANK Islam Malaysia Bhd is optimistic its net income margin (NIM), which took a hit in the first quarter of this year before going on to improve in the second and third quarter, can keep up the trajectory in the final quarter as the seasonal war for deposits in the industry is not as intense as a...

Seasonal competition for deposits not as bad as a year ago, says Bank Islam

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court justices confronted the nation's homelessness crisis on Monday as they wrestled with the legality of local laws used against people who camp on public streets and parks in a case involving a southwest Oregon city's anti-vagrancy policy.

The just...

US Supreme Court scrutinizes anti-camping laws used against the homeless

The bodies of the 10 victims involved in the mid-air collision and crash involving two helicopters at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base in Lumut were recovered earlier on Tuesday.

Police confirm all bodies recovered from helicopters' crash

KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Malaysia still has the advantages for the “China plus one” (China+1) strategy, despite facing rising competition from its neighbouring countries, according to the Socio-Economic Research Centre (SERC).

Malaysia still frontrunner for China+1 strategy despite rising competition from regional countries, says SERC

The defence in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial will contest the 25 abuse of power and money-laundering charges levelled against former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Shafee: 1MDB-Tanore charges 'all wrong', will mount challenge

Moomoo Malaysia, an online trading platform, garnered 100,000 clients within six weeks of its launch, making it one of the most downloaded financial mobile applications in Malaysia.

Moomoo Malaysia surpassed 100,000 clients within six weeks of its debut in Malaysia

GLOBETRONICS Technology Bhd, an established outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) player, is planning to move up the value chain by diversifying into advanced packaging to ride the wave of rising demand for such services.

It also expects advanced packaging to be its future r...

Globetronics to venture into advanced packaging on back of rising demand

While continuous growth is essential for a company to survive in the highly competitive property development industry, staying focused and establishing a clear market position are key to distinguishing itself from the others.

“When I first started in the property industry about 20 years...

Cover Story: Staying focused on affordable residential market

The Home Ministry and the government contend that the seizure of 172 rainbow-themed Swatch watches nationwide was legal as it was done under Section 17 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA), that empowers the authorities to seize items without the need of a prohibitory order or warrant, as those items are considered undesirable publication due to them advocating for LGBTQ.

Seizure of Swatch’s rainbow-themed watches is legal, no need for prohibitory order — Home Ministry

Following its demerger from CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, CGS International Securities Malaysia (CGS Malaysia) is aiming for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 15% to 20% in revenue over the next three to five years.

Following demerger, CGS Malaysia aims for 15%-20% CAGR in revenue over next five years

KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Grade A prime office spaces continue to be in demand with improving vacancy and rental rates due to the flight to quality trend among tenants, according to JLL (Malaysia), as discussed in its JLL’s 1Q2024 Greater Kuala Lumpur Property Market Monitor launch on Tuesday.

Grade A prime office spaces continue to be in demand — JLL (Malaysia)

The Edge covers former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial live.

Najib's 1MDB-Tanore trial live reporting (April 23)

Ten members of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) were confirmed dead in an incident where two helicopters collided and crashed at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base in Lumut, Perak on Tuesday morning.

Two helicopters crash in Lumut, 10 confirmed killed — RMN

Shares of Topmix Bhd surged 32% in its trading debut on Tuesday after the surface decorative products company’s initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market raised RM31.7 million.

Topmix surges 32% on ACE Market debut

Healthcare stocks still have legs to run following the recent rally and investors should continue to buy hospital operators for their further earnings growth this year, analysts said.

KPJ near record high, IHH surges as analysts bet on more upside

Brazil's government said on Monday that four additional poultry plants have been cleared to sell halal products to Malaysia, a move it hopes will allow exports to the Asian country to double when compared to last year's levels.

Brazil says Malaysia clears four more halal poultry plants for export

Eight contractors face possible Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) fines for alleged bid rigging in 2019, in respect of two tenders of the Public Works Department (JKR) and one tender of the Department of Drainage and Irrigation.

Eight contractors face possible MyCC fines for bid rigging in tenders worth RM473m

Malaysia’s construction tender prices are&nbsp;expected to grow by 3% in 2024, compared to the previous year, driven by various factors such as project type, industry procurement strategy and currency fluctuations, according to a report by global professional services company Turner &amp; Townsend.

Malaysia’s construction tender prices to grow by 3% in 2024, says Turner & Townsend

Asian shares extended gains on Tuesday, taking cues from Wall Street as investors' focus shifts to earnings reports from US tech giants in the week, while a still strong dollar pressured the Japanese yen to fresh 34-year lows.

Asian shares extend gains ahead of tech earnings, yen fragile

Former Umno Supreme Council member Hizatul Isham Abdul Jalil or better known as Isham Jalil has offered to make an unreserved apology to bring an end to his contempt of court proceedings.

Ex-Umno leader ready to apologise in contempt of court case

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his son, incoming vice-president Gibran Rakabuming Raka, are no longer members of the country's largest party after they backed rival candidate and election winner Prabowo Subianto, a party official said on Tuesday.

Indonesia's biggest party confirms President Jokowi no longer a member after backing Prabowo

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's appeal against her guilty conviction and sentence over all three counts of graft pertaining to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak will be heard in October.

October hearing for Rosmah's appeal in solar project graft trial

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) has a “trading buy” rating on SDS Group Bhd and said with 33 of its F&amp;B outlets situated across Johor state, and a wholesale segment that is focusing in this region, SDS appears strategically positioned to leverage the burgeoning vibrancy in Johor, propelled further by the continuous influx of visitors from Singapore.

SDS strategically positioned to leverage burgeoning vibrancy in Johor, says HLIB 

Chinese universities and research institutes recently obtained high-end Nvidia artificial intelligence (AI) chips through resellers, despite the US widening a ban last year on the sale of such technology to China.

China acquired recently banned Nvidia chips in Super Micro, Dell servers, tenders show

Malton Bhd has unveiled the final tower (Block B) of River Park, following the successful launch of its previous Tower A and Tower C blocks with more than 70% take-up rate.

Malton unveils River Park's final tower

Bursa Malaysia opened higher on Tuesday, taking its cue from Wall Street’s better performance overnight, as sentiment improves after Iran said it will not escalate the conflict with Israel, said an analyst.

Bursa up in early trade, tracking Wall Street overnight

Capital A Bhd’s unit AirAsia Consulting Sdn Bhd is still in the pre-qualification stage for the acquisition of national carrier SriLankan Airlines.&nbsp;

However, AirAsia Consulting has yet to submit any price bid since due diligence has not been carried out, its chief executive officer Subashini Silvadas told The Edge on Tuesday.

Capital A’s unit in RFQ process for SriLankan Airlines, no price bid yet

Wall Street stocks ended higher on Monday following a market sell-off in previous sessions as investors eyed a busy week for quarterly results from key companies that would provide a glimpse of the US economy's health.

Wall Street stocks end higher with major corporate earnings in view

Rakuten Trade has a “buy” rating on ACE Market-bound surface decorative products company Topmix Bhd at an initial public offering (IPO) price of 31 sen, with a fair value of 40 sen based on financial year 2024 (FY2024) forecast price-earnings (PE) of 15x, in line with industry peers.

Rakuten Trade values Topmix at 40 sen, expects FY2023-FY2026 earnings to grow at CAGR of 25%

South Korea is emerging as a closely watched weak link in the US$63 trillion (RM298.95 billion) world of shadow banking.

Shadow banking stress in South Korea sends warning to global investors

The two helicopters which collided and crashed at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Base were undergoing a rehearsal for the third time in conjunction with RMN Fleet Open Day celebration scheduled on Saturday (April 27).

Adeline Paul Raj

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Adeline Paul Raj

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