The government has taken a step forward by introducing flexible working hours for civil servants, a pilot project meant to help them strike a work-life balance. Government employees can now opt to clock in between 7.30am and 8.30am and clock out between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, so long as they work nin...

Coffee Break: Brace for longer waits at government offices

AN underperformer in its early incarnation, TIME dotCom Bhd has evolved over the decades and is now the top performer in Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s commercial fund where the latter pools assets focused on long-term growth targets.

Khazanah also has a fund that contains assets deemed to be ...

TIME best performer in Khazanah’s commercial pool

WHEN Malaysians voted for a change of government in May last year, ending Barisan Nasional’s (BN) unbroken 61-year rule, the outcome came as a total surprise to everyone, bar a handful.

Nervy investors responded to the unexpected loss of the coalition in the 14th general election (GE14)...

Lead Story: BN-linked counters show signs of a price recovery

This week ahead will see investors focus on the US-China trade talks as the March 1 deadline approaches.

US President Donald Trump has posted more positive tweets on the trade talks and even said the March 1 tariff deadline is “not a magical date”.

But its outcome at the end o...

The Week Ahead: Trade deal or trade war?

KUALA LUMPUR: The board of directors at Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has extended Tan Sri Leo Moggie’s term as the utility giant’s chairman for another year, a source close to the matter told The Edge Financial Daily.

The former energy minister and former Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak presiden...

TNB to extend Leo Moggie’s term

APART from a number of potential dark horses that could be worth backing in the Year of The Pig, The Edge looked at a handful of top picks that are less exposed to domestic political uncertainties and more sheltered from the US-China trade dispute.

One of the most popular is BIM...

Cover Story: Eight safer bets 

THIS year is expected to be another volatile one for the stock market with most analysts advising investors to adopt a defensive strategy. Global headwinds seen late last year are expected to build up and risks to global economic growth are only just beginning to bite amidst tighter monetary cond...

Cover Story: 8 Stocks that could surprise in 2019

ON Jan 25 and 28, some 10 million of Asia Media Group Bhd shares changed hands in direct off-market transactions totalling RM1.5 million or 15 sen per share. The deals were at a 9.1% discount to the counter’s opening price of 16.5 sen on Jan 25 but the share price trended lower t...

Off-Market Trades: Asia Media Group, Sapura Energy, INIX Technologies Holdings, United Malacca

HUP Seng Industries Bhd, a household name for quality biscuits, is counting on exports to drive growth amid soft consumer spending at home.

“The group will focus on expanding its export market, especially in Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East,” executive director Kerk Chian Tung t...

Exports to drive Hup Seng’s growth 

THIS could be the year esports and gaming go from novelty to mainstream success.

Although the industry is still in its infancy here in Malaysia, its impressive growth has caught the attention of both the corporate and public sectors.

Two of the largest media companies in the c...

Can Malaysia’s esports go mainstream? 

Morgan Stanley's first-quarter profit beat estimates on Tuesday, fuelled by a resurgence in investment banking led by equity underwriting, where revenue more than doubled, sending its shares up 2.7% before the bell.

Morgan Stanley's profit beats as investment banking rebounds

OTTAWA (April 16): Canada's annual inflation rate ticked up to 2.9% in March, as expected, while core inflation measures continued easing for a third consecutive month, data showed on Tuesday.

Canada's inflation rate ticks up to 2.9%, but underlying cooling continues

Practice Note 17 (PN17) company Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd said it had been granted an extension of time until May 15 by Bursa Malaysia to submit its regularisation plan.

Bursa grants Serba Dinamik second extension of time until May 15 to submit regularisation plan

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Express carrier GDEX Bhd, which has been in the red for the last two financial years, is planning to diversify into the provision of information technology (IT) services and solutions to enhance its revenue stream.

GDEX plans to diversify into IT

In today’s edition of Evening 5: 0:06 CIMB’s Abdul Rahman Ahmad returns to PNB as president, group chief executive1:34 Local airlines may feel heat from rising oil prices as Middle East tensions simmer2:52 Wealth of Malaysia’s 50 richest individuals on Forbes list rises 2% — Forbes Asia4:21 MyEG and HeiTech Padu form partnership to collaborate on IT projects5:47 GDEX proposes a diversification into the provision of IT services and solutions

EVENING 5: CIMB’s Abdul Rahman Ahmad returns to PNB

Transport Minister Anthony Loke says that private companies are welcome to invest in providing more EV charging facilities nationwide.

NEWS: Loke: Private companies welcome to invest in EV charging facilities

BENGALURU (April 16): UnitedHealth Group said on Tuesday that it was expecting to take a hit of up to US$1.6 billion this year related to a data breach at its Change Healthcare unit, in its first full public disclosure of the financial impact of the cyberattack.

UnitedHealth to take up to US$1.6 bil hit from Change Healthcare hack this year

Cybersecurity software firm Rubrik, backed by Microsoft, said on Tuesday it is targeting a valuation of up to US$5.44 billion (RM26.07 billion) in its US initial public offering (IPO).

Technology companies have been leading a rebound in listings this year, as stronger equity markets and robust debuts including social media platform Reddit and chip firm Astera Labs encourage others to press ahead with their IPO plans.

Microsoft-backed Rubrik targets up to US$5.4b valuation in US IPO

Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that made headlines today.

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Switzerland's UBS raised its forecast for first-quarter combined net interest income (NII) in its wealth management and personal and corporate banking businesses on Tuesday, although its shares fell along with other European banks by more than 3%.

UBS lifts interest income forecast for key businesses

The collective wealth of tycoons listed on the 2024 Forbes Malaysia Rich List increased by a modest 2% to US$83.4 billion (RM398.8 billion), according to Forbes Asia.

Wealth of Malaysia’s 50 richest individuals on Forbes list rises 2% — Forbes Asia 

Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad will return to Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) as its president and group chief executive effective July 1, 2024, the government-linked investment company said.

CIMB’s Abdul Rahman Ahmad returns to PNB as president, group chief executive

E-government services providers MyEG Services Bhd and HeiTech Padu Bhd have formed a partnership to collaborate on IT projects in Malaysia.

According to separate bourse filings from both companies on Tuesday, MyEG and HeiTech Padu have inked a teaming agreement for the collaboration.&nbsp;

MyEG, HeiTech Padu form partnership to collaborate on IT projects

Analysts are positive on Malaysia’s pilot green power exports to Singapore using existing infrastructure in both countries, following establishment of the platform enabling cross-border trading of green electricity, the Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem).

Analysts positive on pilot green power exports to Singapore; name Tenaga, YTLP as top picks

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Malaysia’s second-biggest banking group by assets, said on Tuesday its chief executive Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad will step down on June 30.

CIMB says CEO Abdul Rahman Ahmad stepping down on June 30

Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd’s (ABMB) net profit is expected to jump by 37.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM179 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2024 (4QFY2024), according to AmInvestment Bank Research.

AmInvestment sees Alliance Bank’s 4Q earnings jump by 37% y-o-y

The Ministry of Transport clarified on Tuesday that the higher contract value of RM190.01 million awarded to HeiTech Padu Bhd for Road Transport Department (JPJ) services was only due to a longer extended contract duration.

Loke: Higher contract value awarded to HeiTech Padu due to longer extended duration

The automotive industry is not exactly the place one would want to be in the next few years.

Competition among manufacturers of internal combustion engine vehicles, battery electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid cars has been ongoing for more than a decade now. Last year, some certainty fin...

Alternative Views: Automotive industry feels heat from intensifying EV price war

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said his ministry has no objection to MMC Corp Bhd divesting a stake in MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd, including to foreign entities, as long as it does not contravene the government's policy that requires 51% ownership of major national assets to remain with local companies.

Loke says MMC Port free to sell stake to foreign firms, but govt has to be notified of shareholding changes

Carlo Rino Group Bhd has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) that would raise more funds for the apparel company as part of its listing transfer to the ACE Market from the LEAP Market.

Carlo Rino files draft prospectus for listing transfer to ACE Market

Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has requested for a bench of five Court of Appeal (COA) judges to hear his review against the court’s own decision to reinstate abuse of power charges involving RM232.5 million against him.

Muhyiddin seeks five-judge bench to hear criminal charges review

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is stepping down on May 15 after two decades in office. Lee, 72, will hand the reins over to his deputy Lawrence Wong, 51, in a widely-telegraphed transition.

What observers are saying as Singapore’s Lee paves way for next PM Wong

Outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) player Globetronics Technology Bhd is in the final stages of discussion with two prospective clients interested in leveraging advanced packaging technology.

Globetronics in final talks with two potential customers for advanced packaging

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is unleashing a barrage of trade restrictions against China as she seeks to follow through on a pledge to make the EU a more relevant political player on the global stage.

EU goes on China trade offensive after getting ‘played’ 

KTI Landmark Bhd (KTI) has signed an underwriting agreement with M&amp;A Securities Sdn Bhd for its listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Sabah-based integrated property developer said the initial public offering (IPO) comprises a public issue of 160 million new shares and an offer for sale of 45 million existing shares, representing 20% and 5.6% of the enlarged share capital of KTI respectively.

KTI Landmark inks underwriting deal with M&A Securities en route to ACE Market listing

Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session lower on Tuesday, in tandem with the weaker regional performance due to a broad sell-off on Wall Street overnight, said an analyst. &nbsp;

Bursa ends morning session lower along with regional peers

EP Manufacturing Bhd's (EPMB) shares climbed on Tuesday and marked their best day in 10 months after the Shah-Alam based auto parts maker signed an assembly deal with a Chinese carmaker.

EP Manufacturing shares chart best day in 10 months after assembly deal

Gold is set to reach US$3,000 (RM14,381.71) an ounce over the next six to 18 months on increasing investor inflows amid expectations that the Federal Reserve will eventually cut interest rates, Citigroup Inc said, adding to a roll call of Wall Street banks that have raised forecasts.

Gold seen hitting US$3,000 at Citi as investor inflows juice rally

China’s rapidly expanding petrochemicals industry is making life increasingly difficult for producers in Asia’s next-biggest exporter of the building blocks for making plastics. 
&nbsp; 
Asia’s largest economy used to be the major market for South Korean companies like LG Chem Ltd and Lotte Chemical Corp. But the exporters of the chemicals used to make everything from nylon to disposable bottles and car interiors are now being forced to downsize their operations after a frenzy of petchem-plant building in China over the last few years created a supply glut. &nbsp;

China’s growing plastics dominance is squeezing out Asian rivals

Workers in Singapore can now ask for four-day work weeks, more work-from-home days and staggered work timings starting from Dec 1, underscoring the global trend of governments and companies relaxing office arrangements in order to retain talent.

Billy Toh

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