Have Chinese stocks bottomed out and are there now opportunities to be had? The Chinese stock markets in Shanghai and Shenzhen have slumped over the past two years while stocks listed on the Hong Kong bourse have fared even worse, on heavy foreign selling and capital outflow.

The brief ...

A less risky route to buying China’s eventual recovery

Secular decline in ringgit’s value due mainly to falling relative competitiveness – a result of decades-long poor government policies

Human capital is a critical factor of production of a country, more so than financial capital, natural resources and machinery, which can be far more easily acquired from global markets. An educated and skilled workforce is the foundation of the economic success and wealth of nations. This is the...

Education was, is and always will be the great equaliser

Not since the early 1980s has the topic of inflation received so much attention on a global scale, from central banks to capital markets, academics, economists and analysts, mainstream and social media, politicians and even the man in the street. As a result, the rising cost of living has become ...

Economic policies in Malaysia are dictated by politics  — why they fail

It is critical that there are continuous efforts to enhance the appeal of the local stock market in order to attract and retain investor money flows amid increasing competition from other emerging markets. This is particularly true of smaller bourses, which lack the product range and liquidity of...

Companies that are destroying shareholder value and what can be done about it

Why do some stock markets outperform while others struggle? We have asked this question before to explain why Bursa Malaysia — and, to a lesser extent, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) — have been chronic underperformers. The FBM Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) Total Return Index (including divid...

Why some stock markets perform and others don’t … and ideas to improve

LET us start with the definition of myth: (a) a widely held but false belief; and (b) an exaggeration or idealised conception of a thing.

The dominant narrative in the discourse on home ownership and affordability in Malaysia is best captured in this one-page highlight in the Bank Negar...

Tong's Portfolio: Home ownership and affordability in Malaysia: Facts and myths

We have written a series of articles addressing economic issues and challenging certain prescriptions by the Malaysian government, including on targeting labour share of income and the need to end state capture. This week, we address direct wage intervention. We have done so to articu...

Should Malaysia force wages to rise through direct wage policy intervention?

We are growing increasingly worried about Malaysia’s fiscal position. The government’s operating balance will fall into a deficit this year, for the first time since 1987 — unless Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) makes yet another bumper dividend payout. In fact, the call for special dividends f...

Tick tock tick tock … time is running out ... Malaysia needs a credible fiscal consolidation plan now

When the support structures are weak, it is short-sighted to replace the furniture as a means to make the home more attractive.


 

What does it take to get the Malaysian economy back on track? We hope the lessons we have articula...

End ‘state capture’ to enable economic transformation and improve livelihoods

THE price of gold, which had ignored the persistent US dollar strength last week, pushing past the record US$2,300 threshold, is expected to maintain its upward trajectory due to expectations of global monetary easing, central banks’ continued buying of the precious metal as well as a play on its...

Cover Story: Four factors behind gold price climb

City Motors Group has topped off its Alfa Bangsar development with a tree-planting ceremony at its grounds, which is located at the intersection of Jalan Maarof and Jalan Tandok in Bangsar.

City Motors Group tops off mixed development Alfa Bangsar

Unilever's first-quarter sales grew by a better than expected 4.4%, it said on Thursday, as one of the world's biggest consumer goods companies won back shoppers who had traded down to cheaper products.

Unilever beats quarterly sales growth forecasts

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

KLIA shooting: Company manager charged with attempted murder of wife

CGS International has cut its earnings estimate for Inari Amerton Bhd as recent data flagged weakened smartphone demand, according to its research note on Thursday.

CGS International cuts Inari-Amerton earnings forecast on weak smartphone demand

PARIS (April 25): BNP Paribas (BNPP) reported a fall in first-quarter profit and revenue on Thursday but beat analyst forecasts, as lower expenses and a strong performance in its corporate banking business offset flat or falling revenues elsewhere.

BNP Paribas profit tops estimates on lower costs and global banking

KUALA LUMPUR (April 25): theedgemalaysia.com highlighted nine stocks with momentum at Bursa Malaysia’s afternoon close on Thursday (April 25). One stock showed positive momentum, while eight stocks showed negative momentum.

The stock with positive momentum was:

  &nb...

RGT, Notion, BMGreen, Plytec, AlAqar, Sasbadi, QL, Sign, CGB

BEIJING (April 25): Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker XPeng on Thursday said its software and artificial intelligence training upgrades will enter a "super fast cycle" from May, and that it hopes the use of its platform will expand to other Asian countries and Europe.

XPeng CEO says its software, AI upgrades to enter 'super fast cycle'

Xiaomi Corp has secured 75,723 orders for its SU7 electric vehicles since last month’s launch, paving the way for the Chinese electronics giant to challenge automakers from Tesla Inc to BYD Co Ltd in the world’s largest car market.

Xiaomi says SU7 EV orders reach 75,723 since March launch

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% year-on-year in March

KUALA LUMPUR (April 25): The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members, who are below 55 years old, will have an Account 3, in addition to the existing two accounts for their retirement savings, starting May 11.&nbsp;

EPF members under age 55 will have Account 3 starting May 11

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

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao is facing up to three years in prison if efforts by US prosecutors to secure his sentencing prove successful. More than 160 friends, colleagues and investors are determined for the crypto executive to escape incarceration entirely.

Friends, family, royalty seek mercy for crypto’s richest man

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), the state-owned company in charge of the 5G network infrastructure rollout, on Thursday named five new board members, comprising senior leaders from the telecom and technology industries.

Digital Nasional names senior telco and tech leaders as new directors

Shares of YTL Corp Bhd rallied to a new all-time high on Thursday after Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) flagged more upside even after a 42% year-to-date surge.

YTL Corp rallies to new all-time high after HLIB flags more upside

A made-in-China electric vehicle (EV) will hit US dealers this summer offering power and efficiency similar to the Tesla Model Y, the world's best-selling EV, but for about US$8,000 (RM38,228) less.

How Volvo landed a cheap Chinese EV on US shores in a trade war

A disappointing earnings report from Meta Platforms Inc has technology investors on edge with results from some of the stock market’s biggest and most important companies due in the coming days.

Meta’s miss sparks fear in tech world with big earnings looming

Wireless carrier Axiata Group Bhd and conglomerate PT Sinar Mas Group are moving forward with plans to merge their telecommunications operations in Indonesia, people familiar with the matter said.

Axiata, Sinar Mas move closer to US$3.5b telco merger, Bloomberg reports

KUALA LUMPUR (April 25): Mega First Corp Bhd shares have likely peaked following a recent rally to new all-time highs, and investors should stop buying the stock now, Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) said and downgraded the stock to ‘hold’.

Maybank IB is the first from a total of fi...

Mega First shares likely peaked; Maybank IB the first to downgrade stock

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming’s press secretary Pang Sock Tao was announced as the unity government’s candidate for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election on May 11.

Nga's press secretary Pang picked as unity govt's candidate for Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election

KUALA LUMPUR (April 25): Agricore CS Holdings Bhd, a food ingredients supplier, has obtained approval from Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd to list on its ACE Market.

Agricore CS Holdings gets Bursa Malaysia nod to list on ACE Market

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.

RHB Retail Research said NationGate Holdings Bhd is observing a technical breakout after climbing above the RM1.70 immediate resistance on surging trading volume.

NationGate is observing technical breakout, says RHB Retail Research 

RHB Retail Research said Naim Holdings Bhd is likely to resume its uptrend after the recent consolidation above the 97.5 sen breakout level.

Naim Holdings likely to resume its uptrend, says RHB Retail Research 

Singapore's Keppel said on Thursday its first-quarter net profit excluding the effects of legacy offshore and marine assets was higher, boosted by strong performance in the global asset manager's infrastructure and connectivity segments.

Singapore's Keppel profit rises on strong infra, connectivity performance

Asian stocks fell on Thursday as disappointing earnings forecasts from Facebook parent Meta Platforms hammered tech shares, while the yen's slump past 155 per dollar for the first time since 1990 raised the spectre of intervention from Tokyo.

Stocks hit by tech slide; yen flails at intervention zone

Benchmark S&amp;P 500 closed higher in choppy trading on Wednesday, as investors weighed an uptick in Treasury yields amid positive corporate results particularly from technology giants.

S&P 500 ends higher as markets weigh rising yields, upbeat corporate results

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

Visa Inc recently reported impressive fiscal second quarter 2024 results, with net revenue increasing by 10% and payments volume growing by 8%.

Visa's strong earnings may be a troubling sign for US economy — report

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.

Tong Kooi Ong

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Tong Kooi Ong

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