SINGAPORE (Dec 18): Singapore is caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, a slowing Chinese economy and sputtering global trade are squeezing growth in the small Asian city-state. On the other hand, the mighty Federal Reserve's sway on global interest rates is causi...

Ban this four-letter word to save Singapore real estate

(Dec 18): Well, the Federal Reserve has finally gone and done it. It raised short-term rates by 25 basis points, and Fed officials predicted four more similar hikes next year. That will bring rates to a range of 1.25% to 1.5%.

The era of the much-discussed zero interest rate p...

Back to normal programming

SINGAPORE (Dec 7): Singapore's new transport minister has revived speculation of some kind of nationalization of the city- state's subway assets. Shareholders of SMRT and SBS Transit, the two owner-operators, can't wait for the authorities to relieve them of the misery of sprucing up an aging, cr...

Singapore's rail model is the zoo

(Dec 7): It's cheaper to put your belongings on a container ship and send them around the world for a year than to stick them in a land-based self-storage facility, according to freight forwarders Flexport. So it's a good time for Singapore's state investment company Temasek Holdings to bail...

Temasek leaves a listing ship

NEW YORK (Sept 18): The Federal Reserve has chosen to leave interest rates unchanged, effectively at zero. What does this mean? First and foremost, it means that we are unlikely to see any big or significant changes in monetary policy in the near future. 

The Fed’s intere...

Fed leaves rates and doubts unchanged

NEW YORK (Sept 16): Now that U.S. stock markets have experienced their first 10% correction since 2011, investors are again looking to the Federal Reserve to bail them out. Although the Fed hasn't raised interest rates in almost 10 years, sympathetic pundits say it's still too soon to r...

Why the Fed should raise rates now

SINGAPORE (Sept 4): This week's holiday to commemorate the end of World War II couldn't have come at a better time. For a global financial system traumatized by recent gyrations in China, the closure of mainland markets is a chance to take a breath and remember that the world is mo...

Here's why not to worry about China (too much)

(Nov 19): Joko Widodo's rise from nowhere to Jakarta governor and then the presidential palace showed the wonders of Indonesia's democracy. Now, he wants to democratize the economy as well, focusing as much on the quality of growth as the quantity.

Sixteen years ago, Indonesia was casca...

 Indonesia no longer worships at the 'Cult of GDP': William Pesek

(Nov 14): When things go wrong, what is it with Japanese corporate chieftains? Shigehisa Takada, the chairman of Tokyo-based Takata Corp., is facing a spiraling scandal after news that another victim -- a pregnant woman in Malaysia -- was killed by one his company's airbags. The U.S. Senate is ho...

Japan Inc. still can't help shooting self in foot: William Pesek

(Oct 23): If Malaysian leader Najib Razak thought he already had problems at home, now he also needs to worry about a “Jokowi effect” spreading from neighboring Indonesia.


On Monday, fresh-faced Joko "Jokowi" Widodo took the helm of the world’s fourth-most-populous nation. Throu...

 Malaysia battles beer, dogs as Indonesia shines

(May 3): Apple's AAPL.O quarterly results and forecast beat modest expectations on Thursday, as the iPhone maker unveiled a record share buyback program, sending its stock up almost 7% in extended trade.

Apple increas...

Apple unveils record $110 billion buyback as results beat low expectations

Ankara (May 3) : Turkey stopped all exports and imports to and from Israel as of Thursday, the Turkish trade ministry said, citing a "worsening humanitarian tragedy" in the Palestinian territories.

"Export and import transactions related to Israel have been stopped, covering all pr...

Turkey halts all trade with Israel, cites worsening Palestinian situation

(May 3): Fresh data on the Federal Reserve’s various accounts hints at two potential ways Japanese policy makers may have funded currency interventions this past week to bolster the beleaguered yen. 

One source may have been a Fed facility where central banks stash overnight c...

Market hunts for signs of Japan Yen intervention in Fed accounts

(May 3): The rally in tech heavyweights extended into late hours after better-than-estimated results from Apple Inc., with the iPhone maker also raising its dividend and announcing plans to buy back more stock.

A $250 billion exchange-traded fund tracking the Nasdaq 100 powered hig...

Tech jumps in late hours on Apple’s solid outlook

Wall Street's main indexes advanced on Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and signaled a dovish tilt, with focus moving to a crucial job report later in the week.

While Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that stubbornly high inflation would see a long-expected US rate cut pushed back, he refused to entertain talk that rates might actually need to go up again.

Wall Street gains on Fed's dovish signals

The presence of and commitment shown by the Unity Government party machinery campaigning in the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election to ensure victory for its candidate is clear proof of the government's integrity.

KKB polls: Presence of party machinery is proof of Unity Government's togetherness — Zambry

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes are set to be enhanced to address the shortage of 30,000 engineers in the country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He also emphasised the importance of focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to keep pace with current demands.

TVET in Malaysia to be enhanced to address shortage of 30,000 engineers — PM

KUALA LUMPUR (May 2): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday:

Yinson Holdings Bhd has closed the limited recourse term loan facility of up to US$1.3 billion (RM6.2 billion) for the financing of its Ago...

Yinson, Protasco, LCTitan, Westports, UOA REIT, Frontken, Pasukhas, BHIC, JAKS, Epicon, Sarawak Cable, Annum, Aldrich, Ajinomoto, Ageson and SMI

Ageson Bhd said Virdos Lima Consultancy (M) Sdn Bhd (VL Consultancy) is in the final stage of completing its independent assessment report on the matters raised by its external auditor in its financial statements for the 18-month financial period ended Dec 31, 2022 (FPE2022).

Ageson says independent review of audit issues raised by its auditor now in final stages

The Penang government plans to hold a workshop with stakeholders to finalise the Penang Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project following minor amendments to the original plan.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the workshop is expected to be held within a week or two so that further work involving the transformative infrastructure project can be carried out.

Penang to hold workshop with stakeholders to finalise Mutiara Line LRT alignment

DBS Group Holdings Ltd was hit by renewed disruptions to its Internet banking and payment services in Singapore on Thursday, days after a six-month ban by the island’s central bank over similar glitches ended.

Singapore DBS’ digital services hit days after MAS ban ends

Construction outfit and bus operator Epicon Bhd will exit Practice Note 17 (PN17) status on Friday following the completion of its regularisation plan.

Epicon, formerly Konsortium Transnasional, exits PN17 status

Ajinomoto (M) Bhd’s RM2.12 special dividend announced in July last year in conjunction with a land disposal exercise will go ex on May 15.

Ajinomoto’s special dividend of RM2.12 goes ex on May 15

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EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Lotte Chemical Titan Holdings Bhd (LCTitan) logged a net loss of RM178.03 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024), making the group's eighth straight loss-making quarter.

LCTitan posts 8th straight quarterly loss ahead of planned plant turnaround

JAKS Resources Bhd's unit has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China-based CALB Group Co Ltd to explore opportunities in the battery energy storage system (BESS) market, with a particular focus on the Southeast Asia region.

JAKS partners CALB to tap into SE Asia's battery energy storage systems market

KUALA LUMPUR (May 2): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday:

Yinson Holdings Bhd has closed the limited recourse term loan facility of up to US$1.3 billion (RM6.2 billion) for the financing of its Ago...

Sarawak Cable Bhd (SCB) has once again obtained a time extension to submit its Practice Note 17 (PN17) regularisation plan from Bursa Malaysia.

The deadline has now been extended by another six months to Sept 30 from March 31, its bourse filing on Thursday showed. The original deadline was Nov 1, 2023.

Sarawak Cable gets another time extension to submit PN17 exit plan

Loss-making Annum Bhd said on Thursday it has received a show-cause notice from Bursa Malaysia over the company's failure to issue its annual report for the financial period ended June 30, 2023 (FY2023), which was due on Oct 31, 2023.

Annum still fails to issue annual report after landing auditor following 31 rejections; hit by Bursa show-cause notice

Former attorney general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali's special officer could have won her defamation suit against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown, if not for a technicality — that all court pleadings must be filed in Bahasa Melayu, according to the High Court judicial commissioner who presided over the case.

Court says Apandi's former aide could have won defamation suit against Sarawak Report editor if not for a technicality

A former Hong Kong-based Societe Generale SA (SocGen) trader claimed he was fired and said the French lender should share the blame for failing to detect his wagers.

Ex-SocGen trader says he was fired after bank failed to detect his bets

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday reprimanded the Immigration Department over congestion issues at the country’s borders, particularly in airports.

Describing the rebuke as akin to "parental love" to improve congestion issues at counters handling entry of tourists, the prime minister said tourists would not accept excuses for delays, and hoped the issue could be dealt with effectively.

PM rebukes Immigration Dept over tourist entry congestion

Hong Kong's securities regulator started an insider dealing prosecution against hedge fund Segantii Capital Management, its founder and a former trader, the watchdog said on Thursday.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said it had started criminal proceedings against Segantii, its founder and chief investment officer Simon Sadler, and former trader Daniel La Rocca for insider dealing in the shares of a Hong Kong-listed company prior to a block trade in June 2017.

Insider dealing charges brought against Segantii and its founder in Hong Kong

Chinese President Xi Jinping heads to Europe for the first time in five years next week in a visit that may lay bare European divisions over trade with Beijing and how the continent positions itself as a pole between the United States and China.

Xi's trip to Europe may lay bare West's divisions over China strategy

Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd (BHIC), which is 64.99%-indirectly owned by the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT), has secured a contract worth RM43.6 million from the Ministry of Defence for the in-service support for its Royal Malaysian Navy Prime Minister Class submarines.

BHIC secures RM43 mil contract for navy submarine in-service support

Aldrich Resources Bhd said it is reconsidering an earlier plan to diversify into dolomite and gold mining, and has suspended these operations for the time being.

Aldrich Resources suspends mining venture after one year

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim held a closed-door meeting on Thursday with Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud regarding the development of the state.

It is understood that the briefing on this matter was delivered by Mohd Nassuruddin

Anwar holds closed-door meeting with Kelantan MB

South Malaysia Industries Bhd (SMI) has appointed Leow Thang Fong as its new chief executive officer, effective May 1, two months after a group of shareholders rejected him from being re-elected executive director at its annual general meeting (AGM).

SMI makes Leow Thang Fong CEO after his reappointment as ED rejected at AGM

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits held steady at lower levels last week as the labour market remains fairly tight.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits were unchanged at a seasonally adjusted 208,000 for the week ended April 27, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

US weekly jobless claims unchanged; layoffs decline in April

The Federal Government agrees with the Kelantan government's proposal to extend the runway at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport by 400 metres for it to become an international airport.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had asked Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook to expedite the ongoing construction of the airport.

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