Around the world, populist nationalism is on the rise, often shepherded to power by authoritarian leaders. And yet the neoliberal orthodoxy — government downsizing, tax cuts, and deregulation — that took hold some 40 years ago in the West was supposed to strengthen democracy, not weaken it. What ...

Unconventional Economic Wisdom: Global elections in the shadow of neoliberalism

MAIN Market-listed Kelington Group Bhd — seeing early signs of development amid the recovery of the semiconductor industry and intending to capitalise on potential demand for its ultra-high purity (UHP) gas solution from technology players — has positioned itself in Hong Kong and Germany to meet ...

Kelington positions itself to capture new markets via Hong Kong and Germany

WASCO Bhd is among the stocks that have benefited from the positive sentiment in the oil and gas (O&G) industry. Its share price has soared 46% so far this year, boosted by its improved earnings performance. The current escalated crude oil prices have also prompted investors to relook at the ...

Wasco seizes opportunities arising from O&G infrastructure building

LOW-PROFILE company Nextgreen Global Bhd, which is in the business of turning empty fruit bunches (EFB), a byproduct of palm oil mills, into green and sustainable products such as pulp and paper, pulp moulding, fertiliser and animal feed, is now ready to showcase to the world what it can do.
...

Nextgreen Global scales up operations, turning biomass into green products  

Malaysia Smelting Corp Bhd

Target price: RM3.60 BUY

Brokers Digest: Local Equities - Malaysia Smelting Corp Bhd, Dialog Group Bhd, Malakoff Corp Bhd, Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd

Notable filings

During the week of April 15 to 19, notable shareholding changes at Bursa Malaysia-listed companies included those at Excel Force MSC Bhd (EForce), which saw Chinese businessman Chen Hui cease to be a substantial shareholder.

According to fili...

Insider Moves: Excel Force MSC Bhd, Omesti Bhd, United Plantations Bhd, Jentayu Sustainables Bhd, Transocean Holdings Bhd 

With a rapid demographic transformation underway, Malaysia stands at the threshold of a pivotal era marked by heightened public spending to effectively address the profound implications of its ageing population. Chief among these challenges is the surging demand for healthcare services, propelled...

My Say: Resurrecting GST: The case for a comeback

In thinking about the future of technology in Malaysia, post the KL20 event in Kuala Lumpur in April, it is worth revisiting a pivotal moment in technology history. In 1987, Microsoft Corp’s MS-DOS operating system was coming to the end of its natural life cycle. Given the explosive growth in per...

My Say: KL20 and the need for accepting failure

THE prize in the Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) by-election is just a single Selangor state assembly seat, but the contest here has drawn much attention as the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led unity government strives to retain its support in the state that was once known as a PH stronghold. Perikatan Nasional (...

Run-Up To KKB By-election: More than a contest for one state seat

THE long-awaited sale of Sapura Energy Bhd’s remaining 50% stake in its exploration and production (E&P) unit — SapuraOMV Upstream Sdn Bhd — has finally come to pass. However, its largest shareholder, Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), cannot breathe a sigh of relief yet.

Last week, the...

Sale of crown jewel alone won’t revive Sapura Energy

Late last year, a Chinese carrier accidentally sold flight tickets at about US$1.30 each during a two-hour technical glitch in its mobile phone app and some ticket booking platforms. Naturally, consumers started sharing the great deal on social media until the airline company rectified the glitch.

Coffee Break: A matter of honour?

ALTHOUGH Indonesia’s central bank last Wednesday surprised with a rate hike of 25 basis points to 6.25% — the nation’s highest — to shore up the rupiah, Malaysia does not face any pressure to do the same, as economic growth remains a priority of Bank Negara Malaysia, economists say.

Fur...

The State of the Nation: No pressure for Malaysia to follow suit after Indonesia’s surprise rate hike, economists say

AFTER much anticipation, Capital A Bhd has finally revealed its plan to exit its Practice Note 17 (PN17) status for financially distressed companies. The low-cost carrier is proposing to sell its aviation business to sister company, AirAsia X Bhd (AAX), for RM6.8 billion through a share and novat...

More work lies ahead for PN17 Capital A, say analysts

AFTER more than two years since Capital A Bhd fell into the Practice Note 17 (PN17) category — Bursa Malaysia’s classification for companies in financial distress — there appears to be hope for the aviation group that it will finally emerge from this category by leveraging the clean balance sheet...

AirAsia X-Capital A merger set to transform air travel again, says Fernandes  

World oil demand this year is expected to grow less than earlier forecast and output should expand faster than previous estimates, resulting in a more balanced market, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday.

EIA cuts 2024 world oil demand growth estimate, hikes output forecast

Taiwan's military is prepared for any moves China may make around the time president-elect Lai Ching-te takes office later this month, the island's deputy defence minister said on Wednesday.

Taiwan says its military is ready for China moves around the inauguration of new president 

HONG KONG (May 7): Two Chinese companies and JPMorgan have become the latest banking groups to cut jobs in China as a slow recovery in listing and dealmaking activities force them to ramp up cost controls, six sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Beijing-based China Internati...

CICC, Citic, JPMorgan cut investment banking jobs in China as deals stall

(May 7): Microsoft's Xbox is shutting down a number of gaming studios including Arkane Austin, making it the latest publisher to shut down studios amid signs of a gaming slowdown.

Studios such as "Hi-Fi Rush" maker Tango Gameworks, headquartered in Tokyo, and Canada-based Alpha Dog...

Microsoft's Xbox shuts multiple studios, consolidates teams in cost-cutting move

Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been granted a temporary release of his passport to visit a sick family member in Australia.

Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed the Bersatu chief's application and ordered the travel document to be released on Wednesday and for it to be returned to the court on May 28.

Muhyiddin gets temporary release of passport to visit sick family member abroad

Shares in low-cost aviation operators Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA) and AirAsia X Bhd (KL:AAX) rose in early trade on Wednesday, tracking gains at the broader market.

Capital A and AAX active, advance in post merger trade

IJM Land Bhd (KL: IJM) has achieved 55% take-up rate for serviced apartment Daffodil Residency since its launch on March 1, according to a press statement on May 7.

IJM Land’s Daffodil Residency achieves 55% take-up rate 

Hospital operator IHH Healthcare Bhd (KL: IHH) on Wednesday said it has invested in Belun Technology Company Ltd that makes devices tackling sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

IHH Healthcare invests in Belun Technology for devices to tackle sleep disorders

Shares of CTOS Digital Bhd (KL:CTOS) rose to their highest in nearly two months as analysts flagged a pickup in earnings ahead following the seasonally weaker first-quarter results.

CTOS rises to near two-month high; analysts see stronger quarters ahead

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Tuesday.

Sime Darby Plantation, Pekat, Siab, OCK, Sapura Energy, CTOS, Awantec, Mobilia, Prolintas, Power Root

The takeover bid by Yinson Holdings Bhd’s major shareholder for Icon Offshore Bhd was made at 63.5 sen per share, as wellas 0.1 sen per warrant.

Yinson's major shareholder raises Icon stake to 56.67% as MGO closes

Power Root Bhd's subsidiaries have successfully recovered trademark of its own “Ah Huat” brand for coffee and tea beverages, after reaching an amicable out-of-court settlement with its Indonesian distributor CV Ego Sun Star Sukses Mandiri (CV Ego) following an infringement wrangle that started in 2013.

Power Root reclaims ‘Ah Huat’ brand in Indonesia after decade-long trademark tussle 

GCH Retail (M) Sdn Bhd, the operator of Giant hypermarkets, said the courts are still deciding on the company’s tenancy dispute with its landlord over premises it is currently occupying in Batu Caves.

GCH Retail says Giant Batu Caves tenancy dispute with landlord still being decided by courts

Global sales of semiconductors jumped 15.2% year-on-year (y-o-y) to US$137.7 billion (RM653.24 billion) during the first quarter of 2024, according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

First-quarter global semicon sales jump 15.2% y-o-y to US$137.7b, says SIA 

Former National and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) skipper Safiq Rahim became the third National footballer to be attacked within a week, although the JDT player’s attack seemed more of a warning than personal harm.

Two suspects on motorcycles break Safiq Rahim's car windscreen in third attack on footballers 

United Overseas Bank (M) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) has launched a programme to assist businesses in understanding and preparing for the European Union's (EU) carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), a carbon border tax that is set to take effect in 2026 and affect some 75% of Malaysian exports to the region.

UOB Malaysia introduces masterclass to prepare businesses for EU’s carbon border tax

Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been granted a temporary release of his passport to visit a sick family member in Australia.

Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed the Bersatu chief's application and ordered the travel document to be released on Wednesday and for it to be returned to the court on May 28.

Shares in low-cost aviation operators Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA) and AirAsia X Bhd (KL:AAX) rose in early trade on Wednesday, tracking gains at the broader market.

TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance said on Tuesday they filed suit in US federal court seeking to block a law signed by President Joe Biden that would force the divestiture of the short video app used by 170 million Americans or ban its use.

TikTok, ByteDance sue to block US law seeking sale or ban of app

The head of Saudi Arabia’s new investment fund for semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) technology said the country would divest from China if it were asked to do so by the US.

Saudi Arabia AI fund would divest from China if US asked, CEO says

The FBM KLCI was little changed in early trade on Wednesday although it held firm above the 1,600-point level.

KLCI little changed in early trade, hovers above 1,600 resistance level

The S&amp;P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both clung onto gains to ended slightly higher on Tuesday, extending recent winning streaks fueled by renewed expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will cut interest rates this year.

S&P, Dow end slightly up, extend closing streaks despite Disney drag

As Malaysia aims to achieve high-income status, it needs to improve its human capital outcomes to match those of high-income countries.

Aspiring to high-income status: Education matters

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is studying allegations against Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming with regards to his announcement of an allocation for infrastructure in Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) recently.

MACC looking into minister’s KKB allocation announcement ahead of poll

Shares of CTOS Digital Bhd (KL:CTOS) rose to their highest in nearly two months as analysts flagged a pickup in earnings ahead following the seasonally weaker first-quarter results.

Wall Street pared earlier gains on Tuesday after equity markets elsewhere rallied as investors parsed when and by how much the Federal Reserve (Fed) cuts interest rates this year, while a resurgent dollar helped weaken the yen further.

Wall Street loses steam, dollar gains as investors mull rate cut timing

Australia said on Wednesday it would raise the amount of savings international students will need to get a visa and warned several colleges of fraudulent student recruitment practices, as part of efforts to rein in record migration.

Australia raises minimum savings for student visa, warns on fake recruitment

Reddit Inc jumped more than 10% in extended trading after reporting quarterly sales that topped analysts’ estimates, impressing investors in its first results as a public company.

Reddit gains after strong sales in first report since IPO

Currency markets have started pricing in elevated foreign exchange volatility around the US vote on Nov 5, even with election day almost six months away.

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