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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p class="thumb-cap">EVENING 5: Najib, Arul Kanda acquitted in 1MDB audit case</p></div>
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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Dirty dealings. Corporate battles. Consumer woes. Here are five things you need to know today.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>1. Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Arul Kanda Kandasamy are freed in the <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/657635" target="_blank">1MDB audit report tampering trial</a>.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>2. RHB Research expects Bank Negara Malaysia to <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/657710" target="_blank">hike the overnight policy rate by 25 bps</a> next Thursday.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>3. PPB Group experiences <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/657670" target="_blank">a 30%-38% in utility cost</a> following the subsidy removal and new electricity rate.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>4. Proton Holdings says its <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/657636" target="_blank">vehicle sales increased by 52%</a> year-on-year to 14,033 units delivered in February.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>5. N2N Connect <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/657715" target="_blank">calls off its plan to transfer its listing</a> from Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market to the Main Market.</p></div>


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

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Ranhill Utilities Bhd has declared a share dividend distribution on a basis of 0.5 share for every 100 shares held in the utility group.

Ranhill declares share dividend distribution

theedgemalaysia.com highlighted 11 stocks with momentum at Bursa Malaysia’s afternoon close on Friday. Two stocks showed positive momentum while nine stocks showed negative momentum.

Jiankun, Success Transformer, Ajinomoto, Aneka Jaringan, GHL, Gopeng, Mitrajaya, MMM, Sapura Resources, United U-Li, YLI

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Fraser & Neave Holding Bhd (F&N) said on Friday that the company will focus on fixed asset optimisation over the next three years, after having allocated more than RM3 billion in capital expenditure (capex) and development of its integrated farm in Gemas.

F&N to focus on sweating off its assets after investing RM3b in capex and development

Malaysia’s commitment to building its 5G network has given the country a world-class digital infrastructure, according to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson president and chief executive officer Börje Ekholm.

Ericsson CEO hails Malaysia’s ‘world-class’ digital infrastructure

The Penang High Court on Friday dismissed former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty Chew Gek Cheng, and businesswoman Phang Li Koon’s attempt to strike out their graft and money-laundering charges.

Double jeopardy does not apply, Penang court rules in dismissing Guan Eng, wife and Phang's challenge on graft charge

Naza Corp Holdings Sdn Bhd has completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in Berjaya Enviro Holdings Sdn Bhd (BEnviro) from Berjaya Corp Bhd for RM700 million in cash, marking its entry into the green economy with a focus on municipal and scheduled waste, as well as the waste-to-energy sector.

Naza completes acquisition of waste management company from Berjaya for RM700m cash 

(May 3): Iran has released the crew of a seized Portuguese-flagged ship linked to Israel, but remains in control of the vessel itself, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said.

Iran says crew of Israel-linked ship freed

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) will hold a meeting next week to review due diligence findings on the 5G network rollout, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said on Friday.

Digital Nasional to meet next week to discuss due diligence on 5G network — minister

Google has asked a US judge not to impose sweeping changes to the Alphabet unit's app store Play that were proposed by Fortnite maker Epic Games in the companies' closely-watched antitrust fight.

Google defends app store, fighting Epic Games' bid for major reforms 

(May 3): Asian currencies are poised for their best week in nearly two months as regional policymakers increased their intervention efforts and rhetoric.

The Bloomberg Asia Dollar index has gained by 0.3% this week so far, the biggest advance since early March, supported by inter...

Asian currencies set for best week in two months on intervention 

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) will hold a meeting next week to review due diligence findings on the 5G network rollout, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said on Friday.</p>


<p>Malaysia’s planned increase in civil servant salaries will boost earnings of RCE Capital Bhd, which mainly provides consumer financing to government employees, Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) said and upgraded the stock to ‘buy’.</p>


Higher civil servant salaries will boost RCE Capital's earnings, says Maybank IB

<p>Shares of Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Bhd surged to their highest in nearly six years after the food and seasoning company announced the ex-date for its special dividend.</p>


Ajinomoto Malaysia surges to highest in nearly six years

<p>Asian stocks surged to their highest in 15 months on Friday led by tech and Hong Kong stocks, while the yen put more distance from recent 34-year lows to cap a tumultuous week that saw suspected intervention from Japanese authorities.</p>


Asian stocks surge; yen extends gains to cap wild week

<p>The rally in tech heavyweights extended into late hours after better-than-estimated results from&nbsp;Apple Inc, with the iPhone maker also raising its dividend and announcing plans to buy back more stock.</p>


Tech jumps in late hours on Apple’s solid outlook

<p>Malayan Cement Bhd will likely report strong third quarter earnings when the company reports its results by this month-end, as volume and average selling prices stay high, CGS International said.</p>


Malayan Cement likely to report strong 3Q results, says CGS International

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Engineering firm UUE Holdings Bhd said on Friday that it has signed an agreement with M&amp;A Securities to underwrite its initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market.</p>


UUE signs underwriting deal with M&A Securities for ACE Market IPO

<p>Hong Kong stocks are on their longest-winning streak since 2018, adding to signs that a recovery in one of the worst-performing markets last year is well underway.</p>


Hong Kong stocks are on their longest winning streak since 2018

<p>Türkiye&nbsp;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.</p>


Türkiye halts all trade with Israel, cites worsening Palestinian situation

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): KL Wellness City Sdn Bhd, through KL International Hospital Sdn Bhd, has launched KL International Tertiary Hospital as part of the first phase of the KL Wellness City township in Bukit Jalil here on Thursday (May 2).</p>


KL Wellness City launches tertiary hospital as part of the township’s first phase

<p>Frontken Bhd expects a stronger performance in the second half of this year (2HFY2024) after its first quarter results came in within expectations, according to Philip Capital.</p>


Frontken expects stronger performance in 2H — Philip Capital

<p>Apple's 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.</p>


Apple unveils record US$110b buyback as results beat low expectations

<p>As the latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data indicated a softer contraction in Malaysia's manufacturing sector in April, economists are expecting the country's manufacturing condition to gradually recover in the near term, though it remains slightly behind regional peers.</p>


Malaysia's manufacturing sector to recover gradually despite lagging behind regional peers — economists

<p>Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd (LC Titan) is expected to face widening core losses in the second quarter ending June 30, 2024 (2QFY2024) from lower sales volume and weak product spread, according to TA Securities.</p>


Lotte Chemical Titan to face widening losses in 2QFY2024 on lower volume, weak product spread, says TA Securities

<p>PUTRAJAYA (May 3): A convenience store in Precinct 3 here was raided by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living on Thursday (May 2), for suspected sale of food products with the words “no palm oil” (NPO) written on the product’s plastic packaging.</p>


Domestic Trade Ministry raids premises selling products with ‘no palm oil’ label

<p>Naza Corp Holdings Sdn Bhd has completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in Berjaya Enviro Holdings Sdn Bhd (BEnviro) from Berjaya Corp Bhd for RM700 million in cash, marking its entry into the green economy with a focus on municipal and scheduled waste, as well as the waste-to-energy sector.</p>


<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 3):&nbsp;Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong said it is time for Malaysia&nbsp;to see biomass as the feedstock for new and advanced fuels and&nbsp;other green industries.</p>


Timely for Malaysia to see biomass as feedstock for advance fuels — Liew

<p>RHB Research has downgraded TA Ann Holdings Bhd to "neutral" from "buy", with a reduced target price of RM4.00 from RM4.15, after the stock increased by over 35% in the past year, leading the research firm to believe that the valuation is now fair.</p>


RHB Research downgrades TA Ann to 'neutral', lowers target price to RM4

<p>Teen apparel retailer rue21&nbsp;filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for a third time on Thursday, seeking to shut down its 540 stores and sell its intellectual property.</p>


Apparel retailer rue21 files for third bankruptcy, will close all stores

<p>Analysts anticipate continuous growth for Westports Holdings Bhd for the rest of the year on the back of sustained trade activities in the regional economies and multi-year high foreign direct investment (FDI).</p>
