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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p class="thumb-cap">EVENING 5: Covid-19 vaccination to be voluntary</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. Putrajaya mulls <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/govt-discuss-free-vaccination-foreign-workers-expatriates-says-khairy" target="_blank">inoculating foreign workers for free</a> while Malaysians may sign up for Covid-19 vaccination via MySejahtera.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>2. ATA IMS temporarily shuts down <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/ata-ims-suspends-all-factory-ops-johor-bahru-due-high-covid19-cases" target="_blank">all factories in Johor</a> on account of the high daily number of Covid-19 infections in the state.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>3. MIDF Research <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/midf-research-cuts-top-glove-target-price-rm829-saying-major-improvements-worker-welfare" target="_blank">cuts Top Glove Corp's target price</a>, despite a surprise extra 20% dividend payout announced yesterday.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>4. Analysts are <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/analysts-see-cards-improving-gaming-sector-point%C2%A0-attractive-valuation-and-appealing-yields" target="_blank">upbeat on the prospects</a> of the gaming industry driven by the potential easing of travel curbs.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>5.&nbsp;Pahang durian farmers get a reprieve as <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/pahang-durian-farmers-get-reprieve-they-obtain-stay-being-evicted-plantations" target="_blank">they obtain a stay</a> against an eviction order from the authorities.</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

Thai banks will cut lending rates by 25 basis points for vulnerable groups for a period of six months, a bankers' association said on Thursday, responding to a government request to help small businesses.

Thai lenders to cut rates by 25 bps for 'vulnerable groups'

SHANGHAI (April 25): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday called on China to provide a level playing field for American businesses, as he began a visit aimed at resolving a raft of contentious issues that could jeopardise the newly repaired relationship.

In China, Blinken urges fair treatment of American companies

A three-member Federal Court bench on Thursday granted leave (permission) for lawyer Datuk Sreesanthan Eliathamby to have the merits of his appeal for a civil penalty of RM1 million imposed on him for insider trading of Worldwide Holdings Bhd shares in 2006 be heard.

Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who led the bench, granted leave for the questions of law to be determined by the apex court.

Lawyer Sreesanthan allowed to challenge sentence of capital penalty and gains for purported insider trading

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

Our rice was at centre stage again with a very peculiar problem, that is, local rice was not available in the market in the second half of last year although 64% of supply comes from local farms. Despite stern warnings from the government against manipulation of rice supply, the problem persisted...

My Say: What is wrong with our rice sector

Taiwan’s incoming president warned his government faces a grim international environment as he finalised his cabinet line-up by appointing key defence and foreign-affairs officials.

Taiwan’s incoming president warns of ‘severe’ challenges for new security team

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

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

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.

Malaysia needs RM10 bil for next three years to upgrade water infrastructure — SPAN

Vietnamese billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong said on Thursday he planned to invest US$1 billion (RM4.78 billion) more from his own fortune into Nasdaq-listed electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast, and was considering listings for other companies he controls.

VinFast chief plans to invest US$1b more from his fortune in EV maker

<p>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;</p>


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

<p>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.</p>


Malaysia is said to mull casino resort to revive Forest City

<p>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.</p>


Digital Nasional names senior telco and tech leaders as new directors

<p>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.</p>


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

<p>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.</p>


<p>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.</p>


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

<p>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.</p>


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

<p>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.</p>


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

<p>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.</p>


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

<p>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’.</p>

<p>Maybank IB is the first from a total of fi...

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

<p>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.</p>


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

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


NationGate is observing technical breakout, says RHB Retail Research 

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


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

<p>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.</p>


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

<p>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.</p>


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

<p>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.</p>


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


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

<p>PUTRAJAYA ( April 25): Malaysia’s inflation stayed at 1.8% in March 2024 from a month ago, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).</p>


Malaysia’s inflation stays at 1.8% in March 2024

<p>Synergy House Bhd may trend higher after breaking out from its one-week bullish rectangular pattern two sessions ago, to a new all-time high.</p>


Synergy House may trend higher, says Rakuten Trade

<p>(April 24): Some of the world's largest solar equipment makers asked President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday to impose tariffs on panels and cells from four Asian countries, to protect billions of dollars in investments in US manufacturing.</p>
