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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p class="thumb-cap">EVENING 5: Isa Samad sentenced to six years in jail</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.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>1. Former Federal Land Development Authority chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad has been found <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/high-court-sentences-isa-samad-six-years-jail-slaps-rm1545m-fine" target="_blank">guilty of corruption</a> and faces up to<a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/former-felda-chairman-isa-samad-found-guilty-rm3m-corruption-charges" target="_blank"> six years in jail</a>.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>2. A former Mara Incorporated Sdn Bhd chairman is facing <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/former-mara-inc-chairman-faces-22-counts-bribery-over-australian-property-deal" target="_blank">22 bribery charges </a>related to supposed dodgy property deals Down Under.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>3. LPI Capital Bhd ends FY20 on a<a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/lpi-capital-4q-net-profit-997-rm9523m-declares-44-sen-dividend" target="_blank"> solid note</a> and higher dividend payout.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>4. Leong Hup International Bhd is aiming to <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/leong-hup-expand-bakers-cottage-southeast-asia" target="_blank">expand its bakery franchise</a>.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>5. IOI Corp Bhd is positioning itself to enter the <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/pineapple-ioi-corps-latest-hype-oil-palm-giants-diversification-push" target="_blank">pineapple business</a> as it seeks to diversify its crop.&nbsp;</p></div>


EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today 

Monthly Swiss watch exports suffered their biggest decline since 2020 as demand for premium and luxury timepieces in key markets including China and Hong Kong plunged.

Exports dropped 16% by value in March to two billion Swiss francs (RM10.49 billion) from a year earlier, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said on Thursday.

Swiss watch exports plunge as China, Hong Kong demand dries up

Sunway Property, the property arm of Sunway Bhd, will hold a preview of the RM1.8 billion Sunway Velocity 3 by the end of this month.

The project, which is the latest phase in the integrated development of Sunway Velocity Kuala Lumpur, will be a serviced residence with co-living-ready f...

Sunway Property to preview Sunway Velocity 3 this month

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Former Umno youth exco Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, submitted a representation to drop the charge against him for allegedly making seditious remarks linking the government to pro-Israel and pro-Western countries last year.

Papagomo submits representation to drop sedition charge

Norway's US$1.6 trillion (RM7.6 trillion) sovereign wealth fund, one of the world's largest investors, said on Thursday it would vote in favour of a proposal letting NatWest buy back more of its stock from the British government, amid efforts to speed up privatisation.

Norway wealth fund backs NatWest plan to buy back stock from govt

When Iraq fired dozens of Scud missiles on Israel in early 1991, the US implored then prime minister Yitzhak Shamir not to respond. Shamir said he had to act. After days of late-night calls, high-level visits and long Cabinet meetings, Israel stood down and the US led a 42-nation alliance that defeated Iraq in what became the Gulf War.

Israel caught between hitting Iran and heeding allies

The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) is in the final stage of developing the Sports Industry Plan which outlines strategies and initiatives to benefit the sports industry sector and, thus, provide returns to the country’s economy.

Sports Industry Plan in final phase of development, says Ahmad Zahid

Several Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia flights between Sabah, Sarawak, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) were cancelled on Thursday due to volcanic eruption at Mount Ruang, Indonesia.

Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia cancel flights to Sabah, Sarawak after volcano eruption in Indonesia

China reported a steady rate of youth unemployment in March, after an official warned that joblessness among young Chinese needs more scrutiny.

Unemployment rate stayed at 15.3% last month for people between 16 and 24 years old, the same as in February, according to data released on Thursday by the National Bureau of Statistics.

China’s youth unemployment level still steady in March

AmFirst REIT, a trust which mainly manages office buildings, said on Thursday its fourth quarter net property income fell 7.82% from a year earlier mainly due to higher property expenses.

AmFirst REIT 4Q net property income falls 7.8%, to distribute 1.18 sen per unit

A gauge of global chip stocks and artificial intelligence (AI) bellwether Nvidia Corp have fallen together into a technical correction, showing moderation in the global equity market’s most conspicuous driver over the past year and a half.

Nvidia, chip stocks drop into correction as rate bets shift

<p>Shares of PIE Industrial Bhd extended its rally to a new all-time high on Thursday, after Kenanga Investment Bank flagged that the electronic services firm has secured a new client that will take up the entirety of its largest facility.</p>


PIE Industrial extends rally to new all-time high as Kenanga flags new client

<p>The Malaysian aviation industry may be badly impacted on passenger traffic and spikes in jet fuel prices if a full-blown war results from escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, according to Maybank Investment Bank Research (Maybank IB).</p>


Malaysia's aviation industry at risk amid full-blown crisis in Middle East — Maybank IB

<p>The race for the “world’s best airport” crown has been a two-horse affair in recent years, with Doha’s Hamad International and Singapore Changi leading the pack.</p>


Singapore loses ‘world’s best airport’ crown to Qatar

<p>Alphabet Inc’s Google has put more than two dozen employees on immediate administrative leave after they were involved in protests against Project Nimbus, a US$1.2 billion (RM5.7 billion) joint contract with Amazon.com Inc to provide the Israeli government with AI and cloud services.</p>


Google fires workers protesting US$1.2b Israeli contract

<p>Several Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia flights between Sabah, Sarawak, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) were cancelled on Thursday due to volcanic eruption at Mount Ruang, Indonesia.</p>


<p>Feytech Holdings Berhad (Feytech) has entered into an underwriting agreement with TA Securities Holdings Berhad and AmInvestment Bank Berhad (joint underwriters) for the company’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad.</p>


Feytech inks underwriting agreement with TA Securities, AmInvestment en route to Main Market IPO  

<p>Apple Inc chief executive officer Tim Cook will meet Singapore’s leader at the tail end of his most extensive Southeast Asia tour in years, searching for new growth markets and manufacturing locations to offset headwinds in China.</p>


Apple CEO to meet Singapore leader to wrap whirlwind Asia tour

<p>Gold prices may correct amid potential delay in the anticipated rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, Philip Capital warned on Thursday and advised investors to stop buying Malaysia’s sole gold exchange-traded fund (ETF).</p>


Stop buying gold ETF as prices may correct — Philip Capital

<p>Sin-Kung Logistics Bhd has started taking orders from investors for its initial public offering (IPO) that may raise up to RM39.5 million ahead of its listing on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market.</p>


Sin-Kung Logistics launches ACE Market IPO to raise RM39.5 mil

<p>President Joe Biden called China “xenophobic” while highlighting the Asian nation’s economic woes, as he sought to make the case for US economic strength during a campaign stop in the swing state of Pennsylvania.</p>


Biden calls China ‘xenophobic’, ramping up 2024 campaign rhetoric

<p>Research analysts covering IGB Real Estate Investment Trust (IGB REIT) remained sanguine on the stock’s prospects after it reported a 4.79% jump in its net property income (NPI) for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024) to RM124.24 million, from RM118.55 million a year earlier, thanks largely to higher rental income.</p>


Analysts remain sanguine on IGB REIT’s prospects going forward

<p>Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) research said Cloudpoint Technology Bhd is well positioned to capitalise the burgeoning demand for cyber security solutions post-passage of the cyber security bill which was passed in Dewan Rakyat on April 3.</p>


HLIB: Cloudpoint well positioned to capitalise burgeoning demand for cyber security solutions

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Smart Asia Chemical Bhd has signed an underwriting agreement with Mercury Securities Sdn Bhd for the company’s initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd.</p>


Smart Asia Chemical inks underwriting agreement with Mercury Securities en route to ACE Market IPO

<p>Asian stocks crept higher in a mixed session on Thursday, while the dollar took a breather and bond markets steadied as investors stepped back to assess the interest rate outlook.</p>


Asian stocks mixed as soaring dollar pauses

<p>Alphabet-owned Google&nbsp;is laying off an unspecified number of employees, a company spokesperson said on Wednesday, marking the latest cuts at the technology giant as it cracks down on costs.</p>


Google lays off employees, shifts some roles abroad amid cost cuts

<p>Bursa Malaysia turned mixed at the midday break on Thursday with the key index ending the morning session in positive territory, in tandem with regional markets, said a dealer.&nbsp;</p>


Bursa mixed at midday break, key index up

<p>The stock market saw its longest losing streak since January as a handful of big techs sold off — despite a slide in bond yields.</p>


S&P 500 suffers its longest slide since January

<p>Axiata Group Bhd, Malaysia’s largest telecommunications company by revenue, and India’s Bharti Airtel Ltd signed a definitive agreement on Thursday to combine their Sri Lankan operations.</p>


Malaysia’s Axiata, Bharti Airtel of India to combine Sri Lankan ops

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Food and supplement company OB Holdings Bhd said on Thursday that it has secured approval from Bursa Malaysia for an initial public offering (IPO) on the bourse’s ACE Market, to raise funds for expansion.</p>


OB Holdings gets approval for ACE Market IPO, targets listing in 4Q

<p>The concessionaire of the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) highway believes the project remains viable and will continue to pursue its realisation.&nbsp;</p>
