<div class="mt-4 embed-right"><a class="mobx embedimg-icon imgw-300" data-desc="" data-rel="ceolightbox" data-title="" href="//assets.theedgemarkets.com/pictures/20210104ringgit.png"><img alt="" src="//assets.theedgemarkets.com/pictures/20210104ringgit.png" /></a></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 4): The ringgit opened on a firm note on the first trading day of 2021. The local currency breached RM4 against the greenback, its first since June 2018.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The ringgit was quoted at RM3.995 against the US dollar as at 10.30am, compared with last Thursday's close at 4.0200/0250.&nbsp;</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Axi chief global market strategist Stephen Innes was quoted by <em>Bernama</em> saying that the market continued to build in boatloads of optimism about a global growth recovery in 2021 and an accompanying downward trajectory for the US dollar as the primary consensus view.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>Bernama</em>&nbsp;also reported, quoting&nbsp;Innes, that optimism widespread Covid-19 vaccine distribution will provide the ultimate economic kick-start had offered a massive booster shot to corporate profits.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The ringgit was traded higher against other major currencies.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>It increased against the Singapore dollar to 3.0365/0414 from 3.0395/0444 last Thursday, rose versus the euro to 4.9082/9156 from 4.9358/9427, appreciated vis-a-vis the Japanese yen to 3.8898/8958 from 3.9018/9078, and edged up against the British pound to 5.4829/4901 from 5.4905/4977, <em>Bernama</em> reported.</p></div>


The ringgit opened on a firm note on the first trading day of 2021. The local currency breached RM4 against the greenback, its first since June 2018.

Ringgit hits 3.995 against US dollar, highest since June 2018

Malaysia’s economic growth will likely pick up pace in the quarters ahead, economists say, though some are cautioning that global uncertainties raise the risk of undershooting the official target for 2024.

This follows the Department of Statistics Malaysia's advanced gross domestic product (GDP) estimate of 3.9% for the first quarter of 2024 (1Q2024).

Malaysia's economy will pick up pace but global uncertainties remain key risks — economists

DUBAI/JERUSALEM (April 19): Explosions echoed over an Iranian city on Friday in what sources described as an Israeli attack, but Tehran played down the incident and indicated that it had no plans for retaliation — a response that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war.

Tehran signals no retaliation against Israel after drones attack Iran

In today’s edition of Evening 5: 0:06 Escalating Middle East unrest, hawkish US Fed shake regional markets 2:32 Malaysia's economy grew 3.9% in 1Q2024, advance estimate shows4:02 Axiata merger with Bharti Airtel raises earnings concern — analysts5:51 Awantec shares plunge as much as 53%, intraday short selling suspended7:33 Main-Market bound MKH Oil Palm’s IPO oversubscribed by 8.43 times

EVENING 5: Bursa ends mixed amid weak regional sentiment

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

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Construction company Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (LSH Capital) said it has obtained approval from its shareholders to transfer the group’s listing from the LEAP Market to the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities.

Lim Seong Hai Capital gets shareholder nod for transfer of listing to ACE Market

YX Precious Metals Bhd, a 70%-owned subsidiary of Tomei Consolidated Bhd, has proposed to transfer its listing from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia as it has met the profit requirements for the transfer.

In a bourse filing, the gold jewellery wholesaler and manufacturer said it has also satisfied the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and Main Market listing requirements on financial position, public shareholding spread and Bumiputera equity.

YX Precious Metals proposes to transfer listing from ACE Market to Main Market

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Oil-and-gas services firm Yinson Holdings Bhd said on Friday that its indirect wholly owned subsidiary Yinson Production Offshore Pte Ltd (Yinson Production) has successfully placed a US$500 million five-year senior secured bond issue.

Yinson’s unit places US$500 mil five-year senior secured bonds

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Fajarbaru Builder Group Bhd said it has secured a RM13.33 million contract to upgrade fire engineering systems at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Terminal 1 satellite building.

Fajarbaru clinches RM13 mil contract from MAHB

MISC Bhd, via its petroleum arm AET, has entered into time charter party contracts with PETCO Trading Labuan Company Ltd (PTLCL) for the world’s first two ammonia dual-fuel Aframaxes (tankers with a deadweight of between 80,000 and 120,000 tonnes), as it seeks to reduce overall emissions from its operations.

Both MISC and PTLCL are units of  national oil company Petronas.

MISC enters time charter party contracts with Petronas unit for world's first ammonia dual-fuel Aframax tankers

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): UEM Sunrise Bhd has launched The Beat 2.0, an extension of The Beat retail hub at its Kiara Bay development in Kepong, during a groundbreaking ceremony held at the Kiara Bay sales gallery on Friday. The Beat 2.0 measures 2.6-acres and will comprise a net lease area (NLA) of 73,566 square feet (sq ft), according to a press statement on Friday.

UEM Sunrise launches The Beat 2.0 at Kiara Bay, welcomes Harvey Norman as anchor tenant

<p>Shares of Sapura Energy Bhd will be suspended from trading pending an announcement, the company said on Friday.</p>


Trading in Sapura Energy suspended pending announcement 

Most read this week - Stay up to date with the biggest news and latest trending topics by checking out the top 10 articles of the week. 

Most read this week

<p>Israel launched an attack on Iranian soil on Friday, sources said, in the latest tit-for-tat exchange between the two arch foes, whose decades of shadow war has broken out into the open and threatened to drag the region deeper into conflict.</p>


Israel attacks Iran, Reuters reports, as drones shot down over Isfahan 

<p>Shares of Awanbiru Technology Bhd (Awantec) fell as much as 53% on Friday, prompting Bursa Malaysia to suspend the counter’s intraday short selling (IDSS).&nbsp;</p>


Awantec shares plunge 53%, intraday short selling suspended 

<p>RHB Investment Bank Bhd (RHB IB) on Friday upgraded Public Bank Bhd to “buy” from “neutral”, with a higher target price (TP) of RM4.80 (from RM4.70).</p>


RHB upgrades Public Bank to ‘buy’, raises target price to RM4.80

<p>Malaysia's economy grew by 3.9% in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q2024), as compared to 3.0% in the previous quarter, according to Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) advance gross domestic product (GDP) estimates.</p>


Malaysia's economy grew 3.9% in 1Q2024, advance estimate shows

<p>Apple said on Friday it had removed Meta Platforms' WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China after being ordered to do so by the Chinese government, which cited national security concerns.</p>


Apple pulls WhatsApp, Threads from China app store after Beijing order

<p>MKH Oil Palm (East Kalimantan) Bhd’s initial public offering (IPO) has been oversubscribed by 8.43 times, ahead of its listing on the Bursa Malaysia Main Market on April 30.&nbsp;</p>


Main Market-bound MKH Oil Palm’s IPO oversubscribed by 8.43 times

<p>The Malaysian rubber glove industry has demonstrated resilience and adaptability amidst challenging global dynamics, with optimism for a rebound in 2024, with an anticipated surge to approximately 450 billion pieces by 2027 despite a downturn in 2023, according to the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma).</p>


Margma optimistic of rebound in 2024, expects surge to 450 billion pieces by 2027

<p>The escalating tensions in the Middle East have influenced market sentiment and shifted investors' emphasis to the energy, finance and plantation sectors, which helped boost the FBM KLCI higher by midday on Friday.</p>


KLCI up 0.43% with focus on energy, plantation, financial stocks

<p>The planned merger of Axiata Group Bhd, Malaysia’s largest telecommunications company by revenue, with India’s Bharti Airtel Ltd raises concerns as the latter's subsidiary Airtel Lanka is currently a loss-making company, analysts said.</p>


Malaysia’s Axiata merger with Bharti Airtel of India raises earnings concern — analysts

<p>Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s core net profit may have risen 34% in the first quarter, from a year earlier, on higher securities and derivatives trading activity when the exchange operator reports its results, Hong Leong Investment Bank said.</p>


Bursa Malaysia 1Q earnings likely up 34% y-o-y, HLIB projects

<p>Malaysia’s exports contracted at a slower than expected pace in March mainly due to lower foreign demand for electronics while shipments to China fell, official data Friday showed.</p>


Malaysia’s March exports down 0.8%, imports surge 12.5%

<p>Sime Darby Property Bhd, Malaysia’s biggest developer in terms of landbank, has secured commitment for the remaining 30% of its industrial development fund to close at RM1 billion.</p>


Sime Darby Property gets commitment for balance 30% of RM1b industrial development fund

<p>Kenanga Investment Bank has initiated coverage on soon-to-be listed oil and gas services firm Keyfield International Bhd at RM1.90 — reflecting a 111% premium over its IPO price of 90 sen per share — while giving it an “outperform” rating.</p>


Kenanga sees Main-Market bound Keyfield International cashing in on OSV boom, sets target price at RM1.90

<p>Financial services provider MIDF has reported a recent cyber security incident to relevant authorities and is collaborating closely with them on addressing the matter.</p>

<p>In a brief statement issued on Friday, MIDF affirmed that it takes the cyber security incident seriously and reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the privacy and security of customers' information.</p>


MIDF confirms cyber security incident

<p>Melaka State Secretary Datuk Zaidi Johari died of a heart attack this morning. He was 54.</p>

<p>According to a statement from the Melaka Chief Minister’s Office, Zaidi breathed his last at about 8.15am at Hospital Melaka here.</p>


Melaka State Secretary Zaidi dies of heart attack

<p>PUTRAJAYA (April 19): Payment of fees&nbsp;for training or classes in esports, equestrian, swimming, motorsports and taekwondo is&nbsp;eligible for&nbsp;tax relief of up to RM1,000 from next year, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.</p>


Payment of fees for sports training eligible for tax relief from next year — Hannah

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Oil-and-gas services firm Yinson Holdings Bhd said on Friday that its indirect wholly owned subsidiary Yinson Production Offshore Pte Ltd (Yinson Production) has successfully placed a US$500 million five-year senior secured bond issue.</p>


<p>Automotive electronic parts manufacturer MCE Holdings Bhd has commenced the construction for its MCE Auto Hub, the company’s new manufacturing facility in Serendah, Selangor, with an initial investment of RM50 million for the first phase of the development.&nbsp;</p>
