During the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis, US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan famously said that Asia got into trouble because it was mainly a bank-dominated financial system that lacked a “spare tyre”. In American parlance, the spare tyre is the stock market, with the US stock market bei...

Condivergence: Do stock markets reflect underlying GDP growth?

How should we fund development? More specifically, how do we fund high-risk, high-return tech investment, so that there is development (value growth) to deal with social and ecological imbalances?

As I argued in my last article on funding for SMEs, “How SMEs can have greater access to c...

Condivergence: What it takes to develop an ecosystem tech funding model

Last month, the Institute for Capital Market Research (ICMR) hosted an excellent launch of its new report, Market-based Financing for SMEs in Malaysia. As Asian Development Bank economist Shigehiro Shinozaki reported, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) account for 96.6% of the number of ...

Condivergence: How SMEs can have greater access to capital markets

In Bangkok recently, I was greeted with the election of 72-year-old former general Prabowo Subianto as the incoming president of Indonesia. Outgoing president Joko Widodo’s son Gibran (37 years old) has been elected as vice-president. At the same time, former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatr...

Condivergence: Ageing leaders and investment choices

The world is in a mess. Polycrises or multiple crises that break out with no simple solutions — such as the Gaza genocide, social discontent, climate and natural disasters, and growing war fears — are changing the existing order.

Condivergence: A Chinese (New Year) way of understanding polycrises

We can only understand the Ukraine War from the lens of a bloody European Game of Thrones.

The war is less about a single country than about the whole European security architecture or power balance. The Europeans have been more often at war with each other than not since the fall of th...

Condivergence: Sliding into war: The European Game of Thrones

Welcome to 2024. This is the year that the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) calls one “of ballots and bullets”. Across more than 70 countries, over four billion people will participate in elections, which will decide the direction of global politics. Meanwhile, war continues in ...

Condivergence: Investing in 2024

How should you allocate your portfolio assets for 2024, a year of grave uncertainty?

The good ol’ 60/40 rule of 60% equity and 40% bonds and cash portfolio allocation is alive and well in 2023, although returns have been driven solely by equities. Fixed income, traditionally 40% of such...

Condivergence: Bonds, cash or gold for 2024?

The trajectory of global finance in 2024 hinges upon one central actor — the US Federal Reserve. When will the Fed start easing?

Condivergence: The outlook for 2024

Like Warren Buffett said, “It’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who has been swimming naked.” Two notable tales of grief this month bookended a period of overexuberance. The first demise came with FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried being found guilty of committing fraud almost one year afte...

Condivergence: Mild global recession or bad times ahead?

WASHINGTON (April 18): The International Monetary Fund said the yen's recent declines, while "quite significant," largely reflect the interest-rate differential between Japan and the United States, suggesting that its moves were largely in line with economic fundamentals.

A broad dollar...

IMF says yen's declines 'significant' but reflect rate differentials

Japan’s consumer inflation eased more than expected while staying above the Bank of Japan’s target as board members get ready to revise their price forecasts next week.

Japan’s inflation cools ahead of BOJ policy board meeting

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Kenanga Research has maintained its “underweight” rating on the media sector and said 1QCY2024 advertising execution (adex) — +14% year-on-year — exceeded house expectations due to stronger-than-expec...

Media sector earnings outlook still fragile, says Kenanga Research 

(April 19): South Korea's Hyundai said on Friday that it had paused advertising on X, formerly known as Twitter, and is speaking to the Elon Musk-owned social media platform directly about brand safety issues.

It was not immediately clear why the auto giant had paused the advertisements...

Hyundai pauses ads on X over brand safety issues

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) said Kimlun Corp Bhd’s earnings is primed for promising prospects in FY2024-25, underpinned by an unbilled orderbook of RM2.48 billion (3.0x cover on FY2023 revenue and the highest achieved since FY2018), with 85% dedicated to construction and the remaining to precast manufacturing.

HLIB sees promising prospects for Kimlun’s FY24-25 earnings

TA Securities thinks that KIP REIT will have a good 3Q showing

MORNING CALL: 19/4/24

Rakuten Trade said United U-Li Corporation Bhd may trend higher after breaking out from its two-week bullish flag pattern with a long white candle on Thursday.

United U-Li Corp may trend higher, says Rakuten Trade 

Israel received its first-ever sovereign downgrade as S&P Global Ratings lowered its credit rating to A+ from AA- on heightened geopolitical risks for the region.

S&P downgrades Israel rating on heightened geopolitical risk

RHB Retail Research said Inari Amertron Bhd is poised to challenge the RM3.27 resistance level once again, which would make this its fourth attempt this year.

Inari poised to challenge RM3.27 resistance, says RHB Retail Research 

RHB Retail Research said Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd may be headed for an uptrend after rebounding strongly from a recent pullback and pushing past the 21-day simple moving average line.

Muhibbah Engineering may be headed for uptrend, says RHB Retail Research 

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday:

Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiT...

HeiTech Padu, Axiata, AmanahRaya REIT, AmFirst REIT, RHB Bank, 7-Eleven Malaysia, MBSB, Awantec, MAA Group, UMediC, Systech, Pansar, Auro, Kimlun and AWC

PIE Industrial Bhd, whose share price extended its rally to a new all-time high on Thursday on reports that it has secured a new customer, confirmed the matter and said it is expecting the new customer to contribute an additional RM2.5 billion revenue to the group, of which RM1 billion will be recognised as early as next year.

PIE Industrial confirms bagging new client, expects additional RM2.5 bil revenue

FE Green Pet (M) Sdn Bhd’s new high-tech recycling factory is expected to make Melaka a green investment destination and complement the economic growth strategy in the state, said Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

He said with an investment totalling approximately RM958 million, the plant on 14 hectares of land is projected to be completed by 2Q 2025, creating almost 500 jobs.

RM958 mil high-tech recycling factory puts Melaka on green investors map — Ab Rauf

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EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

High-impact projects such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and&nbsp;Special Financial Zone&nbsp;(SFZ) in Forest City can spur Johor’s economy to outpace that&nbsp;of other states in the next one to two years, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Special economic, financial zones can help Johor surpass other states economically, says Anwar

Swiss state prosecutors are seeking long prison terms for two men accused of embezzling US$1.8 billion from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) — Saudi-Swiss businessman Tarek Obaid and his Swiss-British business partner Patrick Mahony, the AFP reported.

Swiss prosecutors seek long jail terms for duo in US$1.8bil 1MDB fraud — report

The oil-rich Malaysian state of Sarawak in Borneo is aiming to transform itself into a centre for clean hydrogen energy, betting that its ability to harness an abundance of hydropower can help it defy challenges that are clouding the fuel’s prospects elsewhere.

 Sarawak aiming to transform itself into a centre for clean hydrogen energy

Kimlun Corporation Bhd has bagged a construction contract worth RM150 million for a serviced apartment development project in Johor Bahru.

In a bourse filing on Thursday, Kimlun said its wholly-owned subsidiary Kimlun Sdn Bhd received the award as the main contractor for the Aliva Mount Austin residential project from Astaka Development Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Singapore-listed Astaka Holdings Limited.

Kimlun bags RM150 mil contract for residential construction project in Johor

(April 18):&nbsp;The world of chocolate is facing such immense cocoa shortages that the wild trading lured an unlikely player&nbsp;—&nbsp;Pierre Andurand, a hedge-fund manager best known for his bets on oil.&nbsp;

Why the world of chocolate is in crisis

The US on Thursday effectively stopped the United Nations from recognising a Palestinian state by casting a veto in the Security Council to deny the Palestinian Authority full membershipof the world body.

US stops UN from recognising a Palestinian state through membership

NEW YORK (April 19): US stocks vacillated on Thursday, swinging from red to green and back as investors contended with the push-pull of a strong economy and restrictive Federal Reserve policy.

Benchmark Treasury yields resumed their climb and gold added strength as ongoing turmoil in th...

Wall Street closes lower; gold climbs amid economic, geopolitical crosswinds

With 94% of Malaysian companies gearing up for an artificial intelligence (AI) driven future, National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS) together with NVIDIA has launched an AI pilot sandbox programme.

MOHE estimates 13,000 new AI talents by 2026

Indonesia discouraged its state-owned enterprises from making huge dollar purchases, showing the all-hands-on-deck approach that the nation has taken to support the rupiah.

State-run firms with large import requirements or foreign currency-denominated debt must avoid buying large amounts of US dollars while the rupiah is under pressure, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said in a briefing on Thursday.

Indonesia tells state firms to refrain from buying dollars

The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed lower for the fifth consecutive day, said palm oil trader David Ng.

He said the weaker soybean oil market and lower crude oil prices continue to pile pressure on prices.

CPO futures end lower for 5th consecutive trading day

The amount of reserves in banking system — a key determinant for the Federal Reserve to continue shrinking its balance sheet — dropped by the most in two years as Americans paid income tax bills out of their bank accounts.

US bank reserve balances see largest drop since 2022 tax season

Federal Reserve policymakers have coalesced around the idea of keeping borrowing costs where they are until perhaps well into the year, given slow and bumpy progress on inflation, and a still-strong US economy.

US Fed policymakers agree there's no urgency to cut rates

Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, who co-chairs the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election machinery&nbsp;coordination for the unity coalition, said its candidate would be deemed to represent the unity government rather than&nbsp;any particular party per se.

Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election: Candidate to represent unity govt rather than any particular party, says Zambry

Chinese government-linked hackers have burrowed into US critical infrastructure and are waiting "for just the right moment to deal a devastating blow," FBI director Christopher Wray said on Thursday.

FBI says Chinese hackers preparing to attack US infrastructure

US stocks closed near the unchanged mark on Thursday, as investors sifted through the latest corporate earnings, while economic data and comments from Federal Reserve officials suggested the central bank was unlikely to cut interest rates in the near future.

Stocks end near flat as investors assess earnings, data

The remains of the late Tan Sri Joseph Kurup arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport here at 11.20pm on a commercial flight.

The flight which was initially scheduled at 9.15am on Thursday was cancelled due to ash clouds from Mount Ruang’s volcanic eruption in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, engulfing the air space.

Andrew Sheng

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