Gold prices hit a new record high on Thursday, breaking above the US$2,300 per ounce ceiling, as recent comments from Federal Reserve officials cemented market expectations around US interest rate cuts.

Gold powers to new high above US$2,300 per ounce on rate cut optimism

Bank of America (BofA) Global Research has raised its 2024 Brent and WTI oil price forecasts, citing escalating geopolitical tensions and the Opec+ producer group maintaining supply curbs.

BofA hikes 2024 oil forecasts on tighter supply, geopolitical risks

Gold prices extended their record run on Monday as the latest data showing a slowing US inflation trend boosted expectations that the Federal Reserve could deliver its first interest rate cut in June.

Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding bullion.

Gold hits fresh all-time peak as US data lifts June rate cut hopes

BENGALURU (March 27): Gold prices edged lower on Wednesday due to an uptick in the dollar, although bullion traded in a narrow range as investors stayed on the sidelines, awaiting more cues on the US Federal Reserve policy.

Gold subdued as dollar firms, investors seek more Fed cues

BENGALURU (March 26): Gold prices were stuck in a tight range on Tuesday, as investor focus turned to US inflation data due later this week, which could shed more light on the timing of the Federal Reserve's first interest rate cut this year.

Gold holds tight range as focus turns to US inflation data

Gold prices slipped on Friday due to a stronger dollar, although they were set for a fourth weekly gain in five, as the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) decision to retain its interest rate-cut projections for 2024 bolstered bullion's appeal.

Spot gold was down 0.4% at US$2,173.17 (RM10,300.28) per ounce as of 0607 GMT. Bullion has risen 0.8% so far this week.

Gold prices dip as dollar strengthens on Fed-driven rally

Gold prices surged to a record high on Thursday, after the US Federal Reserve (Fed) left interest rates unchanged in a widely expected move, and stayed on track for three rate cuts this year.

Spot gold was up 0.5% at US$2,196.69 (RM10,341) per ounce as of 0036 GMT, after hitting an all-time high of US$2,222.39 earlier in the session.

Gold hits record high as Fed sticks to three rate cuts in 2024

Gold prices edged lower on Tuesday due to a stronger dollar, while investors looked forward to the US Federal Reserve policy meeting, which could offer further clues on the timing of interest rate cuts this year.

Spot gold was down 0.2% to US$2,156.67 per ounce, as of 0659 GMT. US gold futures GCcv1 eased 0.2% to US$2,159.80.

Gold eases on dollar strength, investors seek direction from Fed

MUMBAI/BENGALURU (Feb 12): India's palm oil imports in January dropped more than 12% from a month ago to a three-month low, as negative refining margins for crude palm oil (CPO) prompted refiners to switch to rival soyoil, a leading trade body said on Monday.

India's January palm oil imports drop to three-month low as soyoil imports rise

The La Nina weather pattern characterised by unusually cold temperatures in the Pacific Ocean could emerge in the second half of 2024, following a strong El Nino year, a US government weather forecaster said on Thursday.

El Nino waning, La Nina to develop in second half of 2024

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has confirmed that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is among individuals under investigation by the commission.

Azam Baki confirms Dr M among individuals under MACC probe

The deep freeze that’s gripped Europe’s real estate markets since borrowing costs jumped worsened at the start of the year as deals plunged to their lowest levels since 2011.

European real estate deals slump to lowest level in 13 years

KUALA LUMPUR (April 25): Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said the government will share details on the subsidy rationalisation plan, including its criteria and implications soon.

Rafizi: Govt to share details on subsidy rationalisation mechanism

Barclays reported a 12% fall in first quarter profit on Thursday, as a squeeze on UK mortgage pricing, lower income from trading and a drought of M&A fees showed the difficulties it will face in delivering its first strategic revamp in a decade.

Barclays 1Q profit falls 12% as trading slump hits

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday denied claims that the government will issue a licence for the operation of a casino in Forest City, Johor.

PM denies claims that govt issuing casino licence for Forest City

Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) at 3pm on Wednesday to undergo his weekly physiotherapy session and is in good and stable condition.

Former PM Badawi admitted to IJN, in stable condition

Nissan Motor and Mazda Motor unveiled new cars tailored for Chinese drivers on Thursday, signalling a fresh push by Japanese automakers to regain ground in the world's largest auto market.

Nissan, Mazda roll out new models for China as they target comeback

KUALA LUMPUR (April 25): Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had never instructed 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s (1MDB) management to transfer a total US$1.03 billion to Good Star Ltd, a company linked to the fugitive Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), the court heard on Thursday.

Najib never instructed 1MDB management to transfer monies to Good Star — witness

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has never stopped investigation into the construction of the littoral combat ships (LCS), said its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

LCS probe never stopped, MACC chief clarifies

Three additional dates have been set for the ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) case, in hopes of wrapping up the prosecution's stage of the trial which began in 2019.

Six years in, additional dates increased to wrap up prosecution's case in 1MDB-Tanore trial

KUALA LUMPUR (April 25): Members of the the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) who are below 55 years old will have an Account 3 starting from May 11, from which they can make withdrawals at any time for any purpose —&nbsp;subject to a minimum withdrawal amount of RM50. This is on top of the two existing accounts they currently have for retirement savings.&nbsp;

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

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.

Malaysia is said to mull casino resort to revive Forest City

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.

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

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

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.

Digital Nasional names senior telco and tech leaders as new directors

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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’.

Maybank IB is the first from a total of fi...

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

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.

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

Sports retailer Al-Ikhsan Sports Sdn Bhd, in which state-owned private equity firm Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) owns a 35% stake, has appointed Datuk Hishammudin Hasan as its new chief executive officer effective April 17.

Ekuinas-backed Al-Ikhsan Sports names former 7-Eleven head as CEO

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.

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

Malaysia’s consumer inflation came in lower than expected in March from a year earlier as prices of healthcare and food rose at a slower pace, official data on Thursday showed.

The Consumer Price Index — Malaysia’s main gauge of inflation — rose 1.8% year-on-year, according to the Department of Statistics. The headline figure was a tad lower than the median 2% rise predicted in a Bloomberg survey of economists, and unchanged versus February’s 1.8% gain.

Malaysia’s inflation steady at 1.8% in March

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

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

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

NationGate is observing technical breakout, says RHB Retail Research 

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Brijesh Patel

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Brijesh Patel

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