THE pressure is on Malaysia as its recovering tourism industry goes up against neighbouring giants in the intense pursuit of tourist volumes and revenue lost during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Data from Tourism Malaysia shows that the 20.14 million tourist arrivals in 2023 were double that o...

The State of the Nation: Malaysia navigates intensifying battle for tourism revenue

THE decline in the unit price of IGB Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) since it debuted on Bursa Malaysia has made it one of the higher-yielding REITs among its peers, even above the Kuala Lumpur REIT index’s expected yield of 6.17%.

Bloomberg data shows that other pure-pla...

Yield uptick for IGB Commercial REIT amid challenging KL office market

AN internal restructuring of the low-profile Oriental Holdings Bhd has paved the way for a clear structure on the ownership of the group that was founded by the late Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew.

Based on a slew of Bursa Malaysia announcements since late February, it appears that the Penang-ba...

Loh family reorganises its shareholding in Oriental Holdings

It will be a relatively quiet week on the local economic front as the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close and Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, with April 10 and 11 being public holidays. Taking centre stage is the slew of monetary policy decisions in major economies due this week.
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The Week Ahead: Attention on monetary policy decisions in major economies

SYNERGY House Bhd was one of the few ACE Market initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2023 that surprisingly underperformed on its debut, opening nearly 12% lower than its 43 sen offer price.

However, those who had subscribed for its shares then and held on would be well pleased with the s...

Furniture exporter finds synergy in e-commerce 

Lagenda Properties Bhd

Fair value: RM1.98 BUY

Brokers Digest: Local Equities - Lagenda Properties Bhd, Petronas Gas Bhd, Gamuda Bhd, Uzma Bhd

HAVING shaken off the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and endured the subsequent loss of a major overseas customer amid challenging market conditions, Klang-based mattress manufacturer Lee Swee Kiat Group Bhd (LSK) is reaping the fruits of its efforts to fortify its sales channels and it...

Mattress maker Lee Swee Kiat plans production expansion as consumption rises

FUND managers and analysts are hopeful that the lack of interest in retail counters will not continue past the middle of the year and that the influx of tourist arrivals, as well as the US Federal Reserve’s initiation of interest rate cuts in June as projected, will spark a revival of investor in...

Waiting out the retail doldrums

AFTER a challenging period during the Covid-19 pandemic, Karex Bhd — which posted net losses for the first time over two consecutive years — turned the corner last year. The condom maker will now focus on growing its range of offerings with the highest margins — its own branded products as well a...

Karex justifies OBM move, adds synthetic condoms

THE rebound in Malaysia’s exports in January after 10 consecutive months of negative showing was the bright spot last Tuesday, even as the ringgit slipped past the 4.80 mark against the greenback to a new 26-year low that same day.

Granted, the January export numbers came in ahead of ex...

The State of the Nation: Watching the ringgit factor in stronger-than-expected export rebound

The developer of the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) expressway will receive an official letter soon, notifying them of the cancellation of the construction project.

PJD Link developer to get official letter soon on cancellation, says Nanta

A former technician was brought before the Sessions Court again here on Thursday on a charge of posting offensive messages insulting Islam on his Facebook account in March, regarding the sale of stockings bearing the word 'Allah'.

'Allah' socks insults: Former technician brought before Sessions Court again

More than a year after it diversified into the sand dredging business, timber products manufacturer Auro Holdings Bhd (formerly known as NWP Holdings Bhd) is proposing to venture into the food and beverage (F&B) business.

The proposed diversification is aimed at expanding its revenue stream and reducing its reliance on the wood-based and sand mining industries, said the loss-making company in a bourse filing on Thursday.

Auro forays into F&B business to cut dependence on wood-based and sand mining industries

The Penang government will wait for recommendations from the undersea tunnel project steering committee before making any decision regarding the implementation of the project, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Undersea tunnel: Penang to wait for steering committee's recommendations, says Chow

The allocations that the government has agreed to consider extending to elected representatives from the opposition are subject to terms and conditions, said DAP Parliament chief whip Nga Kor Ming.

Nga: Proposed allocations for opposition reps conditional

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd, known for its extensive network of convenience stores, declared on Thursday an interim dividend of 2.7 sen per share for its financial year ended Dec 31, 2023 (FY2023), after posting a record high net profit.

7-Eleven declares 2.7 sen dividend for FY2023

Perikatan Nasional (PN) has welcomed the government's decision to allocate funds to elected representatives from the opposition.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, in a statement on Thursday, however, said that PN will decide on the matter after perusing the terms of the draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) being prepared by the government.

PN welcomes govt's decision to extend allocations to opposition reps

There is still room for China's central bank to take steps to support the economy, but efforts are needed to prevent cash from sloshing around the banking system as real credit demand weakens, senior officials at the bank said on Thursday.

The world's second-biggest economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter, but several March indicators, such as property investment, retail sales and industrial output showed that domestic demand remains frail, weighing down momentum.

China's central bank signals caution over credit boost as demand weakens

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 and Batik Air cancel flights to Sabah, Sarawak after volcano eruption in Indonesia

Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd has approved the transfer of UMediC Group Bhd’s listing status from the ACE Market to the Main Market, under the 'health care' sector.

Bursa approves UMediC’s transfer to Main Market

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).

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

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.

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

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.

The Federal Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) over the Court of Appeal’s decision last year that decided that non-paying members in a residential area (RA) could raise the boom gates at the entrance to the housing area themselves without the security guards' assistance.

Federal Court dismisses MBPJ’s appeal on residents' boom gate operation

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.

Google fires workers protesting US$1.2b Israeli contract

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.

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

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).

Stop buying gold ETF as prices may correct — Philip Capital

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Apple CEO to meet Singapore leader to wrap whirlwind Asia tour

Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiTech Padu Bhd, just one month after acquiring a 15.9% stake via a private vehicle in the company.

Amid controversy over govt contracts, Farhash ceases to be HeiTech Padu substantial shareholder after one month

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.

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

Elon Musk said some of the severance packages sent to former Tesla Inc employees as part of its biggest-ever workforce reduction were too low.

Musk apologises for ‘incorrectly low’ Tesla severance packages

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.

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

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.

Analysts remain sanguine on IGB REIT’s prospects going forward

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;

Bursa mixed at midday break, key index up

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.

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

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 Malaysian Bar argued in court that its challenge against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's conditional discharge is not academic as it may determine the fate of the Yayasan Akalbudi graft case.

Malaysian Bar: Legal challenge against AG's decision to drop charges against Zahid is not academic

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.

Cheryl Poo

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