Malaysia will not be facing a balance of payment crisis, the central bank said on Wednesday, after the current-account surplus narrowed sharply to its lowest in 26 years.

Current-account surplus is expected to improve in 2024, mainly driven by growth in the tourism sector and export recovery this year, Bank Negara Malaysia’s deputy governor Marzunisham Omar told reporters following the release of the central bank’s annual report.

Malaysia will avoid balance of payment crisis as current-account surplus widens, BNM says

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) strongly urged Malaysian businesses from all sectors to repatriate their overseas investment income and convert export proceeds back to ringgit to support the central bank's efforts to manage short-term pressure on the local currency.

BNM finds rising foreign currency holdings, widens calls for repatriation to bolster ringgit

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today announced that the government will allocate an additional RM5.3 billion in order to extend the wage subsidy programme.  

Under the wage subsidy programme, eligible employers may receive a subsidy of RM600 per employee.

Three-month extension for wage subsidy programme

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd and Velesto Energy Bhd chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad has been preliminary tested positive for Covid-19 and is now put under a healthcare facility.

Sime Darby, in a statement yesterday, said Abdul Rahman did not visit any of its premises for the last 18 d...

Sime Darby and Velesto chairman tests positive for Covid-19

Ex-1MDB boss did not verify fugitive businessman’s role in TIA

Jho Low pre-empted Shahrol about palace’s concerns regarding him

Low Taek Jho had pre-empted Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi from investigating further by telling him to expect the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to question the fugitive businessman's role in Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), the precursor to 1MDB, and raise the issue of the purported misrepresentation of the palace by "a certain individual".

Jho Low pre-empted Shahrol from probing by telling him to expect Istana Negara's concerns 

KUALA LUMPUR: To meet future economic needs, the oil and gas services and equipment (OGSE) business as well as the industrial ecosystems must be restructured to remain relevant and competitive, said Minister of Economic Affairs Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

In a special address at the 2...

‘O&G business, ecosystems must be restructured to meet future economic needs’

KUALA LUMPUR: Not enough investments are being made in big oil and gas (O&G) projects with long gestation periods when oil prices are low, said Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin.

The impact of this will be...

O&G firms not investing enough in long-term projects — Petronas

KUALA LUMPUR: The recent downgrade of Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) ratings by Moody’s is not expected to affect the national oil and gas company, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Moody’s assessment is not necessarily right. We cannot simply tell them as they are inde...

Dr M brushes off concerns over Moody's rating revision for Petronas

KUALA LUMPUR: To withstand rising challenges facing the oil and gas (O&G) industry, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is calling for Asian industry leaders to enter into strategic dialogues to open up possibilities of new avenues for collaboration that will lead to new energy solutions.<...

PM calls for partnerships among Asian O&G leaders

The creation of Flexible Account 3 for anytime withdrawals from May 11 means Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members can choose to take out up to a third of the balance in their existing Wellbeing Account 2.

Who pays for anytime EPF withdrawals?

China passed a law on Friday strengthening its trade defence capabilities as the US and the European Union take aim at Beijing over excess industrial capacity.

China passes tariff law amid tensions with trading partners

FRANKFURT/BERLIN/PRAGUE (April 26): Thyssenkrupp will sell a 20% stake in its steel business to the energy holding controlled by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, a major breakthrough for the German conglomerate after years of unsuccessful attempts to divest the unit.

Thyssenkrupp sells stake in steel unit to Czech billionaire Kretinsky

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.

BCorp, Capital A, AAX, YNH, Sam Engineering, Turiya, Gadang, Microlink, Nestle, Wiradani, D&O, Homeritz, Unisem

(April 26): HSBC Holdings Plc successfully fought off a London court claim brought by a group of investors in a £1.3 billion (US$1.6 billion) lawsuit over tax breaks linked to Walt Disney Co film financing.

HSBC wins £1.3 bil suit over Disney film finance scandal

KUB Malaysia Bhd has extended the deadline for its mandatory general offer for Central Cables Bhd (CCB) a second time to May 20 from April 30, according to its latest filing on Bursa Malaysia.

KUB extends deadline for CCB MGO a second time

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

KUALA LUMPUR (April 26): KPJ Healthcare Bhd, through its premier educational institution KPJ Healthcare University (KPJU), has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday with Trusx Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Trustr), a global digital health organisation, as an initiative to revolutionise healthcare.

KPJ Healthcare, Trusx Malaysia collaborate for AI-driven healthcare solutions

Wall Street's main indexes advanced on Friday as most megacap growth stocks rose after robust quarterly results from Alphabet pushed its market value over US$2 trillion (RM9.5 trillion), while an in-line inflation reading calmed interest rate jitters.

Wall Street rises as Big Tech charges higher

In today’s edition of Evening 5: 00:00 Merger of airlines enough to reverse negative equity - Fernandes 02:16 Govt set to unveil second 5G network next week  03:26 Unisem’s 1Q hit by margins, forex 04:30 Berjaya Corp denies Forest City casino talks   05:30 Homeritz’s 2Q earnings spike on stronger greenback

EVENING 5: Merger of airlines enough to reverse negative equity - Fernandes

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.

S P Setia Bhd will launch Casaville, which comprises 38 single-storey bungalows, in its Setia EcoHill township in Semenyih at end-April.

With a gross development value (GDV) of RM50 million, the homes measure 52ft by 90ft each, with built-ups from 1,994 to 2,074 sq ft, and a three-bedroom, three-bathroom layouts. The selling price starts from RM1.376 million. It is slated for completion in the second quarter of 2026.

S P Setia to launch single-storey bungalows in Setia EcoHill at end-April

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow&nbsp;has announced that he is in talks with a group of companies which have recently participated in Selangor’s integrated circuit (IC) design park.

Integrated circuit design firms to announce investments in Penang on Saturday, says Chow

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Homeritz Corporation Bhd’s net profit surged by 65.9% in the second quarter ended Feb 29, 2024 (2QFY2024) to RM9.24 million, due to increased sales volume and a stronger US dollar.

Homeritz’s 2Q net profit jumps 66% on increased sales volume, stronger greenback

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he will be returning the allowance received as chairman of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, reiterating that he does not draw a salary for the position of prime minister that he has held since November 2022.

Anwar returns Khazanah allowance, reiterates stance on salary waiver

KNM Group Bhd said it is seeking court sanction for a new scheme of arrangement with its creditors. The PN17 group is also seeking a further extension of time to submit its regularisation plan.

KNM seeks fresh scheme of arrangement with creditors

China passed a law on Friday strengthening its trade defence capabilities as the US and the European Union take aim at Beijing over excess industrial capacity.

US monthly inflation rose moderately in March, but stubbornly higher housing and transportation costs suggested the Federal Reserve could keep interest rates elevated for a while.

US inflation rises in line with expectations; consumer spending strong

There are no plans to open or operate any casinos in the state, Johor Menteri Besar&nbsp;Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said.

He said the news is merely a rumour intended for sabotage, and to maliciously tarnish the image of Forest City and the state of Johor as a whole.

Johor MB says no plan to open casino in Forest City

(April 26):&nbsp;HSBC Holdings Plc successfully fought off a London court&nbsp;claim&nbsp;brought by a group of investors in a £1.3 billion (US$1.6 billion) lawsuit over tax breaks linked to Walt Disney Co&nbsp;film financing.

KUALA LUMPUR (April 26):&nbsp;KPJ Healthcare Bhd, through its premier educational institution&nbsp;KPJ Healthcare University (KPJU),&nbsp;has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday with Trusx Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Trustr), a global digital health organisation, as an initiative to revolutionise&nbsp;healthcare.

The allies of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are drafting proposals that would attempt to erode the Federal Reserve's independence if he wins, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Trump allies drafting plans to erode Fed's independence — WSJ

Wall Street's main indexes advanced on Friday as most megacap growth stocks rose after robust quarterly results from Alphabet pushed its market value over US$2 trillion (RM9.5 trillion), while an in-line inflation reading calmed interest rate jitters.

KUB Malaysia Bhd has extended the deadline for its mandatory general offer for Central Cables Bhd (CCB) a second time to May 20 from April 30, according to its latest filing on Bursa Malaysia.

US equity funds registered their fourth successive weekly outflows in the week ended April 24, hit by fading expectations for rate cuts this year.

US equity funds see fourth straight week of outflows amid rate cut reassessment

Fast-fashion firm&nbsp;Shein&nbsp;has been drawn under the scope of flagship&nbsp;European Union (EU) rules designed to clamp down on illegal and harmful content online, aimed at stopping the spread of counterfeit items on the platform.

EU hits fast-fashion giant Shein with new digital rules

FRANKFURT/BERLIN/PRAGUE (April 26): Thyssenkrupp&nbsp;will sell a 20% stake in its steel business to the energy holding controlled by Czech billionaire Daniel&nbsp;Kretinsky, a major breakthrough for the German conglomerate after years of unsuccessful attempts to divest the unit.

HULU SELANGOR (April 28): The Ministry of Health (MOH) stands by its decision to amend the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) to bridge the gap between the parallel pathway programme (PPP) and the local medical degree programme, despite objections from some parties.

Health Ministry stands by decision to amend Medical Act 1971

HOUSTON/BENGALURU (April 26): Oil giant&nbsp;Chevron&nbsp;Corp&nbsp;beat estimates for first-quarter profit on Friday, as higher production volumes&nbsp;in the US&nbsp;helped offset a hit from weak natural gas prices&nbsp;and fuel margins.

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