The number of Malaysian public-listed companies that are jumping into the healthcare-related industry is increasing, as the interest in such businesses gain momentum in the face of the yet-to-abate COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Interestingly, such companies’ share prices tended to shoot up even before any official announcements were made on their new ventures, be it into the manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE), the production of rubber gloves, or the potential distribution of COVID-19 vaccines

Will the rush into healthcare-related ventures pay off?

Teck Guan Perdana Bhd's wholly-owned unit Tawau Cocoa Estate Sdn Bhd is buying a 510.6-acre agriculture land in Tawau for RM11.94 million.

Teck Guan buys 510-acre land for RM12m to boost oil palm output

Malaysia's new COVID-19 cases dropped to six today — of which four were imported and two were local transmissions — bringing the total positive cases detected so far to 9,360, according to the Ministry of Health.

Active cases, however, rose to 153 from 151 reported yesterday, with four more COVID-19 patients recovered. This raised total recoveries to 9,079, representing a recovery rate of 97%.

COVID-19: Malaysia records six new cases, no death reported

Iconic Worldwide Bhd said its plan to diversify into the manufacturing of personal protective equipment, including gloves and disposable face masks, involves an estimated investment cost of about RM155.5 million.

Iconic to invest RM155m in new business of making PPE

Permaju Industries Bhd has teamed up with Vsolar Group Bhd for a RM217 million large-scale solar power project in Seremban.

Permaju, Vsolar team up to bid for RM217m large-scale solar power project

RHB Bank Bhd has received Bank Negara Malaysia’s green light to acquire the entire equity interest in RHB Nominees Singapore Pte Ltd, Summit Nominees Pte Ltd and RHB Research Institute Singapore Pte Ltd.

RHB gets BNM nod for acquisition of Singaporean assets

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd today unveiled the next generation of its category-defining foldable device — the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2.

Packed with enhanced refinements and meaningful innovations, the Galaxy Z Fold2 delivers new foldable experiences for those who enjoy being on the cutting edge of technology, the group said in a statement today.

Samsung unveils GalaxyZ Fold2, promises new foldable experience

Brahim’s Holdings Bhd’s associate company Brahim’s SATS Food Services Sdn Bhd (BSFS), which is involved in the in-flight catering business, is exploring the non-aviation segment to ensure business continuity.

In a bourse filing today, Brahim’s said BSFS has been struggling ever since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced on March 18, forcing the company to slash its kitchen workforce by half through a mutual separation scheme (MSS).

Brahim’s in-flight catering unit eyes non-aviation segment for business survival

Malaysia reported today one Covid-19-related death and 14 new cases related to the pandemic as at 5pm, according to the latest updates on the Ministry of Health's (MOH) website.

Covid-19: Malaysia reports one death, 14 new cases

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has discovered a new cluster today, namely at Lahad Datu border in Sabah, with seven confirmed cases.

Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the new cluster was detected after 50 new detainees at the Lahad Datu police headquarters were screened for Covid-19 on Aug 28.

MoH detects new Covid-19 cluster found in Sabah, expects cases to surge from November

China can withstand any new tariffs the world throws at it — even the punitive ones Donald Trump is planning if he wins a second presidential term — because its prices are simply too competitive to resist.

China’s prices are just too low for buyers to sweat about tariffs

Hong Kong is set to follow in the footsteps of the US by listing a batch of cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), providing a window on whether the city is making progress on fashioning a hub for digital assets.

Hong Kong's crypto ETF launches to test its ambition to be digital-asset hub

FRANKFURT (April 24): Roche confirmed ambitions to return to sales growth this year on a continued boost from eye drug Vabysmo, after first-quarter sales slipped by 6% on the loss on Covid-19-related revenue.

Roche eyes return to growth after 1Q hit by forex, loss of Covid sales

STOCKHOLM (April 24): Swedish automaker Volvo Cars reported a rise in first-quarter adjusted operating earnings on Wednesday, helped by lower material costs and higher volumes.

Volvo Cars’ 1Q adjusted operating earnings rise as costs ease

Gold’s record-setting rally this year has puzzled market watchers, as bullion has roared higher, despite headwinds that should have held it back. With prices sagging this week, the explanation may lie in China.

Gold’s record-setting rally may have its roots in Chinese frenzy

Thailand's current policy interest rate settings were robust and can handle future risks to the economy, the central bank said on Wednesday, amid continued pressure from the government to lower borrowing costs and help jumpstart sluggish growth.

Thai central bank says holding key rate steady creates 'policy optionality'

(April 24): A Myanmar rebel group has withdrawn its troops from a town along the Thai border following a counteroffensive by soldiers of the ruling junta from whom the resistance fighters had wrested the key trading post this month, an official said on Wednesday.

Myanmar rebel group withdraws troops from key town on Thai border

The Edge covers former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial live.

Najib's 1MDB-Tanore trial live reporting (April 24)

Chinese developer Country Garden Holdings Co, one of the biggest symbols of the nation’s broader property debt crisis, won approval to push back payments on three yuan bonds, people familiar with the matter said, staving off its first local default for now.

Country Garden extends bonds to avoid first local default, Bloomberg reports

I-Bhd, which develops properties and operates theme parks, said on Wednesday it is planning to issue preference shares to its major shareholder in a deal that could raise up to RM100 million.

I-Bhd to raise RM100m from preference share issue

The Edge covers former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial live.

Farm Price Holdings Bhd on Wednesday began taking orders from investors for its initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market to raise up to RM32.4 million.

The IPO, priced at 24 sen apiece, involves a public issuance of 102 million new shares as well as an offer for sale of 33 million existing shares, according to its prospectus. All in, the listing offers investors a 30% stake in the Johor-based wholesalers and vegetables distributor.

Farm Price starts taking orders for ACE Market IPO to raise up to RM24.48 mil

With Malaysia’s 5G outdoor coverage having reached the 80% target for coverage of populated areas (CoPA) at the end of 2023 and after the signing of the share subscription agreements (SSAs) by five mobile network operators (MNOs) on Dec 1, 2023, what’s next for the next stage of 5G deployment in Malaysia?

What’s next for 5G deployment in Malaysia?

Analysts predict a decline in earnings for Malaysian automotive companies in 2024, attributed to lower sales volumes and higher operating costs, coupled with the emergence of several Chinese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) offering attractive pricing.

M'sian automakers expected to feel pinch from lower sales, higher costs, rise of Chinese OEMs

E-government services provider MyEG Services Bhd has inked an agreement to collaborate on the launch of a virtual asset fund or Hong Kong virtual assets exchange-traded fund (ETF) products.

MyEG inks partnership to launch Hong Kong virtual assets

Rakuten Trade said NationGate Holdings Bhd may extend its upward trajectory after breaking out from its one-month rectangular pattern on Tuesday.

NationGate may extend upward trajectory, says Rakuten Trade 

Capital A Bhd’s board of directors has decided to extend Tan Sri Tony Fernandes'&nbsp;tenure as the chief executive officer for another five years, and as a strategic adviser to the airlines business, which is poised to be merged into AirAsia X Bhd.

Fernandes to be CEO of Capital A for another five years

Shares of DXN Holdings Bhd surged on Wednesday to its highest in more than a month as analysts continued to urge investors to buy the stock after the health supplement company’s fourth-quarter (4Q) results.

DXN climbs over one-month high, analysts see positive outlook

Bursa Malaysia remained in positive territory at the midday break on Wednesday, supported by continuous buying in selected heavyweight counters, especially in the telecommunications and media sectors.&nbsp;

Telco shares lift Bursa higher at midday

Capital A Bhd’s unit AirAsia Consulting Sdn Bhd is the entity that is bidding to acquire SriLankan Airlines, and if it materialises, will raise its own capital for the acquisition, according to chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.

AirAsia Consulting, not AirAsia, is bidding for SriLankan Airlines, says Fernandes

One of the world’s busiest land checkpoints is set to become less congested as Malaysians travelling to Singapore on factory buses will be able to clear immigration through QR code.

Malaysia to start using QR code at checkpoints with Singapore, report says

Global shares rose on Tuesday, with investors on Wall Street focused on earnings reports from the US megacaps, and the yen tumbled to multi-year lows against the dollar and the euro.

Asian shares jump on tech boost; fragile yen on intervention watch

Tesla Inc is accelerating the launch of more affordable models in a bid to arrest a deterioration in its profit margins and sales.

Tesla to accelerate launch of cheaper cars after sales miss

Haily Group Bhd shares continued their uptrend on Wednesday to a near all-time high, after the construction outfit won a RM109.5 million contract for terrace houses in Pontian, Johor.

Haily shares near all-time high after securing RM109.5m housing job

Bursa Malaysia opened higher on Wednesday, tracking Wall Street's upbeat overnight performance, as confidence was buoyed by a spate of solid corporate earnings that many see as a precursor of those from the mega caps which will be reported over the next few days, said an analyst.

Bursa opens higher, tracking overnight Wall Street

US stocks closed higher on Tuesday following positive earnings from top-tier companies and as investors were focused on quarterly results from Magnificent Seven and other megacap growth stocks.

Wall Street closes higher as investors digest earnings, megacap outlook

Meta Bright Group Bhd said its wholly owned subsidiary FBO Land (Serendah) Sdn Bhd and Doople Tech Sdn Bhd have entered a solar supply agreement with Cherengin Hills Sdn Bhd, following its recent collaboration with Doople to form a joint venture (JV) company to bid for renewable energy (RE) projects with a Bumiputera equity requirement.

Meta Bright lands solar supply deal after forming JV company with Doople

RHB Retail Research said Censof Holdings Bhd is observing a technical breakout after climbing above the 26.5 sen immediate resistance on surging trading volume.

Censof observing technical breakout, says RHB Retail Research 

This was supposed to be the year that Vietnam reaped the benefits from one of its largest natural gas discoveries.

Xi’s armada is winning the battle for energy in South China Sea

The ringgit rebounded in early trade on Wednesday as the US dollar retreated after S&amp;P Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data disappoint.

Muhammed Ahmad Hamdan

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Muhammed Ahmad Hamdan

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