Sime Darby Plantation today gave an update on its operations including when it will reveal the name of its independent advisor and how it thinks its operations will fair this year. </div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage>

NEWS: SDP says human rights adviser to be announced soon

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): M&A Equity Holdings Bhd announced that an individual by the name of Siti Nur Aishah Ishak has become a substantial shareholder of the stockbroking firm, after acquiring a 0.13% stake in the company.

Siti Nur Aishah emerges as substantial shareholder of M&A Equity

The mandatory general offer (MGO) for the remaining 34.1% stake in Pan Malaysia Holdings Bhd (PM Holdings), launched by property developer Exsim Group's founders, the Lim brothers, concluded on Friday with acceptances for only 35,997 shares received.

No change in Lim brothers' stake as Pan Malaysia Holdings' MGO concludes

Sapura Energy Bhd said trading in its shares has been suspended at the company's request pending a material announcement.

The suspension took effect from 2.30pm on Friday, Sapura Energy said in an exchange filing, fueling speculation in the market on what the announcement could be.

Trading in Sapura Energy suspended pending announcement

The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended lower on Friday due to persistent weakness in the soybean oil market on the Chicago Board of Trade, said a dealer.

Palm oil trader David Ng noted that market sentiment has been influenced by concerns regarding the anticipated surge in output over the coming weeks, which is perceived as exerting pressure on the market

CPO futures end lower due to weaker soybean futures

SINGAPORE (April 19): Wilmar International Ltd’s board of directors has appointed former foreign minister George Yeo as a non-executive and independent director with effect from Friday.

Wilmar appoints former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo as non-executive and independent director

The government is looking at the need to formulate policies and amend any relevant legislation so that Malaysia is always investor-friendly and can support the development of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

However, he said data security should be given priority.

Govt mulls drafting policy, amend legislation to be investor-friendly and support AI development — PM

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Iconic Worldwide Bhd has raised a total of RM95.6 million through its rights issue exercise with free warrants, which was oversubscribed.

Iconic Worldwide’s rights issue oversubscribed, raises RM95.6 mil

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Proposals for improvement, including efforts to increase the net income rate of civil servants, will be announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Labour Day rally to be held later.

Anwar, in his Facebook post, said the Meeting No 3/2024 of the ...

Proposal to improve salary of civil servants to be announced at Labour Day gathering — PM

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday he does not want to be dragged into discussions over the purported addendum order on house arrest involving former premier Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Anwar said this was because the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Territories Pardons Board and also involves the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay Rulers.

Addendum order issue under Pardons Board's purview, says Anwar

SINGAPORE (April 19): CGS-CIMB Securities has officially rebranded as CGS International Securities (CGS International), as the integrated financial services provider launched its new identity in Singapore on Thursday (April 18).

CGS-CIMB Securities rebrands as CGS International, aims to double revenue to S$700 mil by 2030

Sapura Energy Bhd said trading in its shares has been suspended at the company's request pending a material announcement.

The suspension took effect from 2.30pm on Friday, Sapura Energy said in an exchange filing, fueling speculation in the market on what the announcement could be.

Most read this week - Stay up to date with the biggest news and latest trending topics by checking out the top 10 articles of the week. 

Most read this week

Malaysia's economy grew by 3.9% in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q2024), as compared to 3.0% in the previous quarter, according to Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) advance gross domestic product (GDP) estimates.

Malaysia's economy grew 3.9% in 1Q2024, advance estimate shows

MKH Oil Palm (East Kalimantan) Bhd’s initial public offering (IPO) has been oversubscribed by 8.43 times, ahead of its listing on the Bursa Malaysia Main Market on April 30.&nbsp;

Main Market-bound MKH Oil Palm’s IPO oversubscribed by 8.43 times

The planned merger of Axiata Group Bhd, Malaysia’s largest telecommunications company by revenue, with India’s Bharti Airtel Ltd raises concerns as the latter's subsidiary Airtel Lanka is currently a loss-making company, analysts said.

Malaysia’s Axiata merger with Bharti Airtel of India raises earnings concern — analysts

The escalating tensions in the Middle East have influenced market sentiment and shifted investors' emphasis to the energy, finance and plantation sectors, which helped boost the FBM KLCI higher by midday on Friday.

KLCI up 0.43% with focus on energy, plantation, financial stocks

Financial services provider MIDF has reported a recent cyber security incident to relevant authorities and is collaborating closely with them on addressing the matter.

In a brief statement issued on Friday, MIDF affirmed that it takes the cyber security incident seriously and reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the privacy and security of customers' information.

MIDF confirms cyber security incident

Malaysia’s exports contracted at a slower than expected pace in March mainly due to lower foreign demand for electronics while shipments to China fell, official data Friday showed.

Malaysia’s March exports down 0.8%, imports surge 12.5%

Sime Darby Property Bhd, Malaysia’s biggest developer in terms of landbank, has secured commitment for the remaining 30% of its industrial development fund to close at RM1 billion.

Sime Darby Property gets commitment for balance 30% of RM1b industrial development fund

Kenanga Investment Bank has initiated coverage on soon-to-be listed oil and gas services firm Keyfield International Bhd at RM1.90 — reflecting a 111% premium over its IPO price of 90 sen per share — while giving it an “outperform” rating.

Kenanga sees Main-Market bound Keyfield International cashing in on OSV boom, sets target price at RM1.90

Automotive electronic parts manufacturer MCE Holdings Bhd has commenced the construction for its MCE Auto Hub, the company’s new manufacturing facility in Serendah, Selangor, with an initial investment of RM50 million for the first phase of the development.&nbsp;

MCE Holdings commences construction for RM50 mil manufacturing facility in Serendah 

PUTRAJAYA (April 19): Payment of fees&nbsp;for training or classes in esports, equestrian, swimming, motorsports and taekwondo is&nbsp;eligible for&nbsp;tax relief of up to RM1,000 from next year, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

Payment of fees for sports training eligible for tax relief from next year — Hannah

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Oil-and-gas services firm Yinson Holdings Bhd said on Friday that its indirect wholly owned subsidiary Yinson Production Offshore Pte Ltd (Yinson Production) has successfully placed a US$500 million five-year senior secured bond issue.

Yinson’s unit places US$500 mil five-year senior secured bonds

Melaka State Secretary Datuk Zaidi Johari died of a heart attack this morning. He was 54.

According to a statement from the Melaka Chief Minister’s Office, Zaidi breathed his last at about 8.15am at Hospital Melaka here.

Melaka State Secretary Zaidi dies of heart attack

Batik Air will suspend its operations to Istanbul, Turkiye, effective May 1, 2024, and affected passengers will be notified via email and text, said the airline operator, Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd.

Batik Air to suspend operations to Istanbul from May 1

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Meta Bright Group Bhd is forming a joint venture company (JVco) with a Bumiputera firm to bid for renewable energy (RE) projects with a Bumiputera equity requirement.

Meta Bright forms JVco with Bumiputera firm for RE projects

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): theedgemarkets.com highlighted five stocks with momentum at Bursa Malaysia's afternoon close today. Four stocks displayed negative momentum while one stock displayed positive momentum

<h3>Stocks with negative momentum were:</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Kimlun Corp Bhd - unch...

Kimlun, Mclean, Poh Kong, Tomei, BM Greentech

EG Industries Bhd has secured a second letter of intent (LOI) from US-based Cambridge Industries Group (CIG) to produce a new 1.6 terabit optical signal transmitter and receiver for a 5G wireless network at EG Industries’ new smart factory 4.0 in Penang.

EG Industries expands partnership with US-based Cambridge Industries Group

DUBAI/JERUSALEM (April 19): Explosions echoed over an Iranian city on Friday in what sources described as an&nbsp;Israeli attack, but Tehran played down the incident and indicated that it had no plans for retaliation — a response that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war.

Tehran signals no retaliation against Israel after drones attack Iran

Bursa Malaysia ended the week mixed on Friday with buying in selected heavyweights and commodity-related stocks amid the negative sentiment on regional markets, said an analyst.&nbsp;