Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul has declared that Budget 2021 will be an expansionary budget.  

What would an expansionary budget in the midst of a pandemic entail?  

Here are the insights from bankers from different segments of the banking business on this.

What could an expansionary budget entail?  

An anticipated slowdown worldwide may prompt the government to introduce measures in the upcoming Budget 2020 to support producers, especially SMEs in the manufacturing sector, said Affin Hwang Capital.

The investment bank said it believes that Malaysia's manufacturing production will continue to be weighed down by ongoing global trade tensions and a potential slowdown in global growth.

Budget 2020 may feature steps to counteract manufacturing slowdown, says Affin Hwang

The US Treasury Department's top sanctions official will travel to Singapore and Malaysia next week, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Washington seeks to combat funding for Iran and its proxy groups as well as evasion of its sanctions on Russia.

Top US Treasury official to travel to Singapore, Malaysia to discuss sanctions

The Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court's decision to quash the Royal Malaysian Customs Department's bill of demand for Petroliam Nasional Bhd to pay RM14.8 million in goods and services tax (GST) that it alleged the national oil company had underpaid.

Court of Appeal upholds decision to quash Customs Dept’s demand for RM14.8m GST from Petronas

Societe Generale SA equities traders outshone their bond-trading counterparts for a fourth straight quarter, with revenue from the unit helping the French bank beat estimates for profit in the three months through March.

Societe Generale profit beats estimates as equities help lift results

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Muar Member of Parliament (MP) Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is seeking a judicial review against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the government over RM730,300 in allocations for his constituency.

Syed Saddiq seeks judicial review against PM, govt over unpaid allocations

In a majority decision, the Federal Court has dismissed a woman's challenge to change her religious status as a Muslim.

Top court dismisses woman's attempt to change religious status

PARIS (May 3): The United Nations food agency's world price index rose for a second consecutive month in April, as higher meat prices and small increases in vegetable oils and cereals outweighed declines in sugar and dairy products.

World food prices up in April for second month, says UN agency

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and Apollo Global Management have made a US$26 billion (RM123.2 billion) cash offer for Paramount Global, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Sony and Apollo submit USUS$26b Paramount offer — WSJ 

Global fast food giants may have to dole out steeper promotions to lure inflation-hit customers who are increasingly opting to eat at home, following weak sales from the likes of McDonald's and Starbucks this week.

US fast-food chains may have to amp up promotions as more people eat at home

OSLO (May 3): Norway's central bank kept interest rates on hold at 4.50% on Friday, as unanimously expected by analysts, and said a tight monetary policy stance may be needed for somewhat longer than planned in order to curb inflation.

Norway keeps rates on hold, may extend tight policy

LONDON (May 3): British supermarket Asda has refinanced over  £3.2 billion (RM18.9 billion) of debt, pushing out the majority of its maturities into the next decade, it said on Friday.

Asda, the UK's third largest grocer, is owned by brothers Zuber an...

UK supermarket Asda refinances over US$4b of debt

Malaysia’s planned increase in civil servant salaries will boost earnings of RCE Capital Bhd, which mainly provides consumer financing to government employees, Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) said and upgraded the stock to ‘buy’.

Higher civil servant salaries will boost RCE Capital's earnings, says Maybank IB

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) will hold a meeting next week to review due diligence findings on the 5G network rollout, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said on Friday.

Digital Nasional to meet next week to discuss due diligence on 5G network — minister

Shares of Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Bhd surged to their highest in nearly six years after the food and seasoning company announced the ex-date for its special dividend.

Ajinomoto Malaysia surges to highest in nearly six years

Naza Corp Holdings Sdn Bhd has completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in Berjaya Enviro Holdings Sdn Bhd (BEnviro) from Berjaya Corp Bhd for RM700 million in cash, marking its entry into the green economy with a focus on municipal and scheduled waste, as well as the waste-to-energy sector.

Naza completes acquisition of waste management company from Berjaya for RM700m cash 

Malaysia’s commitment to building its 5G network has given the country a world-class digital infrastructure, according to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson president and chief executive officer Börje Ekholm.

Ericsson CEO hails Malaysia’s ‘world-class’ digital infrastructure

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Fraser &amp; Neave Holding Bhd (F&amp;N) said on Friday that the company will focus on fixed asset optimisation over the next three years, after having allocated more than RM3 billion in capital expenditure (capex) and development of its integrated farm in Gemas.

F&N to focus on sweating off its assets after investing RM3b in capex and development

Global shares were firmer on Friday ahead of key US non-farm payroll numbers, underpinned by reassurance from the Federal Reserve that the next move in rates would be down.

Stocks and yen steady ahead of US payrolls 

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Engineering firm UUE Holdings Bhd said on Friday that it has signed an agreement with M&amp;A Securities to underwrite its initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market.

UUE signs underwriting deal with M&A Securities for ACE Market IPO

Malayan Cement Bhd will likely report strong third quarter earnings when the company reports its results by this month-end, as volume and average selling prices stay high, CGS International said.

Malayan Cement likely to report strong 3Q results, says CGS International

Hong Kong stocks are on their longest-winning streak since 2018, adding to signs that a recovery in one of the worst-performing markets last year is well underway.

Hong Kong stocks are on their longest winning streak since 2018

The rally in tech heavyweights extended into late hours after better-than-estimated results from&nbsp;Apple Inc, with the iPhone maker also raising its dividend and announcing plans to buy back more stock.

Tech jumps in late hours on Apple’s solid outlook

Ranhill Utilities Bhd has declared a share dividend distribution on a basis of 0.5 share for every 100 shares held in the utility group.

Ranhill declares share dividend distribution

Individuals who have fallen victim to fraudulent investment schemes risk losing the right to recover their money even after going through the legal avenue.

Bukit Aman: Victims of investment scams won’t be able to recoup losses

The country faces higher imports of gas energy for electricity use in the coming years if it continues to depend on the commodity without efforts to accelerate the transition to more sustainable energy.

Rafizi warns of hike in gas imports for electricity without switch to sustainable energy

The Penang High Court on Friday dismissed former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty Chew Gek Cheng, and businesswoman Phang Li Koon’s attempt to strike out their graft and money-laundering charges.

Double jeopardy does not apply, Penang court rules in dismissing Guan Eng, wife and Phang's challenge on graft charge

Türkiye&nbsp;stopped all exports and imports to and from Israel as of Thursday, the Turkish trade ministry said, citing a "worsening humanitarian tragedy" in the Palestinian territories.

Türkiye halts all trade with Israel, cites worsening Palestinian situation

As the latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data indicated a softer contraction in Malaysia's manufacturing sector in April, economists are expecting the country's manufacturing condition to gradually recover in the near term, though it remains slightly behind regional peers.

Malaysia's manufacturing sector to recover gradually despite lagging behind regional peers — economists

Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd (LC Titan) is expected to face widening core losses in the second quarter ending June 30, 2024 (2QFY2024) from lower sales volume and weak product spread, according to TA Securities.

Lotte Chemical Titan to face widening losses in 2QFY2024 on lower volume, weak product spread, says TA Securities

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): KL Wellness City Sdn Bhd, through KL International Hospital Sdn Bhd, has launched KL International Tertiary Hospital as part of the first phase of the KL Wellness City township in Bukit Jalil here on Thursday (May 2).

KL Wellness City launches tertiary hospital as part of the township’s first phase

In a majority decision, the Federal Court has dismissed a woman's challenge to change her religious status as a Muslim.

BUDGET 2020 PREVIEW

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BUDGET 2020 PREVIEW

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