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 Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has lodged police reports against three individuals, namely Badrul Hisham Shaharin or Chegubard, Mohamad Salim Iskandar (Salim Iskandar) and Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris (Papagomo), for making and spreading false accusations about its officers.

MCMC lodges police reports against Chegubard, Salim Iskandar, Papagomo over false accusations

A highly anticipated Bitcoin software update called the “halving” has been completed, dealing a potential blow to the companies that make money by ensuring that the digital currency functions smoothly and securely.

Bitcoin ‘halving’ cuts supply of new tokens in threat to miners

The Madani government will look into the hardship faced by the people in Sabah, especially in terms of socioeconomic poverty as well as improvements to infrastructure for the benefit of the people.

Madani govt committed to improving infrastucture in Sabah, says Anwar

Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching cautioned the public on the latest tactics of scammers impersonating ministry officials.

Teo cautions public on scammers impersonating Communications Ministry officials

A huge blast at a military base in Iraq early on Saturday killed a member of an Iraqi security force that includes Iran-backed groups. The force commander said it was an attack while the army said it was investigating and there were no warplanes in the sky at the time.

Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces says base was attacked, army investigates

Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties are required to help the candidate representing the unity government in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election, said BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election: BN component parties have to assist unity govt candidate, says Mohamad Hasan

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor emphasised that the positive economic achievements over the past three years underscore the Sabah government's steadfast commitment to both the administration and development of the state.

Positive economic achievements prove Sabah govt's commitment, says Hajiji

Property developer Scientex Bhd aims to provide a total of 50,000 units of quality housing units at affordable prices nationwide by 2028.

Scientex project general manager (property division) Tang Song Teik said that so far, the company has handed over 35,062 affordable housing units, with about 70% of them sold at prices below RM300,000.

Scientex aims to build 50,000 affordable housing units by 2028

The Madani government is committed to eradicating hardcore poverty in Sabah despite knowing the situation is quite complicated to resolve, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Madani govt committed to eradicating hardcore poverty in Sabah, says Anwar

S P Setia Bhd has officially launched the LakePoint Complex commercial hub at the 1,235-acre freehold township of SetiaAlam Impian in Shah Alam on Saturday. The ceremony was officiated by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Selangor Sultan officiates launch of S P Setia’s LakePoint Complex at Setia AlamImpian

Former inspector general of police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar died at 2.15am on Saturday. He was 85.

Former IGP Tun Hanif Omar passes away

A Philippine freight railway project may be built with the support of the US and Japan, an official in charge of it said, as Manila seeks alternative financing deals after dropping funding talks with China.

Philippines wants US, Japan to take over rail deal eyed by China

Approved road transport logistics companies will obtain “fleet cards” from select fuel retailers to purchase subsidised fuel under the diesel subsidy rationalisation programme, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said.

Approved logistics players to get diesel fleet cards amid subsidy rationalisation

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), the operator of Malaysia’s 5G telecommunications assets, said the process in relation to the subscription of its shares by five mobile network operators (MNOs) in this country is ongoing.

DNB says process relating to subscription of its shares by five mobile network operators ongoing

A highly anticipated Bitcoin software update called the “halving” has been completed, dealing a potential blow to the companies that make money by ensuring that the digital currency functions smoothly and securely.

Attention this week will be on the March inflation rate, with the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) slated to put out Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the key gauge for inflation — data on Thursday.

Inflation edged up by a higher-than-expected 1.8% i...

The Week Ahead: Eyes on March inflation, US 1Q GDP and tech earnings

S P Setia Bhd has officially launched the LakePoint Complex commercial hub at the 1,235-acre freehold township of SetiaAlam Impian in Shah Alam on Saturday. The ceremony was officiated by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has extended condolences to the family of former inspector general of police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar, who died early on Saturday morning.

Selangor Sultan conveys condolences to Tun Hanif Omar’s family

Next week’s earnings reports from some of the market’s biggest technology and growth companies could prove an important test for the US stock rally, which has flagged as expectations for interest cuts fade.

'Crowded' megacap trade in US stocks awaits earnings test

Property developer Scientex Bhd aims to provide a total of 50,000 units of quality housing units at affordable prices nationwide by 2028.

Scientex project general manager (property division) Tang Song Teik said that so far, the company has handed over 35,062 affordable housing units, with about 70% of them sold at prices below RM300,000.

Elon Musk postponed a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing obligations at his Tesla automaker and saying he aimed to reschedule the visit for later this year.

Tesla's Elon Musk postpones India trip, aims to visit this year

Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties are required to help the candidate representing the unity government in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election, said BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

The ringgit is likely to trade in the same range of around 4.78 against the US dollar next week, as the situation in the Middle East will continue to be under scrutiny by investors, said an analyst.

Ringgit likely to trade around 4.78 versus greenback next week

A huge blast at a military base in Iraq early on Saturday killed a member of an Iraqi security force that includes Iran-backed groups. The force commander said it was an attack while the army said it was investigating and there were no warplanes in the sky at the time.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has lodged police reports against three individuals, namely Badrul Hisham Shaharin or Chegubard, Mohamad Salim Iskandar (Salim Iskandar) and Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris (Papagomo), for making and spreading false accusations about its officers.

Shareholders of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed this week on the importance of addressing challenges faced by low-income countries, many of which are facing unsustainable debt burdens, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday.

IMF concerned about debt, fiscal challenges facing low-income countries

Perikatan Nasional (PN) will hold a supreme council meeting on Monday (April 22) on the selection of candidate to contest in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election on May 11.

Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election: PN to hold supreme council meeting on Monday

The World Bank on Friday said that 11 countries have pledged to contribute over US$11 billion (RM52.62 billion) to new hybrid capital and portfolio guarantee instruments designed to expand the bank's financing capacity by US$70 billion over a decade to tackle climate change, pandemics and other global challenges.

World Bank wins US$11b in pledges to boost lending for climate, global crises

Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching cautioned the public on the latest tactics of scammers impersonating ministry officials.

Persistent inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates were cited as key risks to financial stability in the Federal Reserve's (Fed) latest survey of US central bank contacts, with geopolitical troubles and the 2024 US presidential election also mentioned as "a potentially significant source of shocks".

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