KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) plays an instrumental investment facilitator role in removing obstacles for prospective investors, said Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

Zafrul: Mida a vital instrument to remove obstacles for prospective investors

OTTAWA (April 16): Canada's annual inflation rate ticked up to 2.9% in March, as expected, while core inflation measures continued easing for a third consecutive month, data showed on Tuesday.

Canada's inflation rate ticks up to 2.9%, but underlying cooling continues

Britain’s unemployment rate rose unexpectedly to the highest in six months as the number of jobs in the economy shrank, an indication that the once red-hot labour market.

UK unemployment jumps to six-month high after economy cools

The escalating tensions in the Middle East, triggered by Iran's barrage of missiles and drones at Israel over the weekend, have had only a minimal impact on the Malaysian economy thus far, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Pointing to the slight dip in the opening of Bursa Malaysia on Monday morning, Anwar noted that this reflected regional trends.

Anwar: Malaysian economy shows minimal impact amid Middle East tensions

Malaysia’s economic growth is expected to recover to 4.8% in 2024 versus 3.7% in 2023, as external demand continues to improve moderately in the quarters ahead, according to Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd (StanChart).

StanChart: Malaysia heading in right direction towards economic growth

East Coast Rail Link-Economic Accelerator Projects (ECRL-EAPs) are set to boost socio-economic activities within various sectors, such as construction, tourism, trade and industrial development, said the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).

The ECRL-EAPs are infrastructure projects started in April 2019, in collaboration with Mida and China Communications Construction Company.

ECRL-related projects to boost socio-economic activities in various sectors, says Mida

KUALA LUMPUR (April 15): Malaysia’s economic growth likely picked up in pace in the first quarter of the year (1Q2024), as exports and tourist arrivals accelerated, helping to cushion the decline in consumer spending, Mizuho Bank said.

Pace of Malaysia’s economic growth likely picked up in 1Q2024 — Mizuho Bank

(April 14): If the world economy is heading for a soft landing, there will be plenty of anxiety along the way, with Iran’s missile attack on Israel putting an exclamation point on global jitters.

World economy’s great escape is no comfort to G20

KUALA LUMPUR (April 14): Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the recent report by the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (Amro) on Malaysia’s growth underscores its potential to become a high-income nation by 2030, driven by significant foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows.

Zafrul: Plans in place to enhance Malaysia’s E&E ecosystem, prepare for global minimum tax implementation

(April 14): Assembly lines around the world are starting to hum again, marking a turn in a years-long manufacturing slump

Factories around the world are slowly cranking into gear again

KUALA LUMPUR (April 14): Escalated tensions in the Middle East with the latest Israel-linked container ship seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday (April 13) could result in supply chain disruptions and higher insurance premiums, said shipping associations.

Escalating Middle East tensions could result in supply chain disruptions, higher shipping insurance premiums — association

The Swiss government's proposed tougher capital requirements for the banking industry will impact UBS' ability to grow, the country's finance minister said in an interview published on Saturday.

New capital requirements will slow growth at UBS, says Swiss finance minister

KUALA LUMPUR (April 12): His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim King of Malaysia expressed his hope for increased investments from Chinese companies within Malaysia, as this will lead to the creation of more job opportunities for the people in this country.

King expresses hope for increased investments from Chinese companies in Malaysia

The UK economy grew for a second month in February, suggesting a recovery from a recession is now well under way.

Gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.1% from January, the Office for National Statistic (ONS) said on Friday, in line with the gain forecast by economists. January’s figure was revised up to show a 0.3% increase.

UK economy grows for second month after mild recession last year

WASHINGTON (April 16): US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday warned that the US intends to hit Iran with new sanctions in coming days over its unprecedented attack on Israel, and these actions could seek to reduce Iran’s capacity to export oil.

US to hit Iran with new sanctions in ‘coming days’, Yellen says

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): The Unity Secretariat meeting, held on Tuesday night, discussed preparations to strengthen machinery and the working mechanism of parties within the Unity Government, in preparation for next month’s Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

Saifuddin Nasution: Unity Secretariat discussed machinery preps for Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election

WASHINGTON (April 16): Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone strike on Israel is unlikely to prompt dramatic sanctions action on Iran’s oil exports from the Biden administration due to worries about boosting oil prices and angering top buyer China, said analysts.

Biden unlikely to cut Iran’s oil lifeline after Israel attack

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Tuesday:

MyEG, HeiTech Padu, Apex Healthcare, Globetronics Technology, Kossan Rubber, Tomei, GDEX, Serba Dinamik, Alpha IVF and Comfort Gloves

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): The 14-year-old daughter of Lahad Datu police chief ACP Dzulbaharin Ismail was found dead in a pool of blood, in a room at her home in Taman Tabanak, Lahad Datu on Tuesday.

Teen daughter of Lahad Datu police chief found dead in pool of blood

NEW YORK/BENGALURU (April 16): The Dow Jones Industrial Average outshone its peers on Tuesday, following upbeat results from health insurer UnitedHealth, while higher Treasury yields and conflict in the Middle East kept investors on edge.

Dow up on UnitedHealth boost; higher bond yields, Mideast tensions cap gains

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Comfort Gloves Bhd said two subsidiaries of the group have commenced legal action over an additional tax demand totalling RM99.3 million by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

Comfort Gloves’ units go to court over RM99 mil additional tax demand

Tesla Inc shares extended their decline for 2024, pushing the electric-vehicle (EV) maker’s market valuation below US$500 billion (RM2.40 trillion), as a round of job cuts this week further soured sentiment around the company.

Tesla’s value declines below US$500b as risks pile up

Federal Reserve (Fed) vice chair Philip Jefferson said he expects inflation to continue to moderate, with interest rates at their current level, but persistent price pressures would warrant holding borrowing costs high for longer.

Fed’s vice chair sees steady rate helping to push down inflation

Outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) player Globetronics Technology Bhd is in the final stages of discussion with two prospective clients interested in leveraging advanced packaging technology.

Globetronics in final talks with two potential customers for advanced packaging

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said his ministry has no objection to MMC Corp Bhd divesting a stake in MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd, including to foreign entities, as long as it does not contravene the government's policy that requires 51% ownership of major national assets to remain with local companies.

Loke says MMC Port free to sell stake to foreign firms, but govt has to be notified of shareholding changes

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is unleashing a barrage of trade restrictions against China as she seeks to follow through on a pledge to make the EU a more relevant political player on the global stage.

EU goes on China trade offensive after getting ‘played’ 

Practice Note 17 (PN17) company Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd said it had been granted an extension of time until May 15 by Bursa Malaysia to submit its regularisation plan.

Bursa grants Serba Dinamik second extension of time until May 15 to submit regularisation plan

ISKANDAR PUTERI (April 16): The Johor government wants to develop a multi-tiered Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system in Johor Bahru to address traffic congestion in the city.

MB: Multi-tiered Automated Rapid Transit system planned to overcome Johor Bahru congestion

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) will draw up a comprehensive semiconductor strategic plan to ensure that Malaysia continues to be the chosen investment destination for this strategic industry, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar: Miti to draw up comprehensive semiconductor strategic plan

HSBC Holdings plc has started a new round of job cuts at its Asia investment bank amid a slump in dealmaking across the region, according to people familiar with the matter.

The London-based lender cut around a dozen bankers across its investment banking division in Asia on Tuesday, one of the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter.&nbsp;

HSBC slashes a dozen investment bankers in Asia on deals slump

Bursa Malaysia ended lower for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, tracking the weak global sentiment due to the Middle East conflict, said an analyst. &nbsp;

Bursa closes lower, tracking weak global sentiment

Tesla's global job cuts include reducing staff in the US&nbsp;and China, the automakers' two biggest markets, across sales, tech, and engineering, five sources briefed on the matter said.

Chief executive officer Elon Musk on Monday told staff in an&nbsp;internal memo&nbsp;seen by Reuters that the company is laying off more than 10% of its global workforce, as it grapples with falling sales and an intensifying price war for electric vehicles.

Tesla's global job cuts include leading markets US, China

Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that made headlines today.

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Malaysian airlines will be hurt by higher fuel costs, even as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are not expected to dent ticket sales, analysts said.

Local airlines may feel heat from rising oil prices as Middle East tensions simmer — analysts

1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) on Tuesday failed to transfer its case concerning its US$6.59 billion (RM31.58 billion) suit against its former president Arul Kanda Kandasamy and former Treasury secretary general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah from the Civil High Court to the Commercial High Court.

1MDB fails to transfer suit against Arul Kanda and Irwan to another court

MIDF Research expects crude palm oil (CPO) prices to moderate in the second quarter of 2024 (2Q2024), yet predicts a month-on-month (m-o-m) increase of 4.6%&nbsp;to RM4,410.5 per tonne in April due to&nbsp;mild El&nbsp;Niño events.&nbsp;

MIDF sees CPO price moderation in 2Q

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has registered the proposed construction of a new highway alignment that will connect Tanjung Malim to Lumut.

Confirming the matter, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the construction of the highway is necessary&nbsp;to facilitate export logistics services through the Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC) when the High Technology Automotive Valley (AHTV) project in Tanjung Malim begins operation.

Perak proposes new highway between Tanjung Malim and Lumut

The Sarawak government has welcomed the appointment of Lawrence Wong as Singapore's next&nbsp;prime minister, while also expressing interest in studying further the republic's approach to assisting its low-income sector.

Abang Johari sees more Sarawak-Singapore collaborations under PM Wong

Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd has proposed a final dividend of two sen per share for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2023 (FY2023).

The final dividend will be paid on July 18, with June 20 as the ex-date and June 21 as the entitlement date, the glove maker said in a bourse filing on Tuesday.

Kossan proposes final dividend of two sen for FY2023

Tesla Inc&nbsp;shares extended their decline for 2024, pushing the electric-vehicle (EV) maker’s market valuation below US$500 billion (RM2.40 trillion), as a round of job cuts this week further soured sentiment around the company.&nbsp;

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Bursa Malaysia Bhd is collaborating with the UK government’s Mobilising Institutional Capital Through Listed Product Structures (Mobilist) programme to help address the funding gap needed in Malaysia to achieve the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Bursa works with UK's Mobilist programme to address funding gap and achieve UN SDGs

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has accused him of abusing power for personal gain.

Mahathir claims MACC accuses him of power abuse for personal gain

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Newly-listed fertility care company Alpha IVF Group Bhd made a net profit of RM13.59 million for its third quarter ended Feb 29, 2024 (3QFY2024), on a revenue of RM40.7 million.

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