Leading countries in the Islamic finance space within the Asean region, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, should collaborate in the banking and takaful sectors, as bright prospects are seen for both Islamic finance and financial technology (fintech) in the region, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) deputy governor Adnan Zaylani.

Malaysia, Indonesia should forge alliance to enhance Islamic finance, fintech growth in Asean — BNM

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) will enhance cross-border e-commerce among small and medium enterprises by partnering Amazon in a programme that allows products to be sold internationally via Amazon’s e-stores.

Matrade, Amazon collaborate to enhance cross-border e-commerce among SMEs

SINGAPORE (April 15): Asia Pacific saw the largest y-o-y decline in financial technology (fintech) funding value compared to other regions in 1Q2024, falling 46% to US$1.85 billion (S$2.51 billion), according to data by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Asia Pacific saw largest y-o-y decline in fintech funding in 1Q2024 — S&P Global

BENGALURU (April 9): India's Paytm said on Tuesday that Surinder Chawla had resigned as the chief executive officer and managing director of its banking unit Paytm Payments Bank "on account of personal reasons".

The company said the resignation would be effective from June 26 but did no...

India's Paytm banking unit CEO Surinder Chawla resigns

SINGAPORE (April 9): The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and global payments company Mastercard have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance cooperation in cyber security.

MAS to strengthen financial services’ cyber resilience with Mastercard MOU

TNG Digital Sdn Bhd will start imposing a 1% overseas transaction conversion fee for its cross-border QR payment feature in Touch 'n Go (TNG) eWallet, starting from April 25, which had been free of charge previously.

Touch 'n Go eWallet to charge 1% conversion fee for overseas transactions from April 25

KUALA LUMPUR (April 8): Grab-led digital bank GX Bank Bhd (GXBank) aims to provide financial facilities to the underserved market, expand the retail segment and address the needs of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), said its chief executive officer Lai Pei-Si.

Grab-led digital bank GXBank to tap into underserved market, MSMEs

MBSB Bank Bhd is discontinuing its e-wallet platform, effective from May 31.

In a statement on Monday, the bank said the strategic decision is aligned with the bank’s ongoing efforts to optimise and streamline its digital offerings.

MBSB Bank discontinues e-wallet platform

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has launched Cosmic, a centralised digital platform for the sharing of customer information among financial institutions to tackle money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing.

Singapore's MAS launches information-sharing platform to combat financial crime with six commercial banks

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Malaysia’s first shariah-compliant and conventional peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platform microLEAP recorded a total financing disbursement of RM62.18 million last year, more than double from RM30.91 million in 2022.

microLEAP records over 100% rise in total financing disbursement in 2023

Alibaba Group said on Tuesday it was offering to buy the 36% of Cainiao it does not already own for up to US$3.75 billion (RM17.7 billion), abandoning plans for an initial public offering (IPO) of the logistics business in Hong Kong.

Alibaba to buy Cainiao stake for up to US$3.75b as it drops IPO plan

Thailand's government expects to launch a signature handout scheme worth 500 billion baht (RM65.2 billion) by the fourth quarter of this year, a deputy finance minister said on Monday, delaying it beyond a former target date of May.

Thailand delays US$14b handout scheme to fourth quarter

JAKARTA (March 22): Southeast Asian online lending platform Akulaku, which is backed by China's Alibaba, secured up to US$100 million of debt financing from the Singapore branch of London-based HSBC, Akulaku's CEO said, as it aims to make the company more profitable.

Alibaba-backed fintech Akulaku secures HSBC financing, aims for double-digit growth

SINGAPORE (March 22): Maybank has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with fintech firm Doxa Holdings International (Doxa) to jointly provide and enhance supply chain financing (SCF) solutions for players in the building and construction sector, extending to other industries in the future.

Maybank, Doxa ink MOU for supply chain financing solutions in building & construction sector

Mobvoi Inc, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) developer backed by Alphabet Inc’s Google, dropped as much as 22% in its first day of trading in Hong Kong, marking the third stock debut to flop in the city this week.

Google-backed AI firm Mobvoi is Hong Kong’s latest stock debut flop

THE overriding narrative from Wall Street to the Silicon Valley recently has been about the winners and laggards in the new generative artificial intelligence, or AI, world. Lumped among “winners” were firms such as software supremo Microsoft Corp and its partner OpenAI, the creator of AI chatbot...

Tech: Can Google get its mojo back?

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): Dataprep Holdings Bhd said on Wednesday that Tan Sri Muhammad Ikmal Opat Abdullah has ceased to be the substantial shareholder in the IT products and services company.

Muhammad Ikmal of Widad ceases to be Dataprep’s substantial shareholder as shares sale continues

A key measure of Chinese copper demand just sank to zero, another sign that global prices are not balanced with what buyers in the biggest market are prepared to pay.

China copper gauge at zero offers stark warning to metals bulls

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'

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)

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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 

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

Fintech

‌
‌

Fintech

‌‌

‌
‌