The year 2024 is a stressful one for all asset managers, except for those who invested in the US and Japan markets, they had it good. Whereas those who invested in other markets had modest returns, except China and Hong Kong that continue to disappoint. Last month, gold prices briefly touched US$...

Condivergence: Asset allocation in times of change

Around the world, populist nationalism is on the rise, often shepherded to power by authoritarian leaders. And yet the neoliberal orthodoxy — government downsizing, tax cuts, and deregulation — that took hold some 40 years ago in the West was supposed to strengthen democracy, not weaken it. What ...

Unconventional Economic Wisdom: Global elections in the shadow of neoliberalism

With a rapid demographic transformation underway, Malaysia stands at the threshold of a pivotal era marked by heightened public spending to effectively address the profound implications of its ageing population. Chief among these challenges is the surging demand for healthcare services, propelled...

My Say: Resurrecting GST: The case for a comeback

In thinking about the future of technology in Malaysia, post the KL20 event in Kuala Lumpur in April, it is worth revisiting a pivotal moment in technology history. In 1987, Microsoft Corp’s MS-DOS operating system was coming to the end of its natural life cycle. Given the explosive growth in per...

My Say: KL20 and the need for accepting failure

Late last year, a Chinese carrier accidentally sold flight tickets at about US$1.30 each during a two-hour technical glitch in its mobile phone app and some ticket booking platforms. Naturally, consumers started sharing the great deal on social media until the airline company rectified the glitch.

Coffee Break: A matter of honour?

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Labour Day announced a pay rise for civil servants, ensuring the public staff’s monthly salary will not be less than RM2,000 starting this December.

According to Anwar, who is also the finance minister, the overall minimum pay of civil servants...

Frankly Speaking: Funding the civil servant pay hike and higher pension

On the face of it, QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd is suffering because of the boycott of US-based food franchises, resulting in its suspending operations of more than 100 KFC restaurants.

Frankly Speaking: Is KFC seizing an opportunity?

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) must be congratulated for bringing in US$2.2 billion (RM10.4 billion) in investments from Microsoft Corp, the tech giant’s largest outlay ever in its 32-year history in Malaysia.

Frankly Speaking: No resting on laurels for Miti

Moneylending is a high-margin, high-risk business. Margins can easily go up to 50% or more, depending on the clientele. However, the risk is extremely high, especially for non-bank firms.

Frankly Speaking: Apex Equity’s moneylending business under scrutiny

On May 1, Leow Thang Fong took over as CEO of South Malaysia Industries Bhd (SMI).

Frankly Speaking: SMI has some explaining to do

It is uncommon to see a listed company being issued a show-cause notice by regulators.

Frankly Speaking: Show-cause notice a stern warning for Annum

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations’ International Year of the Family (IYF). In the decades since the IYF was proclaimed, demographic shifts, technological transformations, migration, urbanization, and climate change have upended societies around the world. Responding effec...

The Frontiers Of Growth: As Families Change, So Must the Safety Net

Recently, the Court of Appeal ruled that it is mandatory to refer an employee’s dismissal complaint to the Industrial Court if the director-general of industrial relations (DGIR) cannot resolve the matter.

Prior to the amendments to the Industrial Relations Act 1967 (IRA 1967), the DGIR...

My Say: What employers must ensure, now that all dismissal complaints must be referred to the Industrial Court

Despite the palm oil industry bending over backwards to green up its act in the last few decades, it is still under fire. Critics cannot shake the image of palm oil as the nemesis of biodiversity, or worse, the big bad wolf of tropical deforestation. No matter how hard palm oil producers try to p...

Bullish On Green: Palm oil is green, but still seen as grey

KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): The global semiconductor industry is expected to rebound this year, driven by demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI), with the industry’s upcycle likely to continue until 2025 or 2026, said Nomura Asset Management.

Global semiconductor industry to recover this year through 2026 on generative AI demand — Nomura

Fitters Diversified Bhd [KL:FITTERS] saw Doris Wong Sing Ee emerge as its substantial shareholder after she acquired 45 million shares in the fire protection equipment supplier.

Wong acquired 45 million Fitters shares from the open market on May 3, raising her stake in the fire protection equipment supplier to 5.12%, Fitters bourse filing showed.

Metronic Global director Wong emerges as a substantial shareholder of Fitters

Malaysia plans to introduce "orangutan diplomacy" in its relations with major palm oil-importing countries, offering the animals as trading gifts in an effort to allay concerns about the environmental effects of growing the commodity.

Malaysia eyes 'orangutan diplomacy' with nations that import palm oil

Singapore's biggest bank DBS Group said on Wednesday that it has appointed Ping An Technology's chairman and CEO Eugene Huang as its chief information officer (CIO) effective Friday.

Singapore's DBS appoints Ping An Technology CEO as chief information officer

Shares in Sime Darby Plantation Bhd [KL: SIMEPLT] rose to their highest in two years following its announcement to develop the Tali Ayer estate in Perak into a green industrial park.

Sime Darby Plantation shares surge to two-year high following proposed solar project in Perak

Industronics Bhd said it has been appointed as the project management company to develop a hotel and golf course on a 155-acre parcel of land in Langkawi.

Widad’s largest shareholder appoints Industronics to manage Langkawi golf course, hotel development

The emergence of digital banks in Malaysia does not significantly impact traditional banks, primarily due to their limited ability to achieve rapid growth within the initial years of operation.

S&P Global Ratings senior analyst, financial institution ratings, South and Southeast Asia (SSEA), Sue Ong said that the five digital banking licences issued by the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in 2022 do not seem to be a game changer for now.

Digital banks will not affect traditional banks in Malaysia — S&P Global Ratings

KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): Insurer and reinsurer MNRB Holdings Bhd’s (KL:MNRB) net profit more than doubled year-on-year (y-o-y) in the fourth quarter, thanks to lower insurance expenses and higher investment income, sending its shares surging to an all-time high.

MNRB logs record profits from lower insurance expenses, higher investment income

MNRB Holdings Bhd (KL:MNRB) was Bursa Malaysia’s biggest gainer on Wednesday, after the insurer and reinsurer announced record quarterly and annual net profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2024 (FY2024).

MNRB makes biggest single-day jump after record FY2024 earnings

Financial planners need to carry out their duty to report any suspicious activities, that might be linked to money laundering, to the authorities, Bukit Aman Anti-Money Laundering Criminal Investigation Division assistant director ACP Foo Wei Min.

Financial planners should report suspicious activities to authorities — police

Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been granted a temporary release of his passport to visit a sick family member in Australia.

Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed the Bersatu chief's application and ordered the travel document to be released on Wednesday and for it to be returned to the court on May 28.

Muhyiddin gets temporary release of passport to visit sick family member abroad

Shares in low-cost aviation operators Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA) and AirAsia X Bhd (KL:AAX) rose in early trade on Wednesday, tracking gains at the broader market.

Capital A and AAX active, advance in post-merger trade

Shares in Sime Darby Plantation Bhd [KL: SIMEPLT] rose to their highest in two years following its announcement to develop the Tali Ayer estate in Perak into a green industrial park.

Shell said on Wednesday it has agreed to sell its refinery and petrochemical assets in Singapore, Asia's main oil hub, to a joint venture between Indonesian chemicals firm Chandra Asri and Swiss miner and commodities trader Glencore.

Shell to sell Singapore refinery, petchem assets to Chandra Asri and Glencore

Interim liquidators appointed by the Shah Alam High Court pursuant to a petition by Hitachi Ltd to look into the affairs of its wholly-owned Fusiotech Holdings Sdn Bhd are investigating claims of potential diversion of business by Fusionex Malaysia to third parties.

Fusionex liquidators probing alleged diversion of business to third parties

KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): Petronas Dagangan Bhd (KL:PETDAG) faces a threat from Saudi Aramco’s possible entry into Malaysia’s fuel retailing market, on top of the impending withdrawal of fuel subsidies, CGS International warned.

Petronas Dagangan faces twin share de-rating threats — CGS

KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): Insurer and reinsurer MNRB Holdings Bhd’s (KL:MNRB) net profit more than doubled year-on-year (y-o-y) in the fourth quarter, thanks to lower insurance expenses and higher investment income, sending its shares surging to an all-time high.

China has extended the visa-free policy for short-term visits to China for Malaysia and 11 other countries until the end of 2025, Xinhua reported, citing Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.

China extends visa-free travel policy for Malaysia until end of 2025

Homegrown information and communications technology (ICT) distributor Vstecs Bhd’s (KL: VSTECS) wholly-owned subsidiary, Vstecs Ku Sdn Bhd, has been picked as Amazon Web Services' (AWS) first distributor in Malaysia.

Amazon Web Services picks Vstecs as first distributor in Malaysia

The US has revoked licences that allowed companies including Intel and Qualcomm to ship chips used for laptops and handsets to sanctioned Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei Technologies, three people familiar with the matter said.

US revokes Intel, Qualcomm's export licences to sell to China's Huawei — Reuters

United Overseas Bank (M) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) has launched a programme to assist businesses in understanding and preparing for the European Union's (EU) carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), a carbon border tax that is set to take effect in 2026 and affect some 75% of Malaysian exports to the region.

UOB Malaysia introduces masterclass to prepare businesses for EU’s carbon border tax

Offshore drilling firm Velesto Energy Bhd (KL:VELESTO) is expected to report that its net profit may more than tripled in the first quarter (1Q) from a year earlier with all of its rigs utilised, Maybank Investment Bank said.

Velesto may report strong 1Q results with rigs fully occupied — Maybank IB

Shares of CTOS Digital Bhd (KL:CTOS) tested their highest in nearly two months as analysts flagged a pickup in earnings ahead&nbsp;following the seasonally weaker first-quarter results.

CTOS Digital shares back away two-month high 

A Singapore Air Force F-16 jet crashed during takeoff at a military airbase, the Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.

Singapore Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashes after takeoff

Malaysia’s largest 100 companies added RM175.33 billion to their market value since the start of the year as optimism for a US Federal Reserve rate cut fuelled a broad rally in sectors ranging from technology to utilities.

Malaysia's top 100 stocks add RM175 bil to market cap; more upside for some

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government is prepared to engage with the US counterparts to understand the details regarding possible sanctions against Malaysian companies.

Govt prepared to engage with US counterparts over possible sanctions — Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): Shares of Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA) extended their gain on Wednesday, after MIDF said it foresees a good prospect for trading activities on Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd&nbsp;this year, as Malaysian stocks hit a historical high of RM2 trillion in market capitalisation on Tuesday (May 7).

Bursa Malaysia shares rise as MIDF sees better prospects on local trading

Former National and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) skipper Safiq Rahim became the third National footballer to be attacked within a week, although the JDT player’s attack seemed more of a warning than personal harm.

Two suspects on motorcycles break Safiq Rahim's car windscreen in third attack on footballers 

SYDNEY/HONG KONG/SINGAPORE (May 8): Global private equity investors and asset managers are readying for billions of dollars worth of mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;As) and investments linked to data centres in the Asia Pacific, as the artificial intelligence (AI) boom fuels demand for digital infrastructure.

AI boom set to fuel data centre deals in Asia this year

KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): Go Hub Capital Bhd (KL:GOHUB), a provider of information technology (IT) services catering to the transportation sector, said on Wednesday that it has received approval for its listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia.&nbsp;

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