<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>SINGAPORE (Sept 7): Citibank Singapore has launched the initial phase of its new natural-language chatbot, Citi Bot, on Facebook’s social media messaging platform, Messenger.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>It will be made available to some 600 Citi customers and employees in Singapore, comprising Citi Singapore’s Beta Testing Community.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>In a press release on Thursday, the bank says it intends to introduce the chatbot progressively in<a href="https://www.theedgesingapore.com/citi-launches-facebook-messenger-chatbot-singapore-market" target="_blank">...(click on link for full story on theedgesingapore.com)</a></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

SINGAPORE (Sept 7): Citibank Singapore has launched the initial phase of its new natural-language chatbot, Citi Bot, on Facebook’s social media messaging platform, Messenger.

It will be made available to some 600 Citi customers and employees in Singapore, comprising Citi Singapore’s Bet...

Citi launches Facebook Messenger chatbot in Singapore market

DUESSELDORF (Nov 26): Thyssenkrupp's steel business plans to cut some 40% of its workforce over the coming years, it announced on Monday in the latest painful overhaul of a German industrial giant, with workers promising fierce resistance.

Germany's largest steelmaker, a division o...

Thyssenkrupp to cut 11,000 jobs at steel division in major corporate shakeup

WCT Bhd recorded a net profit of RM173.22 million for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), compared with a net loss of RM13.54 million a year earlier, thanks to the remeasurement of interest in a jointly controlled entity amounting to RM184 million.

Remeasurement gain from JV helps lift WCT's 3Q net profit despite revenue dip

Southern Cable Group Bhd’s (KL:SCGBHD) net profit for the third quarter more than doubled from a year ago on higher sales volume of power cables and improved margins, attributable to better product mix and economies of scale on increased production.

Southern Cable 3Q net profit doubles to record high, declares 0.75 sen dividend

NEW YORK (Nov 26): U.S.-based travel companies, from Marriott International to Booking Holdings are trimming their budgets and workforce ahead of next year as falling leisure travel demand from lower-income travelers hits top-line growth.

Diminished demand for budget hotels reduced grow...

US-based travel companies plan layoffs ahead of 2025

Sales of new US single-family homes dropped to the lowest level in nearly two years in October, likely as a rise in mortgage rates drove buyers to the sidelines and hurricanes disrupted activity.

US new home sales tumble to two-year low in October

The flood situation in Kelantan has worsened, while conditions in Terengganu are improving and Johor remains unchanged as of 8pm on Tuesday.

In Kelantan, five temporary relief centres (PPS) were opened on Tuesday night in the districts of Jeli and Kuala Krai, bringing the total number of evacuees in the state to 141 from 47 families, up from 80 individuals this morning.

Floods: Kelantan worsens, Terengganu improves, Johor unchanged

Boustead Holdings Bhd has ceased to be a shareholder of Affin Bank Bhd (KL:AFFIN) after selling all the 482.11 million shares it held in the banking group, equivalent to a 20.08% stake.

Boustead exits Affin Bank after selling entire 20% stake

US consumer confidence increased in November to the highest level in more than a year on optimism about the economy and labour market in the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory.

US consumer confidence rises to highest in more than a year

The benchmark S&P 500 and the Nasdaq extended recent gains on Tuesday, as technology stocks rebounded, while investors parsed Donald Trump's tariff pledges on top trade partners and awaited minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest meeting.

S&P 500, Nasdaq advance ahead of Fed minutes; markets analyse Trump's tariff threats

Key Opec+ nations have begun discussions to delay the oil production restart planned for January, potentially for several months, delegates said.

The nations doubt that they can go ahead with the 180,000 barrel-a-day increase currently scheduled for January, and may also need to postpone further hikes planned for the following months, amid signs of a global oversupply, said the delegates, who asked not to be identified as the talks are private.

Opec+ begins talks on delaying oil production restart again

Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK), the country’s largest bank by assets, on Tuesday reported that its quarterly net profit rose 7.6% from a year earlier, as non-interest income growth offset a decline in net interest income.

Maybank's 3Q net profit edges up 7.6% as non-interest income rise offsets decline in interest revenue

The net profit of YTL Corp Bhd (KL:YTL) fell by more than a third in the first quarter of its financial year, as contributions from its utilities business, represented by its 55.57% stake in YTL Power International Bhd (KL:YTLPOWR) declined.

YTL Corp’s net profit falls 36% in 1Q as YTL Power’s earnings decline

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has found that Mara Incorporated Sdn Bhd (Mara Inc) purchased&nbsp;overvalued properties in London and Australia&nbsp;in&nbsp;2013 and 2014.

Mara Inc bought overvalued properties in London and Melbourne — PAC

PLAGUED by an oversupply glut, Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd (LC Titan) (KL:LCTITAN) is facing its toughest challenge since relisting on Bursa Malaysia in July 2017. Analysts are of the view that “noting much can be done for the time being, except to wait for polymer prices to rebound”.
...

Lotte Chemical Titan’s tough time to continue as no signs of petrochemical supply-demand dynamics improving, say analysts

Shares of MBM Resources Bhd (KL:MBMR) broke another new record high on Tuesday, as the company declared a special dividend following better-than-expected results.

MBM Resources' shares touch new highs on special dividend; analysts wary of further upside

Malaysia's national electricity utility Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) is owed more than RM1 billion in arrears from over 600,000 accounts at the end of September which have been disconnected.

Tenaga is owed more than RM1 bil from over 600,000 accounts in arrears

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan disagreed with the notion that her autobiography titled&nbsp;Becoming Hannah: A Personal Journey&nbsp;had caused uneasiness among Muslims, as the book had been read by Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and added that the Home Ministry had not banned her book.

Hannah Yeoh: My autobiography did not cause uneasiness among Muslims

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced on Tuesday that it has decided to register MyData Informatica Sdn Bhd and One Future Solutions Sdn Bhd as new credit reporting agencies.

MOF announces MyData Informatica and One Future Solutions as credit reporting agencies

Pharmaniaga Bhd (KL:PHARMA) on Tuesday reported that it has turned around in the third quarter thanks to higher sales and the reversal of penalty charges from the government.

Pharmaniaga turns around in 3Q, expects strong close to 2024

Huawei Technologies Co will from next year strip its smartphones and tablets of Google’s open-source Android and move devices to homegrown software, broadcasting its ambitions to pivot away from US technology.

Huawei drops Android from gadgets next year in China tech pivot

China's electric vehicle giant BYD said it will launch a new generation of blade batteries in 2025, Chinese state media CGTN reported on Saturday.

BYD says it will launch new generation of blade batteries next year

Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KL:KLK) reported a record low net profit for its fourth quarter, dragged by non-cash losses and an inventory write-down related to its investment in UK-listed speciality chemicals company, Synthomer Plc.

The losses and impairment at Synthomer, coupled with lower manufacturing and property development profits, pulled Batu Kawan Bhd (KL:BKAWAN), which owns 47% in KLK, into the red in the same quarter.

Batu Kawan falls into the red as KLK reports record low profit on one-off losses, impairments

Malayan Cement Bhd (KL:MCEMENT), a unit of conglomerate YTL Corp Bhd (KL:YTL), saw its net profit rise 45% to a record high of RM139.44 million for the first quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (1QFY2025) against RM96.10 million a year earlier, despite marginal revenue growth.

Malayan Cement kicks off FY2025 with record profit in 1Q

Eastern &amp; Oriental Bhd (KL:E&amp;O) on Tuesday declared a special dividend, even as the property developer’s net profit only edged up slightly in the second financial quarter from a year earlier.

E&O declares special dividend of one sen, 2Q net profit up 2.2%

Malaysia's digital economy is poised to reach US$31 billion (RM138.4 billion) in gross merchandise value (GMV) in 2024, an increase of 16% from 2023.

According to the latest e-Conomy Southeast Asia (SEA) 2024 by Google, Temasek and Bain &amp; Company, the country's digital economy has progressed towards profitability while maintaining double-digit growth for GMV.

Malaysia's digital economy to reach US$31 bil in 2024 — report

Businessman Datuk Eddie Ong Choo Meng, a controlling shareholder in Hextar Global Bhd (KL:HEXTAR), has continued to pare down his stake in the agrochemical and fertiliser trading company.

Eddie Ong continues to trim stake in Hextar Global  

Sunway Bhd (KL:SUNWAY) posted a net profit of RM376.08 million for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), more than doubled than a year ago when it registered RM180.3 million, on stronger operating performance across its core businesses.

Sunway's profit doubles in 3Q, achieves RM4b order book replenishment

SDS Group Bhd (KL:SDS), a Johor-based manufacturer and retailer of bakery products, is on a roll with its financial performance.

Buoyed by a steady expansion of its retail outlets and wholesale distribution network, the homegrown confectionary specialist’s net profit has grown steadily ...

SDS Group rolls out record profits

Analysts are positive on IJM Corporation Bhd’s (KL:IJM) investment in JRL Group Holdings Ltd, as the move is expected to strengthen its presence in the UK construction sector. &nbsp;

Analysts positive on IJM Corp's investment in JRL as it paves way to UK construction jobs

President-elect Donald Trump on Monday pledged&nbsp;tariffs&nbsp;on the US' three largest trading partners — Canada, Mexico and China — detailing how he will implement campaign promises that could trigger trade wars.