<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>TOKYO (March 5): Credit Saison and ride-share service Grab to create financial services company in Asia that will focus on digital lending.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>* Saison will take undisclosed stake in Grab and both companies will invest in the venture, Grab Financial Services Asia</div>
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TOKYO (March 5): Credit Saison and ride-share service Grab to create financial services company in Asia that will focus on digital lending.

* Saison will take undisclosed stake in Grab and both companies will invest in the venture, Grab Financial Services Asia
...

Credit Saison acquires stake in Grab, forms joint venture

Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Friday.

MAHB, Kossan, Malaysia Smelting Corp, Ge-Shen, Prolintas, Farm Price, Citaglobal, Petra Energy and Sunsuria

Sunsuria Bhd (KL:SUNSURIA) said it is acquiring a 20% stake in property developer KL City Gateway Sdn Bhd (KLCG) for RM10.47 million, and will inject about RM40 million in shareholder advances to the company.

Sunsuria buys 20% stake in Kg Sungai Baru developer for RM10 mil, to inject RM40 mil to kick-start development

Blanket trade barriers could do more harm than good and may not even be effective, European Central Bank policymaker Fabio Panetta said on Friday, just as incoming US President Donald Trumps looks to impose tariffs on many, if not most, imports.

Blanket tariffs do more harm than good and may be ineffective, ECB's policymaker says

General Motors Co will cut about 1,000 salaried workers globally in a move to streamline its operations, according to people familiar with the matter.

GM plans to cut 1,000 salaried workers in bid to reduce costs, Bloomberg reports

Aluminium soared as China announced it was removing a tax rebate that covers over five million tonnes of exports of the metal.

Futures in London jumped as much as 8.5% following the announcement from the country’s Ministry of Finance, which didn’t give a reason for the change.

Aluminium soars as China cancels tax incentive on exports

US retail sales increased slightly more than expected in October, but underlying momentum in consumer spending appeared to slow at the start of the fourth quarter.

US retail sales slightly above expectations in October

Economists are largely expecting Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth to sustain in the final quarter of 2024, but raised concerns about US tariff risks weighing on global trade, which may negatively impact Malaysia's economy in 2025.

Economists sanguine on Malaysia's 4Q prospects but flag global uncertainties may weigh on 2025

The Ministry of Education (MOE) will roll out a new preschool curriculum in 2026, emphasising an equal balance of 50% Malay and 50% English usage.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the initiative aims to enhance early childhood education through a bilingual approach while integrating other comprehensive educational strategies for preschools under MOE, the Community Development Department (Kemas), the National Unity and Integration Department and private institutions using the national curriculum.

MOE to introduce equal balance of Malay and English usage in new preschool curriculum by 2026

A “scoping exercise” to strengthen the Malaysia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (MNZFTA) will cover new areas of cooperation such as digital trade and halal recognition, according to the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Malaysia, New Zealand committed on having 'scoping exercise' to strengthen FTA

The Sabah government has referred the issue of two new maritime laws from the Philippines, which violate the state's maritime borders, to the federal government and Wisma Putra for further action.

Sabah refers Philippines' maritime boundary dispute to federal govt for action

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 15): A consortium led by Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Employees Provident Fund on Friday made a formal takeover offer for Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (KL:AIRPORT) at RM11 per share, after securing relevant regulatory approvals.&nbsp;

Khazanah-EPF consortium launches formal offer for MAHB after receiving nod from regulators

Most read this week - Stay up to date with the biggest news and latest trending topics by checking out the top 10 articles of the week. 

Most read this week

Gamuda Land, the property arm of Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA), and Taylor's Education Group have collaborated to establish affordable international schools within Gamuda Land's townships.

Gamuda Land partners with Taylor's Education Group to bring affordable private education to its townships

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 15): Fertiliser manufacturer Cropmate Bhd has unveiled the prospectus for its ACE Market initial public offering (IPO) to raise up to RM52 million, as part of its plan to purchase new factories and expand operations.&nbsp;

Fertiliser firm Cropmate unveils prospectus for RM52 mil IPO, priced at 20 sen apiece

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 15): Malaysia’s central bank on Friday liberalised foreign exchange rules to make it easier for international financial institutions to issue ringgit-denominated bonds and sukuk in the country.

Malaysia eases FX rules to allow foreign financial institutions to sell ringgit bonds

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 15): Malaysia’s economic growth decelerated in the third quarter as expected though the pace remained brisk, thanks to resilient investments, higher exports and expansion in household spending.

Malaysia’s economy expands a tad slower in 3Q, still on track with 2024 forecast

Earlier this week on Monday (Nov 11), the High Court formally dismissed the civil forfeiture of shares in Bright Packaging Industry Bhd owned by businessman Datuk Ricky Wong Shee Kai, his lawyers said.

High Court dismisses civil forfeiture of over 5 mil shares owned by Ricky Wong 

Thailand is aiming to legalise casinos next year to draw foreign investments and collect more taxes, a potential win for global operators who have for long canvassing for the legislation to benefit from the country’s status as a tourism hot spot.

Thailand aims to legalise casinos next year in win for global players

Sime Darby Property (KL:SIMEPROP) will launch its latest condominium development named Kanopi Residences in its 6.5-acre City of Elmina township in Shah Alam on Nov 23.

Sime Darby Property to launch City of Elmina’s first high-rise Kanopi Residences on Nov 23

Malaysia Smelting Corporation Bhd (KL:MSC) has boosted its dividend payout to 24 sen per share for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2024 (FY2024), comprising a special dividend of 17 sen per share and an interim dividend of seven sen per share.

Bumper dividend of 24 sen for Malaysia Smelting Corp shareholders

Lim Guan Eng’s undersea tunnel graft trial scheduled on Friday has been postponed as key witness Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli was down with fever and placed on medical leave.

Guan Eng's Penang undersea tunnel graft trial postponed as key witness is unwell

Elon Musk is ramping up his feud with Sam Altman, alleging in a court filing that OpenAI is trying to corner the market for generative artificial intelligence and sacrificing safety in a race to get ahead.

Musk escalates Altman legal feud, casting OpenAI as monopolist

Gold traded little changed on Friday, but was set for its worst week in more than three years, hurt by a stronger US dollar amid expectations of fewer Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Gold faces worst week in more than three years on bets of slower US Fed easing

IPOH (Nov 15): Sunway Property, the real estate arm of Sunway Bhd (KL:SUNWAY), achieved RM42 million in sales at a pre-launch event for upcoming townhouses named Sunway Bayu in Sunway City Ipoh, Perak.

Sunway Property secures RM42m sales for Ipoh’s Sunway Bayu prior to official launch

Trinity Group Sdn Bhd officially launched its latest condominium development named Trinity Sensoria in Beverly Heights, Ampang on Thursday. The project is a joint venture with Singapore-based property developer Oxley Holdings Ltd.

Trinity Group, Singapore-based Oxley Holdings officially launch Trinity Sensoria condo in Ampang

LBS Bina Group Bhd (KL:LBS) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Invest Sabah Bhd, Sabah Forestry Development Authority (Safoda) and Midwest Green Sdn Bhd, in which LBS assumes the role as the master developer under the MOU, whose framework entails the development and construction of a green hydrogen production facility powered by solar and wind energy, as well as a future green industrial park on a potential site in Kota Marudu, Sabah, ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 acres.

LBS Bina signs MOU for 10GW green hydrogen plant in Sabah

A pullback in the S&amp;P 500 that’s already trimmed about a third off the index’s post-election rally is set to continue on Friday, as sticky inflation and hawkish comments from the Federal Reserve weigh on sentiment.

US stocks have already returned a third of post-election gains

Pipe-and-valve maker Pantech Group Holdings Bhd (KL:PANTECH) said it has obtained approval from the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) to list two wholly owned subsidiaries on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia via a special purpose vehicle.

Pantech Group gets SC's nod for listing of its subsidiaries under Pantech Global

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 15): Malaysia’ current account surplus narrowed&nbsp;to RM2.2 billion (US$491 million) in the third quarter of 2024,&nbsp;from RM3 billion&nbsp;in the April-to-June period (2Q2024), Bank Negara Malaysia and government data showed on Friday.

Malaysia’s current account surplus narrows to RM2.2b in 3Q2024 — BNM, govt data

Below is a summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Friday.