<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>SINGAPORE (Jan 4): Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) has upgraded Wilmar International to an “A” rating from a “BBB” for the latter’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>The upgrade was made during MSCI’s assessment in 2021, for long-term resilience to ESG risks by companies.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>On a peer benchmarking basis, Wilmar currently ranks<a href="https://www.theedgesingapore.com/news/environmental-social-and-governance/msci-upgrades-wilmar-esg-performance-2021-assessment" target="_blank">...(click on link for full story on theedgesingapore.com)</a></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

SINGAPORE (Jan 4): Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) has upgraded Wilmar International to an “A” rating from a “BBB” for the latter’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.

MSCI upgrades Wilmar to 'A' for ESG performance in 2021 assessment

The Indonesian arm of Malaysia-based home improvement retailer Mr DIY Group (M) Bhd (KL:MRDIY) dropped in its stock market debut on Thursday after raising 4.16 trillion rupiah (US$257.6 million or RM1.15 billion) in Indonesia's biggest listing in more than a year.

Indonesian arm of Mr DIY drops on market debut

(Dec 19): The costly truth about US government shutdowns: They don’t save taxpayers a dime.

Elon Musk, President-elect Donald Trump’s key adviser and architect of the new administration’s cost-cutting crusade, is agitating for a shutdown as he campaigns against a temporary spending...

Trump, Musk threaten government shutdown. Here’s what that costs

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) kept interest rates steady on Thursday, as policymakers preferred to tread cautiously in pushing up borrowing costs amid uncertainty over US president-elect Donald Trump's economic plans.

BOJ keeps interest rates steady, hawkish board member dissents

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has been granted a full acquittal in her RM7.1 million money-laundering and tax evasion case.

Rosmah acquitted in RM7.1m money-laundering and tax evasion case

BEIJING (Dec 18): China will accelerate the pace of agricultural and rural modernization and stabilise grain planting area in its quest to ensure stable and high production of grains, state media reported on Wednesday, citing an annual rural policy meeting.

The world's biggest grains pr...

China to promote modernization of farms in pledge to stabilise grain output

Analysts expect Scientex Bhd (KL:SCIENTX) to see better earnings from the property division moving forward, which will offset any shortfall and challenges at its packaging manufacturing segment.

Analysts expect Scientex's property division to see better earnings amid challenges at packaging segment

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): Aluminproducts maker Winstar Capital Bhd (KL:WINSTAR) rose 40% on its ACE Market trading debut on Thursday.

Winstar Capital rises 40% on ACE Market debut

BENGALURU (Dec 18): Micron Technology forecast quarterly revenue and profit below Wall Street estimates on Wednesday, sending shares lower as weak demand for consumer-centric products such as personal computers and smartphones impacts the chipmaker's business.

Micron shares tumble as quarterly forecast signals sluggish consumer demand

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): Sekretariat Gerak Gempur Media Sosial Rakyat (SGGMSR), together with representatives from 20 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), lodged a police report on Wednesday (Dec 18) against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad regarding the Batu Puteh case.

NGO lodges police report against Tun M over Batu Puteh case

New Zealand's economy sank into recession in the third quarter as activity dived far more sharply than expected and output in the prior quarter was slashed, a dire result that cements the case for more aggressive rate cuts.

New Zealand sinks into recession, more rate cuts coming

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Wednesday.

MRCB, Berjaya Corp, YTL Power, SD Guthrie, EcoWorld, Supermax, Scientex, YNH Property, T7 Global, PTT Synergy, RHB Bank, Ge-Shen, Aeon, Pestech, Quality Concrete, Advancecon

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has been granted a full acquittal in her RM7.1 million money-laundering and tax evasion case.&nbsp;

Asian stocks slid, bond yields rose and the dollar was perched near a two-year high on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve cautioned it would ease the pace of rate cuts in the coming year and investors braced for a Bank of Japan (BOJ) policy decision.

Asian stocks dive after Fed flags slower rate cuts, BOJ decision awaited

The Indonesian arm of Malaysia-based home improvement retailer Mr DIY Group (M) Bhd (KL:MRDIY) dropped in its stock market debut on Thursday after raising 4.16 trillion rupiah (US$257.6 million or RM1.15 billion) in Indonesia's biggest listing in more than a year.

NEW YORK (Dec 19) :&nbsp;Federal&nbsp;Reserve chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday the U.S. central bank has no desire to be involved in any government effort to&nbsp;stockpile&nbsp;large amounts of bitcoin.

Powell says Fed cannot hold bitcoin, not seeking to change that

Shares of YTL Corporation Bhd (KL:YTL) and its associate YTL Power International Bhd (KL:YTLPOWR) soared in early trade on Thursday, a day after YTL Power said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has cleared the group of any wrongdoing in the 1BestariNet project.

YTL Corp, YTL Power soar in early trade after MACC clears subsidiary of wrongdoing in 1BestariNet project

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): Aluminproducts maker Winstar Capital Bhd (KL:WINSTAR) rose 40% on its ACE Market trading debut on Thursday.

(Dec 19):&nbsp;A look at the day ahead in Asian markets.

Fed's 'hawkish cut' slams markets, BOJ up next

WASHINGTON (Dec 18):&nbsp;The US central bank lowered interest rates on Wednesday, but&nbsp;Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said more reductions in borrowing costs hinge on further progress in lowering stubbornly high inflation, remarks that showed policymakers are beginning to reckon with the prospects for sweeping economic change under an incoming Trump administration.

Fed lowers rates but sees fewer cuts in 2025 due to stubbornly high inflation

(Dec&nbsp;19) :&nbsp;The Federal Reserve’s waning enthusiasm for rate cuts jarred US markets on Wednesday, sending stocks lower and pushing Treasury yields and the dollar sharply higher. It was the worst loss for the S&amp;P 500 on the day of a rate decision since 2001.

S&P 500 sees worst Fed day since 2001; yields up

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Penang has arrested an enforcement officer for allegedly soliciting a bribe of around RM80,000 from a woman.

According to an MACC source, the 40-something male suspect contacted the woman on Nov 30 following the arrest of her husband and demanded a bribe, claiming it was to help release her husband, who was detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA 2012).

Penang MACC arrests enforcement officer for soliciting RM80,000 bribe

South Malaysia Industries (KL:SMI) insisted again on Wednesday that no extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the company will take place on Jan 9,&nbsp; amid ongoing clashes between two shareholder groups vying for control of SMI.

No EGM will be held until notice is issued and court rules on suits, says SMI

(Dec&nbsp;19) :&nbsp;The US Federal Reserve did what markets expected on Wednesday. But that didn’t stop investors from dumping risk assets in droves.

Wall Street pros say fears of fewer Fed cuts sparking selloff

Wall Street's main indexes were subdued in choppy trading on Wednesday, as investors anticipated an interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve in its final meeting of the year and awaited clues on what policymakers could do in 2025.

Wall Street muted as caution prevails ahead of Fed decision

Shares of Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (KL:MRCB) slipped to a four-month low in early trade after the group was said to have had withdrawn from the Berjaya Group-led consortium bidding for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project.

MRCB slips to four-month low after group was said to have withdrawn from HSR-bidding consortium

BENGALURU (Dec 18): Micron Technology&nbsp;forecast quarterly revenue and profit below Wall Street estimates on Wednesday, sending shares lower as weak demand for consumer-centric products such as personal computers and smartphones impacts the chipmaker's business.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 19): Sekretariat Gerak Gempur Media Sosial Rakyat (SGGMSR), together with representatives from 20 non-governmental organisations (NGOs),&nbsp;lodged a police report on Wednesday (Dec 18) against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad regarding the Batu Puteh case.

China and India took a further step towards easing their long-running border dispute on Wednesday, with senior officials holding formal talks for the first time in five years and committing to finding mutually acceptable solutions.

Chinese, Indian officials in talks to ease dispute over Himalayan border area

New Zealand's economy sank into recession in the third quarter as activity dived far more sharply than expected and output in the prior quarter was slashed, a dire result that cements the case for more aggressive rate cuts.

AS we embark on a transformative era defined by technological progress, artificial intelligence (AI) is set to reshape industries and catalyse innovation on an unprecedented scale. This evolution presents remarkable opportunities for economic and societal growth. However, unlocking this potential goes beyond merely adopting new technologies; it requires visionary leadership that recognises AI’s broader implications.