<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><span style="font-style: italics;">This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on November 7, 2017 - November 13, 2017</span></p></div><div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) planned US$7 billion (RM29.68 billion) deal with Saudi Aramco is expected to be finalised soon, as negotiations are at the end stage.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said there are no major problems with Saudi Aramco’s proposed US$7 billion investment in the Petronas refinery and petrochemical integrated development (Rapid) project in Pengerang, Johor.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“I don’t think there is a major part [of the deal facing problems]. It is just normal negotiations. I think it is almost there. The deal should be on,” Johari told reporters at the SCxSC Digital Finance Conference 2017 here yesterday.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Reporters had earlier asked Johari to elaborate on the planned deal between Malaysia state-owned Petronas and Saudi Arabia state-owned Saudi Aramco, following news that both companies needed to resolve technical issues on the investment.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Last Friday, Bernama quoted Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan as saying the government was giving both Petronas and Saudi Aramco an opportunity to resolve several technical issues regarding the investment deal.<br />
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KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) planned US$7 billion (RM29.68 billion) deal with Saudi Aramco is expected to be finalised soon, as negotiations are at the end stage.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said there are no major problems with Saudi Aramc...

Petronas-Saudi Aramco Rapid deal ‘almost there’

China's consumer prices barely rose in 2024 while factory-gate prices extended into a second straight year of declines, official data showed on Thursday, weighed by persistently weak domestic demand.

China's consumer prices stall in 2024 on feeble demand

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will make a two-day official visit to Malaysia beginning Thursday, his first visit to the country since assuming office in October 2024.

According to a statement from Wisma Putra (Malaysia's Foreign Ministry) on Thursday, Ishiba will  receive an official welcoming ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex, Putrajaya, followed by a delegation meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Japan’s PM Ishiba on two-day official visit to Malaysia

There is a possibility for Public Bank Bhd (KL: PBBANK) to offer "more than biannual" dividend payments, despite not having the highest dividend yield, according to Kenanga Investment Research.

Kenanga sees possibility for Public Bank to offer 'more than biannual' dividends, cites synergies from LPI acquisition

Affin Bank Bhd expects Malaysia’s economy to grow by 5.2% this year compared with its 5% estimate in 2024.

The bank said the projection is in line with the Finance Ministry's (MOF) forecast of between 4.5% and 5.5%.

Affin Bank expects 5.2% GDP growth in 2025

BEIJING (Jan 8): China expects an increase in the number of people joining the coming Lunar New Year travel rush, with authorities estimating a record 9 billion domestic trips will be made during the 40-day period of festivities.

State media reported the forecast for the travel season t...

China expects increase in New Year travel numbers

(Jan 9): The 20-year Treasury bond offered a grim warning as a selloff fueled by inflationary angst gripped global debt markets: 5% yields are already here.

The 20-year yield, a laggard on the US government debt curve since its re-introduction in 2020, topped 5% Wednesday for the f...

Treasury market gets first 5% yield in sign of what could come

Malaysia’s upcoming five-year development plan, the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), has been moulded in a “globalist lens”, according to Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli.

Rafizi: 13MP will adopt globalist stance against protectionism, isolationism

BIMB Securities expects Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA) to report strong double-digit growth for its final quarter and FY2024 earnings, driven by a robust securities trading segment.

BIMB expects Bursa to report double-digit earnings for 4Q and FY2024

(Jan 9): US consumer debt outstanding unexpectedly fell in November by the most in over a year as credit-card balances plunged.

Total credit dropped $7.5 billion after a revised $17.3 billion gain in October, according to Federal Reserve data released Wednesday. The median estimate...

US consumer borrowing drops on plunge in credit-card balances

(Jan 9): The largest US union federation has been working to equip its affiliates around the country to help defend immigrant workers against potential workplace raids and mass deportation efforts once Donald Trump becomes president this month.

“Immigrant rights are worker rights, and t...

Musk's DOGE, promise of Trump deportations prompt union 'rapid response' plans

<p>Malaysia’s technology stocks broadly fell on Thursday following news reports that the US is planning to impose further export curbs on artificial intelligence (AI) chips to keep them out of the hands of China and Russia.</p>


Malaysia's tech stocks broadly lower amid news of US export curbs on AI chips

<p>BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, expects Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s reform agenda to be hindered by ongoing signs of friction between the component parties of the unity government.</p>


BMI: Political tensions within unity govt may slow down Anwar’s reform agenda

<p>The global bond rout that has pressured equities and boosted the safe-haven US dollar showed signs of slowing on Thursday, even as Japanese yields edged to new multi-year highs.</p>


Bond selloff slows in Asia, stocks fall with eyes on UK gilts, US policy

<p>President Joe Biden’s administration plans one additional round of restrictions on the export of artificial intelligence (AI) chips from the likes of Nvidia Corp just days before leaving office, a final push in his effort to keep advanced technologies out of the hands of China and Russia.</p>


Biden to further limit Nvidia AI chip exports in final push

<p>Federal Reserve officials in December adopted a new stance on rate-cutting amid elevated inflation risks, deciding to move more slowly in the months ahead.</p>

<p>“Participants indicated that the committee was at or near the point at which it would be appropriate to slow the pace of policy easing,” minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee’s Dec. 17-18 gathering showed.</p>


Fed minutes show officials were eager to slow interest-rate cuts

<p>Malaysia’s growth is set to sustain last year’s pace and exceed 5% in 2025, as strong foreign direct investments and support from local funds shield the economy from any global risks, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said.</p>


Malaysia’s growth set to surpass 5% this year, minister says

<p>Energy is the star sector of the S&amp;P 500 Index in the early days of 2025, shaking off two consecutive years when it was a market laggard, and gaining despite Wall Street’s dim outlook for oil and gas stocks.</p>

<p>The S&amp;P 500 Energy Index has gained 2.2% this year, leading the S&amp;P 500’s 11 sectors and outpacing the index’s 0.4% rise.</p>


Energy sector goes from S&P 500’s ‘worst to first’ in 2025 start

<p>Malaysia’s upcoming five-year development plan, the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), has been moulded in a “globalist lens”, according to Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli.</p>


<p>Some European firms are sacrificing efficiency and losing their global edge as they wall off their operations in China and come under pressure to produce more locally, according to a business group whose members include many of the continent’s biggest companies.</p>


European firms say China’s pressure to go local is raising costs

<p>(Jan 9):&nbsp;Having successfully worked to get his candidate elected in the US, Elon Musk is setting his sights on Europe.</p>

<p>In a series of posts on his X platform in recent weeks, the billionaire backer of Donald Trump has honed in on Germany and the UK, criticized the respective govern...

Musk takes slash-and-burn style to Europe after bolstering Trump

<p>Stock traders refrained from making big bets, with the market set to close on the eve of Friday’s jobs report. Treasuries rebounded as a solid US$22 billion (RM98.97 billion) sale brought a degree of relief after the recent selloff.</p>


Wall Street braces for jobs jolt as stocks churn

<p>The takeover offer of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) by Gateway Development Alliance (GDA) marks a critical inflection point for Malaysia’s aviation sector and its future in the hyper-competitive ASEAN region. With GDA securing 84.1% of MAHB shares and extending the offer period to Jan 17, the stage is set for a seismic shift in how Malaysia’s airports are managed. If the consortium achieves the 90% threshold required for delisting, MAHB will transition from the scrutiny of public markets into the hands of private ownership, enabling GDA to execute a bold, long-term restructuring strategy without the burden of quarterly earnings pressures.</p>


Can Gateway Development Alliance help MAHB take flight again?

<p>（吉隆坡9日讯）新闻报道称，美国拟进一步限制人工智能（AI）晶片出口，以防止其落入中国和俄罗斯之手，大马科技股周四应声走低。</p>


美国拟限制AI晶片出口 大马科技股应声跌

<p>(Jan 9):&nbsp;The 20-year Treasury bond offered a grim warning as a selloff fueled by inflationary angst gripped global debt markets: 5% yields are already here.</p>

<p>The 20-year yield, a laggard on the US government debt curve since its re-introduction in 2020, topped 5% Wednesday for the f...

<p>Japanese workers’ base salaries grew the most in 32 years, offering potential support for the central bank to raise rates this month if other data back up the thesis that a positive economic cycle is strengthening.</p>


Japan’s base pay rises most in 32 years, helping rate hike path

<p>BIMB Securities expects Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA) to report strong double-digit growth for its final quarter and FY2024 earnings, driven by a robust securities trading segment.</p>


<p>Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived here on Thursday for a one-day working visit to Malaysia.</p>

<p>The special aircraft carrying Prabowo and his delegation landed at the Bunga Raya Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here at 10.15am.</p>


Prabowo arrives in Malaysia for working visit

<p>Singapore’s parliament on Wednesday passed a landmark bill to safeguard workers against biases based on factors such as age and nationality, the <em>Straits Times</em> reported.</p>


Singapore passes key bill to tackle workplace discrimination — report

<p>China's consumer prices barely rose in 2024 while factory-gate prices extended into a second straight year of declines, official data showed on Thursday, weighed by persistently weak domestic demand.</p>
