Most Asian stock markets started the year on the back foot on Thursday, as investors braced for US President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House and the prospect of US interest rates staying higher for longer.

Asian stocks drop in rocky start to 2025 as Trump policies take centre stage

China and France will hold three high-level dialogues on strategic, economic, financial and cultural issues this year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said after meeting with his French counterpart in Beijing on Thursday.

China, France to hold high-level strategic and economic dialogues this year

US President Donald Trump’s planned tariffs on auto imports will hurt carmakers around the world, and push up prices for US consumers. Among the many losers, one winner stands out: Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc.

Musk is one of the few winners from Trump's auto tariffs

Financial influencers, also known as finfluencers, will be subject to the guidelines on advertising for capital market products starting Nov 1.

Financial influencers will be regulated as capital market advertisers starting Nov 1

Mark Carney said new US tariffs on cars and light trucks are a “direct attack” on workers in Canada’s auto sector, as he faces what will be his first major trade war decision since becoming the Canadian prime minister.

Carney faces new test as he plots response to US auto tariffs

(March 27): BlackRock Inc’s head of Asia-Pacific private credit Celia Yan is leaving the firm for Apollo Global Management, according to people familiar with the matter.

BlackRock’s Asia-Pacific private credit head Celia Yan to join Apollo — Bloomberg

The Ministry of Finance has allocated RM1.9 billion to Prasarana Malaysia Bhd to buy 1,660 new diesel and electric buses in phases over a three-year period.

Govt allocating RM1.9b for new Prasarana buses, says Amir Hamzah

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he won’t rule out taking countermeasures against the Trump administration’s 25% tariff on US car imports.

“We must consider appropriate responses, and naturally all options are on the table,” Ishiba said Thursday in Parliament. “The bottom line is that we must consider what will best serve the national interests of Japan.”

Japan's PM won’t rule out countermeasures against Trump's car tariffs

President Donald Trump suggested further tariffs would be imposed on the European Union and Canada if they worked together “to do economic harm” to the US.

Trump floats more EU, Canada tariffs if they work against US

The European Union (EU) expects the US to apply a double-digit tariff rate across the bloc when US President Donald Trump announces a sweeping package of so-called reciprocal duties on April 2.

Europe preparing for double-digit Trump tariffs next week, Bloomberg reports

The Klang Valley office market sustained its steady momentum in 4Q2024, underpinned by robust leasing activities and the absence of new office completions, according to Knight Frank Malaysia executive director of research and consultancy Amy Wong.

The Edge Malaysia | Knight Frank Kuala ...

The Edge Malaysia | Knight Frank Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Office Monitor 4Q2024: Klang Valley office market ends 2024 strong

China has told state-owned firms to hold off on any new collaboration with businesses linked to Li Ka-shing and his family, according to people familiar with the matter, after the Hong Kong billionaire irked Beijing with his plan to sell two Panama ports to a global consortium.

China said to pause new deals with Li Ka-shing, family following plan to sell Panama ports to BlackRock-led consortium

Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), a wholly owned unit trust company of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), has declared a total income distribution payout of RM2.18 billion for the financial year ending March 31, 2025 (FY2025).

ASNB declares RM2.18b distribution for FY2025, with ASB 2 at 5.50 sen per unit, ASM at five sen

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Ekuiti Nasional Bhd, Malaysia’s state-owned private equity firm also known as Ekuinas, said its chief executive officer Datuk Syed Yasir Arafat Syed Abd Kadir will step down on March 31.

Ekuinas announces CEO Syed Yasir Arafat to step down on March 31

Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas), which was formed in 2009, will be put under Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) as part of the government’s plan to consolidate the bumiputera-focused investment institutions.&nbsp;

Ekuinas to be under PNB’s purview, say sources  

Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT), the pension fund for the Malaysian Armed Forces, has declared a seven-high dividend of 5.25% for 2024.

LTAT declares seven-year high dividend of 5.25% for 2024

Shares of Pos Malaysia Bhd (KL:POS) jumped on Thursday to their highest in more than a month in highly active trade.

Pos Malaysia's shares surged by as much as 36% or seven sen to 26.5 sen. The stock paused for midday trading break at 26 sen after 20.15 million shares changed hands. The trading volume was its biggest in a single day since February 2021.

Pos Malaysia’s stock surges 36%, trading volume rises to four-year high

Former Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK) group president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Abdul Farid Alias, currently an independent director of Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA), has been appointed as the non-executive chairman of the stock exchange operator by the Minister of Finance, effective May 1.

Former Maybank CEO Farid Alias redesignated as Bursa non-executive chairman from May, replacing Abdul Wahid who is retiring

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): AMMB Holding Bhd (KL:AMBANK) may pay out higher than expected dividends when the sixth-largest Malaysian bank by assets announces its strong results for the current financial year.

AMMB may pay higher than expected dividend, analysts flag

Analysts have trimmed their forecasts for Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) after weaker-than-expected earnings for the first half ended Jan 31, 2025 (1HFY2025).

Analysts trim Gamuda earnings forecasts after 1H miss

(March 27):&nbsp;Indonesia is betting on tiny bugs from Africa to help boost its palm oil production, as the broader sector grapples with tightening supply that threatens to keep prices elevated and add to food inflation.

Indonesia to use one million African weevils to spur palm output

US President Donald Trump said he would consider lowering tariff rates imposed on China to secure Beijing’s support for a sale of the US operations of ByteDance Ltd’s social video platform TikTok to an American company.

Trump says he could cut China tariffs to secure TikTok deal

Malaysia’s electrical and electronics (E&amp;E), rubber, furniture and optical and scientific equipment exports are the most vulnerable to tariffs the US is expected to impose on the “dirty 15” countries next week, according to UOB economists.

Malaysia's electronics, rubber, furniture exports most at risk from Trump's potential tariffs on 'dirty 15' — UOB

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Petronas’ first bond issuance in four years is expected to attract strong investor demand, potentially tightening spreads, lowering yields, and reducing its borrowing costs, according to CreditSights, a research arm of Fitch.

Petronas’ first bond issuance in four years likely to spike demand, making it cheaper to raise funds — CreditSights

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): The board of directors of HHRG Bhd (KL:HHRG) has decided against convening an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) requisitioned by its largest shareholder Cfamillie Holdings Sdn Bhd to remove the board of directors of the company, and has filed a legal suit to stop it from being convened.

HHRG rejects largest shareholder’s call for EGM to remove board, files suit to stop meeting

President Xi Jinping is making China’s presence more felt across the Indo-Pacific region by testing US allies on sensitive issues, as US President&nbsp;Donald Trump’s attention is taken up elsewhere.

Xi tests US allies in Indo-Pacific as Trump looks elsewhere

FROM a 10-storey blue-domed office building that overlooks a scenic lake in Jalan Tasik, The Mines Resort City, in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, oil and gas outfit Sapura Energy Bhd (KL:SAPNRG) — a Practice Note 17 company — has moved into the much older 40-storey Menara PNB in Jalan Tun Razak, which...

Cover Story: Is the worst really over for Sapura Energy?

(March 27):&nbsp;Foreign investors sold Malaysian stocks for a 29th-straight session on Wednesday (March 26), the longest selling streak since June 2018, amid concerns over the nation’s artificial intelligence (AI)&nbsp;projects, as the US seeks to control advanced chip technology transfers.

Malaysian stocks record longest outflow streak since June 2018

SHAH ALAM (March 27): An AirAsia flight bound for Shenzhen, China, had to make a turnback to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 shortly after takeoff, due to a reported engine fire.

AirAsia flight to China turns back to KLIA Terminal 2 due to engine fire, lands safely

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Petroliam Nasional Bhd, also known as Petronas, said on Thursday that it has issued a US$5 billion (RM22 billion) senior multi-tranche bond and proceeds would be used for general corporate purposes.

Petronas raises US$5b from its first dollar bond in four years

The Ministry of Finance has&nbsp;allocated RM1.9 billion to Prasarana Malaysia Bhd to buy 1,660 new diesel and electric buses in phases over a three-year period.

Aaditya Govind Rao & Himanshi Akhand