Top Glove Corp Bhd's and Supermax Corp Bhd's share prices jumped to their all-time highs today as the rising number of global Covid-19 infections spurs expectations of higher demand for rubber gloves and stronger earnings for glove manufacturers.

Top Glove, Supermax shares jump to record highs

The Court of Appeal (COA) has granted Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor the right to include the police and the government as third parties in the US$14.57 million (RM68.30 million) lawsuit filed against her by a Lebanese jewellery firm over 43 pieces of "missing" jewellery.

Rosmah wins appeal to rope in police, govt in Lebanese jeweller's lawsuit against her

PAI Partners and Bain Capital are among buyout firms considering bids for Nestlé SA’s water business, which could be valued at about €5 billion (US$5.4 billion or RM23.9 billion) or more in a deal, according to people familiar with the matter.

Buyout firms circling Nestlé’s €5b water business, Bloomberg reports

(March 27): OpenAI is close to finalising a US$40 billion (RM177.28 billion) funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp — with investors including Magnetar Capital, Coatue Management, Founders Fund and Altimeter Capital Management in talks to participate, according to people familiar with the matter.

OpenAI close to finalising US$40b SoftBank-led funding — Bloomberg

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): The Rapid KL On-Demand service will be expanded with the addition of 320 new vans by June, at a cost of RM55 million, to improve first-mile and last-mile connectivity and encourage greater public transport use.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the expansion ...

Rapid KL On-Demand to expand with 320 new vans by June

US automakers and their global rivals were rocked on Wednesday by President Donald Trump's announcement that he would impose 25% tariffs on all vehicles and foreign-made auto parts imported into the United States.

Auto industry rocked by Trump's 25% tariffs on US imports

Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday pledged stronger policy support for the world's number two economy, which he said had started 2025 well and was on track to hit this year's growth target, buoyed by advancements in AI and other technologies.

China vice-premier pledges more policy support, says economy started 2025 well

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has released a new artificial intelligence (AI) model in its Qwen series that the company says can process text, pictures, audio and video, and is efficient enough to run directly on mobile phones and laptops.

Alibaba debuts AI model that can process video, audio on phones

Thailand's cabinet on Thursday approved a draft law for casinos and entertainment complexes, as the government looks to attract more tourists and build a major gaming industry.

Thai cabinet approves draft law for casinos, with limits for local gamblers 

Gold prices rose on Thursday as US auto tariffs ratcheted up global trade tensions ahead of an April 2 deadline for reciprocal tariffs from the world's largest economy.

Gold rises as fears mount over Trump's reciprocal tariff plans

South Korea's SK Hynix, the world's second-largest memory chipmaker, said on Thursday that some customers have brought forward orders in preparation for new US tariffs on semiconductors.

SK Hynix says some customers brought forward orders ahead of US tariffs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(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

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

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

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.

Govt allocating RM1.9b to Prasarana for 1,660 new diesel, electric buses, says Amir Hamzah

Asian shares skidded with Wall Street on Thursday, while the dollar hovered near a three-week high, after US&nbsp;President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;announced new&nbsp;tariffs&nbsp;on all auto imports, ratcheting up a&nbsp;global&nbsp;trade war that risks fuelling inflation.

Stocks skid, dollar nears three-week high as Trump announces auto tariffs

US President Donald Trump signed an order to implement a 25% tariff on auto imports, expanding a trade war designed to bring more manufacturing jobs to the US and setting the stage for an even broader push on levies next week.

Chee Gee Ren & Chong Jin Hun