Budget pressures are forcing governments across Southeast Asia to rethink fuel subsidies, risking political backlash and another inflation blow to their economies.

Thailand and Malaysia have let diesel prices climb in the past weeks to ease the burden on public finances as global crude prices rise.

Asia’s fuel subsidies are falling victim to budget pressures

Electronic circuit board maker and property company GUH Holdings Bhd (KL:GUH) has announced its acquisition of 27.22 hectares of land in Semenyih for RM71.76 million.

GUH Holdings buys Semenyih land for RM71.7m

The Magistrate's Court here have sentenced businessman Chung Chee Yang, 47, to six years and 10 months in prison, and a fine of RM22,000, after he was found guilty of hurting the religious feelings and criminally intimidating his two bodyguards by pointing a gun at them and admonishing them for fasting in 2021.

Businessman who assaulted bodyguards for fasting sentenced to six years and 10 months' jail

Asian and European stock markets extended losses on Friday while safe-haven gold notched another record high, as the latest tariff salvo from US President Donald Trump stoked worries of an all-out trade war.

Stocks struggle, gold at record high as trade fears weigh

The terms of a mineral deal between Ukraine and the US have not yet been finalised, a senior Ukrainian official said on Friday, after a summary of Washington's latest offer showed it demanding all of Ukraine's natural resources income for years.

Ukraine says mineral deal not final; summary shows US demands more income

A powerful earthquake rocked Southeast Asia on Friday, killing several people, bringing down a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok and toppling buildings in neighbouring Myanmar, where the ruling junta declared a state of emergency in some areas.

Powerful quake in Southeast Asia kills several, Myanmar declares state of emergency

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Ukraine be placed under a form of temporary administration to allow for new elections and the signature of key accords to reach a settlement in the war, Russian news agencies reported early on Friday.

Putin suggests temporary administration for Ukraine to end war

Able Global Bhd (KL:ABLEGLOB) said its executive chairman Ng Keng Hoe was charged with abetment of dishonest misappropriation on Tuesday.

Able Global chairman Ng Keng Hoe charged with abetment of dishonest misappropriation

The number of people out of work in Germany rose in March at the fastest rate since October of 2024, data showed on Friday, as an economic malaise puts pressure on the job market even against a backdrop of long-term labour shortages.

German unemployment rises more than expected in March, says labour office 

President Donald Trump is about to reopen a trade-war front with China left over from his first term: protecting American business from copycats.

Trump targets Chinese IP theft again as firms lament slow fixes 

UK retail sales have risen strongly since the start of 2025 in a sign that households are beginning to spend the pot of savings they built up last year.

UK retail sales rise again as consumers enjoy higher incomes

A powerful earthquake rocked Southeast Asia on Friday, killing several people, bringing down a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok and toppling buildings in neighbouring Myanmar, where the ruling junta declared a state of emergency in some areas.

Genting Bhd (KL:GENTING) said on Friday the Nevada Gaming Commission has accepted the terms of a settlement in relation to a complaint against its Las Vegas resort.

Genting says Nevada authorities have signed off settlement terms for Las Vegas complaint

KUALA LUMPUR (March 28): Bus operator HI&nbsp;Mobility Bhd (KL:HI) kicked off its first ever day on the Main Market modestly higher, snapping a series of debut flops on Bursa Malaysia.

HI Mobility debuts on Main Market with slight premium

The Magistrate's Court here have sentenced businessman Chung Chee Yang, 47, to six years and 10 months in prison, and a fine of RM22,000, after he was found guilty of hurting the religious feelings and criminally intimidating his two bodyguards by pointing a gun at them and admonishing them for fasting in 2021.&nbsp;

As shares of Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc&nbsp;rally on Thursday, the jump in the size of the company dwarfed the decline in the value of its US rivals, as the stocks responded to US President Donald Trump’s latest tariff announcements.

Tesla’s US$14b rally eclipses rout in other auto stocks

(March 27):&nbsp;Close to a dozen US-sanctioned tankers are idling off Malaysia with Iranian crude, with some having been stationed in the oil-transfer hub for more than a month — possible sign of&nbsp;slowing logistics&nbsp;for the sensitive trade to China.&nbsp;

Iran oil-filled tankers build up off Malaysia as US sanctions mount

MN Holdings Bhd (KL:MNHLDG), an infrastructure utilities construction and engineering solutions firm, has secured a RM137.8 million contract from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA).

MN Holdings bags its largest direct contract of RM138m from TNB

Volatile stock markets, driven by global economic uncertainties and shifting policies, have unsettled investors, prompting a shift towards domestic money market funds in search of stability. &nbsp;

Challenging the perception that foreign investors have exited the domestic market, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said they are instead parking funds in safer assets while maintaining exposure to Malaysia. &nbsp;

Foreign investors shifting to safer Malaysian assets amid market volatility — analyst

RHB Bank Bhd (KL:RHBBANK) has subscribed to&nbsp;an aggregate of about 51 million new shares in Boost Bank for RM51 million since&nbsp;May 17, 2024, in order to maintain its 40% equity interest in the digital bank.

RHB Bank subscribes to additional shares in Boost Bank worth RM51m

KUALA LUMPUR (March 28): Malaysia’s stock market will stay volatile in the near term, as investors continue to fret over international trade tensions, strategists warned.

Malaysian stocks set to stay volatile in near term as trade tensions continue to simmer

Asian and European stock markets extended losses on Friday while safe-haven gold notched another record high, as the latest tariff salvo from US President Donald Trump stoked worries of an all-out trade war.

Shares of Shah Alam-based WF Holding Ltd fell below the&nbsp;initial public offering (IPO) price in their Nasdaq debut on Thursday.

The stock closed at US$3.75, a 6.25% discount from its IPO price of US$4 per share, after raising US$8 million (RM35.42 million) before deducting underwriting fees and expenses. At the closing price, the company had a market capitalisation of US$93.56 million or RM414.19 million.

Selangor fibreglass plastic maker WF Holding breaks below IPO price on Nasdaq listing day

Just four months ago, Delta Electronics (Thailand) Pcl’s shares were outpacing global peers, prompting a series of moves from Thai market authorities to halt the rally. Now, the stock is in a stark reversal.

A US$30b rout turns Delta Thailand into Asia’s worst stock

Car prices have already climbed out of reach for many Americans. The search for a cheap car is poised to get even tougher.

US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on automobile imports set to take effect next week are expected to drive up costs across the industry, raising sticker prices by thousands of dollars.

Cars under US$30,000 risk becoming a casualty of Trump’s tariffs

Taiwan is investigating whether China’s leading chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC)&nbsp;illegally poached local engineers as part of an effort to access the island’s cutting-edge chip technology.

Taiwan probes Chinese chipmaker SMIC for allegedly poaching staff

Beshom Holdings Bhd’s (KL:BESHOM) outlook appears uncertain amid broader caution among consumers, TA Securities flagged after a weaker-than-expected quarter while the stock neared its 13-year lows.

Beshom's outlook uncertain, TA Securities says, as stock nears 13-year lows

KUALA LUMPUR (March 28): Puspakom Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned unit of DRB-Hicom Bhd (KL:DRBHCOM), announced on Friday that it is raising prices of its mobile van and mobile truck services amid rising operating costs.

Puspakom raises mobile van and truck services rates by 10%-20%

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Ukraine be placed under a form of temporary administration to allow for new elections and the signature of key accords to reach a settlement in the war, Russian news agencies reported early on Friday.

The government has released the guidelines for its latest solar programme, which allows energy companies to lease rooftop space from homeowners to install solar panels and sell the generated electricity to customers through third-party access to the distribution network.

Govt sets guidelines for rooftop solar leasing, landed households set to benefit

Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to improve market access at a meeting with a group of global business leaders in Beijing, in an effort to boost investor sentiment as rising tariffs fuel uncertainty for the economy and international trade.

Claire Jiao & Anisah Shukry