In the last month, we have seen governments roll out unprecedented fiscal stimulus packages in aid of businesses as a response to equally unprecedented lockdowns on travel and economic activity meant to stem the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aid for small business in the APEC region during Covid-19

Newmont Corp posted its highest quarterly costs in at least nine years, in part because of its operations at one of Australia’s largest gold mines. 

The world’s top gold producer said the all-in sustaining cost of producing the precious metal hit US$1,651 (RM7,248) an ounce in the first quarter. That’s about 13% more than the prior quarter and is the highest in records going to back to 2016.

World’s top gold miner Newmont sees highest costs in decade

U Mobile Sdn Bhd, the telco spearheading the development of Malaysia’s second 5G network, announced on Thursday it had signed a term sheet agreement with Celcom Timur (Sabah) Sdn Bhd (CT Sabah) — a subsidiary of CelcomDigi Bhd (KL:CDB) — to deploy leased fibre circuits in Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

U Mobile chooses CelcomDigi’s CT Sabah as fibre partner to support 5G roll-out in Sabah and Labuan

US President Donald Trump said that imposing a higher tax rate on millionaires would spur the country’s richest to leave the US, downplaying an idea that is under discussion in some Republican circles as a way to pay for an economic package.

Trump says millionaire tax would push wealthy to leave US

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) disbursed US$4.9 billion (RM21.5 billion) to Southeast Asia in 2024, with Malaysia getting the smallest slice of the allocation, its latest annual report showed.

Asian Development Bank disbursed US$4.9b to Southeast Asia in 2024, Malaysia received US$1.7m

Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s (KL:BURSA) net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 (1QFY2025) is expected to decline year-on-year, weighed down by a weaker securities average daily value (ADV) amid cautious market sentiment, according to CIMB Securities.

Bursa’s 1Q net profit could decline as much as 27% amid weaker securities average daily value — CIMB

SINGAPORE (April 23): China's Zhipu AI is ramping up its overseas expansion through a partnership with Alibaba Cloud, an executive said on Wednesday, as the startup prepares for an initial public offering.

The Beijing-headquartered startup is pitching governments globally to help them l...

Zhipu AI ramps up overseas expansion strategy ahead of IPO

In this era of growing protectionism, defending globalisation can feel like a losing proposition. But rather than retreat from the debate, it is more urgent than ever to spell out the costs of a trade war, which threatens to accelerate the fragmentation of the global economy because it is really ...

The New Global Economy: The false promise of tariffs

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for a course correction for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, while saying they serve “critical roles” and the Trump administration is willing to work with them.

Bessent says US backs IMF and World Bank, while calling for reforms

(April 24): Investors increasingly expect Malaysia, Southeast Asia’s last holdout against interest rate cuts, to give in to mounting economic pressure from the global trade war.

Bets on Malaysia’s OPR cut mount as tariff shock dims growth outlook

SHANGHAI (April 24): Chinese sport-utility vehicle maker Jetour plans to launch in some European markets in the third quarter and aims to sell cars across much of the continent by 2027, an executive said on Wednesday.

The automaker currently makes combustion-engine and plug-in hybrid mo...

China's Jetour to launch European car sales in third quarter

Stocks drifted on Thursday and a rebound in the dollar lost traction, as investors tried to sift through the noise from the&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration and its fickle stance on&nbsp;tariffs&nbsp;and the Federal Reserve's (Fed) leadership.

Relief rally stutters as markets take stock of Trump's U-turns

The timeline for completion of the aerotrain project at the Kuala Lumpur&nbsp;International Airport (KLIA) is completely unrelated to the recent privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), said its chairman Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi.

Aerotrain completion timeline not affected by privatisation — MAHB chairman

RHB Investment Bank cautioned that inconsistent US trade policies could defer critical capital expenditure (capex) decisions and manufacturing reallocation timelines, pressuring technology sector earnings.

RHB cuts tech sector earnings amid volatile US trade policy that threatens capex, equipment demand

The new operator of Kuala Lumpur Tower, LSH Service Master&nbsp;Sdn Bhd (LSHSM), is working closely with the Ministry of Communications to determine a suitable date for the reopening of the iconic national landmark, following comprehensive maintenance and improvement works.

KL Tower reopening date to be set after major upgrade works, says LSH Service Master's CEO

Malaysia is positioning itself to become a key player in the rare earth elements (REE) value chain, amid a shifting geopolitical landscape and the ongoing trade war between the US and China.

Malaysia poised to capitalise on rare earth element opportunities amid trade war, says science minister

(April 24):&nbsp;Investors increasingly expect Malaysia, Southeast Asia’s last holdout against interest rate cuts, to give in to mounting economic pressure from the global trade war.

Kering reported on Wednesday a bigger-than-expected decline in first-quarter revenue, the latest set of disappointing results from the luxury group as its star label Gucci continues to struggle amid a worsening economic environment.

Kering reports 14% sales drop in first quarter as Gucci sales slide further 

(April 24): US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration won’t be pursuing specific exchange-rate targets in its talks with Japan, instead reiterating his predecessor’s calls for Tokyo to abide by long-standing Group of Seven (G-7) commitments.

Bessent says ‘no currency targets’ sought in Japan talks

WASHINGTON (April 24): The&nbsp;US Justice Department has cancelled hundreds of ongoing grants that funded everything from services for mental healthcare for police officers, to support programs for victims of crime and sexual assault, according to internal records and four people familiar with the matter.

US cancels hundreds of grants for police, crime victims, Justice Dept documents show

(April 24):&nbsp;Signs that Donald Trump is rethinking the most aggressive elements of his combative stances on trade and the US Federal Reserve, spurred back-to-back gains in stocks and the dollar, while soothing volatility across asset classes.

US stocks notch back-to-back gains as dollar climbs

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) disbursed US$4.9 billion (RM21.5 billion) to Southeast Asia in 2024, with Malaysia getting the smallest slice of the allocation, its latest annual report showed.

Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s (KL:BURSA) net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 (1QFY2025) is expected to decline year-on-year, weighed down by a weaker securities average daily value (ADV) amid cautious market sentiment, according to CIMB Securities.

WASHINGTON (April 23): US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko on Wednesday, and stressed the need to sign an economic partnership between the two countries as soon as possible, the US Treasury Department said.

US wants to sign economic partnership with Ukraine 'as soon as possible'

LONDON/BENGALURU (April 23): Cantor Fitzgerald is launching a crypto venture with Tether and Japanese technology investor SoftBank Group&nbsp;to buy bitcoin,&nbsp;wagering that interest in the digital currency will expand under US President Donald Trump.

Cantor teams up with Tether, SoftBank for US$3.6b crypto venture

(April 23): Saudi budget carrier flyadeal on Wednesday confirmed a deal to order 10 Airbus A330neo wide-body passenger jets, as it expands into fast-growing long-haul markets in Southeast Asia.

Saudi budget carrier flyadeal confirms Airbus jet order for long-haul expansion

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for a course correction for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, while saying they serve “critical roles” and the Trump administration is willing to work with them.

MEXICO CITY/BENGALURU (April 23): International Business Machines (IBM) said 15 of its government contracts were shelved under a cost-cutting drive by the Trump administration, a setback that eclipsed its upbeat revenue forecast and dragged its shares down over 6% after hours.

IBM says 15 contracts impacted by DOGE cost cuts, shares drop

President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;signed on Wednesday an order to improve job training for skilled trades, an initiative twinned with tariffs in his gambit to revive US&nbsp;manufacturing.

Trump pushes training for skilled trades that do not require college

Prices are rising&nbsp;and&nbsp;economic activity has begun to slow across parts of the nation as businesses&nbsp;and&nbsp;households try to adapt to U.S. President&nbsp;Donald&nbsp;Trump's erratic rollout of sweeping&nbsp;tariffs&nbsp;aimed at reshaping global trade, a&nbsp;report&nbsp;Wednesday from the&nbsp;Federal Reserve showed.

Price hikes, a rush to buy autos, and uncertainty in wake of Trump tariffs -- Fed report

WASHINGTON (April 23):&nbsp;More work is needed to improve the sovereign debt restructuring process and help countries facing mounting debt service challenges, the chairs of a global debt roundtable said on Wednesday, as they released a new&nbsp;playbook&nbsp;to aid those efforts.

The G...

Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria