China's retail giants have launched initiatives in the past few days aimed at helping Chinese exporters pivot to the domestic market, as a US-China trade war intensifies.

China's retail giants pledge to help exporters go domestic amid trade war

US chipmakers which outsource manufacturing will be exempt from China's retaliatory tariffs on US imports, according to a notice by the main Chinese semiconductor association on Friday.

US chipmakers outsourcing manufacturing will escape China's tariffs

Lip-Bu Tan, the man chosen to lead Intel, the US' largest chip maker, has invested in hundreds of Chinese tech firms, including at least eight with links to the People's Liberation Army, according to a Reuters review of Chinese and US corporate filings.

Intel CEO invested in hundreds of Chinese companies, some with military ties

Microsoft's joint venture Wicresoft will cease its China operations from Tuesday, a move that will lead to the layoff of about 2,000 staff, Chinese media outlet Caijing reported on Monday, citing sources.

Microsoft venture Wicresoft to halt China operations, lay off staff — report

China's tech and e-commerce giant Alibaba Group is planning to release Qwen 3, an upgraded version of its flagship AI model, as soon as this month, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Alibaba prepares for flagship AI model release as soon as April, Bloomberg News reports

China's cyberspace regulator on Friday published regulations governing the use of facial recognition technology, separately stating that individuals should not be forced to verify their identity using such technology.

China says facial recognition should not be forced on individuals

Chinese tech giant Tencent on Thursday released a new AI model that it says can answer queries faster than global hit DeepSeek's R1, in the latest sign the startup's domestic and overseas success is putting pressure on its larger competitors in China.

Tencent releases new AI model, says replies faster than DeepSeek-R1

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek on Wednesday introduced discounted off-peak pricing for developers looking to use its AI models to build their own products, its website showed, a move that could put pressure on rivals in China and overseas to cut prices.

DeepSeek cuts off-peak pricing for developers by up to 75%

BEIJING (Jan 29): Chinese tech company Alibaba on Wednesday released a new version of its Qwen 2.5 artificial intelligence (AI) model that it claimed surpassed the highly-acclaimed DeepSeek-V3.

Alibaba releases new version of Qwen 2.5 AI model it claims surpasses DeepSeek-V3

Permira Holdings Ltd is overhauling its Asia strategy, closing offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai and shuffling senior leadership to India, where it sees stronger momentum and a more robust pipeline for deals, people familiar with the matter said.

Permira closing Hong Kong, Shanghai offices in pivot to India, Bloomberg reports

KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Malaysia’s exports are likely to be impacted by the imposition of any direct tariffs, global growth slowdown, or possible recession, but the longer-term outlook remains bright, as there is room for the country to benefit from supply-chain diversification, said Franklin Templeton.

Direct tariffs may likely impact Malaysia’s exports; outlook bright on supply-chain diversification — Franklin Templeton

ISTANBUL (April 23): Malaysia and Türkiye are working to move beyond an exchange of letter of intent related to energy sector cooperation, particularly in renewable and nuclear energy for power supply purposes, into a memorandum of understanding (MOU), said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Malaysia-Türkiye to strengthen energy sector cooperation — Fadillah

(April 23): Tesla Inc’s production of Optimus, a robot that promises to take over household chores, has been disrupted by China’s curbs on rare earth exports, introduced by Beijing earlier this month, in an escalating trade war with Washington.

Tesla’s plan on humanoid robot Optimus disrupted by China rare earth curbs

Malaysia’s headline inflation slowed to 1.4% in March, mainly due to slower price increases for restaurants, personal goods, and water.

Inflation down to 1.4% in March as price increases for restaurants, personal goods, and services slow

Major Russian banks have set up a netting payments system dubbed "The China Track" for transactions with China, aiming to reduce their visibility to Western regulators and mitigate the risk of secondary sanctions, banking sources told Reuters.

'China Track' bank netting system shields Russia-China trade from Western eyes

(April 23): Bitcoin continued to climb after US President Donald Trump said he had no intention of firing Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, easing concerns over the central bank’s autonomy.

Bitcoin climbs higher as US seeks to ease trade, Fed tensions

US President Donald Trump said he had no intention of firing Federal Reserve (Fed) chair Jerome Powell despite his frustration with the central bank not moving more quickly to slash interest rates.

Trump now says he has no intention of firing Fed chair Powell

(April 23): Copper gained, pushing higher with other metals, as the US signalled a more conciliatory tone towards China in its trade war.

Copper extends advance on US-China optimism and risk-on tone

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its real gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for Malaysia to 4.1% this year, from its January estimate of 4.7%, in line with a broader reduction in regional projections.

IMF cuts real GDP growth forecast for Malaysia to 4.1% in 2025

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a closed-door investor summit on Tuesday that the tariff stand-off with China cannot be sustained by both sides, and that the world’s two largest economies will have to find ways to de-escalate.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent expects tariff stand-off with China to de-escalate

SYDNEY (April 23): Stock markets were enjoying a much-needed relief rally in Asia on Wednesday, after US President Donald Trump&nbsp;said he had no plans to fire the head of the Federal Reserve, and hinted at lower tariffs for&nbsp;China.

Stocks, dollar rebound in Asia as Trump steps back

(April 23): It’s 8am and already sweltering at the&nbsp;Pomina Flat Steel JSC&nbsp;plant outside Ho Chi Minh City, as&nbsp;the night shift’s last pour of molten metal is shaped, cooled and cut into rods. Down the road, at a Vietnam Steel Corp facility, a&nbsp;long strip is uncoiled into an acid bath and fed through a powerful press, making it thinner but tougher.

In China’s backyard, steel buyer Vietnam is trying to stem a tide of cheap metal

US President Donald Trump said he plans to be “very nice” to China in any trade talks, and that tariffs will drop if the two countries can reach a deal, a sign he may be backing down from his tough stance on Beijing amid market volatility.

Trump floats cutting China tariffs ‘substantially’ in trade deal

(April 23):&nbsp;Chinese corporate and government borrowers have pushed issuance of dollar and euro bonds to a record proportion of all such note sales in emerging markets (EM) this month, in one sign of resilience to the&nbsp;trade war.

Chinese foreign bond sales mark record share of total in emerging markets

KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Malaysia will likely miss some economic and policy targets held back by fiscal constraints, bureaucratic drag, and global macro headwinds, said BIMB Securities.

Malaysia will miss some targets amid fiscal, bureaucratic drag, macro headwinds — BIMB

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its real gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for Malaysia to 4.1% this year, from its January estimate of 4.7%, in line with a broader reduction in regional projections.

(April 23):&nbsp;The dollar advanced against its major peers after US President Donald Trump said he had no intention of firing Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell.

Relief rebound for dollar as Trump cools rhetoric on Powell

Ferrotec Holdings Corporation, a Japanese advanced materials and component company, will be investing RM1 billion for the construction of its second manufacturing facility in Kulim, Kedah.

Japan's Ferrotec to invest RM1 bil in second plant in Kedah

Several areas in Selangor were affected by flash floods following heavy rainfall since early Wednesday morning.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations&nbsp;Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar&nbsp;said the affected areas were&nbsp;Sungai Buloh, Petaling Jaya&nbsp;and Subang Jaya.

Flash floods hit several areas in Selangor, no evacuations reported

(April 23):&nbsp;US equity futures surged and the dollar strengthened after President Donald Trump said he had&nbsp;no intention&nbsp;of firing Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, and as optimism grew that trade tensions may be easing.

US futures, dollar rise on Trump’s Fed backtrack

KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Bumi Armada Bhd (KL:ARMADA) is expected to report strong earnings in first quarter of 2025 (1QFY2025), but foresees a drop in the following quarters as its floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) Kraken vessel sees a steep cut in its daily charter rates.

Bumi Armada to post strong 1Q earnings, later quarters impacted by FPSO Kraken rate cut — Maybank IB

The imposition of US duties on solar panels from Southeast Asia&nbsp;will have far-reaching implications for&nbsp;the manufacturing base across the region, according to the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).

US solar duties threaten Malaysia's role in global clean energy supply chain, says FMM

(April 23): Intel Corp is poised to announce plans this week to cut more than 20% of its staff, aiming to eliminate bureaucracy at the struggling chipmaker, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Intel to announce plans this week to cut more than 20% of staff — Bloomberg

This year marks the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore. Since the latter separated from the Federation of Malaya on Aug 9, 1965, trade, investment and tourism between the two countries have remained robust.

Six decades of strong ties between Malaysia and Singapore

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp&nbsp;on Tuesday signed an agreement to establish a wholly owned electric vehicle (EV) plant in Shanghai, in a strategic move to bolster its presence in China, the world's largest automotive market, Xinhua reported.

Toyota signs deal for US$2b EV project in Shanghai

Malaysia’s headline inflation slowed to 1.4% in March, mainly due to slower price increases for restaurants, personal goods, and water.

The year 2024 marked the&nbsp;50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China. In 1974, then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein cemented an official diplomatic relationship during a visit to Peking (now Beijing).

Ushering in another 50 golden years in Malaysia-China relations

SAN FRANCISCO/LOS ANGELES (April 22): Tesla&nbsp;chief executive officer&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;said on Tuesday that he would cut back significantly the time he devotes to the&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration from next month, and spend more time running his many companies.

Musk, facing criticism and falling Tesla sales, to cut back DOGE work

GuocoLand Ltd has signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Leong Holdings for the development of a land parcel at Tengah Garden Avenue worth an aggregate value of S$51.4 million (RM172.9 million), according to a release on Tuesday.

Eduardo Baptista

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