Optimism among Canada’s small and medium-sized firms fell to the lowest level in at least a quarter-century after the US started a trade war with the country, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

Small business optimism in Canada collapses to 25-year low

The Bank of Canada cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point and called the trade battle with the US a “new crisis,” but pushed back on expectations that policymakers were on a predetermined cutting path.

Bank of Canada cuts rates to 2.75%, to move ‘carefully’ amid tariffs

Global shipping executives gathered this week in Long Beach, California, for a major annual conference, expecting to discuss market trends and supply chain challenges.

Instead, they found themselves in crisis mode.

Tariff ‘earthquake’ sends shipping industry into crisis mode

(Feb 3): The Canadian economy is set to face the most severe shock since the Covid-19 pandemic and will probably sink into a recession if a tariff war persists, say top economists, with one calling it an “existential threat.”

Tariff war likely to put Canada into recession, economists say

Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said American concerns about Mexico’s trade policy not being in line with its North American allies on China are “legitimate,” and she shares them.

Canada agrees with US concerns about Mexico’s trade with China

Malaysia needs structural reforms that address cost and income factors to help households better cope with future cost of living challenges, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said in its annual report 2024.

BNM: Structural reforms to reduce costs and boost income needed to address cost of living issues

India’s economic activity slipped slightly in March as a pickup in manufacturing was offset by slowing services sector demand, a flash survey by HSBC Holdings plc showed.

India’s economic activity slips in March, flash PMI indexes show

Malaysia may face heightened and recurring supply shocks going forward, the central bank warned, but argued that any monetary policy response is only needed if the risks worsen or intensify.

Malaysia may face heightened and recurring supply shocks, BNM flags

KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): Malaysia’s banking system remains well-capitalised against potential liquidity shocks and supportive of financial intermediation for the Malaysian economy, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

BNM: Malaysia’s banking system remains resilient to liquidity shocks

KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will release a roadmap in 2025 to phase out the Kuala Lumpur Interbank Offered Rate (KLIBOR) and transition to a new interbank rate for pricing financial contracts.

BNM: Transition roadmap to new interbank rate to be released this year

KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): The Ministry of Health (MOH) will review the regulatory oversight of private hospitals as part of efforts to promote greater price transparency and curb medical inflation, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Health Ministry will review private hospital regulations to improve price transparency, says BNM

KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): Personal financing disbursed to civil servant borrowers has seen a sharp increase since the salary hike implemented in December last year, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

BNM flags surge in civil servant personal financing after December 2024 salary hike

KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): Malaysia’s current account surplus in the balance of payment is expected to continue to expand in 2025, since the 26-year low in 2023, thanks to exports and tourism activity.

Current account surplus to see further expansion in 2025, says BNM

Housing loan growth in Malaysia slowed year-on-year (y-o-y) to 6.9% in 2024, with owner-occupiers making up the bulk of growth, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Housing loan growth slowed in 2024, impairment ratio remained low, says BNM

As our nation advances economically and ages rapidly, health is increasingly one of the foremost concerns for Malaysians. I am deeply concerned about the rising costs of private healthcare, as access to affordable, quality healthcare is essential for all.

MySay: A system-wide health transformation agenda — public and private

Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd’s (KL:ABMB) stock fell sharply on Monday in active trade, amid concerns of dilution after the lender announced a proposed RM600 million rights issue.

Alliance Bank shares fall sharply as investors balk at rights issue

Ge-Shen Corp Bhd (KL:GESHEN) and Tex Cycle Technology (M) Bhd (KL:TEXCYCL) were among the top losers in the morning session on Monday.

Counters related to businessman Keh Chuan Seng under selling pressure

Erdasan Group Bhd (KL:ERDASAN) announced on Sunday that its officers had blown the whistle to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) regarding potential misconduct by suspended executive director Mak Siew Wei.

Company officers served as whistleblowers, reporting Mak Siew Wei to MACC — Erdasan

Malaysia is planning to tighten regulations on semiconductors under pressure from the US, the Financial Times reported citing Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Malaysia to tighten semiconductor trade regulations under US pressure, Zafrul says in FT interview

Jack Ma-backed Ant Group Co&nbsp;used Chinese-made semiconductors to develop techniques for training artificial intelligence (AI)&nbsp;models that would cut costs by 20%, according to people familiar with the matter.

Jack Ma-backed Ant touts AI breakthrough built on Chinese chips, Bloomberg reports

Shares of Zensho Holdings Co, which operates Japanese restaurant chain Sukiya, fell as much as 7.1% on Monday, the most since Feb&nbsp;13, after the firm said a customer had found a dead rodent in its miso soup.

Rodent found in miso soup prompts plunge in Sukiya owner’s stock in Japan

Shares in Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd&nbsp;rallied after one of his sons was invited to mix with senior Chinese officials and global executives at a high-profile meeting in Beijing over the weekend, amid the company’s controversial sale of its ports in Panama.&nbsp;

Li Ka-shing’s son invited to Beijing amid Panama Port deal

IJM Corp Bhd (KL:IJM) remains positive about its business outlook and the potential to secure tendered projects, according to its chief financial officer (CFO) Datuk Edward Chong Sin Kiat, despite recent online allegations casting a pall over the company.

IJM remains confident in project prospects despite online allegations, says CFO

Financial&nbsp;markets&nbsp;made an mixed start on Monday with US&nbsp;stock futures rising but the dollar wavering ahead of a week driven by data, Chinese earnings and the threat of steep US&nbsp;tariff hikes on the horizon.

Futures buoyant, dollar drifts as markets sail towards tariff storm

BEIJING (March 24): China's Vice Premier He Lifeng sought to reassure foreign corporate chiefs of the country's business potential when he met with the heads of Apple, Pfizer, Mastercard, Cargill, and others on Sunday.

China's vice premier reassures Apple, Pfizer, Cargill, others of business potential

Analysts are positive&nbsp;that Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV), a subsidiary of Genting Bhd (KL:GENTING), will retain its non-restricted gaming licence after paying a hefty fine&nbsp;to the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB).

Analysts positive on Resorts World Las Vegas retaining licence despite hefty Nevada fine

(March 24): For a symbol of the chaos engulfing world trade since the Trump administration walked into the White House, look no further than a pile of 16,000 metric tonnes of steel pipes. Stevedores in Germany should be preparing to load the first batch on a container ship bound for a massive energy project in Louisiana. Instead, the cargo is sitting in a German warehouse after Washington proposed putting million-dollar levies on Chinese ships docking in the US.

Billion-dollar US levies on Chinese ships risk ‘trade apocalypse’

Artificial intelligence (AI) advances are fuelling a funding frenzy for data centres in Asia, spawning a series of record-breaking loans and filling the pipeline with even more potential deals.&nbsp;

AI boom turns Asian data centres into magnets for loan deals

VS Industry Bhd’s (KL:VS) earnings are likely to decline this year amid subdued consumer electronics demand, which is expected to persist, and delays in earnings contributions from its Philippines venture, analysts flagged.

VS Industry faces earnings decline amid weak demand and delays in contributions from Philippine venture — analysts

The Federal Court has allowed Attorney General Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar to go ahead with its application to ask the seven questions of law posed by the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) in its quest to overturn Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s successful attempt to have the justifications of his addendum challenge to be heard.

Apex court dismisses Najib’s attempt to block AGC’s challenge application against having the merits of his addendum to be heard

OTTAWA (March 23):&nbsp;New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday called for a snap election to be held on April 28, saying he needed a strong mandate to deal with the threat posed by US President&nbsp;Donald Trump, who "wants to break us, so America can own us".

Canadian PM Carney calls for snap election, says Trump wants to break Canada

Indonesia stocks tumbled on Monday, extending a rout as investors grew jittery over the country’s economic outlook.

Indonesia stock slide resumes as new wealth fund takes shape

KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): Moody’s Ratings has assigned an A2 rating to Petronas Capital Ltd’s proposed US dollar-denominated senior unsecured notes under its medium-term note (MTN) programme, which is guaranteed by national oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).

Moody’s assigns A2 rating to Petronas Capital’s US dollar notes, citing strong credit profile

（吉隆坡24日讯）安联银行（Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd）（KL:ABMB）股价大跌，原因是该银行宣布发行6亿令吉附加股，引发人们对股权稀释的担忧。

Erik Hertzberg

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Erik Hertzberg

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