This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on December 21 - 27, 2015.    

 

JUST a year ago, the suggestion that one George Washington bill could yield RM4 to RM5 sounded preposterous to many as the ringgit was hovering at 3.40 levels...

Story of the year: The ringgit rout

For 2025, the country’s real estate market is anticipated to be driven by the robust industrial sector, evolving office and retail markets, rebounding hospitality sector and sustained residential market, according to Knight Frank Malaysia’s Real Estate Highlights 2H2024 report that was launched i...

Knight Frank: Trends driving real estate in 2025, with a focus on sustainability

LAST week, the government disclosed that it will pay British chip architect Arm Holdings plc, which is owned by SoftBank Group Corp, a total of  US$250 million (RM1.11 billion) over 10 years for semiconductor-related licences and know-how.

According to Minister of Economy Datu...

The State of the Nation: Shot in the arm for producing Malaysian-made semiconductor chip

Okay everyone, it’s been a good 18 years here (minus one year at Kinibiz circa 2013 to 2014), so maybe it’s time to call it a day at The Edge.

Coffee Break: Goodbye everyone, I’m off to Switzerland …

CCK Consolidated Holdings Bhd (KL:CCK) has strong growth potential from Indonesia, and minimum wage increases will help boost its retail operations, said Public Investment Bank.

CCK’s growth prospects in Indonesia exciting, says Public Investment Bank

The Court of Appeal on Monday upheld the forfeiture of RM44,000 cash from a Pahang Land and Mines Department enforcement assistant director, Syed Umar Khalil Syed Khalid, which was seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) from a washing machine at Syed Umar Khalil’s home 10 years ago.

Appellate court upholds RM44,000 forfeiture from enforcement assistant director in relation to unlicensed bauxite mining

The road development arm of the Indian state of Maharashtra is planning to raise as much as 150 billion rupees (RM7.68 billion) through local-currency bonds, returning to the market after a 15-year hiatus.

India state government arm plans US$1.7b local bond sale

Asian stocks jumped on Monday on Beijing's fresh stimulus measures aimed at boosting consumer spending, while regional currencies traded cautiously as investors weighed mounting trade frictions that threaten global economic growth.

Seoul's benchmark climbed 1.6% to their highest since February 27, while stocks in Kuala Lumpur gained 1.1% in its third consecutive winning session. Shares in Taipei added 0.7% after advancing as much as 1.5% earlier in the session.

China stimulus lifts Asian stocks; trade war fears cap currency gains

Berkshire Hathaway Inc increased its stakes in Japan’s biggest trading houses, three weeks after Warren Buffett’s annual letter to shareholders spurred speculation of such move.

Berkshire raises stakes in Japan’s largest trading houses

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis will watch "very carefully" how the reciprocal tariff policy proposed by the US unfolds in early April, chief executive Vas Narasimhan said on Monday.

Novartis is watching US reciprocal tariff policy 'very carefully', CEO says

Li Shufu, the billionaire behind one of the world’s largest automobile empires, has been doing some soul-searching.

Geely billionaire goes on a cost-cutting spree to catch rivals

Asia’s top performing currency last year is set for a bout of weakness as traders brace for a higher risk of an interest rate-cut amid trade tensions.

Ringgit bears emerge as traders weigh a rate cut in Malaysia

An ambitious campaign to revive Thailand’s battered stock market is falling flat, as entrenched pessimism about the economy accelerates a foreign funds exodus.

World’s biggest stock rout deepens as Thai market rescue falters

Oil prices surged on Monday, US stock futures slid while those in Asia charged higher as investors took stock of the contrasting fortunes between the US and the rest of the world.

Oil prices jump; optimism over China's consumption stimulus boosts Asia shares

In the world of high finance, there are sophisticated investors who cannot accept failure. Instead, they tend to invest more money, in a strategy known as “averaging down”. It effectively means putting more money into the investment with the view of keeping it afloat, and waiting in the hope that...

Alternative Views: Sapura Energy: A case of throwing good money after bad

Chinese data centre operator GDS Holdings Ltd is seeking a US$3.4 billion (RM15.12 billion)-equivalent loan for its data centre operations in Malaysia, people familiar with the matter said.

GDS seeks record US$3.4 bil loan for data centre ops in Malaysia — Bloomberg

Valuations of Malaysian stocks have turned more attractive following recent selldown though upside may be capped amid external uncertainties, Apex Securities said on Monday.

Apex Securities says KLCI valuation is now attractive, but sees little upside amid external risks

The prosecution on Monday accepted a representation from lawyers of former Aker Engineering Malaysia manager Ahmad Hatta Kamaruzzaman and vouched no further action in exchange, if the Court of Appeal reverses the High Court decision three years ago that gave an acquittal over a charge of giving false material information to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).

Former Aker Engineering manager given DNAA by court, as MACC vouches no further action

Penang-based biomass material manufacturer HHRG Bhd (KL:HHRG) on Monday announced that its new largest shareholder, Digital Trustee Bhd, has called for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to remove its entire board of directors, and replace them with three new directors.

HHRG's new largest shareholder Digital Trustee calls for EGM to remove board

Ekuiti Nasional Bhd said on Monday it is investing in a domestic cybersecurity firm Bluesify Solutions Sdn Bhd.

Ekuinas invests in local cybersecurity firm Bluesify

US President Donald Trump said he would be imposing both broad reciprocal tariffs and additional sector-specific tariffs on April 2.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that “in certain cases, both” types of levies would be placed on foreign goods imported to the US.

Trump plans to impose both reciprocal and sectoral tariffs on April 2

Global chief executive officers&nbsp;including Qualcomm Inc’s Cristiano Amon and Saudi Aramco’s Amin Nasser will travel to Beijing for an annual gathering of top executives, people familiar with the matter have said, with some expected to meet top leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping.&nbsp;

Global CEOs set to meet Xi in Beijing next week — Bloomberg

Foreign investors maintained a bearish stance on Asian equities, continuing to net sell for the third consecutive week, with a significant outflow totaling US$6.73 billion, except for the Philippines, while local investors helped Bursa Malaysia to cushion the impact of the broader market outflows.

US tariff war continues to impact Asian equities with net outflows of US$6.73 bil — MIDF

RHB Investment Bank (RHB IB) expects Malaysia's planned revision of private general practitioner (GP) consultation fees to have no financial impact on hospitals, as their fees are governed by separate regulations.

Private GP consultation fee revision to have no impact on hospitals, minimal effect on insurers — RHB IB

Malaysia’s technology sector earnings are projected to grow this year, riding on stronger demand and overall recovery in the semiconductor space amid the United States (US) tariff headwinds, said analysts.

In a research note on Monday, RHB Investment Bank Bhd (RHB IB) expects earnings in the country’s technology sector to grow this year on stronger demand, with potential upside in the immediate term due to urgent order deliveries ahead of the impending US tariffs

Malaysia’s tech sector earnings to grow this year amid tariff headwinds — analysts

An anxious sense of wait-and-see may emerge from central banks in the coming week, in their first collective assessment of how President Donald Trump’s trade policies are impacting the world economy.

Trump’s trade salvos test nerves of central bankers

Chinese consumption, investment and industrial production exceeded estimates to start the year, pointing to signs of resilience for an economy still in need of more stimulus as Donald Trump’s tariffs threaten growth.

China economic pickup tops forecasts before tariff pain deepens

The Housing and Local Government Ministry is targeting to generate RM180 billion property sales across all sectors this year, said its minister Nga Kor Ming.

Malaysia targets RM180 bil in 2025 property sales, eyes senior living — Nga Kor Ming

The UK is set to begin trade talks with the Philippines after the Asian nation agreed to lift an import ban on British beef and poultry products.

UK poised for trade talks with Philippines after beef ban lifted

DAP now chooses to express its stance "strategically" on contentious issues rather than voicing them publicly after becoming part of the ruling coalition, said its secretary general Anthony Loke.

Esther Lee & Kamarul Azhar