The UK economy enjoyed its strongest quarterly growth in a year before the double blow of tax hikes and US President Donald Trump’s trade war.

Gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.7% in the first quarter, an acceleration from the 0.1% increase at the end of 2024, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Thursday. It was above the 0.6% expected by the Bank of England (BOE) and private-sector economists.

UK economy has best quarter in a year with 0.7% expansion

London house prices will suffer the most from US President Donald Trump’s trade war, real estate agents warn, as a global demand slowdown risks hitting the city’s already struggling market.

London property faces worst hit from trade war, Rightmove says

(April 13): Kensington and Chelsea has long attracted high-earning workers willing to pay exorbitant housing costs to live in one of London’s most glitzy districts. Now they are leaving in their thousands.

London’s most desirable neighbourhoods have lost 11,000 workers

The UK will be hit by the global impact of US tariffs even if ministers succeed in their mission to secure an exemption for British goods, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said.

Reeves says Trump’s tariffs will hurt UK even if Britain secures US deal

Prime Minister Keir Starmer came to power last year promising a growth boost but ended up presiding over a slump. Nine months on, however, the British economy may finally be turning the corner.

The UK economy is starting to emerge from stagnation

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

UK inflation unexpectedly cooled in February, strengthening the case for the Bank of England to cut interest rates again in May and providing a morale boost for Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves ahead of a key economic statement Wednesday.

UK inflation cools unexpectedly in boon for Reeves and rate cuts

London homes are the most affordable they’ve been for a decade but remain out of reach for many people, highlighting the challenge facing the Labour government to fix Britain’s housing crisis.

London house prices become cheaper but are still unaffordable

UK wage growth held at its highest level in nine months and employment rose, evidence of resilient demand for workers that will likely keep the Bank of England cautious over further rate cuts.

UK posts strong wage growth ahead of BOE rate decision

More than half a million UK homebuyers are trying to tie up deals before a tax break slams shut at the start of April, according to property website Rightmove.

Half a million UK homebuyers rush to beat tax rise, survey says

Coinbase forecast a hit between US$180 million (RM771.8 million) and US$400 million from a cyber attack that breached account data of a "small subset" of its customers, sending the crypto exchange's shares down 3% in pre-market trading on Thursday.

Coinbase expects up to US$400m hit from cyber attack

Trade chiefs from some of the world’s biggest economies are competing for access to US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer as they seek to advance negotiations with Washington at a gathering in South Korea.

Trade chiefs jostle for time with US Trade Representative Greer at Apec meeting in South Korea

The High Court has ruled that UK-based Serendib Capital Ltd must pay RM200,000 as security for costs in its lawsuit against Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib, Sarawak Cable Bhd (KL:SCABLE), and six others.

High Court orders Serendib Capital to pay RM200,000 as security for costs or lose case against Sarawak Cable, Mahmud Abu Bekir

Singapore Airlines reported a record annual net profit on Thursday, boosted by a one-off gain from the merger of Air India and Vistara, but lower air fares in response to increased competition weighed on operating profit.

Air India merger fuels Singapore Airlines record profit as competition bites

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States was getting very close to securing a nuclear deal with Iran, and Tehran had "sort of" agreed to the terms.

Trump says US close to a nuclear deal with Iran

Property developer LBS Bina Group Bhd (KL:LBS) is collaborating with Penang-based Oriental Holdings Bhd (KL:ORIENT) to undertake a mixed-use project in Klebang, Melaka, with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM7 billion.

LBS Bina partnering Oriental Holdings for RM7b mixed development in Melaka 

Bintai Kinden Corp Bhd (KL:BINTAI) said Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) (KL:TENAGA) has reinstated three of 10 contracts that the utility company had previously terminated two years ago, after a series of negotiations between them.

Bintai Kinden says TNB has reinstated three contracts it terminated two years ago

Walmart will have to start raising prices later this month due to the high cost of tariffs, executives said on Thursday, even as the retailing giant's US comparable sales surpassed expectations in the first quarter.

Walmart warns of higher prices, withholds second-quarter profit guidance

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has warned that unilateral actions and the rise of protectionism by economic superpowers go against the grain of free trade and threaten the entire global trading system, especially small developing economies.

Anwar warns rising protectionism threatens global trading system

\Social media app TikTok was charged by EU tech regulators on Thursday with breaching EU online content rules, putting its owner ByteDance at risk of a fine of as much as 6% of its global turnover.

TikTok charged with breaching EU online content rules

Proton is offering RM2,000 to buyers who trade in ‘unroadworthy’ vehicles over 15 years old for new Proton models under a new programme that will run until the end of the year.

Proton launches RM2,000 trade-in programme for ‘unroadworthy’ vehicles

KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): A total of 76 houses in Taman Matang Jaya, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, sustained various types of damage after being struck by flying gravel fragments from a nearby quarry during a blasting operation on Tuesday (May 13).

Quarry blasting causes damage to 76 houses in Sungai Buloh

Sunway Real Estate Investment Trust (KL:SUNREIT) rose on Thursday to a new record high, following a strong start to 2025 with a 20% year-on-year increase in its first-quarter net property income (NPI).&nbsp;

Sunway REIT climbs to new record high after 1Q surprise

IN the wee hours of the morning on April 24, hours before the market opened at Bursa Malaysia, a WhatsApp message on Bina Puri Holdings Bhd (KL:­BPURI) was being circulated. The message read, “Bank suing, originating summons on Bina Puri. Exim RM20 million. Can’t settle.”

That Thursday ...

Cover Story: Bina Puri in the spotlight

Police have arrested Datin Seri Pamela Ling Yueh’s husband to assist in investigations over her disappearance but failed to get a remand order for him from the courts.

Police arrest husband of abducted Pamela Ling

Thailand's&nbsp;ambassador to Malaysia, Lada Phumas, has suggested that the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which starts in Kota Bharu, be extended to the Sungai Golok border to enhance rail connectivity between Malaysia and Thailand.

Thai envoy suggests extending ECRL to Sungai Golok to boost trade

Crude palm oil (CPO) prices and Malaysian palm oil refiners could see gains following Indonesia’s decision to raise its CPO&nbsp;and refined palm oil export levies, according to RHB Investment Bank.

CPO prices, Malaysian refiners may gain from Indonesia’s palm oil export levy hike — RHB

Russian President Vladimir Putin criticised a United Nations probe that found his country culpable for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which killed all 298 passengers and crew in 2014.

Putin criticises MH17 probe in meeting with Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): MSCI Malaysia Small Cap Index’s latest rebalancing could result in selldown of up to RM146 million in the six stocks to be removed, according to CIMB Securities’ estimates.

MSCI Malaysia Small Cap Index review could result in RM146m selldown — CIMB

Malaysia’s national oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd, or Petronas, said it has signed a production sharing contract for gas and condensate fields in Turkmenistan.

Petronas signs contract for natural gas production in Turkmenistan

KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): Malaysian banks can absorb potential credit risks from US tariffs on borrowers, with a “hefty” RM4.86 billion management overlay — a key buffer used by banks to guard against future loan losses — serving as a shield, according to CGS International.

Malaysian banks have RM4.86b buffer to withstand credit risks from US tariffs — CGS International

Genting Singapore has reported earnings of S$145 million (RM479.17 million) for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 (1QFY2025), down 41% year-on-year (y-o-y). Quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q), earnings grew 2%.

Genting Singapore’s 1Q earnings down 41% to S$145m; CEO Tan Hee Teck retires

Billionaire Li Shufu is shaking up his sprawling Geely auto empire, lining up a new chief executive weeks after a shock move to take its US-listed premium electric car brand Zeekr private.

Geely appoints Zeekr head as new group CEO in leadership shakeup

Discussions between Malaysia and the US regarding reciprocal tariffs have so far proceeded smoothly, with many issues being resolved while some require further scrutiny, particularly those related to the country’s strategic sectors.

Malaysia-US tariff negotiations going smoothly, many issues can be resolved, says Zafrul

Gold may retest its record high prices before the year ends as global macroeconomic uncertainty and lower US interest rates continue to drive demand for the safe haven assets, said UBS Investment Bank.

Gold may retest record high after short-term consolidation, says UBS strategist

PUTRAJAYA (May 15): Regardless of labels attached to the 2022 purported leaked “judgement” in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s graft trial, the conclusion that she was guilty in the documents raises concerns and is pertinent in the dispensing of justice, the Court of Appeal (COA) heard on Thursday.

Research or opinion, ‘leaked documents’ on Rosmah’s graft trial should not have been in judgement format, defence argues

KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): YNH Property Bhd (KL:YNHPROP) and Sunway Real Estate Investment Trust (Sunway REIT)(KL:SUNREIT) have agreed to take another four months to complete the sale of Aeon Mall Seri Manjung for RM138 million.

YNH, Sunway REIT extend Aeon Mall Seri Manjung sale by four months, add new conditions

The High Court has ruled that UK-based Serendib Capital Ltd must pay RM200,000 as security for costs in its lawsuit against Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib, Sarawak Cable Bhd (KL:SCABLE), and six others.

Beijing has pushed back against a US decision aimed at curbing Chinese-made artificial intelligence chips, a first sign of discord between the world’s two largest economies since they agreed to a trade truce last weekend.

China accuses US of ‘unilateral bullying’ on Huawei AI chips 

The White House said US President Donald Trump had secured deals totalling more than US$243.5 billion (RM1.04 trillion) with Qatar, laying the groundwork for a bigger US$1.2 trillion economic pledge with the tiny Gulf country.

Irina Anghel

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Irina Anghel

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