Malaysia continued to build up foreign reserves and amassed the biggest hoard in nearly a decade at the end of September, according to the central bank.

The latest international reserves totalled US$119.7 billion, the most since Dec 15, 2014, compared with US$117.6 billion at Sept 13, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said in a statement on Monday. The reserves level has taken into account the quarterly foreign exchange revaluation changes.

Malaysia continues to amass forex reserves, now at US$119.7 bil

Malaysia's wholesale and retail sales accelerated by 7.1% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM147.9 billion in May 2024 — the fastest pace since 11.9% in March 2023 — thanks to higher retail sales in non-specialised stores, official data on Thursday showed.

Malaysia’s wholesale and retail sales growth accelerates to 7.1% in May, fastest in a year

The White House is discussing lifting sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and possibly other Russian assets in Europe as part of the negotiations on Ukraine, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported.

White House discussing lifting sanctions on Nord Stream 2 pipeline — report

ACE-market listed LYC Healthcare Bhd (KL:LYC) said it has been served with a winding-up petition by SOG Mummy & Baby Centre Pte Ltd for allegedly failing to settle an outstanding amount of RM600,000.

According to the petition, the amount owed is related to instalment payments due under a settlement reached in December 2024, which was subsequently restructured by both SOG Mummy and LYC Healthcare.

LYC Healthcare gets winding-up petition

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will begin enforcing checks on lorries at federal ports across Peninsular Malaysia starting July 1, 2025, for overloading, as part of efforts to tackle the issue of overloaded heavy vehicles.

Ports to enforce overloading checks on lorries from July, says MOT

Industrial chemicals and materials company Luxchem Corp Bhd’s (KL:LUXCHEM) net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 (1QFY2025) fell 8.6% to RM10.57 million from RM11.56 million a year ago, dragged by higher operating cost, which increased 9.7% to RM13.77 million from RM12.56 million.

Luxchem's 1Q net profit down 8.6% on higher operating cost

The development of the International Space Port in Pahang is expected to be completed as early as the next three to five years, said state Investment, Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Datuk Mohamad Nizar Mohamad Najib.

He said the facility, which will be the first international rocket launch site in Southeast Asia, is expected to create 2,350 job opportunities and generate economic spillover effects, particularly in the tourism and research sectors.

International Space Port in Pahang expected to be completed in three to five years

ECONOMIC growth in the Asean+3 ­(China, including Hong Kong, and Japan and South Korea) region is likely to come in at a slower pace of 3.8% this year compared with an earlier expectation of 4.2% as a result of tariffs imposed by the US, the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) projects.<...

Cover Story: Tariffs to weigh on growth of Asean+3 region

AS US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff stance is expected to heighten global economic uncertainty and amplify “risk-off” sentiment among investors, it could lead to a reallocation of capital away from emerging-market bonds, including Malaysian bonds, in the near term.

RAM Rati...

Cover Story: Foreign appetite for emerging market bonds likely to be weak

Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa said that he first met fugitive Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) almost 20 years ago, just as the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) was about to set up.

1MDB-Tanore: Ex-Goldman banker Roger Ng says knew Jho Low around 2008/2009

GLOBAL markets experienced a roller-coaster ride last week, tracking closely US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements. As always, his next move is anyone’s guess.

First, “Black Monday” on April 7 occurred in response to his sweeping tariffs levied on most nations, which also cau...

Cover Story: Navigating Trump’s tariff endgame

AmInvestment Bank has cut earnings forecasts for most banks by 2.9% to 9.4% for financial year 2025 (FY2025) and FY2026, citing concerns over higher credit costs from slower economic growth and ongoing US-China trade tensions.

The research house warned that if the trade war continues, banks may need to increase provisions, leading to higher credit costs and lower earnings. High US tariffs on Chinese goods could also indirectly affect Malaysia’s trade.

AmInvestment Bank cuts bank earnings on rising credit costs

(April 24):&nbsp;Coffee shop operator Zuspresso Sdn Bhd&nbsp;plans to open nearly 200 new stores in Southeast Asia this year, after surpassing Starbucks as Malaysia’s largest coffee chain within five years of inception.&nbsp;

ZUS Coffee to add 200 Southeast Asia stores in Starbucks duel

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

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

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): Malaysia&nbsp;will need to mark down its growth forecast of 4.5% to 5.5% for the year, due to trade and tariff uncertainties, its central bank governor said.

Malaysia will need to revise down growth forecast, BNM governor says

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

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

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

(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.

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

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

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

Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa said that he first met fugitive Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) almost 20 years ago, just as the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA)&nbsp;was about to set up.

(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

U Mobile Sdn Bhd, the telco spearheading the development of Malaysia’s second 5G network, announced&nbsp;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

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

Citigroup Inc&nbsp;strategists called on investors to build positions in Chinese property stocks, as policy support and better management practices are expected to improve the sector’s profitability.&nbsp;

Citi says ‘good time’ to accumulate Chinese property stocks

(April 24):&nbsp;Online merchants are being inundated with suspicious offers to help avoid paying US tariffs&nbsp;on goods made in China.

‘Made in Malaysia’: Online sellers bombarded with ways to evade 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):&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 decision on the appeal of Muar member of Parliament (MP) Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman against his conviction and sentence for abetting criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property, and money laundering involving Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada) funds, will be known on June 25.

Decision on Syed Saddiq’s conviction and sentence appeal out on June 25

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.

Jason Ng & Syafiqah Salim