European stocks rose as key elections held center stage and investors grew more optimistic about Federal Reserve (Fed) interest-rate cuts following US economic data that supported the case for easing.


France’s CAC 40 benchmark index advanced for a second day in the buildup to this weekend’s final round of voting in snap parliamentary elections.

European stocks advance with elections in focus

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): Malaysia 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

In today’s “flat” energy world, Malaysia finds itself on the same oil-price roller coaster as everyone else — one moment plunged by the Covid-19 collapse, the next jolted by recovery and geopolitical flare-ups. In the first quarter of 2020, Brent crude tumbled over 65% from its year-start levels, as global demand evaporated under lockdowns; by 2023, however, it had averaged US$83 (RM364.12) per barrel, down from US$101 in 2022 and roughly US$81 in 2024. US President Donald Trump’s “America First” energy agenda — unleashing a US shale surge, imposing tariffs on Chinese goods, and withdrawing from the Paris climate pact — amplified these supply-demand swings and regulatory uncertainty, forcing Malaysia to weather thinner trade surpluses, ringgit gyrations, and a bruised fiscal cushion.

From Trump’s shale flood and Malacca choke to Malaysia’s green energy rebirth

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

Citigroup Inc 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.

Citi says ‘good time’ to accumulate Chinese property stocks

Australia’s ruling Labor party will create a critical mineral reserve if it’s re-elected in an upcoming ballot, seeking to secure supplies of the crucial materials as global trade headwinds grow.

Australia’s ruling Labor pledges new critical minerals reserve

The Trump administration is considering whether to reduce certain tariffs targeting the auto industry that carmaker executives have warned would deal a severe blow to profits and jobs.

Trump administration could ease tariffs targeting auto industry, Bloomberg reports

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) plans to begin production with its A14 fabrication process in 2028, aiming to remain at the cutting edge of the chip industry.

Taiwan's TSMC says cutting-edge A14 chip tech to start production in 2028

(April 24): Coffee shop operator Zuspresso Sdn Bhd 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.

ZUS Coffee to add 200 Southeast Asia stores in Starbucks duel

Chinese President Xi Jinping committed the world’s top polluter to more stringent curbs on greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade in global climate talks that took place without the US.

Xi commits China to tougher climate targets as US retreats

Newmont Corp posted its highest quarterly costs in at least nine years, in part because of its operations at one of Australia’s largest gold mines. 

The world’s top gold producer said the all-in sustaining cost of producing the precious metal hit US$1,651 (RM7,248) an ounce in the first quarter. That’s about 13% more than the prior quarter and is the highest in records going to back to 2016.

World’s top gold miner Newmont sees highest costs in decade

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

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

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

(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;

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

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

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

(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

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

(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

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.

Cantor teams up with Tether, SoftBank for US$3.6b crypto venture

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

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 23): US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko on Wednesday, and stressed the need to sign an economic partnership between the two countries as soon as possible, the US Treasury Department said.

US wants to sign economic partnership with Ukraine 'as soon as possible'

(April 23): Saudi budget carrier flyadeal on Wednesday confirmed a deal to order 10 Airbus A330neo wide-body passenger jets, as it expands into fast-growing long-haul markets in Southeast Asia.

Saudi budget carrier flyadeal confirms Airbus jet order for long-haul expansion

US President Donald Trump said that imposing a higher tax rate on millionaires would spur the country’s richest to leave the US, downplaying an idea that is under discussion in some Republican circles as a way to pay for an economic package.

Trump says millionaire tax would push wealthy to leave US

MEXICO CITY/BENGALURU (April 23): International Business Machines (IBM) said 15 of its government contracts were shelved under a cost-cutting drive by the Trump administration, a setback that eclipsed its upbeat revenue forecast and dragged its shares down over 6% after hours.

IBM says 15 contracts impacted by DOGE cost cuts, shares drop

Chinese President Xi Jinping committed the&nbsp;world’s top polluter&nbsp;to more stringent curbs on greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade in global climate talks that took place without the US.

John Viljoen & Sujata Rao