A few weeks back, an old friend asked me this over some pints. “Do you think ChatGPT will replace us one day?” Both of us are in the creative industry, an area initially assumed to be technologically resilient. But like truck drivers and self-driving vehicles, it is now our heads that may be on the chopping block.

Disruption: Adapting to new age of AI tools

Social media giants such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube have long occupied the livestreaming space, catering to the general public with content ranging from mukbang (where the host broadcasts his or her binge eating) to business webinars. A large segment of internet dwellers may, however, fin...

Local Twitch streamers carve out personal space on internet

Some companies are choosing to cut the cost of digitalising by purchasing pirated software. However, this opens them to greater cybersecurity threats, not to mention reputational damage.

For instance, in early 2020, hackers broke into Texas-based SolarWind’s systems and added malicious ...

Cybersecurity: No savings from pirated software

Shaking off a dismal 2020, most fund managers are looking towards the new year with optimism, expecting 2021 to be a year of recovery for both the global economy and financial markets.

Aggressive fiscal and monetary policies are expected to continue next year, especially in Europe and t...

Wealth: Key investment themes in a recovery year

Match-fixers have been having a field day since the pandemic broke out, posing a threat to sporting organisations around the world. However, the good guys are fighting back with technology. They are employing a combination of advanced algorithms and data gathering tools to help identify suspiciou...

Integrity Tech: Tackling match-fixing with tech

The local housing rental market in urban areas is in an unusual state. On the one hand, the lack of affordability is driving the younger generation to rent at steadily increasing rates. On the other, many properties remain vacant, with the property overhang gnawing at owners for many years.
...

Proptech: Using data to optimise the rental market

Over the past year, fintech firms that are involved in person-to-person (P2P) and business-to-customer (B2C) payments saw a boom in business — as evidenced in the rapid adoption of e-wallets, online payment gateways and QR code payments. When it comes to the business-to-business (B2B) sector, how...

Digital Payments: B2B segment slow to adopt cashless methods

Since Uber’s exit from Malaysia in 2018, there has been no mistaking Grab’s dominance of the local e-hailing landscape. The company commanded 72% of the local e-hailing market in 2020, as stated in its latest initial public offering (IPO) documents. Still, new market entrants like AirAsia Ride (l...

E-hailing: Is AirAsia Ride coming in at the right time?

Just last month, a Samsung Galaxy A21 phone caught fire on a plane in New Orleans. Shortly after the plane landed, the passenger’s cellphone began overheating and generating sparks, prompting the use of fire extinguishers and the immediate evacuation of everyone on board. Thankfully, no one was s...

Tech Myths: Do Samsung phones still explode?

A strong data economy is needed not only to support the growth of the digital economy, but also to make the Malaysian Governance Index — used to measure the country’s performance — possible.

A strong data economy is built, however, on a foundation of open data, where educators, students...

Listicle: Open data platforms every Malaysian data scientist should know

Japan's cabinet on Friday approved a record US$730 billion (RM3.26 trillion) budget for the fiscal year starting in April, while limiting new bond issuance to the lowest in 17 years on the back of record tax revenue.

Japan's cabinet approves record US$730b budget for next fiscal year

Japanese manufacturing giant Nidec said on Friday it planned to launch a tender offer for Makino Milling Machine at a 42% premium to Thursday's closing share price, with or without the target company's approval.

Nidec announces US$1.6b unsolicited bid for Makino Milling

Core inflation in Japan's capital accelerated in December as price pressures broadened, data showed on Friday, keeping alive market expectations for a near-term interest rate hike.

Inflation in Japan's capital accelerates, keeps rate hike prospects intact

New York cocoa futures fell sharply on Thursday, extending the market's retreat from last week's record high, with profit-taking amid thin trading volumes ahead of the year-end.

NY cocoa plunges after Christmas on profit-taking; sugar also down

MORNING CALL: 27/12/24

Oil edged lower in light holiday trading on soft US jobs data and a retreat in natural gas futures.

Oil prices dip in thin trading on soft US data, natural gas outlook

US soybean futures rose more than 1% on Thursday and soymeal futures touched a two-month high as worries about dry weather in parts of Argentina prompted speculators to exit short positions ahead of the new year, analysts said.

Soybean futures up as weather spurs short-covering; corn at six-month high

MOSCOW (Dec 26): Alexei Miller, the head of Russia's Gazprom said on Thursday the group's natural gas production is set to rise this year by 61 billion cubic metres (bcm) to around 416 bcm.

The increase is from an all-time low production in loss-making 2023, when output plummeted b...

Gazprom's gas output to rise to around 416 bcm in 2024

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday its analysis of samples from the first severe case of bird flu in the country last week showed mutations not seen in samples from an infected backyard flock on the patient's property.

Bird flu virus shows mutations in first severe human case in US, CDC says

BEIJING (Dec 27): Chinese battery manufacturer CATL said it plans to seek a listing in Hong Kong, a Shenzhen Stock Exchange filing showed.

CATL plans to issue offshore H-shares and apply for a listing on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, it said in the filing.

...

China's CATL to seek Hong Kong listing

Here is a brief recap of the business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday.

TNB, Samaiden, Gadang, Aizo, MyMBN, YTL Power, Kawan Renergy, Taghill, BHIC, Teck Guan, CCK, Lebtech, Southern Cable

YTL Power International Bhd (KL:YTLPOWR) said on Thursday that the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has once again ceased to be a substantial shareholder in the multi-utility owner and operator after offloading 14.93 million shares.&nbsp;

EPF ceases to be substantial shareholder in YTL Power

The legal counsel for Segambut Member of Parliament Hannah Yeoh has filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal on Thursday challenging the High Court's decision to dismiss her defamation suit against former inspector general of police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

Hannah Yeoh appeals dismissal of defamation suit against ex-IGP

The Taiping High Court has awarded RM1.8 million in damages to a former security guard who sustained a brain injury due to medical negligence during treatment following a motorcycle accident in 2016.

Court awards RM1.8 mil to ex-security guard over medical negligence

Keyfield International Bhd (KL:KEYFIELD) has issued its maiden RM200 million Islamic bonds (sukuk) under its sukuk wakalah programme of RM1 billion.

Keyfield International issues maiden RM200m sukuk

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) aims to focus on eradicating corruption in procurement, enforcement and grand corruption to help the country's economy, reduce leakages and return misappropriated national assets and money next year.

MACC sets sights on 'grand corruption', to revamp structure in 2025 — Azam Baki

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday its analysis of samples from the first severe case of bird flu in the country last week showed mutations not seen in samples from an infected backyard flock on the patient's property.

Oil edged lower in light holiday trading on soft US jobs data and a retreat in natural gas futures.&nbsp;

Wall Street's main indexes drifted lower in light trading volumes on Thursday, as rising yields pressured some shares, while investors looked for a year-end boost from the so-called Santa Claus rally.

Wall Street slips as rising yields pressure some shares 

US soybean futures rose more than 1% on Thursday and soymeal futures touched a two-month high as worries about dry weather in parts of Argentina prompted speculators to exit short positions ahead of the new year, analysts said.

Stocks wavered in a quiet post-holiday session as mixed jobless claims data did little to alter bets on the Federal Reserve outlook.

US stock rally stalls in sleepy session

Japanese equities were primed to rise after fresh weakness in the yen, following a lackluster day on Wall Street that saw muted moves in stocks and government bonds.

Japanese stocks to gain after fresh yen weakness

Recurring applications for US unemployment benefits rose to the highest in more than three years, adding to signs that it is taking longer for out-of-work people to find a job.

US continuing claims rise to highest in more than three years

The turmoil that’s threatening to topple Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has members of his political party poring over the rulebook for replacing him.

Trudeau is under mounting pressure from elected lawmakers in his ruling Liberal Party to leave after nine years in power.

Trudeau’s crisis puts spotlight on succession rules for Canada’s Liberals

BEIJING (Dec 27):&nbsp;Chinese battery manufacturer CATL said it plans to seek a listing in Hong Kong, a Shenzhen Stock Exchange filing showed.

CATL plans to issue offshore H-shares and apply for a listing on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, it said in the filing.

...

(Dec 27): As Donald Trump prepares to fulfill a lengthy list of campaign promises, the president-elect’s vow to ensure that all remaining Bitcoin is “made in the USA” may prove to be one of the most challenging to keep.

Trump made the pledge in a post on his Truth Social account in June...

Trump’s ‘made in USA’ Bitcoin is promise impossible to keep

MOSCOW (Dec 26): Alexei Miller, the head of Russia's Gazprom&nbsp;said on Thursday the group's natural gas production is set to rise this year by 61 billion cubic metres (bcm) to around 416 bcm.

The increase is from an all-time low production in loss-making 2023, when output plummeted b...

(Dec 27): South Korea’s business confidence deteriorated the most since the global outbreak of Covid-19, reflecting mounting concerns about an economy grappling with political turmoil and facing Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

The business outlook for January fell 7.3 points to 82.4 in t...

South Korea’s business confidence tumbles by most since pandemic

Japan's cabinet on Friday approved a record US$730 billion (RM3.26 trillion) budget for the fiscal year starting in April, while limiting new bond issuance to the lowest in 17 years on the back of record tax revenue.

Jotham Lim

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Jotham Lim

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