Manhattan home sales had a strong start to the year as a bigger share of buyers chose to bite the bullet and accept elevated mortgage rates.

Manhattan home sales soar as buyers seize on mortgage rate dips

US private payrolls growth accelerated in March, the ADP National Employment Report showed on Wednesday.

US private payrolls accelerate in March

The major shareholders of ICT Zone Asia Bhd (KL:ICTZONE), which is seeking to transfer from the LEAP Market to the ACE Market, have completed their exit offer for shares they do not own in ICT Zone, which raised their joint shareholding to 65.28%, up from 64.57%.

ICT Zone Asia concludes exit offer with little change in joint offerors' stake

T7 Global Bhd’s (KL:T7GLOBAL) shares dived on Wednesday, prompting a suspension of intraday short-selling after the oil and gas services firm announced the departure of its executive deputy chairman.

T7 Global dives after deputy chairman's departure, triggering short-selling halt

T7 Global Bhd (KL:T7GLOBAL) said on Thursday that to the best of its board’s knowledge there is no ongoing investigation into the company.

Responding to a query from Bursa Malaysia Securities regarding Tan Sri Tan Kean Soon’s sudden resignation as T7 Global's executive deputy chairman, the company said it had only received his resignation letter and that he had not informed the company of any investigation.

T7 Global: No ongoing investigation into company

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will set up mobile counters at the Putra Heights Mosque temporary relief centre from Thursday till Friday.

JPJ to set up counters for document reprints at Putra Heights Mosque — Loke

Top cocoa grower Ivory Coast raised the price it pays farmers for their beans amid expectations for a smaller harvest, slightly narrowing the gap to the global market.

Ivory coast raises cocoa price for new crop amid smaller harvest

(April 2): China conducted a second day of drills around Taiwan on Wednesday, adding to the unprecedented military pressure it is applying to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, a leader it strongly dislikes.

China simulates port strikes in second day of Taiwan drills

Roblox Corp announced new tools to help parents control how their children interact with strangers on its video-game platform, the company’s latest effort to address concerns about safety.

Roblox rolls out more child safety tools on its game platform

Europe’s solar energy season is getting longer and more intense, threatening to disrupt markets and overwhelm grids with a glut of cheap power.

Europe’s solar season is getting more intense and disruptive

KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): An analyst has flagged a minimum RM18 million impact to Petronas Gas Bhd (KL:PETGAS) following a gas leak fire in Putra Heights on Tuesday. As a result, trading in Petronas Gas shares was halted for an hour until 10am on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Gas pipeline blaze: MIDF flags potential RM18m impact to Petronas Gas

Petronas Gas Bhd (KL:PETGAS) and Gas Malaysia Bhd (KL:GASMSIA) opened marginally lower after a trading halt on the shares were lifted, following the gas leak fire that occurred in Putra Heights, Selangor, on Tuesday.

Gas pipeline blaze: Petronas Gas, Gas Malaysia’s shares open marginally lower after trading halt 

Digital banks in Malaysia are increasing efforts to reach the underserved B40 group, especially those in rural areas, by integrating banking services into popular platforms and offering attractive incentives to encourage usage.

Digital banks in Malaysia urged to re-examine strategies to better serve B40 segment

T7 Global Bhd’s (KL:T7GLOBAL) shares dived on Wednesday, prompting a suspension of intraday short-selling after the oil and gas services firm announced the departure of its executive deputy chairman.

KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): Yinson Holdings Bhd’s (KL:YINSON) slipped on Wednesday after the oil and gas services firm announced weaker than expected results, while analysts tamper their optimism for the stock’s upside.

Yinson's shares slip, analysts tell investors to look past underwhelming results

SINGAPORE (April 2): The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded a street-hail service operator licence (SSOL) to GrabCab, a subsidiary of Grab Rentals and sister company of GrabCar, which holds a ride-hail service operator licence (RSOL) and a car-pool service operator licence (CSOL). &nbsp; &nbsp;

Grab obtains Land Transport Authority licence to operate taxis in Singapore

KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): The police will soon call in the contractor who is believed to have carried out development work near the site of the gas pipeline fire at Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya on Tuesday, after confirming their identity.

Police to investigate contractor in connection with gas pipeline fire at Putra Heights

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The police will look into allegations that the gas pipeline fire at Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights Subang Jaya, Selangor was caused by digging at the Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) reserve land.

Police to look into allegations that digging caused gas pipeline fire

Just when the chapter on MBI was about to be reduced to a page in the history books of investment scams in Malaysia, the investigation into the money trail of one of the longest-running pyramid schemes in the country came back to life.

It restarted two weeks ago with the police summonin...

Alternative Views: Questions abound as the ghost of MBI walks again

Malaysia’s manufacturing conditions moderated slightly in March as new orders eased the most in a year and production fell, latest data showed.

Malaysia's manufacturing conditions moderate slightly in March amid muted demand, PMI data shows

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The scene at Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, resembled a war zone following a gas pipeline fire that broke out at 8.10am on Tuesday.

Putra Heights gas fire scene like a war zone

Professional bodies on Wednesday urged a comprehensive review of safety measures for fire-prone facilities near residential areas, following a Petronas gas pipeline breach that caused a massive blaze on Tuesday, injuring hundreds and damaging numerous properties.

Gas pipeline blaze: Professional bodies call for thorough review of safety measures, better risk management 

KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA) has been granted an extension until April 15, 2025, to issue the shareholder circular for its proposed Practice Note 17 (PN17) regularisation plan.&nbsp;

Capital A given until April 15 to issue shareholder circular on regularisation plan

Palm oil prices are expected to stabilise in the near term, driven by a recovery in production and demand from key importing markets such as India, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).

MPOC sees palm oil prices stabilising in near term amid rising demand from India 

KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): Telecommunications network solutions provider OCK Group Bhd (KL:OCK), whose share price dropped to its lowest in more than one year last Friday (March 28), said the recent earthquake in Myanmar has only caused limited damage to its tower network, with only four sites affected and no disruption to service.

OCK Group says Myanmar quake caused minimal damage, only four towers affected

KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): Rising United States&nbsp;tariffs are expected to affect growth across Asia Pacific (Apac), according to S&amp;P Global Ratings’ latest economic update.

US tariffs expected to affect Asia Pacific economic growth – S&P Global

As risk aversion rises, investors are increasingly seeking shelter in Malaysian bonds to weather the slump on Bursa Malaysia and other stock markets.

Investors turn to bonds amid Bursa rout

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has committed to working closely with relevant ministries and agencies to channel timely and meaningful support to the families impacted by the fire incident near Putra Heights, Puchong, Selangor.

Petronas to work with authorities to support those affected by Putra Heights fire incident

Al-Aqar Healthcare Real Estate Investment Trust (KL:ALAQAR) faces risks of an earnings decline with the proposed renewal of leases for five key properties, CIMB Securities flagged on Wednesday.

Al-Aqar REIT faces earnings risks with lease renewal of key properties, acquisition — analysts

Gas Malaysia Bhd (KL:GASMSIA) on Wednesday said it has cut back on gas supply to several areas to manage supply disruptions brought about by the temporary closure of gas facilities due to the gas pipeline blaze incident in Putra Heights on April 1, assuring that it will not have a material impact on earnings this financial year.

Ju-min Park & Hongji Kim