Twelve months ago, Malaysia was confidently preparing to take a bigger role on the world stage as a member of the UN Security Council and as chair of ASEAN in a momentous year for our ten nation association. I said then that I wanted us to work together to build a safer, more prosperous, and more...

Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak's new year message 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's new year message 

Nvidia Corp, whose products have fuelled a flood of artificial intelligence (AI) spending, said new types of AI models that produce more complex answers will only increase the need for computing infrastructure.

Nvidia CEO says fears about DeepSeek’s impact are misplaced

Chinese banks held their benchmark lending rates for a fifth straight month in the absence of more monetary easing, as officials leave open room for stimulus in the likely case that US tariffs rise again.

Chinese banks hold their benchmark lending rates for fifth month

For weeks the US economic picture has been darkening. If Wednesday was an opportunity for Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell to raise the alarm, he took a hard pass.

Powell downplays growing risks, sees tariff impact as transitory

The Trump administration's initial policies, including extensive import tariffs, appear to have tilted the US economy towards slower growth and at least temporarily higher inflation, Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday, with central bank policymakers left guessing over what lies ahead during a period of "unusually elevated" uncertainty.

Fed in no rush to cut rates amid high uncertainty about Trump tariffs

Malaysia’s retail sales will accelerate in the first quarter of the year following a weaker-than-expected showing in the final three months of 2024, an industry research firm said on Thursday.

Malaysia's retail sales will pick up after weaker-than-expected 4Q — Retail Group Malaysia

MORNING CALL: 20/3/25

Once touted as a haven for investors to navigate Donald Trump’s tariff wars, Southeast Asia has all but lost that appeal as a region-wide stock rout deepens.

Haven bets on Southeast Asia fall apart as market selloff intensifies

Asian stocks were set to climb following a rally on Wall Street as Jerome Powell calmed tariff-wary investors, signaling the Federal Reserve saw no need for drastic action in the face of Donald Trump’s trade war.

Asian stocks to rise as Fed calms tariff nerves

Gold rose to a new all-time high as policymakers projected slower growth and higher inflation after holding interest rates steady for a second-straight meeting on Wednesday.

Gold notches another new record high as Fed holds rates, sees higher inflation

An index of emerging-market currencies ended the day slightly lower after the Federal Reserve (Fed) decided to keep interest rates unchanged and showed concerns over the US economic outlook and policy uncertainty.

Emerging market currencies edge lower as Fed signals concern over US outlook

Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Wednesday.

Samaiden, Solarvest, Poh Kong, Affin, Eco World International, ITMAX, Lim Seong Hai Capital, Gagasan Nadi Cergas, NCT Alliance, YTL Power, Heitech Padu, IGB Commercial REIT, IGB REIT, Favelle Favco, Sapura Industrial, TSR Capital

Once touted as a haven for investors to navigate Donald Trump’s tariff wars, Southeast Asia has all but lost that appeal as a region-wide stock rout deepens.

Copper wire and rod manufacturer Ta Win Holdings Bhd (KL:TAWIN) has undergone a board reshuffle following changes to its substantial shareholders.

Ta Win sees board reshuffle following changes in substantial shareholding

Asian stocks were set to climb following a rally on Wall Street as Jerome Powell calmed tariff-wary investors, signaling the Federal Reserve saw no need for drastic action in the face of Donald Trump’s trade war.

Stocks climbed and bond yields fell as Jerome Powell calmed tariff-obsessed investors, signaling the Federal Reserve saw no need for drastic action in the face of Donald Trump’s trade war.

US stocks get relief rally in best post-Fed day since July

Gold rose to a new all-time high as policymakers projected slower growth and higher inflation after holding interest rates steady for a second-straight meeting on Wednesday.

Malaysia’s retail sales will accelerate in the first quarter of the year following a weaker-than-expected showing in the final three months of 2024, an industry research firm said on Thursday.

Federal Reserve officials will likely hold interest rates steady when they meet Wednesday, buying time to assess how President Donald Trump’s policies impact an economy facing both lingering inflationary pressures and mounting growth concerns.

Powell’s remarks to be scrutinised as US Fed set to hold rates steady 

Ripple said the US Securities and Exchange Commission case against the crypto company has ended, the latest of several enforcement actions that have been abandoned during the early weeks of President Donald Trump’s administration.

Ripple CEO says US SEC dropped landmark crypto case

Wall Street's main indexes rose on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's widely anticipated monetary policy decision, at a time when worries linger about trade policies and their impact on the economy.

Wall Street gains with all eyes on US Fed rate decision

According to data from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) Malaysia (as at Jan 31, 2025), electric vehicle (EV) registrations reached a record high of 28,048 in 2024 (50% of which were cars, including jeeps and trucks), representing 10.76% of total vehicle registrations for the year.

Number of EV users rising in Malaysia

President Donald Trump is all in on artificial intelligence and the data centres that power it — but his tariffs threaten to pile new costs on the US businesses spending hundreds of billions to build them.

Trump loves AI but his tariffs ramp up costs for data centres

Alphabet Inc’s Google was warned to step in line with the European Union’s Big Tech rules or risk hefty fines as part of a two-pronged escalation against Silicon Valley that risks further inflaming tensions with US President Donald Trump.

Google, Apple hit by twin EU rebuke amid Big Tech crackdown

After months of delays, the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Bill was passed on March 6, with the goal of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, mitigating the effects of climate change and catalysing Malaysia’s development of CCUS as a source of economic growth, according to the ...

News: Malaysia passes Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage Bill 2025

An index of emerging-market currencies ended the day slightly lower after the Federal Reserve (Fed) decided to keep interest rates unchanged and showed concerns over the US economic outlook and policy uncertainty.

President Donald Trump’s aggressive government cost-cutting agenda is forcing his treasury chief to balance support for that mission with efforts to protect a crucial financial lifeline for millions of low-income Americans.

Bessent resists DOGE cuts that put low-income lending programme under fire

Vladimir Putin has edged closer to his goal of repairing Russia's relations with the United States and driving a wedge between the US and Europe, while offering only a slim contribution towards Donald Trump's peace efforts in Ukraine.

Putin advances strategic aims while ceding little to Trump 

After a string of legal losses for his administration, President Donald Trump’s call to impeach a federal judge — and an ensuing rebuke by the US Supreme Court chief justice — is laying the groundwork for a deepening clash between the White House and the judiciary.

Trump’s call for impeaching judges fuels a showdown with courts

The US&nbsp;government-funded Radio Free Asia told hundreds of US-based staff on Wednesday they will be put on unpaid leave from the end of this week after President Donald Trump's administration said it was terminating the outlet's funding.

Radio Free Asia puts most staff on unpaid leave after grant termination

Financial institutions, especially fund managers and banks, were one of the first movers of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) movement in the private sector. As the purveyor of funds, these institutions began imposing ESG requirements on businesses that wanted financing or investment...