Global stocks looked set for their weakest weekly performance since September 2024, while gold hit a record high, as angst over US tariffs, inflation and a trade row hitting industries from metals to malt whisky weighed on risk appetite.

Shares set for weekly drop, gold hits record high as tariff risks lurk

Global stocks were set to end a roller-coaster week in the red as investor anxiety about US growth combined with downbeat earnings weighing on tech stocks, while gold, government bonds and currencies seen as safe havens gained.

Stocks stumble on growth fears ahead of US payrolls

MSB Global Group Bhd, an aftermarket automotive parts and components distributor, on Friday launched its initial public offering (IPO) that could raise up to RM41.4 million from the ACE Market.

Autopart distributor MSB Global sets ACE Market IPO price at 20 sen per share

Chinese consumer giants dominate next week’s earnings after a survey showed consumers are feeling increasingly optimistic and Beijing outlined plans to revive consumption by boosting incomes.

Pop Mart, Haidilao, Nongfu Spring to set tone for China consumption

Malaysia Airlines' parent Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) on Friday announced it will acquire 30 new Boeing aircraft as part of its fleet modernisation strategy.

Malaysia Airlines' parent opts for 30 new Boeing aircraft to modernise fleet

GX Bank Bhd, Malaysia’s first digital bank, commands the largest share of customer deposits among operational digital banks with RM2.16 billion deposits as of September 2024, according to RAM Ratings.

GXBank tops digital banking sector deposits with RM2.16 bil as of September 2024 — RAM Ratings

Beijing's criticism of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison's move to sell its ports business is a precursor to heightened political scrutiny of other major Chinese business divestments involving American buyers, analysts say.

China's criticism of Hutchison ports deal raises stakes for TikTok US sale

Japan’s households reduced their collective stash of cash at the fastest pace on record last quarter as they sought to cope with rising costs of living, according to the latest data by the Bank of Japan (BOJ).

Japan’s households slash cash at record pace as inflation bites

Malaysia’s headline inflation slowed in February 2025 as food prices stabilised while housing and utilities costs moderated, according to official data released on Friday.

Malaysia's February inflation slows as housing, utilities costs moderate, official data show

Britain's Heathrow Airport said on Friday said it will be closed until midnight after experiencing a significant power outage due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation supplying the airport.

"To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March," Heathrow Airport said in a post on X, adding that passengers are advised not to travel to the airport.

London's Heathrow Airport closes for day after fire at nearby substation

Gold was headed for a third straight week of gains on Friday after three consecutive record highs this week, bolstered by the Federal Reserve's (Fed) rate cut cues for the year and safe-haven demand amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

Gold set for third week of gains on global uncertainties, rate cut hopes

Petronas Gas Bhd (KL:PETGAS) will likely face earnings headwinds in the financial year 2025 (FY2025) as the reduction in transportation and regasification tariffs takes effect, according to analysts.

PetGas faces earnings pressure in FY2025 as lowered tariffs weigh on revenue — analysts

Shares of Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (KL:LSH) fell 17% on its first-ever trades on the ACE Market after the construction firm raised RM168.08 million as part of its transfer from the LEAP Market.

Lim Seong Hai Capital opens 17% lower on ACE Market debut

Top Glove Corporation Bhd (KL:TOPGLOV) will likely turn in smaller-than-expected profits for fiscal 2025, analysts said while flagging rising risk from Chinese rivals.

Top Glove faces rising risks from Chinese rivals, analysts flag after weaker-than-expected 2Q

Asian stocks inched lower on Friday in a subdued end to the week as deepening geopolitical worries and fears over US tariffs and their impact on the global economy curbed investors appetite for risk, keeping safe-haven gold near record highs.

Asian stocks slip as growth, tariff worries weigh

The Bank of Thailand, which has long resisted interest-rate cuts despite immense political pressure, may end up having to embark on the region’s most aggressive easing cycle as a sluggish economy takes a turn for the worse, according to analysts.

Thailand may yet embark on Southeast Asia's most aggressive rate cuts

Lembaga Tabung Haji declared a profit distribution rate of 3.25% after zakat for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2024 (FY2024), breaking its previous four-year streak of declaring 3.1%.

Tabung Haji declares 3.25% profit distribution for FY2024

Oil advanced after the US ramped up measures to hobble Iran’s crude exports, increasing pressure on Tehran amid a push for a new nuclear accord.

Oil advances as US ramps up sanctions against Iranian crude

South Korean chemicals companies are racing to tap new markets after racking up hundreds of millions of dollars in losses in the face of a deluge of capacity from China, their biggest market.

South Korean plastics giants struggle as China becomes a rival

A fresh bout of instability gripped the stock market as concern around the potential impacts of a trade war outweighed the latest housing and jobs data showing the world’s largest economy is still holding up.

US stocks halt Fed-fuelled rally as trade fear lingers

For months, President Prabowo Subianto’s moves to chip away at Indonesia’s long-established economic guardrails have stoked anxiety in markets. This week’s sudden rout suggests investor patience is wearing thin.

Prabowo faces investor revolt over Indonesia’s economic path

Trump says people that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to 20 years, and that includes the funders — Truth Social post

Trump says people that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to 20 years, and that includes the funders — Truth Social post

Micron Technology forecast third-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates on Thursday, signaling strong demand for its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI models, sending its shares up 2% in after-hours trading.

Micron forecasts upbeat quarterly revenue on strong AI memory chip demand

Malaysia Airlines' parent Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) on Friday announced it will acquire 30 new Boeing aircraft as part of its fleet modernisation strategy.

Australia's dominant supermarket chains have benefited from wider profit margins at a time of rapidly increasing shelf prices, the competition regulator said in a new report on Thursday, and called for measures to make the industry fairer.

Australia's supermarkets grew profit margins as living costs soared, says regulator

Malaysia’s headline inflation slowed in February 2025 as food prices stabilised while housing and utilities costs moderated, according to official data released on Friday.

From the Philippines to Senegal, billions of people are finding it easier to feed their families now that rice prices have plunged off 15-year highs.

Rice price drop brings relief to billions, risk for farmers

Britain's Heathrow Airport said on Friday said it will be closed until midnight after experiencing a significant power outage due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation supplying the airport.

"To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March," Heathrow Airport said in a post on X, adding that passengers are advised not to travel to the airport.

Petronas Gas Bhd (KL:PETGAS) will likely face earnings headwinds in the financial year 2025 (FY2025) as the reduction in transportation and regasification tariffs takes effect, according to analysts.

（吉隆坡21日讯）从杰出企业家加速器平台（LEAP）市场转至创业板上市的林上海资本（Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd）（KL:LSH）出师不利，开盘下跌17%。

转战创业板出师不利 林上海资本下跌17%

GX Bank Bhd, Malaysia’s first digital bank, commands the largest share of customer deposits among operational digital banks with RM2.16 billion deposits as of September 2024, according to RAM Ratings.

The Immigration Department has foiled a migrant smuggling syndicate in a special operation conducted on March 19, in Ampang, Selangor.

Immigration director general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said that based on a public tip-off and intelligence reports, the operations team was deployed to the location where they intercepted a Perodua Aruz used to transport illegal immigrants.

Naomi Rovnick & Rae Wee