SYDNEY/MELBOURNE (Feb 14): Tropical Cyclone Zelia made landfall on Australia’s west coast on Friday, the weather bureau said, lashing the world’s largest iron ore hub with heavy rain and wind gusts up to 290 kilometres per hour/kph (180 miles per hour/mph).

Powerful Tropical Cyclone Zelia hits Australia’s iron ore hub

Information technology company MDT Innovations Sdn Bhd's founder Liew Choon Lian has ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Systech Bhd (KL:SYSTECH).

Liew Choon Lian ceases to be substantial shareholder in Systech

A dollar gauge is on track for its worst performance during the first 100 days of a US presidency in data going back to the Nixon era, when America abandoned the gold standard and switched to a free-floating exchange rate.

Dollar poised for worst first 100 days of presidency since Nixon

Wall Street's main indices were on track for weekly gains on Friday, though they struggled for direction on the day as investors navigated contradictory messages on US-China trade and a mixed spate of corporate earnings.

Wall Street set for weekly gains with trade signals, earnings in focus

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged Malaysians not to be affected by negative rhetoric, including during the Ayer Kuning state by-election, but to instead focus on the nation’s growing achievements and its future prospects.

Anwar urges Malaysians to focus on nation’s future, not be affected by negative rhetoric

The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) seized, froze and forfeited assets and issued compounds worth over RM285 million last year in an effort to combat crimes involving corruption.

MACC seized, froze and forfeited assets worth over RM285 mil last year — Azam Baki

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail is optimistic that Barisan Nasional (BN) will emerge victorious at Saturday’s by-elections and retain the Ayer Kuning state seat.

Pahang MB optimistic about BN retaining Ayer Kuning seat

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made a personal appeal to Singaporeans, urging them to vote for candidates who will prioritise the nation and its people above all else, and to choose the best team capable of leading the country through a period of global uncertainty.

Singapore GE2025: PAP, oppositions make pitches in first political broadcasts

The UK has agreed to collaborate with Malaysia in various fields, including technology and new energy management, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

UK agrees to assist Malaysia in technology, new energy — Fadillah

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

Bina Puri, Pos Malaysia, Petronas Gas, Sarawak Oil Palms, Chin Teck Plantations, CTOS Digital, UEM Edgenta, Taghill, Catcha Digital, Astro Malaysia, Iskandar Waterfront City Bhd and Key Alliance

Congress will likely exert more authority over US trade policy if the White House doesn’t demonstrate “significant progress” in the ongoing tariff negotiations with dozens of countries in the coming weeks, says New York Republican Representative Mike Lawler.

Lawler says Congress should intervene if Trump trade war drags on

The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities announced on Friday that all licensed exporting companies under the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) are only permitted to export gloves sourced from local manufacturing facilities. The directive will take immediate effect.

Malaysia bans export of non-locally made rubber gloves, with immediate effect

Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA) has clarified that the recent hacking incident involving stock trading accounts was limited to a small number of client accounts from a few brokers, rather than being widespread.

Trading account breach not widespread — Bursa Malaysia

Bank of America Corp strategists said investors should sell into rallies in US stocks and the dollar, cautioning that the conditions for sustained gains are missing.

BofA’s Hartnett warns sell the rebound in US stocks, dollar

BYD Co’s net income in the first quarter jumped to 9.15 billion yuan (US$1.3 billion or RM5.7 billion), overtaking Tesla Inc on another key metric and signalling a robust start to the year for China’s number one selling car brand.

BYD 1Q profit soars, beating Tesla on another metric

Private equity firm Creador announced on Friday that it has acquired a 13% stake in FPT Long Chau Investment JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest pharmacy chains, for an undisclosed sum.

Creador acquires 13% stake in Vietnam’s pharmacy chain Long Chau

Taghill Holdings Bhd (KL:TAGHILL), formerly known as Siab Holdings Bhd, announced on Friday that it has secured a RM494 million construction contract in Bandar Sri Damansara, Selangor.

Taghill bags RM494m construction contract in Bandar Sri Damansara

Foreign investors have sold US$63 billion (RM275.8 billion) of US equities since the start of March, Goldman Sachs strategists estimate, noting that the data from high-frequency fund flows suggest that European investors have been driving the selling, while other regions have continued to buy US stocks.

Foreign investors dumped US$63b in US equities, Goldman says

In efforts to restore gas supply in areas affected by the Putra Heights’ blaze three weeks ago, Petronas Gas Bhd (KL:PETGAS) said it has resumed operations at the Puchong City Gate.&nbsp;

Petronas Gas resumes operations at Puchong City Gate in bid to restore gas supply

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has issued a legal notice to Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, demanding a public and written apology.

Dr M demands public apology from Zahid over defamatory statement on Seri Pacific Hotel land

Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd has publicly reprimanded Reach Energy Bhd (KL:REACH) and seven directors, for failing to promptly announce that the company had triggered the Practice Note 17 (PN17) criteria under listing rules, after its auditors raised concerns about its ability to continue as a going concern.

Bursa reprimands Reach Energy, fines six directors over PN17 disclosure delay

Bursa Malaysia stocks remained above the key 1,500-point psychological level for a second consecutive day on Friday, despite reports of unauthorised access and trading activity involving several online trading accounts.

KLCI stays steady above 1,500 points despite hacking incident, with tech stocks leading gains

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

A senior Morgan Stanley trading executive’s abrupt departure last month was triggered by an internal investigation into his interactions with colleagues, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Morgan Stanley fired head of a trading unit after conduct probe

TCS Group Holdings Bhd’s (KL:TCS) new executive director Datuk Frankie Ng Kwang Hua rose to become the second-largest shareholder in the ACE Market-listed construction firm after buying another 8.47% stake from the company’s founder and managing director Datuk Tee Chai Seng.

TCS Group’s new executive director Frankie Ng rises to second-largest shareholder after another share buy from founder

US President Donald Trump said his administration is talking with China to strike a tariff deal and that Chinese President Xi Jinping has called him, according to a Time magazine interview published on Friday, as Beijing has so far disputed the US characterisation of talks.

Trump says Xi called him, lays out trade and other deal plans in Time interview

Malakoff Corp Bhd's (KL:MALAKOF) commercial and industrial rooftop solar portfolio has reached 60MW, with its latest signing involving rubber processor Mardec Bhd totalling 3.54 megawatt peak (MWp) across five facilities, the company said.

Malakoff rooftop solar portfolio hits 60MW 

ACE-Market listed LYC Healthcare Bhd (KL:LYC) has made the full payment of RM600,000 to SOG Mummy &amp; Baby Centre Pte Ltd, which had served a winding-up petition to the company.

LYC Healthcare settles RM600,000 outstanding payment with winding-up petitioner

Pharmaceutical companies in China are reporting that they have been able to import some drugs over the past week with tariff exemptions, the Beijing-based American Chamber of Commerce said on Friday.

US business lobby in China: Some pharma firms reporting tariff exemptions

It is neither controversial nor counter-democratic for the head of the judiciary to defend the judicial institution and seek to strengthen it, which includes giving opinions on institutional reforms to reinforce judicial independence.

Opinion: Tengku Maimun is in the best position to speak out for judicial independence

Below is a summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Friday.

Renju Jose, Christine Chen & Melanie Burton