HSBC Holdings plc is aiming to challenge India’s private-sector banks, betting that the country’s swelling pool of affluent customers and globally connected citizens can fuel its next phase of growth as it pushes deeper into smaller cities.

HSBC makes big push for affluent clients in India to fuel growth

(July 17): More than 100 companies have approached JPMorgan Chase & Co to explore banking and payment solutions for corporate treasury operations in India’s GIFT City over the next 12 to 18 months, highlighting growing interest from multinational firms in the country’s financial hub.

JPMorgan in talks with 100 multinationals for India finance hub

Those rejoicing over the Ministry of Education’s recent announcement that the requirement for private education institutions, including tuition centres, to maintain at least 30% bumiputera equity ownership will be dropped should perhaps hold off on their celebrations for now.

The announ...

Frankly Speaking: A case of misplaced priority

Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd (KL:HAPSENG) said it plans to sell its Singapore-listed building materials unit for about S$140 million (RM447 million) following a takeover offer.

Hap Seng Consolidated to sell Singapore listed unit Hafary for S$140 mil

STOCKHOLM (Sept 28): A surge in diesel prices linked to this year's Iran conflict has helped make electric trucks cheaper ​to own and operate than diesel models in six ‌major European Union markets, which account for almost half of the bloc's new truck sales, according to an analysis by Brus...

Iran-linked diesel price spike makes electric trucks cheaper than diesel in key EU markets, environmental group says

Sakai Chemical Industry Co’s century-old expertise in producing fine powders for face makeup used by geisha is finding a lucrative new use — powering the artificial intelligence (AI) boom.

From geisha face paint to servers, Sakai Chemical emerges as AI linchpin

(Sept 28): Global fund managers are dialing back their long-running retreat from Chinese stocks, drawn by AI prospects and favourable valuations.

Global funds end underweight position on China after four years

HONG KONG (Sept 28): As the US monetary tightening cycle gets underway, Asian markets face a formidable headwind, yet the structural impact will diverge sharply by country and sector.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh announced on September 16 that the U.S. central bank was hiking its b...

Opinion: Where will Fed tightening hit hardest in Asia?

MELBOURNE/BENGALURU (Sept 28): Australia's top gold producer Northern Star Resources said it rejected an unsolicited A$38.7 billion (US$27.1 billion) takeover proposal from South Africa's Gold Fields, the latest sign of consolidation pressure in the gold sector.

Australia's Northern Star rejects US$27 bil takeover approach from Gold Fields

GoTo Group shares tumbled after Indonesia’s stock exchange eliminated its 50-rupiah (1.1 sen) price floor, unleashing pent-up selling pressure from investors who had been unable to exit at the mandated minimum price.

GoTo shares plunge after Indonesia's stock exchange removes price floor

My previous article, “Why we must invest in the next semi­conductor frontier” (Issue 1645, Sept 21), explained why it makes sense for Malaysia to move into advanced packaging at a time when the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is creating huge demand for increasingly powerful semicond...

My Say: What we’re really betting on with advanced semicon packaging

(Sept 28): Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co will buy a 30% stake in rival electric carmaker Nio Inc’s battery swapping unit for 640 million yuan (US$95 million), providing support for a cash intensive technology that Nio has been spearheading.

Geely to buy 30% stake in Rival Nio’s battery-swapping unit

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 28): Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, wife of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) at the age of 100, on Monday morning.

Tun Dr Siti Hasmah passes away at 100

(Sept 27):&nbsp;Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his Barisan Nasional party will leave the ruling coalition once Parliament is dissolved at the next election, the New Straits Times reported.&nbsp;

BN says it will quit coalition at next election — NST

Oil advanced and US equity futures slipped after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while saying negotiations may resume this week.

Oil up, stock futures slip as Iran offer rejected

Evocom Bhd (KL:EVOCOM) fell over 20% in its trading debut on Monday as weak market conditions weighed on the flexible staffing firm.

Evocom falls over 20% in ACE Market trading debut

Most debates about democracy ask whether democracy is superior to the alternatives. Supporters point to freedom, representation and legitimacy. Critics point to voter ignorance, populism, short-termism and political dysfunction. Others look at countries governed by technocrats or strong states and ask whether expertise and competence might sometimes produce better outcomes than electoral politics.

Tong's Portfolio: Who governs the governors?

GoTo Group shares tumbled after Indonesia’s stock exchange eliminated its 50-rupiah (1.1 sen) price floor, unleashing pent-up selling pressure from investors who had been unable to exit at the mandated minimum price.

SINGAPORE (Sept 28): Oil prices rebounded more than 1% on Monday after US President Donald Trump rejected a peace deal from Iran to resolve their conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, keeping tensions in the Middle East elevated.

Oil heads higher as US-Iran peace talks in stalemate

Here's a heads up on what to look out for today.

YOUR DAY AHEAD: Sept 28, 2026 

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 28): TSH Resources Bhd (KL:TSH) extended its decline on Monday after the plantation firm’s Indonesian subsidiary was slapped with a RM42 million administrative fine.

TSH extends decline to over one-month lows after unit fined RM42 mil by Indonesia

City Developments Ltd (CDL), the property group controlled by one of Singapore’s wealthiest families, fell after it unveiled a plan to invest S$5 billion (US$3.9 billion or RM16 billion) in countries including China and Japan, largely offsetting a divestment drive.

CDL shares sink in Singapore after US$3.9 bil investment plan

WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Sept 27): US President Donald Trump confirmed that he plans to have a dinner meeting with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Sunday night, but reaffirmed his stance against slowing the pace of AI development.

Trump confirms meeting with Anthropic's Amodei, repeats dismissal of AI fears

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 27): The Negeri Sembilan government must continue to function as usual to ensure the well-being and interests of the people are not affected by the current political crisis in the state.

Negeri Sembilan government must continue to function as usual — Jalaluddin

SYDNEY (Sept 28): Share markets were mostly lower on Monday as oil prices popped higher again amid doubts the United States and Iran will reach a truce anytime soon, keeping bonds under pressure ahead of a week packed with economic news.

Stocks slip in Asia as oil climbs, bonds retreat

Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd (KL:HAPSENG) said it plans to sell its Singapore-listed building materials unit for about S$140 million (RM447 million) following a takeover offer.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was granted a conditional pardon by the King on Sept 18, allowing him to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest. In the coming week, the focus is likely to turn to whether he can meet the condition that he must first p...

The Week Ahead: Attention on Najib’s RM50 mil conditional pardon fine, regional key economic data

SINGAPORE (Sept 28):&nbsp;The Malaysian ringgit may be poised for gains as higher oil prices and the artificial-intelligence boom provide tailwinds for the currency, strategists say.

Oil, AI demand give ringgit room to rally, strategists say

PUTRAJAYA (Sept 28): Former human resources minister Datuk Seri M&nbsp;Saravanan arrived at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters here on Monday morning with his wife and two children to receive notices requiring them to declare their assets under Section 36 of the MACC Act 2009.

Saravanan, family arrive at MACC to receive asset declaration notices

BENGALURU (Sept 28): Gold prices fell more than 1% on Monday as a rise in oil prices heightened inflation concerns and reinforced expectations of further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.

Gold drops more than 1% on US rate-hike bets

MELBOURNE/BENGALURU (Sept 28): Australia's top gold producer Northern Star Resources said it rejected an unsolicited A$38.7 billion (US$27.1 billion) takeover proposal from South Africa's Gold Fields, the latest sign of consolidation pressure in the gold sector.

(Sept 28):&nbsp;The US released details of a plan with China to cut tariffs on about US$30 billion of imports from each country following a summit between leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.&nbsp;

Saikat Das & Siddhi Nayak

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