Global markets treaded water on Wednesday ahead of US consumer price data that could potentially shift the monetary policy outlook there, while investors waited to see if earnings of big banks would match sky-high expectations.

Traders mark time ahead of US CPI, bank earnings

When Geely listed Volvo Car AB in 2021, Li Shufu hailed the turnaround of the “tiger” that he’d bought 11 years earlier, and said the job now was to “give that tiger wings”.

Volvo’s billionaire owner Li faces pressure for new growth plan

Boeing Co chief executive officer Kelly Ortberg said the US planemaker has implemented sweeping changes to reduce the number of defects and hitches in its production line, as he faced questions from US senators about the company’s recovery from several high-profile accidents.

Boeing has made ‘drastic’ changes to root out defects, CEO says

The UK will be hit by the global impact of US tariffs even if ministers succeed in their mission to secure an exemption for British goods, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said.

Reeves says Trump’s tariffs will hurt UK even if Britain secures US deal

Tesla Inc’s vehicle sales fell 13% last quarter to an almost three-year low, as the carmaker made over its most important model and dealt with international backlash against Elon Musk.

Tesla sales drop to lowest since 2022 amid Musk backlash

US private payrolls increased more than expected in March, but that did not change economists' views that the labour market was slowing against the backdrop of mounting economic uncertainty due to tariffs.

US private payrolls growth beats expectations in March

President Donald Trump has launched an aggressive economic strategy reminiscent of the 1985 Plaza Accord, aiming to weaken the US dollar and rebalance global trade in America’s favour. Dubbed the Mar-a-Lago Accord, this initiative seeks to tackle what Trump sees as the overvaluation of the dollar — an issue he believes has contributed to America’s persistent trade deficits and weakened its manufacturing sector.

From the Plaza Accord to the Mar-a-Lago Accord: Trump’s high-stakes gamble to reshape global trade and currency markets

Shipping companies have all-but stopped buying dry bulk commodity carriers that were built in China as the industry waits to see if President Trump will press ahead with historic port charges on vessels constructed in the Asian country.

Sales of China-built ships collapse as industry sweats over US ports plan

QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd, the operator of KFC restaurants across Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Cambodia, said there are "no sales process currently being pursued or planned" by the group, and that it has been seeing encouraging signs of recovery in the first quarter of 2025 (1Q2025).

KFC operator QSR Brands says no sales process being pursued or planned

Israel announced a major expansion of military operations in Gaza on Wednesday, saying large areas of the enclave would be seized and added to its security zones, accompanied by large-scale evacuations of the population.

Israel to seize parts of Gaza as military operation expands

Food delivery company Grubhub is reviving the quarter-century-old Seamless brand in New York, its biggest market, in a bid to drive growth in a key city as it lags behind rivals nationally.

Seamless, founded in New York in 1999, remains a recognisable brand in the area, even after merging with Grubhub in 2013.

Grubhub revives Seamless delivery brand in key NYC market

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

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

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

Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) has firmly denied any relation to the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, on Tuesday.

Indah Water denies responsibility for Putra Heights gas pipeline fire

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

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

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

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

RHB Banking Group has announced a strategic organisational realignment, involving key leadership changes across five senior roles, as part of its new three-year corporate strategy (2025-2027), known as “PROGRESS27”.

RHB announces organisational realignment to drive growth

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

A brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Wednesday.

Petronas Gas, Gas Malaysia, IJM, Rohas Tecnic, T7 Global, ICT Zone Asia, Capital A, YNH Property, OCK Group

The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has confirmed that no construction activities were taking place at the gas pipeline explosion site in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, at the time of the incident on Tuesday.

No construction work at gas pipeline fire site — CIDB

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.

Gas pipeline blaze: Gas Malaysia reduces supply to some areas, assures minimal impact on earnings 

A summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Wednesday.

FBM KLCI up 0.85% to 1,526.52 on April 2, 2025

KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): theedgemalaysia.com highlighted five stocks with momentum. Three stocks showed positive momentum while two stocks showed negative momentum at Bursa Malaysia's noon break on Wednesday.

<h3>The stocks with positive momentum were:</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Pappajack Bhd (KL:P...

Stocks with momentum on April 2, 2025: Pappajack, MHC Plantations, Malaysia Smelting Corp, Leong Hup, Velocity Capital

KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) is seeking an appropriate and effective mechanism to address the housing woes of the victims of Tuesday's (April 1) gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.

Putra Heights blaze: Housing Ministry studying best way to help displaced victims

US President Donald Trump's new tariff plan has the ocean shipping industry on edge as he stokes a trade war destined to stanch transport demand and send companies scrambling to manage the fallout.

Trump's reciprocal tariff plan amplifies risk of ocean shipping chaos, executives say

US President Donald Trump's planned tariffs will be negative across the world, with the damage depending on how far they go, how long they last and whether they lead to successful negotiations, European Central Bank (ECB) head Christine Lagarde said on Wednesday.

Trump's tariffs will be negative the world over, says ECB's Lagarde

International law firm Simmons &amp; Simmons LLP has signed a 20-year lease as the anchor tenant at IJM Corp Bhd’s (KL:IJM) commercial property at 25 Finsbury Circus in London.

Stella Qiu & Caroline Valetkevitch