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

Nissan Motor Co’s incoming chief executive officer Ivan Espinosa is open to pursing a partnership with Honda Motor Co even after talks for a historic tie-up between the Japanese firms abruptly fell apart last month.

Nissan’s next CEO says it needs partners and he’s open to Honda

Worries over the economic effects of the global trade war are further sapping liquidity in US stocks, creating a headache for institutional investors that could also boost volatility in broader markets.

US stock market liquidity drying up as trade war concerns mount

Mynews Holdings Bhd (KL:MYNEWS) reported a 206% surge in net profit for the first quarter ended Jan 31, 2025 (1QFY2025), driven by an increase in store openings and improved in-store sales.

Mynews kicks off FY2025 with over threefold jump in 1Q profit

DeepSeek did more than just show the AI industry you don’t have to spend billions to build artificial intelligence. It fired up a long-dormant Chinese tech industry — and now Western names from OpenAI Inc to Nvidia Corp may pay the price.

China flooding the world with AI models after DeepSeek success

SINGAPORE (March 26): Singapore and Vietnam signed a letter of intent (LOI) on Wednesday to enhance cooperation in cross-border electricity trade for the Asean Power Grid, exploring to increase the low-carbon electricity imports to the city-state to around two gigawatts (GW) by 2035.

Singapore, Vietnam partner to boost cross-border electricity trade for Asean Power Grid

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and BMW AG will team up to produce AI for cars in China, as the tech giant looks to monetise its emerging products and the German automaker seeks to catch up to local brands that are dominating the key market.

Alibaba teams up with BMW to develop AI for cars in China

Tesla will start sales in Saudi Arabia next month, the electric carmaker said on its website, signalling CEO Elon Musk and the kingdom have healed a rift that dates back to the billionaire's short-lived bid in 2018 to take the company private.

Tesla to launch in Saudi Arabia as Musk and the kingdom mend relations

(March 26): Sri Lanka’s central bank governor said monetary policy is “appropriate” right now, as the South Asian nation’s economy and inflation are moving in line with their goals.

Sri Lanka central bank chief says policy rate is appropriate

The Task Force on Sick and Abandoned Private Housing Projects (TFST) has revived 89 private housing projects, with a combined gross development value (GDV) of RM6.48 billion, in the first two months of this year.

Govt's task force revives 89 private housing projects with combined GDV of RM6.48b in two months

Germany’s conservatives and Social Democrats agreed to abolish its gas storage levy in an effort to lower energy bills.

“We will abolish the gas storage levy for everyone,” according to a working paper prepared earlier this week as part of talks to form a new coalition government.

German coalition negotiators agree to abolish gas storage levy

Police are believed to have called up several corporate figures in Kuala Lumpur and Penang in their investigations related to the money trail of the now-defunct pyramid scheme MBI.

Bukit Aman calls up corporate figures to assist in investigations on MBI's money trail — sources

Affin Bank Bhd (KL:AFFIN) may come under investors' microscope for its weakening capital position amid above-industry loan growth.

Affin Bank may come under investors' scrutiny for weakening capital position, RHB flags

The two sons of the late Hong Kong billionaire Lee Shau-Kee now control their father’s US$10 billion (RM44.23 billion) stake in property firm&nbsp;Henderson Land Development Co, according to new filings.

HK billionaire Lee Shau-Kee’s sons get control of US$10b Henderson stake

PETALING JAYA (March 26): Cuckoo International (MAL) Bhd has launched Malaysia’s biggest initial public offering (IPO) in seven months to raise more than RM470 million.

Cuckoo launches Malaysia’s biggest IPO in seven months at RM1.29 per share

Shares of Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd (KL:ASTRO) hit another record low on Wednesday, as investors remained wary of the pay-television operator’s outlook, amid softening advertising expenditure and declining subscription.

Astro tests new record low as results disappoint, analysts flag uncertain future

YTL Power International Bhd’s (KL:YTLPOWR) artificial intelligence data centre (AI DC) segment could contribute up to RM900 million to its net earnings by mid-2027, provided that it achieves full capacity offtake, according to CGS International.

AI data centre segment could contribute RM900m to YTL Power’s earnings by mid-2027 — CGS International

(March 26):&nbsp;Billionaire Ong Beng Seng will&nbsp;plead guilty&nbsp;at a later date than originally expected in a case related to a former Singapore government minister who was jailed for obtaining gifts from the property tycoon.

Billionaire Ong’s Singapore guilty plea delayed on doctor’s report

Chemlite Innovation Bhd (KL:CLITE) ended its first day on the ACE Market underwater, the fifth consecutive listing on Bursa Malaysia to stumble on its debut.

Chemlite dips on ACE Market debut, extends listing flops

Matrix Concepts Holdings Bhd’s (KL:MATRIX)&nbsp;long-serving group managing director Ho Kong Soon, 58, is resigning to pursue personal endeavours.

Matrix Concepts group MD Ho Kong Soon to step down on April 1

PUTRAJAYA (March 26): The Court of Appeal (COA) has upheld on Wednesday the forfeiture of RM3.2 million worth of luxury cars, jewellery, handbags, watches, and foreign and local currency, worth more than RM3.2 million, from former Johor executive council member Datuk Abd Latif Bandi and eight others.

Appellate court upholds RM3.2m forfeiture of valuables from ex-Johor exco, real estate agent

At least two research&nbsp;houses upgraded their call on Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd (KL:ABMB), after its share price dropped to a more attractive valuation, amid a proposed rights issue aimed at supporting the banking group's growth.

Analysts upgrade Alliance Bank, say selldown 'overdone' amid proposed rights issue

Singaporean ride and delivery firm Grab Holdings Ltd is in talks to raise a loan of as much as US$2 billion (RM8.85 billion) to back its potential takeover of Indonesia-based rival GoTo Group Inc, according to people familiar with the matter.

Grab seeks up to US$2 bil loan for potential takeover of GoTo

KUALA LUMPUR (March 26): Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) sees the ban on online optical device and contact lens sales in Malaysia as a boost for Focus Point Holdings Bhd (KL:FOCUSP).&nbsp;

Online sales ban on eyewear to benefit Focus Point, says HLIB

PERTH (March 26): British Airways will restart daily flights to Kuala Lumpur from April 2 this year, four years after axing the Malaysian capital from its route network in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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British Airways to restart daily flights to KL on April 2 after four-year hiatus

KUALA LUMPUR (March 26): MISC Bhd (KL:MISC) could potentially pay out higher dividends from this year onwards from a cash flow boost from a project in Brazil, Maybank Investment Bank said on Wednesday.

MISC could potentially pay out higher dividends starting 2025 — Maybank

KUALA LUMPUR (March 26):&nbsp;China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd (CCC-ECRL) has honoured 18 local vendors, including consultants and subcontractors, with the Excellence Award 2024, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the East Coast Rail Link project (ECRL).

CCC-ECRL recognises excellence of 18 local vendors for outstanding contributions to ECRL project

Solarvest&nbsp;Holdings&nbsp;Bhd’s&nbsp;(KL:SLVEST) unit Atlantic Blue Sdn&nbsp;Bhd&nbsp;has&nbsp;secured an engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) contract from SV Flux Sdn&nbsp;Bhd,&nbsp;an indirect unit of Penang Development Corp (PDC),&nbsp;worth RM103.08 million.

Solarvest secures RM103m EPCC contract from Penang Development Corp unit

Cuckoo International (MAL) Bhd, en route to the Main Market, is looking at double-digit growth in income from rental of its products partly backed by an expansion in its offerings.

Cuckoo International sees double-digit growth in product rental income as offerings expand

SYDNEY (March 26): Petroliam Nasional Bhd, known as Petronas, is aiming to raise up to US$3 billion (RM13.27 billion) in a three-tranche dollar bond transaction, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Petronas aims to raise US$3b in dollar bond deal — Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR (March 26): The High Court here has ordered the Selangor government to hand over three key impact assessment reports of the controversial Petaling Jaya Dispersal (PJD) Link project to four Petaling Jaya residents within a month, granting the residents’ judicial review bid in part.

Suttinee Yuvejwattana & Claire Jiao