An American former executive of a large Japanese brokerage who has been criminally charged in Japan asked a court to rule him innocent, and said the outcome of his trial will have bearings on the country’s standing as an international financial hub.

American banker on trial says innocent verdict will help Japan

Nomura Holdings Inc’s shares jumped to their highest in 16 years, after Japan’s biggest brokerage doubled third-quarter profit and beat market estimates on robust trading and cost cuts.

Nomura soars to 16-year high as profit jump cements recovery

Nomura Holdings Inc’s profit rose more than analysts expected, as Japan’s biggest brokerage reaped the benefits from robust trading and investment banking business and made progress on cost cuts.

Nomura profit beats estimates on trading boom, cost cuts

Sweeping tariffs announced on Wednesday by U.S. President Donald Trump pose a significant risk to the global economy at a time when growth has been sluggish, the head of the International Monetary Fund said in a statement on Thursday.

IMF chief says US tariffs represent significant risk to global outlook

(April 3): Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co have reached a preliminary agreement to form a joint venture to operate the U.S. chipmaker's factories, the Information reported on Thursday, citing two people involved in the discussions.

TSMC, the world's largest contract...

Intel, TSMC tentatively agree to form chipmaking joint venture — report

Investors braced for further pain across global markets as US stocks and the dollar suffered their worst day in years after Donald Trump’s latest tariff measures sparked a global flight to haven assets.

S&P 500 just had its worst day since 2020 amid US stock meltuudown

The director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) said new tariffs announced by the US along with those introduced at the start of the year could lead to a contraction of around 1% in global merchandise trade volumes in 2025.

WTO says tariffs could bring contraction of 1% in global merchandise trade volumes

Suppliers to Apple Inc are following the iPhone maker lower on Thursday, as the Trump administration’s tariff announcement spurs widespread selling.

Apple is seen as especially vulnerable to the tariffs given it counts China as a major manufacturing hub, and Trump’s country-specific levies included a sharp hike on China.

Apple suppliers tumble as tariffs hit iPhone supply chain

Fitch Ratings downgraded China’s sovereign rating on concerns over weakening finances and rising public debt, just one day after the US imposed higher tariffs on the country. 

The cut takes China’s long-term foreign currency default rating to "A" from "A+" with a stable outlook, Fitch said in a statement on Thursday. China’s Finance Ministry responded with a strong rebuke, describing the decision as biased and not reflective of reality.

Fitch cuts China rating on weakening finances, debt concerns

Wall Street economists said the US risks a recession this year and inflation could return to pandemic levels following the Trump administration’s announcement of major tariffs on global trading partners.

Economists slash US growth, boost inflation forecasts on tariffs

Heavyweight technology stocks led a broad selloff on Wall Street on Thursday after President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on major trade partners ignited fears of an all-out trade war and raised the risk of a global economic recession.

Wall Street plunges as Trump tariffs trigger recession fears

World cocoa and coffee prices fell on Wednesday as investors fretted that President Donald Trump's move to slap punishing tariffs on US imports would damage chocolate and coffee demand in the world's top consumer of the products.

Coffee and cocoa slide as Trump tariffs spark demand worries

The US stock market is down almost 10% since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, marking the worst 10-week start under a new president since George W Bush in 2001 during the height of the dot-com selloff.

Trump’s second term brings worst stock market start since 2001

Steel products maker Mayu Global Group Bhd (KL:MAYU) said its executive director Tan Kim Hee has been detained by the police.

He was held by Bukit Aman police on April 2 to assist in an ongoing investigation, said the group, formerly known as Atta Global Group Bhd, in a bourse filing.

Mayu Global executive director Tan Kim Hee detained by police

Heavyweight technology stocks led a broad selloff on Wall Street on Thursday after President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on major trade partners ignited fears of an all-out trade war and raised the risk of a global economic recession.

The Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma) has called on the government to consider "emergency support measures" to help the industry weather the impact of the sweeping new duties imposed by the US.

Rubber glove makers urge govt to consider emergency support measures amid US tariffs

Loss-making LYC Healthcare Bhd’s (KL:LYC) chief financial officer (CFO) Chong Sook Peng has resigned, with effect from May 30, 2025.

LYC Healthcare CFO resigns a little over a year into service

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

Mayu Global, Tuju Setia, Iskandar Waterfront City, TNB, HHRG

Eight Opec+ countries unexpectedly agreed on Thursday to advance their plan to phase out oil output cuts by increasing output by 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) in May, a decision that prompted oil prices to extend earlier sharp losses.

Opec+ unexpectedly speeds up oil output hikes, oil drops

Loss-making Iskandar Waterfront City Bhd (KL:IWCITY) said it has been given a six-month extension until Sept 23 to submit its regularisation plan.

Iskandar Waterfront City gets six-month extension to submit regularisation plan

Donald Trump’s decision to boost tariffs on almost every country will deal a blow to China’s economy. But it’s also handing Xi Jinping a rare opening to deepen relationships across the board, including with key US allies in Asia and beyond.

Trump gives China’s Xi a chance to win over world hit by tariffs

Ho Hup Construction Company Bhd (KL:HOHUP) on Thursday said its subsidiary, Ho Hup Jaya Sdn Bhd, is offloading two floors in Ho Hup Tower to its substantial shareholder Insas Bhd, for RM13 million, with the proceeds to be used to repay borrowings and for general working capital.

Ho Hup sells Bukit Jalil office units for RM13 mil in related-party transaction

HHRG Bhd (KL:HHRG) said its 51%-owned subsidiary, MG Furniture Sdn Bhd, has applied for an interim injunction to restrain four directors from interfering in its operations and accessing its premises in Penang.

HHRG furniture unit seeks injunction to bar directors from accessing premises

The tiny southern African kingdom of Lesotho has been hit with a 50% reciprocal trade tariff by US President Donald Trump, the highest levy of any single state on his long list of target economies.

Lesotho, which Trump had ridiculed in March as a country "nobody has ever heard of", is a poor and landlocked country with a gross domestic product of just over US$2 billion.

Trump slaps tiny African kingdom of Lesotho with highest tariff of all

Stellantis NV said on Thursday it was temporarily laying off 900 workers at five US facilities after President Donald Trump's tariffs were announced, and temporarily pausing production at an assembly plant in Mexico and one in Canada.

Stellantis says will temporarily lay off 900 US workers following tariff announcement

The devastating gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, Selangor, on the morning of the second day of Aidilfitri, united Malaysians in an outpouring of support for the hundreds of victims affected by the tragedy.

Gas pipeline fire: Swift action by govt, private sector, NGOs, testament to solidarity, compassion of Malaysia's multiracial society

PMW International Bhd, which is involved in the trading and manufacturing of concrete products, is seeking to list on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia to raise funds to build a new facility in Sarawak.

Concrete products maker PMW International seeks ACE Market listing

Britain on Wednesday published a 400-page list of US goods it could include in any possible retaliatory tariff response to President Donald Trump's levies on British imports, even as it pressed ahead with talks to reach an economic deal with Washington.

UK lists thousands of US goods which could face any retaliatory tariffs

China on Thursday urged the US to immediately cancel its latest tariffs and vowed countermeasures to safeguard its own interests, after President Donald Trump declared sweeping levies on US trading partners around the world.

China urges US to immediately lift tariffs, vows retaliation

Suppliers to Apple Inc are following the iPhone maker lower on Thursday, as the Trump administration’s tariff announcement spurs widespread selling.

Apple is seen as especially vulnerable to the tariffs given it counts China as a major manufacturing hub, and Trump’s country-specific levies included a sharp hike on China.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) (KL:TENAGA) will implement its TNB Fire Relief Assistance programme, offering a one-off 100% rebate on one month’s electricity bill for customers whose homes were affected by the gas pipeline blaze in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.

TNB announces one-month electricity bill rebate for Putra Heights fire victims

The US stock market is down almost 10% since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, marking the worst 10-week start under a new president since George W Bush in 2001 during the height of the dot-com selloff.

BEIJING (April 3): China's finance ministry on Thursday said China "deeply" regrets and does not recognise Fitch downgrading China's long-term foreign currency rating to "A" from "A+".

In a statement, the ministry said the decision "is biased and cannot fully and objectively reflect the...

Takashi Nakamichi & Nao Sano