KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): Iconic Penang Sdn Bhd (Iconic Group) has soft launched Iconic Marjorie Hotel, a Marriott International Tribute Portfolio Hotel brand, in Sungai Nibong, Bayan Lepas on Dec 28, 2024. It was developed at a cost of RM180 million and is the first hotel in Penang with the Green Building Index (GBI) rating.

Iconic Group opens Penang’s first GBI Gold-standard hotel

The United Nations Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report 2024 focuses on the massive gap between the rhetorical and real impact of climate action commitments, and emphasises that crunch time is here, as wildfires, heatwaves, storms and droughts intensify globally.

Time for countries to aggressively ramp up climate change action

Malaysia is on its way to becoming a data centre (DC) hub in the region. Between 2021 and  June 2024, a total of RM90.2 billion poured in for DC developments. International companies such as US-based Google, Microsoft, Equinix, as well as China-based Yondr Group, Bridge Data Centres and Singapore-based Keppel Data Centres and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel) are among the big names in Malaysia's DC market.

Data Centres: Malaysia’s Next Frontier

After a prolonged lull in the latter half of the 2010s, Malaysia has experienced a resurgence in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows from project owners since 2021. This revival has attracted renewed interest from financial asset investors, as evidenced by the rerating of the benchmark KLCI and the strengthening of the ringgit this year.

Roaring 20s: Malaysia in FDI upcycle

January

2 Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launches the Central Database Hub (Padu), a database containing individual and household profiles of citizens and permanent residents in Malaysia, which will mainly be utilised for t...

Tech wrapped 2024

What the AI landscape will be like in 2025

The next frontier in the AI race: Scaling for impact

A group of dissenting shareholders of Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (KL:SCIB) showed their dissatisfaction towards the board through their votes at the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) on Dec 19.

Frankly Speaking: Dissenting shareholders flex muscles at SCIB’s AGM

Last week, Bonia Corp Bhd (KL:BONIA) announced its foray into the health and wellness market by investing RM1.8 million in a 50% stake in fitness centre operator Macroverse Sdn Bhd.

Frankly Speaking: The significance of Bonia’s new investment

The voting pattern at Tomypak Holdings Bhd’s (KL:TOMYPAK) recent annual general meeting (AGM) clearly shows that a group of shareholders with about 88 million shares, representing 20% of the company, are at odds with the current management. The 20% block voted against all seven resolutions tabled during the AGM held last week. During the meeting, an independent director, who had served on the board since 2015, was not retained.

Frankly Speaking: Interesting signs emerge at Tomypak’s AGM

Loss-making PUC Bhd (KL:PUC) recently announced it was acquiring digital marketing and business management consultancy Alevate Solutions Sdn Bhd (ASSB) for RM100 million in an all-stock deal.

Frankly Speaking: PUC’s RM100 mil all-stock deal raises eyebrows

Wall Street futures fell in Asia and treasury yields held near eight-month highs on Friday as investors counted down to a US jobs report that could exacerbate or ease the sell-off in the global bond market.

Stocks fall, US yields near eight-month highs ahead of jobs data

Japanese household spending fell at a slower pace than expected in November, government data showed on Friday, but the broader consumption trend remained soft, weighed by higher prices.

Japan November household spending falls as price pressures persist

China's central bank said on Friday it has decided to suspend treasury bond purchases temporarily due to short supply of the bonds, triggering a jump in yields across tenors.

China's central bank halts treasury bond buying citing short supply

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, currently on a two-day official visit to Malaysia, was accorded a formal welcoming ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex on Friday.

Japanese PM accorded official welcome at Perdana Putra

Airbus SE expects to return to delivery levels last seen before the pandemic in the “foreseeable future” as the planemaker presses its advantage against a weakened rival Boeing Co and benefits from surging aircraft demand.

Airbus says return to pre-Covid delivery highs is within reach

Hong Kong’s residential property market is set to finally turn a corner after a three-year slump as lower interest rates draw more buyers, according to analysts. Just don’t expect prices to grow much.

Hong Kong housing analysts predict a market bottom this year

Copper and silver futures in New York are surging above rival international price benchmarks as traders ramp up bets that Donald Trump will impose hefty import tariffs on the metals as part of a broader escalation of his global trade war.

Tariff fears spark disconnect in silver and copper markets

MORNING CALL: 10/1/25

Malaysia’s benchmark FBM KLCI registered a strong 12.58% gain in 2024 — marking its best performance in 14 years — as the country saw a sharp recovery in investor sentiment after a prolonged period of political uncertainties, lifted by strong investment activity and trade activities.

2025 outlook: The key sectors to watch

The world’s biggest bond market halted a selloff that roiled trading around the globe, with investors gearing up for jobs data that will help shape the outlook for Federal Reserve rates.

Treasuries stabilized after a rout that drove 30-year yields to the highest since 2023.

Bond traders see jobs testing hawkish Fed pricing

Malaysia’s benchmark FBM KLCI registered a strong 12.58% gain in 2024 — marking its best performance in 14 years — as the country saw a sharp recovery in investor sentiment after a prolonged period of political uncertainties, lifted by strong investment activity and trade activities.

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EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Carzo Holdings Bhd, a fruit supplier listed on the LEAP Market, said its wholly-owned subsidiary Carzo Import (M) Sdn Bhd and its director have been sued by a China-based supplier over an outstanding payment of US$117,470.50 for fruits supplied to Carzo Import.

Fruit supplier Carzo sued by China-based supplier over unsettled debt

Senior political secretary to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin has urged all parties to stop politicising the issue of an additional document regarding Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s purported house arrest.

Shamsul Iskandar urges all parties not to politicise issue of additional document

Wall Street futures fell in Asia and treasury yields held near eight-month highs on Friday as investors counted down to a US jobs report that could exacerbate or ease the sell-off in the global bond market.

Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship 2025 theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability” aptly reflects the region’s collective commitment to shaping an equitable and resilient future, in line with current global trends and the aspirations of its people, said Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn.

Malaysia sets the stage for a resilient Asean with 2025 chairmanship theme: Asean sec-gen

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad on Thursday stressed the need for the government to invest more in preventive measures and focus on social determinants of health (SDH) to create a healthier population in Malaysia.

Govt need to invest more in preventive measures, social determinants of health — Dzulkefly

Money manager Mario Gabelli is asking a judge to make the film and TV company Paramount Global hand over files about its merger with Skydance Media so investors can tell what controlling stockholder Shari Redstone is getting in the deal and whether it’s fair.

Gabelli pushes Paramount for files in fight over Skydance deal

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, currently on a two-day official visit to Malaysia, was accorded a formal welcoming ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex on Friday.

Several Federal Reserve officials confirmed Thursday the US central bank will likely hold interest rates at current levels for an extended period, only cutting again when inflation meaningfully cools.&nbsp;

Boston Fed President Susan Collins said Thursday a slower approach to adjusting interest rates is merited now as officials confront “considerable uncertainty” over the US economic outlook.

Fed officials signal interest rates likely on hold for a while

India’s Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) reported earnings that missed analysts’ estimates, signalling overseas clients are still cautious in betting big on information technology (IT) projects.

Tata Consultancy Services misses estimates in sign IT spending yet to pick up

Global air cargo markets saw robust growth in demand in November 2024, with cargo tonne-kilometres surging by 8.2% compared to a year earlier, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

This marked the 16th consecutive month of growth, it said in a statement on Thursday.

Global air cargo and passenger demand up by over 8% in November — IATA

The world’s biggest bond market halted a selloff that roiled trading around the globe, with investors gearing up for jobs data that will help shape the outlook for Federal Reserve rates.

Treasuries stabilized after a rout that drove 30-year yields to the highest since 2023.

UBS is set to pay a minimum of hundreds of millions of dollars to settle Credit Suisse's violations of an earlier agreement with the US Department of Justice over customers in the US who evaded tax, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

UBS nears settlement over Credit Suisse tax evasion case — report