The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose marginally last week, suggesting the labour market remained resilient despite darkening clouds over the economy caused by tariffs on imported goods.

US labour market holds steady despite darkening clouds from tariffs

The S&P 500 edged up at the open on Thursday, as investors assessed a bevy of mixed corporate results and developments in the US-China trade war.

S&P 500 edges higher with trade negotiations, earnings in focus

Nasdaq beat first-quarter profit expectations on Thursday as the exchange operator benefitted from higher market volatility and strong demand for its fintech and solutions products, sending its shares up 1% before the bell.

Nasdaq beats 1Q profit estimates on market volatility, strong product demand

In the face of the increasing trade uncertainty, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) says trade diversity and balance are the way forward for countries hoping to mitigate the impact on their exports.

Trade diversification the way forward in Trump-era trade, says EFTA reps

Businesses across multiple industries are increasing prices, cutting financial guidance and warning of growing uncertainty as US President Donald Trump's trade war pushes up costs, up-ends supply chains and stirs concerns about the global economy.

Trump trade war spreads more gloom across businesses

Two of Britain’s richest real estate investors have ditched the UK as their home territory, the latest departures among the country’s elite as the nation hits wealthy residents with tax hikes.

Top Goldman banker, property billionaires add to UK wealth exits

US stock index futures edged lower on Thursday as investors assessed the latest changes in the Trump administration's erratic trade policy and a bevy of mixed corporate results.

Wall Street jumped for a second consecutive session on Wednesday on signs the White House was open to reducing sweeping tariffs on China, and after President Donald Trump stepped back from his attacks on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

US stock futures fall as investors parse trade developments, earnings

Market participants unsettled by the Trump administration's choppy policy rollout are working to game out what the Federal Reserve would do if asset prices spiral out of control and require stabilization by the US central bank.

Analysts game out use of Fed toolkit if market needs central bank's help

Norway's US$1.7 trillion sovereign wealth fund, which has invested over half its money in the United States, does not see a credible risk that its US assets could be seized, the CEO of the fund's operator said on Thursday in response to media speculation.

US asset seizure not a credible threat, 'one of many risks' to monitor, Norway wealth fund says

Crypto’s richest man, Changpeng Zhao, was in a playful mood as he addressed a packed house at the Ritz-Carlton in Kuala Lumpur, just seven months after his release from a low-security California prison.

In KL, Binance billionaire Zhao guides regulators to relax crypto rules

St Peter's Basilica opened its doors again on Thursday after a brief closure in the early hours to welcome crowds of worshippers from around the world lining up to pay their final respects to Pope Francis.

Crowds queue to pay final respects to Pope Francis at the Vatican

Procter & Gamble on Thursday lowered its annual sales and profit forecasts after reporting a bigger-than-expected drop in third-quarter net sales as consumers slashed spending due to economic uncertainty amid an ongoing trade war.

P&G's shares fell 3% in premarket trading.

Procter & Gamble lowers annual forecasts as trade war hits consumer demand

Boeing is looking to resell potentially dozens of planes locked out of China by tariffs after repatriating a third jet to the United States rather than store it without willing buyers.

The move to prevent a repeat of the costly build-up of undelivered jets seen during past fluctuations in Chinese imports comes as the planemaker redoubles efforts to save cash and pay off debt by selling off part of its services business.

Boeing ready to resell jets as tariffs hit China trade

Hong Kong's bourse operator will shift its headquarters, it said on Thursday, and will take over the top nine floors of a building in a complex owned by developer Hongkong Land for HK$6.3 billion (US$812.06 million or RM3.5 billion).

Hong Kong bourse operator to shift headquarters in US$812m deal

Leapmotor has struck a deal with Chinese state-owned automaker FAW to deliver an electric vehicle platform that will be used to drive overseas sales for Hongqi, an emerging national champion, executives from both companies said.

China's Leapmotor to supply EV platform to Hongqi, also in talks with Ferrari

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): YTL Hotels has expanded its hospitality portfolio with the opening of two new properties — Moxy Kuala Lumpur Chinatown and AC Hotel by Marriott Ipoh.

YTL Hotels opens Moxy Kuala Lumpur Chinatown and AC Hotel by Marriott Ipoh

Norway's US$1.7 trillion (RM7.4 trillion) sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, reported on Thursday a quarterly loss of 415 billion Norwegian crowns (US$39.72 billion) for the January to March period, largely driven by negative returns in the tech sector.

Norway wealth fund posts US$40b first-quarter loss on tech weakness

Singapore equities were set for an eighth straight session of gains on Thursday, marking their best winning streak since November 2022, as cooling inflation and demand for defensive stocks supported the benchmark index.

Singapore shares set for an eight-day rally; Asian FX muted 

Gucci sales tumbled in the first quarter as efforts to revive Kering SA’s biggest brand again failed to yield signs of a turnaround amid a tough period for the luxury-goods industry.

Gucci sales drop as Kering label struggles to revive demand

Abandoned housing has been a long-standing problem in Malaysia. According to the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) Institute in its recently released “Abandoned Housing — Challenges, Insights & Solutions Research Report”, the number of abandoned housing projects has been...

Stakeholder action needed to address abandoned housing issues, says Rehda Institute

China’s central bank chief Pan Gongsheng urged countries to help maintain confidence in the global economic system on a trip to the US, reiterating Chinese opposition to tariffs as American President Donald Trump signals a shift toward de-escalating tensions.

PBOC chief warns trade frictions threaten trust in world economy

Adidas AG reported better-than-expected earnings in the first quarter as consumers continue to snap up retro sneakers like the Samba in the face of growing economic uncertainty.

Adidas earnings bolstered again by retro sneaker craze

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): The special sitting of Dewan Rakyat on May 5 to discuss the impact of the United States’ actions on the Malaysian economy will be held at the request of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Dewan Rakyat special sitting on May 5 held at PM’s request — Parliament

Rising tariffs and the weakening dollar are casting a shadow on companies’ profit guidance this earnings season, with more damage seen unfolding over the coming quarters.

US dollar’s slide raising red flags for corporate earnings

A surge of complaints emerged on Thursday evening from investors across Bursa Malaysia, reporting that their accounts have been hacked and used for unauthorised trading activities.

Widespread hacks hit stock trading accounts in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): The Ministry of Education issued an apology for an incorrect depiction of Malaysia’s national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, on an exam results analysis report distributed on Thursday.

Education Ministry apologises for Jalur Gemilang bungle in SPM results report

ACE-market listed LYC Healthcare Bhd (KL:LYC) said it has been served with a winding-up petition by SOG Mummy &amp; Baby Centre Pte Ltd for allegedly failing to settle an outstanding amount of RM600,000.

According to the petition, the amount owed is related to instalment payments due under a settlement reached in December 2024, which was subsequently restructured by both SOG Mummy and LYC Healthcare.

LYC Healthcare gets winding-up petition

IJM Corporation Bhd (KL:IJM) has acquired a 50% stake in financially troubled UK-based construction firm JRL Group for £50 million, or about RM283 million.

IJM Corp completes acquisition of troubled UK builder for RM283m

(April 24):&nbsp;Coffee shop operator Zuspresso Sdn Bhd&nbsp;plans to open nearly 200 new stores in Southeast Asia this year, after surpassing Starbucks as Malaysia’s largest coffee chain within five years of inception.&nbsp;

ZUS Coffee to add 200 Southeast Asia stores in Starbucks duel

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): Malaysia&nbsp;will need to mark down its growth forecast of 4.5% to 5.5% for the year, due to trade and tariff uncertainties, its central bank governor said.

Malaysia will need to revise down growth forecast, BNM governor says

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): YTL Hotels has expanded its hospitality portfolio with the opening of two new properties — Moxy Kuala Lumpur Chinatown and AC Hotel by Marriott Ipoh.&nbsp;

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) disbursed US$4.9 billion (RM21.5 billion) to Southeast Asia in 2024, with Malaysia getting the smallest slice of the allocation, its latest annual report showed.

Asian Development Bank disbursed US$4.9b to Southeast Asia in 2024, Malaysia received US$1.7m

Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK) has announced the appointment of Nor Shahrizan Sulaiman as its officer-in-charge of Maybank Islamic Bhd, following the resignation of its Islamic banking group chief executive officer Datuk Muzaffar Hisham to pursue other professional interests.&nbsp;

Muzaffar Hisham leaves Maybank's Islamic arm, said to be headed for top role at Bank Pembangunan

(April 24):&nbsp;Online merchants are being inundated with suspicious offers to help avoid paying US tariffs&nbsp;on goods made in China.

‘Made in Malaysia’: Online sellers bombarded with ways to evade tariffs

Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s (KL:BURSA) net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 (1QFY2025) is expected to decline year-on-year, weighed down by a weaker securities average daily value (ADV) amid cautious market sentiment, according to CIMB Securities.

Bursa’s 1Q net profit could decline as much as 27% amid weaker securities average daily value — CIMB

China demanded that the US revoke all unilateral tariffs and said there were no talks on reaching a trade deal, maintaining a tough stance despite President Donald Trump’s easing of criticism of the country.

China says US should revoke all unilateral tariffs, denies talks

Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa said that he first met fugitive Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) almost 20 years ago, just as the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA)&nbsp;was about to set up.

1MDB-Tanore: Ex-Goldman banker Roger Ng says knew Jho Low around 2008/2009

The timeline for completion of the aerotrain project at the Kuala Lumpur&nbsp;International Airport (KLIA) is completely unrelated to the recent privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), said its chairman Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi.

Aerotrain completion timeline not affected by privatisation — MAHB chairman

RHB Investment Bank cautioned that inconsistent US trade policies could defer critical capital expenditure (capex) decisions and manufacturing reallocation timelines, pressuring technology sector earnings.

RHB cuts tech sector earnings amid volatile US trade policy that threatens capex, equipment demand

KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB)(KL:TENAGA) has more than doubled its budgeted capital expenditure (capex) to RM42.9 billion — comprising RM26.6 billion in base capex and RM16.3 billion in contingent capex — to support infrastructure development for Malaysia’s energy transition.

TNB doubles capex to RM42.9b to back energy transition efforts

Crypto’s richest man, Changpeng Zhao, was in a playful mood as he addressed a packed house at the Ritz-Carlton in Kuala Lumpur, just seven months after his release from a low-security California prison.&nbsp;

Malaysia is positioning itself to become a key player in the rare earth elements (REE) value chain, amid a shifting geopolitical landscape and the ongoing trade war between the US and China.

Malaysia poised to capitalise on rare earth element opportunities amid trade war, says science minister

The new operator of Kuala Lumpur Tower, LSH Service Master&nbsp;Sdn Bhd (LSHSM), is working closely with the Ministry of Communications to determine a suitable date for the reopening of the iconic national landmark, following comprehensive maintenance and improvement works.

KL Tower reopening date to be set after major upgrade works, says LSH Service Master's CEO

(April 24):&nbsp;Investors increasingly expect Malaysia, Southeast Asia’s last holdout against interest rate cuts, to give in to mounting economic pressure from the global trade war.

World

‌
‌

World

‌‌

‌
‌