The thick haze blanketing Singapore as wildfires rage in neighbouring Indonesia is driving a surge in demand for air purifiers and face masks. Several air purifier models from brands including Xiaomi Corp and Dyson Group Plc were sold out, according to their websites.

Singapore haze drives air purifiers, face masks to sell out

Indonesia has blamed peatland degradation by past food estates for its worst wildfire season in 11 years, and will work to restore its peat ecosystem, a senior official said on Thursday as thick haze continued to blanket its cities and drift into neighbouring countries.

Indonesia blames peatland degradation for raging fires, vows restoration

India's sunflower oil imports slumped to their lowest in more than four years in September as war-related disruptions curbed supplies from Russia and Ukraine, prompting refiners to ramp up palm oil purchases to a seven-month high, a leading industry body said on Thursday.

India turns to palm oil as sunflower oil imports hit four-year low in September

Most emerging Asian currencies weakened on Thursday after hotter-than-expected US inflation fanned expectations of a Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike, spooking AI-linked stocks worldwide over higher borrowing costs.

Emerging Asian currencies retreat after hot US inflation, South Korean stocks slip 8%

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) reported a better-than-expected profit for the September quarter, sustaining torrid growth despite rising concern about the long-term artificial intelligence (AI) buildout.

TSMC’s profit surpasses expectations after AI orders rush in

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te called on Thursday for US memory chipmaker Micron Technology and its workers to negotiate "sincerely" ahead of a possible strike by the company's union in Taiwan.

Taiwan's president calls for Micron, workers to negotiate 'sincerely' ahead of possible strike

The Taiwan dollar and South Korean won fell the most among Asian currencies as an overnight slump in Wall Street semiconductor shares spilled into regional markets, dampening demand for artificial intelligence supply-chain plays.

Taiwan dollar, won slump as chip selloff hurts Asian currencies

Singapore new home sales rose in September from a more than two-year low, as developers resumed releasing projects after a brief pause.

Singapore home sales recover from lowest level since 2024

A tightening in financial conditions may limit the need for European Central Bank monetary policy action, according to Governing Council member Primoz Dolenc.

ECB may not have to do as much if markets tighten, Dolenc says

Gold rose more than 1% on Thursday, rebounding from a one-week low hit in the previous session as the US dollar eased, while investors assessed the likelihood of a US Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate increase this month after a hot inflation report.

Gold rebounds from one-week low as dollar slips

Oil prices fell more than 1% on Thursday as investors weighed risks to supply from attacks on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz against US efforts to cut petroleum shipping costs by easing sanctions on vessels.

Oil prices retreat as investors weigh supply outlook, Middle East tensions

South Korea's SK Hynix is seeking approval from Washington to export US chipmaking equipment to China to increase production there as a condition for building a factory in the US, two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

SK Hynix said to condition new US factory for more chip equipment exports to China

UBS is preparing contingency plans that could include moving its headquarters out of Switzerland if lawmakers tighten capital requirements for the bank, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

UBS could move headquarters from Switzerland if capital rules tighten, WSJ reports

The International Monetary Fund expects economic growth in the Asia-Pacific to slow this year and next, warning that rising energy prices and any pullback in the artificial-intelligence boom could test the region’s resilience.

IMF sees Asia’s growth slowing despite AI-fuelled resilience

About 63%, or 114, of the 181 respondents in the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia’s (Rehda) latest Property Industry Survey said they had no plans to launch residential projects in the second half of 2026, while the remaining respondents planned to unveil 18,696 units. The...

More than 60% of Rehda members hold off on 2H2026 residential launches

Malaysia’s central bank has greater room to adjust interest rates after changing its policy guidance last month and stands ready to act if inflation pressures intensify as the Middle East conflict keeps energy prices elevated, its governor said.

BNM governor signals room to act as inflation risks rise

The government believes that existing laws are sufficient to deal with offences involving race, religion and the royal institution (3R), said National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.

Focus on enforcement as existing laws sufficient to address 3R issues — minister

A total of 1,204 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have benefitted from SME Corp Malaysia’s Industry and Business Support Programme (Sinar) as of Sept 30, according to the Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Ministry.

SME Corp's Sinar programme has benefitted over 1,200 firms — deputy minister

Malaysia welcomes China's proposals to expand technology and knowledge transfer, as both countries seek to deepen strategic cooperation beyond conventional investment arrangements, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Malaysia welcomes China's technology, knowledge transfer proposals, says Zahid

China has reaffirmed its support for Malaysia’s bid to become a full member of BRICS and expressed hope that the country will continue playing an important role in strengthening cooperation between China and Asean member states.

China supports Malaysia's BRICS bid, Asean role, says Zahid

Malaysian exporters are likely increasing conversions of their foreign-currency earnings into the ringgit, which stands to boost the local exchange rate through the rest of the year, analysts say.

Exporter dollar sales boost ringgit, analysts say

THE situation at Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) appears to be deteriorating, with more issues emerging. Late last Friday (Oct 2), Zetrix and its wholly-owned unit MyEG Sdn Bhd had their roles as collection agents for the Road Transport Department (JPJ) suspended, effective from 12.01am on Oct 5.
...

Cover Story 2: Heading deeper into the woods

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will serve the remainder of his prison sentence for the SRC International Sdn Bhd case under house arrest at his residence in Langgak Duta, Kuala Lumpur, with his family, according to several Malay dailies.

Najib to serve remaining SRC jail sentence under house arrest at Langgak Duta, says Shafee — reports

Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) chairman Datuk Dr Shaik Hussein Mydin has been charged with 15 counts of receiving bribes totalling nearly RM850,000.

Penang development authority chairman Shaik Hussein Mydin charged with 15 counts of graft

BYD Malaysia has appointed Inokom Corporation Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Sime Darby Bhd (KL:SIME) based in Kulim, Kedah, as its local assembly partner for its planned completely knocked-down (CKD) vehicle operations in Malaysia. 
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BYD Malaysia appoints Inokom as local assembly partner

(Oct 15): Malaysian property tycoon Datuk Lee Yeow Seng is making waves as one of the most aggressive buyers of commercial real estate in Singapore, and he’s not done yet.

Malaysia's IOI Properties Group eyes US$760 mil property deals in Singapore

Bina Puri Holdings Bhd (KL:BPURI) is doubling down on Sarawak-focused projects to turn its fortunes around, as the group emerges from a court-supervised debt restructuring that was completed in September.

Bina Puri doubles down on Sarawak pivot as it emerges from debt restructuring

Stocks sold off in Asia on Thursday with the tech supply chain bearing the brunt of the damage, as a quicker-than-expected increase in US consumer price inflation upped expectations for the Federal Reserve (Fed) to act later this year.

Asian stocks sell off as AI trades crumble after hot US inflation data

CTOS Digital Bhd (KL:CTOS) reversed course on Thursday as more analysts downgraded the digital services firm following a major cybersecurity incident.

CTOS Digital resumes descent with more analyst downgrades

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) on Thursday confirmed it is under police investigation following a Bursa Malaysia query about a news report on the probe.

Zetrix AI confirms police investigation into company following Bursa query

IN September 2022, CGS International Securities Sdn Bhd (then CGS CIMB) granted a RM60 million margin trading account facility to Wong Thean Soon, co-founder and largest shareholder of MyEG Services Bhd, now known as Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX).

The facility came with a price cap on Zetri...

Cover Story 2: Insights into margin calls on Zetrix’s Wong

Sunway Bhd (KL:SUNWAY) property arm, Sunway Property, soft-launched Tower C — the final tower of Sunway Velocity 3 — on Oct 10 virtually, following a 98% take-up rate across Towers A and B within two years. 
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Sunway Property soft-launches final tower of Sunway Velocity 3

The government plans to introduce a “user-pays” electricity pricing system for large consumers, including data centres and energy-intensive industries, to shield households from rising electricity costs.

Govt plans ‘user-pays’ electricity pricing for data centres, energy-intensive industries

Nasdaq-listed American Resources Corporation (ARC) has appointed Datuk Mark Ling as chief executive officer of its newly established American Resources Indo Pacific, which will spearhead the group's expansion into the region, starting with the development of an integrated rare earth supply chain in Malaysia.

American Resources appoints former Edra president Mark Ling to lead rare earth supply chain development in Malaysia

Malaysia recorded a 4.5% decline in live births in 2025, while the total fertility rate (TFR) fell to 1.5 children per woman, reflecting a continued downward trend in the country's birth rate.

Malaysia's live births down 4.5%, fertility rate at 1.5 children per woman in 2025 — official data

Stocks fell the most since July as a sell-off in chipmakers on Wednesday extended a decline that was fuelled by wagers the US Federal Reserve will keep lifting interest rates to fight inflation.

US stocks fall on inflation woes as chip rout deepens

Malaysia is considering hosting Formula One (F1) races more regularly, potentially on an annual basis or in rotation with other countries, following an event that generated nearly RM950 million in estimated economic returns.

Malaysia mulls annual F1 return after race generates RM950 mil in economic returns

Oil prices fell more than 1% on Thursday as investors weighed risks to supply from attacks on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz against US efforts to cut petroleum shipping costs by easing sanctions on vessels.

Malaysian exporters are likely increasing conversions of their foreign-currency earnings into the ringgit, which stands to boost the local exchange rate through the rest of the year, analysts say.

Malaysia shares fell on Thursday with the benchmark index at the verge of snapping a four-day winning streak amid renewed concerns over rising US interest rates.

Malaysia shares slip as US inflation worries, foreign selling threaten four-day rebound

AWC Bhd (KL:AWC) outperformed the broader market on Thursday after the engineering services firm added another contract related to data centres to its books.

AWC outperforms market after contract win, analysts stay positive

The Dewan Rakyat is expected to discuss several key issues on Thursday, including increases in domestic electricity tariffs, the economic value of data centre investments, aviation safety and the impact of haze on public health.

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