Proton Holdings is staging a major comeback. Can Dr Li Chunrong keep up the momentum and steer it back to pole position? Details in the latest edition of The Edge. </div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage>

EDGE WEEKLY: Taking Proton into the future

SINGAPORE (Jan 2): Singapore Post (SingPost) has appointed Neo Su Yin as its group chief operating officer,  effective Thursday. The newly created role will see Neo overseeing the group’s Singapore and international business units and property.

SingPost appoints former Singapore CEO Neo Su Yin as group COO

As artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI gain mainstream traction, there is growing enthusiasm about establishing data centres worldwide to store and process the data fuelling these technologies. In 2023, the global data centre market was valued at US$219 billion, and is projected to grow to US$585 billion by 2032. This represents a 2.7-fold increase, with a compound annual growth rate of 12%, making data centres a significant economic catalyst.

My Say: Data centres: Strategic trade-offs and the promise of high-value jobs

Research houses are predicting 2025 to be another strong year for the ringgit and Bursa Malaysia, with the ringgit holding steady and the Bursa Malaysia showing promising growth.

Kenanga Investment Bank (Kenanga IB) sees the ringgit to end the year at RM4.45, helping draw attention to the Malaysian market, and the barometer index at 1,840.

Research houses project ringgit at RM4.45-RM4.55 against USD, FBM KLCI at 1,700-1,840 in 2025

(Jan 2): The end of Russian natural gas flows to Europe via Ukraine is likely to boost competition with Asia and prices for alternatives.

Asian LNG prices set to rise after Russia-Ukraine transit ends

Apple is offering rare discounts of up to 500 yuan (US$68.50 or RM306.40) on its latest iPhone models in China, as the US tech giant moves to defend its market share against rising competition from domestic rivals like Huawei.

Apple offers iPhone discounts in China as competition intensifies

Factory activity across much of Asia expanded in December as domestic orders and output improved, but weaker confidence and a sustained drop in export orders point to global risks ahead.

Asian factories eke out growth in 2024 as Trump tariffs loom

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 2): theedgemalaysia.com highlighted six stocks with momentum at Bursa Malaysia’s afternoon close on Thursday. Two stocks showed positive momentum and four stocks showed negative momentum.

Stocks with momentum on Jan 2, 2025: Wellcall, Central Global, XOX, Meridian, BIG Industries, Xin Synergy

Malaysia’s renewable energy sector is gearing up for strong growth ahead in 2025, buoyed by key initiatives under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), said Apex Securities.

In a research note on Thursday, among the key initiatives are the 800MW Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP) and the 2GW Large-Scale Solar 5 (LSS5), which are anticipated to unlock RM7.2 billion worth of engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) projects.

Renewable energy sector braces for strong growth in 2025 — Apex Securities

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 2): Etiqa Life Insurance Bhd, the insurance arm of Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK), has appointed insider Leong Su Yern as its chief executive officer effective immediately.

Etiqa Life Insurance promotes insider Leong Su Yern as CEO

(Jan 2): Singapore private home prices rebounded after its first drop in more than a year, underpinned by a rush of sales.

Singapore’s home prices rebound on year-end sales boom

Foong Mun Kong has officially assumed the role of managing partner at KPMG Malaysia, effective Jan 1, 2025, according to a statement on Thursday.

Foong Mun Kong officially KPMG Malaysia managing partner, Johan Idris takes on non-exec chairman role

A Tesla Cybertruck exploded in flames outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on Wednesday, killing the driver and injuring seven others, and the FBI was investigating whether the blast was an act of terrorism, officials said.

Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside Trump Las Vegas hotel, killing driver

The communications minister will formally end the single wholesale 5G network, based on the powers under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, according to a new ministerial directive sighted by The Edge.

Communications minister formally ends 5G single wholesale network, to focus on dual network

CGS International has downgraded Petronas Chemicals Group (KL:PCG) amid potential asset impairment and ongoing losses at the Pengerang Petrochemical Complex (PPC).

CGS downgrades PetChem amid risk of asset impairment, wider losses at Pengerang

Hutchmed (China), controlled by tycoon Li Ka-shing, is selling stakes in its health subsidiary for around US$608 million (RM2.7 billion) as the billionaire and his flagship conglomerate look to ramp up capital and pivot towards core operations at the drugmaker.

Billionaire Li Ka-shing’s Hutchmed in US$608m health unit stake sales

The Malaysian ringgit will strengthen further this year, supported by moderate global growth, stable oil prices and strong export demand, according to KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific.

Ringgit to strengthen further this year after breakout in 2024 — think tank

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 2): Investment analysts have maintained a positive outlook on the banking industry, with at least one increasing its earnings forecast on stronger operating income and improved credit costs.

Analysts positive on banking sector in 2025; AMMB and CIMB are top picks

Malaysia’s manufacturing sector experienced muted trends at the end of 2024, as indicated by a decline in the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) to 48.6 in December, according to S&amp;P Global on Thursday.

Malaysia’s manufacturing PMI declines amid softening inflation, reduced demand — S&P Global

Asian stocks began the year on a dour note on Thursday as they struggled for traction after a jittery close to 2024, while the US dollar held steady and investor sentiment stayed cautious ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Asian shares get off to rocky start in 2025 on Trump trepidation

The High Court here has allowed an ad interim stay on a RM415.5 million fine imposed by the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) on five feedmillers pending filing of affidavits and submissions in relation to its judicial review against the fine.

Judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh Serjit Singh gave the ad interim stay as lawyer for MyCC, Jason Teoh from Jason Teoh &amp; Partners, had said that they would submit an affidavit to show that the fine the five feedmillers are required to pay will not affect the poultry industry as they claim.

High court grants feedmillers temporary stay of RM415.5 mil fine imposed by MyCC

Factory activity across much of Asia expanded in December as domestic orders and output improved, but weaker confidence and a sustained drop in export orders point to global risks ahead.

Chinese government hackers breached the US Treasury office that administers economic sanctions, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, identifying targets of a cyberattack Treasury disclosed earlier this week.

Chinese hack of US Treasury breached sanctions office — report

South Korean police said on Thursday they had raided Jeju Air and the operator of Muan International Airport as part of their investigation into Sunday's crash that killed 179 people in the worst aviation disaster on the country's soil.

South Korea police search Jeju Air, airport operator over fatal plane crash

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 2): Etiqa Life Insurance Bhd, the insurance arm of Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK), has appointed insider Leong Su Yern as its chief executive officer effective immediately.

At least 10 people were killed and more than 30 injured after a pickup truck barrelled through the French Quarter in New Orleans in what authorities are describing as a deliberate act of violence during New Year’s celebrations.

Truck plows through New Orleans crowd, suspect identified

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 2): Cypark Resources Bhd (KL:CYPARK) is expected to stay in red with a larger than previously expected core net loss for the current financial year, before a turnaround for the renewable energy company, analysts said.

Cypark Resources to stay in red before rebound in FY2026

Malaysia’s renewable energy sector is gearing up for strong growth ahead in 2025, buoyed by key initiatives under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), said Apex Securities.

In a research note on Thursday, among the key initiatives are the 800MW Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP) and the 2GW Large-Scale Solar 5 (LSS5), which are anticipated to unlock RM7.2 billion worth of engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) projects.

Singapore's economy grew 4.0% in 2024, accelerating from 1.1% growth in 2023, preliminary government data showed on Thursday.

Singapore economy grew 4.0% in 2024, advance estimate shows

The consumer sector in Malaysia is expected to see positive growth in 2025, driven by a combination of wage increases, rising disposable income and improved economic conditions, said Apex Securities.

Malaysia's consumer sector poised for growth in 2025 amid wage increases, economic expansion

(Jan 2):&nbsp;China looks set to miss a year-end target for boosting production of less-polluting steel, as usage rates for cleaner, newer furnaces stall and the property crisis weighs on demand and prices.