In today’s edition of Evening 5 — The King grants political leaders another 24 hours to decide on their alliances and PM candidate. Meanwhile, gaming and breweries stocks see RM2.76 billion of their cumulative market value wiped out today. </div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage>

EVENING 5: King extends deadline to 2pm tomorrow

Oil was little changed on Thursday as investors remained cautious ahead of expected production cuts by the Opec+ group and as weaker-than-expected Chinese factory data underscored slowing growth in the world's second largest economy.

Oil steady, market eyes Opec+ meet, weighs weak demand indicators

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) said it will not tolerate any non-compliance by capital market players, and will not hesitate to take criminal action against those involved in fraudulent activities.

SC will not hesitate to take criminal action against 'bad actors' in capital market, says chairman

Bursa Malaysia ended Thursday's morning session lower on continued selling activities amid a mixed regional performance.

Bursa ends morning session lower

KOBE, Japan (Nov 30): Bank of Japan board member Toyoaki Nakamura said on Thursday that the central bank will likely need some more time before phasing out its massive stimulus, playing down the chance of a near-term end to its negative interest rate policy.

BOJ policymaker says need more time before phasing out stimulus

TOKYO (Nov 30): Japan's factory output rose for a second straight month in October, government data showed on Thursday, lifted by the production of integrated circuits and autos, although external demand risks loomed.

Japan October factory output rises on circuits, autos rebound

Progressive wage pilot project slated for June-September 2024, timeline for full implementation to be determined later
	Progressive wage to involves monthly salary rates between RM1,500 and RM4,999, covering four million workers
	Multinasional and government-linked com...

Progressive wage white paper presented in Parliament

China’s most famous entrepreneur broke years of silence about Alibaba Group Holding Ltd with a call to arms for employees, following years of brutal government punishment and strategic missteps that cost the e-commerce pioneer its place as leader of the country’s tech industry.

Jack Ma returns to rally troops as Alibaba’s troubles deepen

Malaysia received nearly 1.5 million tourist arrivals from China and India during the first nine months of 2023 (9M2023), according to Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

Malaysia saw nearly 1.5 million tourists from China and India in 9M2023, says minister

GEORGE TOWN (Nov 30): The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) called for the immediate setting up of a commission of inquiry to investigate an incident in which a logistics warehouse under construction in Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas near here had collapsed on Tuesday (Nov 28) night.

Set up inquiry commission to probe warehouse collapse, says consumer association

The Ministry of Communications and Digital will summon several social media platform providers to discuss issues related to inappropriate advertising content on their platforms.

Fahmi: Social media platform providers to be summoned over inappropriate ads

Singapore and Zurich surpassed New York to become the&nbsp;world’s most expensive cities to live in this year, according to a new global survey.

Singapore, Zurich surpass New York to become world’s most expensive cities to live in — survey

Shares in Pharmaniaga Bhd fell in early trade on Thursday, after the pharmaceutical group proposed a regularisation plan that consists of a capital reduction exercise, renounceable rights issue of news shares plus private placement, to raise up to RM654.61 million to pare down debts.

Pharmaniaga slips on 3Q net loss, opaque outlook

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 30): Shares in Supermax Corp Bhd fell 7.77% in the morning session on Thursday, after the glovemaker logged a net loss of RM2.05 million in the first quarter ended Sept 30, 2023 (1QFY2024), marking the group’s fourth straight loss-making quarter, as revenue shrunk amid weaker demand and persistent lower selling prices. Its quarterly loss narrowed from the preceding three quarters.

Supermax slides 7.77% after fourth straight loss-making quarter

Analysts lowered their target prices (TPs) for Axiata Group Bhd, after the telecommunications company’s net loss widened to RM797.41 million for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2023 (3QFY2023), from RM52.4 million a year ago, mainly due to asset impairment and lower share of results from subsidiary CelcomDigi Bhd.

Analysts lower target prices for Axiata on wider 3Q net loss, frontier market risks

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, said the advertisers that had stopped spending on the platform due to his endorsement of an antisemitic post can “f——” themselves.

Elon Musk, slinging expletives, says advertiser boycott on X may kill it

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc&nbsp;said the billionaire former owner of Pilot Travel Centers sought to influence Pilot executives’ business decisions in order to juice the company’s quarterly earnings and pump up the value of his remaining stake in the truck stop chain.

Buffett's Berkshire says billionaire Haslam promised illicit payments to juice Pilot’s profit

MSCI's global equities index crept higher on Wednesday, while Treasury yields fell, as third-quarter data provided encouraging signs for the economy even as US&nbsp;Federal Reserve (Fed) officials provided mixed messages on monetary policy.

Equities gain while Treasury yields fall on data, talk of Fed rate cuts

As a rush of Wall Street strategists call for all-time highs in US stocks in the year ahead, JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co&nbsp;stands apart, releasing the gloomiest forecast so far among its peers.

JPMorgan’s S&P 500 outlook for 2024 is grimmest on Wall Street

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 30): The revival of several mega infrastructure projects has provided the much-needed impetus to the Malaysian construction sector, driving the construction stocks index on Bursa Malaysia to a two-year high by&nbsp;20.74% year-to-date&nbsp;(as of Nov 27), as well as the industry to post stronger growth.

Revival of mega infrastructure projects sparks construction sector growth, sustainability at work

US&nbsp;stocks edged lower on Wednesday as a robust upward gross domestic product (GDP) revision eased recession fears, while Federal Reserve (Fed) officials' remarks raised questions about the duration of the central bank's restrictive policy.

S&P 500 ends lower on mixed Fed messages, PCE on deck

TA Securities sees a positive outlook for Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), against the backdrop of the pending signing of a new operation agreement (OA) and the announcement of the new passenger service charge (PSC) for 2024, and the impairment of receivables comprising mainly RM27.4 million from MyAirline&nbsp;suspension. &nbsp;

TA Securities upgrades MAHB to 'hold', raises target price amid strong recovery prospects

The Kemaman by-election is crucial to ensure the continued strength of the unity government, and its ability to carry out various efforts to safeguard the welfare of the people, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Kemaman by-election on Saturday crucial to ensure unity govt's strength, says Anwar

Bursa Malaysia opened lower on Thursday, extending Wednesday's selling activities in most indices, following a mixed performance on Wall Street overnight, a dealer said.&nbsp;

Bursa opens lower following mixed performance on Wall Street

The ringgit opened lower against the US dollar on Thursday, as the greenback climbed, after data showed that the US economy grew faster in the third quarter, amid rising concerns of an early US interest rate cut, said an analyst.

Ringgit opens lower against US dollar in early trade

Malaysia received nearly 1.5 million tourist arrivals from China and India during the first nine months of 2023 (9M2023), according to Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

Nvidia Corp chief executive officer Jensen Huang, who runs the semiconductor industry’s most valuable company, said the US is as much as 20 years away from breaking its dependence on overseas chipmaking.

Nvidia CEO says US will take years to achieve chip independence

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 30): RGB International Bhd’s net profit&nbsp;for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2023 (3QFY2023) jumped 20-fold to RM 26.07 million, compared to a net profit of RM1.08 million a year earlier.&nbsp;

RGB makes quantum leap with 3Q net profit of RM26.07 mil on sturdy sales

OpenAI said that Sam Altman was officially reinstated as its chief executive officer, and that it has a new initial board of directors, with Microsoft Corp&nbsp;joining as a non-voting observer.

OpenAI to add Microsoft as board observer, plans governance changes

The Ministry of Communications and Digital will summon several social media platform providers to discuss issues related to inappropriate advertising content on their platforms.

The Indian economy is likely to continue its strong growth in the quarter to end of September, helped by a solid urban consumption and government spending, outpacing a slowing global economy squeezed by elevated interest rates and higher energy prices.