What are Malaysia’s biggest headaches? Has Malaysia’s generosity to foreign investors paid off? Why are East Malaysians unhappy? Respected economist and former Council of Elders member Dr KS Jomo spills the beans.</div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage>

TALKING EDGE:  Honesty and Truth: The KS Jomo Way

Global gold demand including over-the-counter (OTC) trading rose by 1% year-on-year to 1,206 metric tonnes in the first quarter of 2025 as investment jumped 170%, the World Gold Council said on Wednesday.

Gold investment hits three-year high in 1Q on trade turmoil, WGC says

Pantech Group Bhd (KL:PANTECH), which saw its financial year 2025 (FY2025) net profit drop over 20%, is expected to face continued pressure on trading volume over the next two years due to macroeconomic challenges, including Trump-era tariffs, according to TA Securities.

Analysts see ongoing trade challenges for Pantech after weak 4Q; trim earnings forecast

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd's (KL:CIMB) stock rose on Wednesday to its highest level in nearly a month as investors cheered its Indonesian unit's strong earnings report.

CIMB nears one-month high after strong Indonesia results

Remy Cointreau SA suffered a further drop in cognac sales, as anti-dumping measures in China continued to limit demand in its key market.

Remy Cointreau suffers sales drop due to China trade measures

Volkswagen AG’s earnings dropped by 40% in the first quarter as higher manufacturing costs cut into margins and US tariffs clouded the German carmaker’s outlook.

Volkswagen earnings plunge 40% with US tariffs clouding outlook

MALAYSIA Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is deep in its preparation for Visit Malaysia 2026 in anticipation of a likely increase in passenger traffic during the year.

“The three main focus areas that we’re looking at right now are aviation growth, service and capacity,” MAHB senior general...

MAHB gearing up for surge in passenger traffic during Visit Malaysia 2026

Dollar bonds and stocks in Pakistan are poised for the worst month since 2023, as escalating tensions with neighbour India roil investor sentiment.

Pakistani assets set for worst month since 2023 on border spat

MANILA (April 30): Bulusan Volcano erupted anew for 77 minutes on Tuesday (April 29) night, from 7.43pm to 9pm, but alert Level 1 (low-level unrest) was maintained, which means there are increased chances of phreatic eruptions to recur, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

Bulusan Volcano in the Philippines erupts anew, alert Level 1 stays

LPI Capital Bhd’s (KL:LPI) net profit slipped 3.3% in the first quarter from a year earlier as higher net expenses from reinsurance contracts offset a rise in revenue.

LPI Capital 1Q profit down over 3% on higher net reinsurance expenses

KUALA LUMPUR (April 30): Special economic zone Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (IBFC) expects a slowdown in leasing and international trading in 2025, due to rising global economic uncertainty and falling oil and gas prices.

Labuan IBFC sees 2025 slowdown in leasing and trading after strong 2024

Malaysia will end price control on eggs effective on May 1 as part of the government’s phased subsidy retargeting, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) said on Wednesday.

Malaysia to end price control on eggs effective May 1

President Donald Trump said China deserved the steep tariffs he imposed on their exports and predicted Beijing could find a way to reduce their impact on American consumers.

Trump predicts China would ‘eat’ tariffs, lessening US impact

Grab Holdings beat Wall Street expectations for first-quarter revenue on Tuesday, as the company benefitted from strong spending on its ride-hailing and food delivery platform despite economic uncertainty.

Grab's quarterly revenue beats expectations as spending remains strong

KUALA LUMPUR (April 30): Malaysian poultry stocks rose on Wednesday, after the government decided to scrap price control and subsidies for eggs.

Malaysian poultry stocks rise after government scraps price control, subsidies on eggs

Southeast Asia could this year see the highest number of final investment decisions on gas projects in a decade, which could potentially boost output by 18%, according to Global Energy Monitor.

Southeast Asia may see most gas projects approved in a decade

Shares struggled for direction on Wednesday and oil prices slid as relief over a potential easing of global trade tensions was upset by a worsening economic outlook and signs corporates were feeling the pain from Donald Trump's tariffs.

Shares dither, oil slides as tariffs fan growth worries

US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement on April 2, and the subsequent dropping of tariffs to 10% on imports from most trading partners for a 90-day period to allow for negotiations, have disrupted global trade due to the resulting uncertainties.

How do the US’ trade partners stack up as negotiations begin?

(April 30):&nbsp;Wall Street traders are cautiously adding fuel to the stock rebound, in a high-stakes bet that Corporate America will weather slowing economic growth and tariff-fuelled disruptions to earnings.

US stock bulls fuel best winning run since March 2022

Sunway Malls has announced the upcoming opening of its 10th mall in the country, Sunway Square Mall, scheduled for September 2025. The new development is located within Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and spans 300,000 square feet of net lettable area across four retail floors.

Sunway Malls unveils Sunway Square Mall, with 95% leasing rate ahead of September opening

KUALA LUMPUR (April 30): Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA) said on Wednesday that it is expanding its research incentive scheme to also cover private companies, to boost the profile of select firms and promote better price discovery.

Bursa launches expanded research incentive scheme to also cover private firms, pre-IPO companies

KUALA LUMPUR (April 30): Sustio Sdn Bhd, the Malaysian arm of South Korea’s Simmtech Group, is doubling its production of advanced, high-performance circuit boards with the completion of its RM326 million second expansion phase in Batu Kawan, Penang.

South Korea’s Sustio to double advanced circuit board production in Penang with completion of RM326m expansion

China’s top legislature passed a bill aimed at boosting the private sector, in a symbolic move to rally entrepreneurs and shore up confidence as Beijing hunkers down for a “protracted” trade war with the US.

China adopts law to protect private companies amid trade war 

Nestlé (Malaysia) Bhd (KL:NESTLE) has committed to limiting price hikes in 2025 to maintain its market position, despite rising commodity costs. Analysts said while the company aims to avoid increasing prices this year, it may need to do so if costs stay high.

Nestlé Malaysia to limit price hikes in 2025 despite commodity cost pressures — analysts

(April 30): US President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;signed a pair of orders to soften&nbsp;the blow of his auto tariffs on Tuesday with a mix of credits and relief from other levies on materials, and his trade team touted its first deal with a foreign trading partner, developments that eased investor worries about&nbsp;Trump's erratic trade policies.

Trump eases auto tariffs burden as Lutnick touts one done foreign trade deal

KUALA LUMPUR (April 30): The next proceedings in the case involving the Sulu group’s claim are scheduled to be heard at the Paris Court of Appeal on July 7, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Azalina: Sulu claim case to be heard in Paris appellate court on July 7

President Donald Trump renewed criticism of Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell as he championed his economic policies and tariff regime during a Tuesday event to mark his 100th day in office.

Trump bashes Powell, touts tariffs at rally marking 100 days

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to increase global gross domestic product (GDP) by as much as 15 percentage points by 2035, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the "Big Four" accounting firms globally.

AI could boost global GDP by up to 15 percentage points by 2035, says PwC

Oil prices extended declines on Wednesday and were set for their largest monthly drop in more than three years as the global trade war eroded the outlook for fuel demand, while fears of mounting supply also weighed.

Oil drops, poised for biggest monthly fall in three years

Chinese travellers are expected to fork out a record US$968 billion (RM4.2 trillion) on mainland trips this year, making domestic tourism a bright spot amid concerns about lacklustre consumer spending.

Chinese set to spend record US$1 tril in local travel boom

China has created a list of US-made products that would be exempted from its 125% tariffs and is quietly notifying companies about the policy, two people familiar with the matter said, as Beijing seeks to ease the impact of its trade war with Washington.