Low-profile shipping tycoon Tan Sri Halim Mohammad decides to make a comeback in maritime by turning his ships into floating classrooms. He tells Sulhi Azman how he expects this venture to set sail.</div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage>

TALKING EDGE: Maritime tycoon turns ships into floating classrooms

Even as early as 1965, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, the then French finance minister, had complained about the “exorbitant privilege”, a phrase he coined, to describe the massive advantage the US derives from the dollar’s hegemony of international finance. The year 1965 was, of course, when the Bretton Woods currency framework was still in place. Bretton Woods, a gold parity-based, fixed exchange rate system, had the US dollar, which was fully convertible to gold at US$35 per ounce, as its reserve currency.

MySay: Trump’s tariff tantrums necessitate a global alternative to the US dollar

Apple Inc plans to hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) during the week of June 9, when it is expected to announce redesigned iPhone, iPad and Mac operating systems.

Apple poised to unveil new software at June 9 developers event

KUALA LUMPUR (March 26): MISC Bhd (KL:MISC) could potentially pay out higher dividends from this year onwards from a cash flow boost from a project in Brazil, Maybank Investment Bank said on Wednesday.

MISC could potentially pay out higher dividends starting 2025 — Maybank

(March 26): China’s No. 1 smartphone maker Vivo wants to increase sales from overseas markets like Southeast Asia to as much as 70% of revenue in two years, accelerating its global push as the world’s biggest handset market saturates.

Top China phonemaker Vivo wants 70% of sales from overseas by 2027

Morgan Stanley strategists raised their outlook for Chinese stocks for the second time in a little more than a month, citing upside for valuations amid an improving outlook for earnings.

Morgan Stanley raises Chinese stock targets again, citing earnings

Shares of Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd (KL:ASTRO) hit another record low on Wednesday, as investors remained wary of the pay-television operator’s outlook, amid softening advertising expenditure and declining subscription.

Astro tests new record low as results disappoint, analysts flag uncertain future

SYDNEY (March 26): Petroliam Nasional Bhd, known as Petronas, is aiming to raise up to US$3 billion (RM13.27 billion) in a three-tranche dollar bond transaction, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Petronas aims to raise US$3b in dollar bond deal — Reuters

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/KYIV (March 25): The United States reached separate deals on Tuesday with Ukraine and Russia to pause their attacks at sea and against energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow.

Russia, Ukraine agree to sea, energy truce; Washington seeks easing of sanctions

Asian stocks posted modest gains on Wednesday as investors search for a clear direction amid weaker US consumer confidence and a late rally in US equities.

Asian stocks edge up as traders seek new direction

SYDNEY/BEIJING/SHANGHAI (March 26): Chinese battery giant CATL said it had received approval from China's securities regulator for a share sale in Hong Kong that sources have said could raise at least US$5 billion (RM22.12 billion), the largest listing in the city for four years.

China's CATL Hong Kong listing approved, could raise at least US$5b — Reuters

Police are believed to have called up several corporate figures in Kuala Lumpur and Penang in their investigations related to the money trail of the now-defunct pyramid scheme MBI.

Bukit Aman calls up corporate figures to assist in investigations on MBI's money trail — sources

The Nvidia AI chip fraud case, which is allegedly linked to Malaysia, is still under investigation, and the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) is fully cooperating with the investigation team, said its minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Nvidia AI chip fraud case under probe, Miti continues to cooperate with investigation team, says Zafrul

Chemlite Innovation Bhd (KL:CLITE) fell in its first trade on the ACE Market on Wednesday, adding to a streak of listing day declines.

The Penang-based company, which provides surface finishing treatment services, opened at 23 sen compared with its initial public offering (IPO) price of 25 sen per share. The stock continued to slide, and was down 10% to 22.5 sen as of 9.05am, after more than 20.5 million shares changed hands.

Chemlite dips on ACE Market debut, extends listing flops

Shares of Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd (KL:ASTRO) hit another record low on Wednesday, as investors remained wary of the pay-television operator’s outlook, amid softening advertising expenditure and declining subscription.

The fiscal strength of the US&nbsp;is stuck in a multi-year slide and “has deteriorated further” after the country’s sovereign rating received a negative outlook in late 2023, Moody’s Ratings said.

US fiscal strength seen weakening further, Moody’s says

Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio warned House Republicans of the dangers of rising US deficits and urged them to cut the budget deficit to just 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) or risk debt service costs squeezing government spending.

Dalio warns GOP of ‘dire’ debt as lawmakers weigh tax cuts

Asian stocks posted modest gains on Wednesday as investors search for a clear direction amid weaker US consumer confidence and a late rally in US equities.

The US is exerting "unacceptable pressure" on Greenland, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday, ahead of an unsolicited visit by a high-profile US delegation to the semi-autonomous Danish territory this week.

US visit to Greenland is unacceptable, Danish prime minister says

Oil edged higher after an industry report signalled a major contraction in US crude stockpiles, while the market weighed the prospect of a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in the Black Sea.

Oil gains as industry report points to big drop in US stockpiles

A rally in most big techs drove stocks higher on Tuesday, though gains moderated after one of the market’s best days in 2025 as traders assessed economic risks amid the threat of a trade war.

Stocks eke out gain as tech drives late-day bounce

SYDNEY (March 26): Petroliam Nasional Bhd, known as Petronas, is aiming to raise up to US$3 billion (RM13.27 billion) in a three-tranche dollar bond transaction, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Executives from the world's top commodity trading houses expect a well-supplied oil market this year, with concerns remaining over global demand growth.

Top traders see oil market well supplied, soft prices this year

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/KYIV (March 25): The United States reached separate deals on Tuesday with Ukraine and&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;to pause their attacks at sea and against energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow.

SYDNEY/BEIJING/SHANGHAI (March 26): Chinese battery giant CATL&nbsp;said it had received approval from China's securities regulator for a share sale in Hong Kong that sources have said&nbsp;could raise&nbsp;at least US$5 billion (RM22.12 billion), the largest listing in the city for four years.

WASHINGTON/BRUSSEL (March 25): The European Union's (EU) trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic met with US President Donald Trump's top trade officials on Tuesday to try to avoid steep US. tariffs on EU goods next week, but results of the talks were unclear.

EU trade chief meets with Trump officials to try to head off 'harmful' tariffs

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his top cabinet ministers are in contact with White House officials and want to have “serious” negotiations about trade, as US trading partners brace for President Donald Trump’s next barrage of tariffs.

Carney says Canada wants to ‘get serious’ with Trump on trade talks

US&nbsp;grains merchant Archer-Daniels-Midland is making a fresh wave of job cuts this week at its largest unit, the grain trading and oilseed processing division, according to three sources briefed on the matter.

ADM cuts jobs in grain trading division, sources say

A group of public finance bankers, who have so far largely focused their attention on Congress, are now reaching out to the Trump administration to make their case for keeping state and local government debt tax free.

Muni bankers look to woo Treasury, Trump team to keep tax break

Morgan Stanley strategists raised their outlook for Chinese stocks for the second time in a little more than a month, citing upside for valuations amid an improving outlook for earnings.

(March 26): China’s No. 1 smartphone maker Vivo wants to increase sales from overseas markets like Southeast Asia to as much as 70% of revenue in two years, accelerating its global push as the world’s biggest handset market saturates.