Singapore’s main stock index is on track to have its best annual performance since 2017, but any celebrations over the Straits Times Index’s 15% gain so far this year are likely to be overshadowed by doubts about what lies ahead.

Singapore stocks’ best year since 2017 masks downbeat outlook

President-elect Donald Trump says renewing tax cuts would turbo-charge investment and boost US economic growth — a pledge that helped propel him to election victory in November.

Trump’s tax cuts may fail to drive much, if any, economic boost 

The long-held precept that a weak yen is a good thing for Japanese stocks may finally be put to rest, as the breakdown in their correlation accelerates amid divergence in global monetary policy.

Since its big summer crash, the Topix has been stuck in a narrow trading band even as the yen has swung between a 14-month high of 139.58 per dollar in mid-September and a mid-November low of 156.75, which was not far from its 38-year trough in July.

Cheap yen boost for Japan’s stocks shrinks to nil on hawkish BOJ

Washington’s decision to ease its travel warning for China removes an obstacle to exchanges of people between the world’s two largest economies, but will likely face new scrutiny once Donald Trump returns to the White House.

US declares China travel safer but Trump era brings uncertainty

Investors dusted off their trade war playbooks on Tuesday, confident their portfolios were better-prepared for Donald Trump this time after the US president-elect took to social media and pledged new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.

Investors say they know how to trade Trump 2.0

Speculative fever in Chinese stocks is running red hot and catching the attention of some global funds, who figure local money is worth following into market segments sheltered from tariffs and likely to ride an eventual economic recovery.

China's cashed-up crowd is back in the stock market

Investors hoping for a "Goldilocks" moment for emerging markets in 2025 following years of global interest rate hikes are grappling with significant uncertainty ahead of Donald Trump's impending return to the White House.

The dollar's rigorous rally, and worries over US tariffs, potential unfunded spending sprees and slowing interest rate cuts from the Fed knocked a string of emerging market currencies and weighed on some bonds as the election results rolled in.

Is Goldilocks gone? Emerging markets face uncertain path under Trump

After a peer-beating 175% stock rally from its January low, Southeast Asia’s top online-shopping company Sea Ltd faces a high bar to impress investors with its upcoming third-quarter earnings report.

Sea needs more than good earnings to sustain 175% comeback rally

Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025, combined with a Republican-led US Senate and House of Representatives was widely feared among international allies and will be cheered by some of America’s foes. While the former put on a brave face, the latter are finding it hard to hide their glee.

What Trump’s victory means for Ukraine, the Middle East, China and the rest of the world

When Jung Yoonseok was looking for an assembly partner for his artificial intelligence (AI) chip startup, he had his pick of almost any country in Asia, including his native South Korea. Instead, the Rebellions strategy chief opted for Taiwan because of what he sees as an unparalleled combination of talent, cost and speed.

AI’s US$1.3 tril future increasingly hinges on Taiwan

Malaysia has little economic and external trade benefits to gain from joining BRICS, though it may gain a geopolitical voice internationally in the newest bloc, said BIMB Securities.

BRICS another geopolitical platform for M'sia, little to gain economically —  BIMB

With the market already anticipating record sales from Chinese automaker BYD Co, a convincing overseas growth story will be needed to spur the next leg of its peer-beating stock rally.

BYD’s export outlook key to next phase of 66% peer-beating rally

With shares falling and profits shrinking, Tesla Inc is increasingly looking like the odd one out among its mega-cap technology peers. Investors worry that quarterly results will make the electric-vehicle (EV) maker even more of an outlier.

Tesla earnings could show EV maker falling further behind Big Tech

Corners of financial markets that could feel the impact of a Donald Trump victory are stirring again, as the US presidential race tightens with less than three weeks until Election Day.

Assets ranging from small-cap stocks to bitcoin have climbed in recent weeks while the Mexican peso and Treasuries have slipped, as polls show a tight race between Republican candidate Trump and his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

From bitcoin to Mexican peso, ‘Trump trades’ are appearing again

Pahang Islamic Affairs, Rural Development, and Orang Asli Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad has confirmed that a video alleging the allocation of durian plantation land in Pahang to retired soldiers is fake.

Video alleging durian land allocation is actually Skim Tanah Rakyat land rights handover, says Pahang MP's rep

The launch of a new direct route from Chennai to Penang, via IndiGo, commencing on Saturday, marks a significant milestone in enhancing connectivity, generating economic opportunities, and solidifying Penang’s position as a regional air travel hub.

Direct route from Chennai elevates Penang as key regional air travel hub, says exco

The world’s biggest stablecoin issuer, Tether Holdings Ltd, is on track to close the year with more than US$10 billion (RM45.07 billion) in net profits, chief executive officer Paolo Ardoino said in an interview.

World’s largest stablecoin issuer Tether sees US$10b in net profits for 2024

BNP Paribas SA finalised the €5.1 billion (US$5.3 billion or RM24.0 billion) purchase of Axa SA’s asset management unit, in the biggest acquisition under chief executive officer Jean-Laurent Bonnafe.

BNP Paribas signs €5.1b deal to buy Axa’s asset manager

At least five people were killed in a car-ramming attack at a German Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg that also left more than 200 injured, officials said, and a Saudi man was arrested on suspicion of driving a car into the crowd.

Death toll in German Christmas market car-ramming rises to five, more than 200 injured

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s pursuit of closer ties with China has raised private questions from Donald Trump’s incoming administration, European diplomats and even some senior British officials.

UK's Starmer is deepening China ties while allies turn away

The US Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday in a down-to-the wire burst of activity that will avert a destabilising government shutdown ahead of the busy holiday travel season.

US Senate passes govt funding bill, averts shutdown

Honda and Nissan are considering producing vehicles in one another's factories as part of their plan to deepen ties and potentially merge, Japan's Kyodo news agency said on Saturday.

Honda and Nissan mulling mutual production of vehicles, Kyodo reports

The Cabinet draft paper on the separation of powers between the attorney general (AG) and the public prosecutor (PP) is expected to be ready by the middle of next year, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Draft paper on separation of AG powers expected to be ready by mid-2025 — PM

The government will continue its Special Appreciation for Pensioners (PKKP) initiative, aimed at supporting affected pensioners and derivative pension recipients, to ensure the welfare of this group is well taken care of.

Govt to continue special appreciation for pensioners — PM

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has assured that an amicable solution will be taken to address the ongoing dispute between&nbsp;Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Sarawak's state-owned oil and gas (O&amp;G) company Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) over the distribution of natural gas in Sarawak.

PM: Amicable solution in the works for Petronas-Petros dispute over natural gas distribution

The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) has warned that it will take a firm stance against associations that openly announce price hikes, minimum pricing or new trading conditions, particularly through the media.

MyCC warns stern action against cartel activities by associations

The US&nbsp;Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday in a down-to-the wire burst of activity that will avert a destabilising government shutdown ahead of the busy holiday travel season.

Singapore’s main stock index is on track to have its best annual performance since 2017, but any celebrations over the Straits Times Index’s 15% gain so far this year are likely to be overshadowed by doubts about what lies ahead.&nbsp;

Alphabet Inc’s Google called a US Justice Department (DOJ) plan to force it to sell its web browser “extreme” and at odds with the law, urging a Federal Court judge to take caution lest he stifle innovation and future investment.

Google blasts Chrome sale as ‘extreme’ remedy at odds with law

At least five people were killed in a car-ramming attack at a German Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg that also left more than 200 injured, officials said, and a Saudi man was arrested on suspicion of driving a car into the crowd.

At first glance,&nbsp;Sony Group Corp’s US$1.2 billion (RM5.4&nbsp;billion) acquisition of the anime streaming site Crunchyroll in 2021 looks like a success. Subscribers to the US$8-a-month service have tripled to 15 million since then, and the number of new shows has doubled to more than 50 every quarter.

Sony's Crunchyroll finds its early lead in anime under attack

Volkswagen AG (VW) reached an agreement with labour leaders to cut capacity at its namesake brand while avoiding factory closures, capping three months of tense negotiations and preventing further union walkouts.

VW, union agree to cut capacity and keep German plants open

The government will continue its Special Appreciation for Pensioners (PKKP) initiative, aimed at supporting affected pensioners and derivative pension recipients, to ensure the welfare of this group is well taken care of.

The launch of a new direct route from Chennai to Penang, via IndiGo, commencing on Saturday, marks a significant milestone in enhancing connectivity, generating economic opportunities, and solidifying Penang’s position as a regional air travel hub.

Honda and&nbsp;Nissan are considering producing vehicles in one another's factories as part of their plan to&nbsp;deepen ties&nbsp;and potentially merge, Japan's Kyodo news agency said on Saturday.

Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected in&nbsp;Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor and&nbsp;Johor until 4pm on Saturday.

Thunderstorms in six states until 4pm on Saturday — MetMalaysia

Qualcomm Inc prevailed at trial against Arm Holdings plc’s claim that it breached a licence for chip technology that the world’s largest maker of mobile-phone processors acquired when it bought a startup in 2021.&nbsp;

Qualcomm defeats Arm’s claim over chip design licence breach

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s pursuit of closer ties with China has raised private questions from Donald Trump’s incoming administration, European diplomats and even some senior British officials.

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) expects inflation to rise in 2025, driven by domestic policy reforms such as RON95 fuel subsidy rationalisation and an expanded sales and service&nbsp;tax (SST) scope. &nbsp;

HLIB sees higher inflation in 2025 on RON95 subsidy rationalisation, expanded SST scope

With Donald Trump set to return to the White House in January, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed confidence in Malaysia’s ability to safeguard its foreign policy and economic priorities amid&nbsp;evolving global dynamics.

Malaysia to adapt to Trump era, says Anwar

Nippon&nbsp;Steel alleges the White House had "impermissible undue influence" over a national security review of its US$14.9 billion (RM67.2&nbsp;billion) bid for US&nbsp;Steel and threatened legal action if the deal is blocked.

Nippon Steel alleges undue White House influence on doomed US Steel deal review, letter says

Pahang Islamic Affairs, Rural Development, and Orang Asli Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad has confirmed that a video alleging&nbsp;the allocation of durian plantation land in Pahang to retired soldiers is fake.

OpenAI is preparing to launch a new artificial intelligence (AI) model that it said is capable of more advanced human-like reasoning than its current offerings, ratcheting up the competition with rivals such as Alphabet Inc’s Google.

OpenAI unveils more advanced reasoning model in race with Google

The Johor government has completed seven housing projects, categorised as ‘sick’ and abandoned, this year, representing an estimated property value of about RM700 million.

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