Bank Negara Malaysia released its Annual Report 2023 on Wednesday, together with two other flagship publications — Economic and Monetary Review 2023, and Financial Stability Review for 2nd Half 2023 — in which the central bank shared its assessments on the nation's economy and financial system, current and potential risks, and actions taken to manage them.

10 key charts from BNM's Annual Report 2023

Malaysia will not be facing a balance of payment crisis, the central bank said on Wednesday, after the current-account surplus narrowed sharply to its lowest in 26 years.

Current-account surplus is expected to improve in 2024, mainly driven by growth in the tourism sector and export recovery this year, Bank Negara Malaysia’s deputy governor Marzunisham Omar told reporters following the release of the central bank’s annual report.

Malaysia will avoid balance of payment crisis as current-account surplus widens, BNM says

Malaysia has a “window of opportunity” to undertake the necessary structural reforms on the back of steady economic growth projections, coupled with moderating and stable inflationary pressures, said Bank Negara Malaysia governor Datuk Shaik Abdul Rasheed Abdul Ghaffour.

Malaysia has window of opportunity for structural reforms amid growth rebound and stable inflation, says BNM governor

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) strongly urged Malaysian businesses from all sectors to repatriate their overseas investment income and convert export proceeds back to ringgit to support the central bank's efforts to manage short-term pressure on the local currency.

BNM finds rising foreign currency holdings, widens calls for repatriation to bolster ringgit

KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): Bank Negara Malaysia expects wages to increase further in 2024 following slowdown last year, while the jobless rate will likely remain stable near its past trend.

Wages to increase further in 2024, jobless rate to stay stable, says BNM

The upcoming Consumer Credit Act (CCA), aimed to promote responsible practices among credit lending activities, does not address credit scoring services provided by credit reporting agencies (CRAs).

Credit scores have 'useful purpose', not addressed in Consumer Credit Act, says BNM deputy governor

KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): The impact of reform measures such as subsidy rationalisation are temporary in measure and as such, do not require monetary policy intervention, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) on Wednesday.

Subsidy reform measures do not require monetary policy intervention, says BNM governor

Malaysia’s current-account surplus in the balance of payment is expected to improve this year following a sharp decline to a 26-year low in 2023, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said.

BNM projects current-account surplus to improve this year after hitting 26-year low in 2023

KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): The profitability of insurance and takaful funds declined in the second half of 2023 (2H2023) due to larger net underwriting losses of life insurance and family takaful funds as a result of an increase in medical claims payments, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

BNM: Insurance and takaful funds’ profit dropped in 2H2023 as payments of medical claims increased

KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): Malaysian banks remain well-capitalised to absorb unexpected shocks and support financial intermediation in the economy, according to Bank Negara Malaysia.

BNM: Malaysia’s banking system remains well-capitalised, resilient against liquidity shock

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has pledged a monetary policy stance supportive of the economy, even as the central bank flagged potential risks to inflation and growth as the government tightened its budget for subsidies.

BNM pledges supportive monetary policy, flags risks to inflation, growth

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) recorded a marginal growth of 2.4% in its net profit after tax (PAT) to RM7.16 billion for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2023 (FY2023), against RM6.99 billion in FY2022, according to its annual report released on Wednesday.

BNM records marginal 2.4% growth in PAT to RM7.16b in FY2023

The movement of the ringgit, which depreciated by 3.9% against the US dollar and by 3.7% against major trade partners in nominal effective terms, in recent times neither reflects the country’s economic fundamentals nor positive economic prospects, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in its Economic and Monetary Review 2023 report.

BNM: Ringgit fundamentally undervalued, will remain vulnerable to advanced economies' monetary policy trajectory

The National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) attended to 66,997 calls on online financial scams from the public in 2023, of which 25,991 calls were from scammed victims, according to Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) Annual Report 2023.

Calls from public about online scams jumped five-fold in 2023, says BNM

Meta Platforms Inc is rolling out new artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help advertisers create and edit videos more easily, seeking to reach Facebook and Instagram users who are spending more time watching videos.

Meta launches generative AI video tools for advertisers

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9): Malaysian exporters are now keener to convert foreign proceeds amid sustained recovery of the ringgit, said members of Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) Financial Markets Committee.

Malaysian exporters now keener to bring home foreign proceeds, BNM committee observes

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9): Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd (KL:PMETAL) Southeast Asia’s largest aluminium smelter by capacity is expected to post double-digit earnings growth in FY2025 stable aluminium prices, as global monetary policies ease and China’s economy recovers, said Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB).

Press Metal to see double-digit earnings growth in FY2025 — HLIB

US Federal Reserve (Fed) vice-chair Philip Jefferson said risks to the central bank’s employment and inflation goals are now closer to equal.

“The balance of risks to our two mandates has changed — as risks to inflation have diminished and risks to employment have risen, these risks have been brought roughly into balance,” Jefferson said on Tuesday in prepared remarks for an event at the Davidson College in North Carolina.

Fed vice-chair says risks to inflation, employment now balanced

Citigroup Inc said US banks will be forced into a “dramatic shift” in how electronic payments are processed if New York state wins a lawsuit claiming the company doesn’t do enough to prevent online fraud.

'We are not bad guys': Citi pushes back on New York online fraud suit

Shares of Crest Group Bhd (KL:CREST) rose 13% on their trading debut on Wednesday, after the imaging company raised RM82.11 million from its initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market.

Crest Group rises 13% on ACE Market debut after RM82 mil IPO

Shares of Pertama Digital Bhd (KL:PERTAMA) resumed their decline in early trade on Wednesday, to their lowest in more than four years.

Pertama Digital fell as much as 20 sen or 41.2% to 28.5 sen, after hitting a limit down the day prior.

Pertama Digital resumes decline in early trade after limit down day prior

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc sent Seven & i Holdings Co a new potential acquisition price of ¥7 trillion (US$47.20 billion or RM202.23 billion), people with knowledge of the matter said, showing that the Canadian company is still seeking to enter takeover talks after its initial bid was rejected.

Couche-Tard suggested higher price of US$47b for Seven & I — Bloomberg

A new HBO documentary about the origins of bitcoin suggests that Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of the original cryptocurrency, is likely Canadian software developer Peter Todd.

HBO documentary suggests bitcoin creator 'Satoshi Nakamoto' is developer Peter Todd

Shares of Ireka Corp Bhd (KL:IREKA) surged to their highest in more than two years on Wednesday, after the construction company announced a RM1.07 billion contract.

Ireka Corp shares surge to over two-year high after RM1b contract win

A brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made headlines on Tuesday.

Public Bank, LPI Capital, Ireka, Perdana Petroleum, MClean, Enest, Sunsuria, Media Prima, Seal and Sime Darby

Sime Darby Bhd (KL:SIME) is expanding its electric vehicle (EV) offerings as it is set to bring Denza, a premium sub-brand by BYD, into Malaysia.

Sime Darby's unit Sime Darby Auto Imports Sdn Bhd was appointed as the official importer for the Denza brand, while BYD Malaysia Sdn Bhd is the official distributor for Denza, according to BYD's statement. &nbsp;

Sime Darby partners BYD to bring Denza EVs to Malaysia

The world’s largest technology companies drove stocks higher, with the market rebounding from its worst session in a month. A rout in Treasuries eased as bets on US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts stabilised. Oil sank.

‘Mag Seven’ rally as Nvidia’s winning run hits 14%

Shares of Crest Group Bhd (KL:CREST) rose 13% on their trading debut on Wednesday,&nbsp;after the imaging company raised RM82.11 million from its initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market.

Ever since President Xi Jinping sought to&nbsp;draw a line&nbsp;under China’s slowdown last month, investors have clamored for him to back up monetary easing with a powerful fiscal stimulus to help fuel one of the nation’s biggest stock rallies in years.

China markets warn Xi that more stimulus is needed

Equities in Asia were primed for early gains on Wednesday after a tech rally lifted Wall Street and bets on US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts stabilised.&nbsp;

Stock futures for Japan, Australia and Hong Kong all advanced. An index of US-listed Chinese shares fell 6.9% overnight as concerns mounted that the latest burst of stimulus may&nbsp;be insufficient&nbsp;to convince investors of a sustainable rally in the country’s equity market. After surging almost 11% at the open on Tuesday following a week-long holiday, Chinese stocks lost nearly half their gains.

Asian stocks set to rise after tech lifts Wall Street

Lee Wei Ling, the daughter of Singapore’s first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, passed away at the age of 69.

Wei Ling died at home on Wednesday, according to a Facebook&nbsp;post&nbsp;by her brother Lee Hsien Yang. She was also the sister of former Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Wei Ling, daughter of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew, dies at 69

A new HBO documentary about the origins of bitcoin suggests that Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of the original cryptocurrency, is likely Canadian software developer Peter Todd.&nbsp;

Shares of Ireka Corp Bhd (KL:IREKA) surged to their highest in more than two years on Wednesday, after the construction company announced a RM1.07 billion contract.

In a matter of weeks, Budget 2025 will be upon us. Research houses have started rolling out their predictions, anticipating areas of focus that the government will zero in to continue to support and bolster the economy.

A look at the previous four national Budgets

Shares of Pertama Digital Bhd (KL:PERTAMA) resumed their decline in early trade on Wednesday, to their lowest&nbsp;in more than four years.

Pertama Digital fell as much as 20 sen or 41.2% to 28.5 sen, after hitting a limit down the day prior.

Asean micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should benefit from the US$2 trillion (RM8.55 trillion) expected economic value generated from the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) by 2030.

Asean MSMEs should benefit from Digital Economy Framework Agreement, says Zafrul

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned operators of certain Boeing Co 737 aircraft that the rudder system could possibly jam due to a faulty part, a week after a safety official rebuked the agency for not acting sooner to address the issue.

FAA issues safety alert on Boeing 737 rudder issue after NTSB rebuke

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said she held discussions with the mayor of Hangzhou (China) Yao Gaoyuan on Tuesday to strengthen "twin cities" cooperation between Kuala Lumpur and Hangzhou.

Zaliha in talks with mayor for KL-Hangzhou smart co-operation as twin cities

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has arrived in the Laotian capital here to attend the 44th and 45th Asean Summits and Related Summits.

His aircraft landed at Wattay International Airport at 8.37pm local time (9.37pm Malaysian time).

Anwar arrives in Vientiane for Asean Summits and Related Summits

Efforts to strengthen national unity require the synergy of various parties including the people by participating in various programmes implemented by the government through the Ministry of National Unity.

Build unity through stronger synergy between govt and people

Crypto.com filed a lawsuit against the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after receiving a Wells Notice indicating the regulator’s intention to sue the digital-asset exchange for operating as an unregistered broker-dealer and securities clearing agency.

Crypto.com files suit against SEC after getting Wells Notice

The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) has seized 156 Social Visit Pass (Medical Treatment Pass category) application files believed to be linked to a medical visa syndicate involving Immigration Department officers.

EAIC seizes 156 files in probe on medical visa syndicate involving immigration officers

Citigroup Inc&nbsp;said US banks will be forced into a “dramatic shift” in how electronic payments are processed if New York state wins a lawsuit claiming the company doesn’t do enough to prevent online fraud.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday said it issued a safety alert to airlines warning of the potential for limited or jammed rudder movement on certain Boeing 737 airplanes.

BNM Annual Report

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BNM Annual Report

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