KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9): The ringgit continued to be primarily influenced by external developments in the first half of 2023, while banks continued to maintain strong liquidity buffers.

BNM: Ringgit mainly influenced by external factors in 1H2023, banks had strong liquidity buffers

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said its updated stress test continued to affirm the resilience of capital buffers of banks to withstand potential losses under severe macroeconomic and financial shocks, while sustaining support for an economic recovery.

BNM: Stress test shows banks remain well buffered against credit risks

KUALA LUMPUR (March 30): Against the backdrop of low interest rates domestically and globally, there have been limited signs of credit-fuelled speculative investments in the housing market, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

In its Financial Stability Review for the second half of...

Limited signs of credit-fuelled speculative house purchases despite low interest rates, says BNM

KUALA LUMPUR (March 30): Malaysia’s household debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio fell to 89% as at December 2021 from 89.6% in June 2021, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in its Financial Stability Review for the second half of 2021, released on Wednesday (March 30).

Malaysia’s household debt-to-GDP ratio falls to 89% as at end-2021 from a record 93.2% a year ago

KUALA LUMPUR (March 30): Post-pandemic structural trends are likely to add to pre-existing imbalances in the country's commercial real estate (CRE) market, as vacancy and rental rates of office and retail spaces have worsened since the onset of the pandemic and could take longer to improve, given the structural shifts observed.

BNM sees vulnerabilities in commercial real estate which makes up 7.8% of total banking system assets

The number of unsold houses remained elevated in the third quarter of 2021 despite some improvements in activity in the residential property market, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Elevated unsold houses reflect pre-existing affordability issues, says BNM

The decelerating number of new applications among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for rescheduling and restructuring (R&R) from its July 2021 peak signalled greater confidence among SMEs of their ability to service their debt, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

BNM: SME loan restructuring requests down from July 2021 peak

Despite a higher level of coverage relative to earlier periods, the December 2021 floods highlighted the significant underinsurance of flood risks, according to Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) latest report.

BNM: December 2021 floods highlight significant underinsurance of flood risks

The quality of business borrowings has not shown significant deterioration, with the overall business loan impairment ratio remaining low at 2.4% in the second half of 2021 (2H21) thanks to support measures that remained in place, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

BNM: No significant deterioration seen in quality of business borrowings

Low Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings have underscored material longer-term risks to household resilience, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Low EPF savings underscore long-term risks to households' resilience, says BNM

Malaysia’s insurance and takaful funds posted a decline in aggregate profitability for the second half of 2021 (2H21) due to a weaker investment performance, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Weaker investment performance weighed on insurance and takaful funds' profitability, says BNM

The impact of Covid-19 claims and the December floods on the profitability of insurers and takaful operators (ITOs) in the country remained manageable, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), despite aggregate profitability having declined for insurance and takaful funds, which was mainly driven by a weaker investment performance.

BNM: Impact of Covid-19 and December flood claims on insurers manageable

Despite various extensions of rental relief, up to half of mall operators reported significant difficulties collecting rents from their tenants in the first half of 2021 (1H21), according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Pressure on office and retail rents to remain as vacancy rates rise — BNM

The impact on insurers’ and takaful operators’ earnings from premium deferrals as well as Covid-19 claims is expected to remain manageable, with insurers and takaful operators assessed to be resilient against stressed scenarios assuming higher claims than observed thus far, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Insurers’ and takaful operators’ capital adequacy ratio well above regulatory minimum — BNM

Navis Capital Partners has completed a partial sale of its Southeast Asian affordable K-12 education assets from Navis Asia Fund VIII, and raised US$230 million (RM1.01 billion) to support the platform’s growth.

Navis Capital raises US$230m backed by TPG NewQuest to grow Southeast Asian K-12 education assets

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) held a meeting last week with at least a dozen automakers to issue tightened rules over driver assistance technology, in a move that may slow the deployment of such systems by manufacturers.

China reining in smart driving tech weeks after fatal crash

THE Sarawak state government is understood to be looking at buying a stake in another bank and merging it with Affin Bank Bhd (KL:AFFIN), in which it has 31.25% interest, sources say.

It is understood that overtures have been made to Tan Sri Azman Hashim, who holds an 11.83% stake in AM...

Sarawak said to be on the prowl for a bank to merge with Affin Bank

NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON (April 21): US Vice-President JD Vance began a four-day visit to India on Monday and will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as New Delhi rushes to avoid steep US tariffs with an early trade deal and boost ties with the Trump administration.

Vance arrives in India, to hold talks with Modi under US tariffs shadow — Reuters

South Korea’s Posco Holdings Inc plans to join its peer Hyundai Motor Group in building a steel plant in the US — a US$5.8 billion (RM25.4 billion) investment that President Donald Trump has used to claim success for his controversial tariff policy.

Posco joins Hyundai for US$5.8b steel mill hailed by Trump

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) listed the challenges of ensuring export control compliance by its customers, months after the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) silicon was found to have flowed to US-sanctioned Huawei Technologies Co via intermediaries.

Taiwan's TSMC warns of limits of ability to keep its AI chips from China

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim playfully responded to the media on Monday by quoting lyrics from the late Tan Sri P Ramlee’s song 'Tunggu Sekejab' when asked about the PKR divisional elections, which saw several major upsets.

When approached by reporters as he was leaving the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry’s (MOSTI) Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, the PKR president casually quoted the lyrics: "Tunggu sekejap, jangan dikenang orang jauh...tunggu sekejap," without offering any further comment on the matter.

Anwar quotes ‘Tunggu Sekejap’ song in light moment on PKR poll upsets

HHRG Bhd (KL:HHRG) has extended chief executive officer Fong Chee Khuen’s suspension by two more weeks until May 4, pending the outcome of an internal investigation over alleged misconduct.

HHRG extends CEO suspension pending outcome of internal investigation

Penang has both the potential and the responsibility to emerge as a regional education hub, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He said the ambition was anchored by the state’s educational institutions such as Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) and Penang Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) ecosystem.

Penang poised to become Asean’s education hub — CM

The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is set to enhance Asean's supply chain efficiency and resilience, said Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone to strengthen Asean's supply chain resilience, says Zafrul

Beijing warned nations against making trade agreements with Washington that hurt China, highlighting how economies around the world risk getting caught up in tensions between the two powerhouses.

China warns nations not to cut US trade deals at its expense

Crude palm oil's (CPO) return to a discount against its main substitute soybean oil this month is expected to last until the third quarter, analysts said, ending a rare premium that was seen in the five months since November.

Crude palm oil's discount to soybean likely until 3Q, may spur Indian demand — analysts

KUALA LUMPUR (April 21): Former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar has come out in strong support of Chief Justice (CJ) Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, defending her recent comments on limiting the role of the prime minister in judicial appointments, made during the 24th Law Conference in Malta.

Former Federal Court judge Suriyadi backs CJ Tengku Maimun amid criticism over Malta speech

RHB Investment Bank (RHB IB) has turned bearish on Malaysia's banking sector, as global tariffs are slowing growth and expected to hurt banks' earnings in the short term.

RHB IB turns bearish on Malaysian banks amid tariff worries and slowing growth

Penang’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) Mutiara Line remained on track and on schedule, said its asset owner and project developer MRT Corp.

Penang's Mutiara Line LRT project on track and on schedule, says project owner

U Mobile has signed an agreement to dispose its merchant acquiring business GoBiz for unspecified transaction value to NTT Data Payment Services Sdn Bhd.

U Mobile disposes of merchant acquiring business GoBiz

Shares of Eco World Development Group Bhd (KL:ECOWLD) rose on Monday, after a planned industrial park worth nearly RM3 billion took another step forward.

EcoWorld shares rise, analysts positive as plan for RM3b industrial park advances

Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG) is exploring the possibility of accelerating its Boeing aircraft acquisition timeline, following delivery slots potentially vacated by Chinese carriers due to the ongoing US-China trade war.&nbsp;

Malaysia Aviation Group sees opportunity in China’s Boeing delivery halt

Asian equities and US&nbsp;stock futures slid on Monday while the dollar slumped, as anxiety over tariffs and public criticism of the Federal Reserve (Fed) by President Donald Trump hit sentiment, leading gold prices to a new high.

Asian stocks, dollar slide as Trump's Fed attacks jangle nerves

Maybank Investment Bank, CGS International and AmInvestment Bank will jointly underwrite the entire retail portion of Paradigm Real Estate Investment Trust’s (REIT) initial public offering, covering up to 254.66 million units as it prepares to list on the Main Market.

Three banks underwrite the entire retail portion of Main Market-bound Paradigm REIT

US tariffs on China-made gloves can help Malaysian players expand its market in the world’s biggest economy, but are not sufficient to reverse the structural oversupply challenges in the global glove industry, said AmInvestment Bank (AmInvest).

US tariffs on Chinese gloves not enough to lift sector outlook, says AmInvest

Gold touched a record high on Monday, as the dollar sank to a three-year low, and trade war concerns between the US and key trading partners stirred recession fears, making investors lean towards the safe-haven asset.

Gold hits record high on weak dollar, trade war woes

KUALA LUMPUR (April 21): PEOPLElogy Bhd, which provides consultancy services and training, has launched its initial public offering (IPO) that could raise up to RM26.25 million on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia.

PEOPLElogy sets ACE Market IPO price at 25 sen apiece to raise RM26.25m

Oil retreated as traders fretted about the impact of the US-led trade war on energy demand, while monitoring talks between Washington and Tehran over the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme.

Oil retreats with Ukraine-Russia truce, US-Iran talks in focus

The sell-America trade gathered momentum on Monday, as US President Donald Trump continued to contemplate the possibility of&nbsp;firing&nbsp;Federal Reserve (Fed) chairman Jerome Powell.

Trump’s push against Fed chair Powell seen as latest reason to sell US assets

For Japan’s largest utilities, lab-made fuels are a meaningful step toward greener energy that also extends the life of billions of dollars’ worth of existing fossil-fuel infrastructure.

Japan embraces lab-made fuels despite costs, climate concerns

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB) announced on Monday that it has committed RM10 billion in financing facilities to support economic activity and cross-border investments within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

CIMB pledges RM10b financing in Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone

The Johor government is mooting the establishment of an Asean industrial park within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said.

Johor mulls setting up Asean industrial park in special economic zone

(April 21):&nbsp;The steepest yield curve on Singapore’s bonds in about three years is signalling the time may be propitious for investors to buy long-dated debt at an&nbsp;auction&nbsp;this month.

BNM Financial Stability Review

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BNM Financial Stability Review

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