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

SINGAPORE (Jan 7): The Singapore’s Home Ministry (MHA) introduced a new bill in Parliament on Tuesday, that aims to consolidate and strengthen the government’s powers to maintain racial harmony in the country.

Singapore introduces bill to maintain racial harmony

The yen slid to its weakest since July against the dollar, lagging most of its major peers, with analysts attributing the drop to Japanese retail investors’ outflows as well as to the Tokyo benchmark fixing.

Yen drops to weakest since July on fixing, retail investor flows

Sarawak needs over 800,000 workers in oil palm plantations statewide, said state Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

Sarawak needs over 800,000 workers for oil palm plantations, says state minister

Malaysia and Singapore are reopening discussions on long-standing issues such as water supply, maritime delimitation and airspace.

Malaysia, Singapore reopen discussion on long-standing issues

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken lauded the close economic and security partnership between the US and Japan after a controversial move by US President Joe Biden to label Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp as a national security risk.

Blinken lauds Japan ties while skirting Nippon Steel dispute

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) on Tuesday issued an alert-level continuous rain warning for six states for three days, starting from Friday (Jan 10).

Alert-level continuous rain from Friday to Sunday in Terengganu, Pahang, N Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Sarawak — MetMalaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): 44% of companies are optimistic about their business performance in the first quarter of 2025 (1Q2025), reflecting continued positive sentiment, said the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA).

44% of semicon firms optimistic about 1Q2025 despite decline in sentiment — association

Singapore’s government is open to instituting minimum-age laws for social media use and is in talks with counterparts in Australia over the matter, an official said on Tuesday.

Singapore engages Australia to study social media age limits

Nickel Asia Corp is in talks to unload its minority stake in a key processing plant to Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining Co as the Philippines’ top producer of the metal focuses on upstream mining and renewable energy businesses.

Nickel Asia aims to sell processing plant stake to Sumitomo

EA Technique (M) Bhd (KL:EATECH) said on Tuesday that it will get an undisclosed payoff as part of an amicable settlement with national oil-and-gas company Petronas over the lease of a floating storage unit vessel.

EA Technique to get payoff from Petronas to settle vessel lease dispute

The leaders of Malaysia and Singapore formalised an agreement establishing a special economic zone linking their two nations’ border region, with the aim of attracting 50 projects in the first five years of its establishment.

Singapore, Malaysia ink deal creating new vast economic zone

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan), or KWAP, and its affiliates have disposed of 119.25 million&nbsp;shares, or a 7.15% stake in Malaysia Airport Holding Bhd (MAHB)(KL:AIRPORT), pursuant to the takeover offer by Gateway Development Alliance Sdn Bhd (GDA).

GDA ups holding after KWAP disposes of 7.15% stake amid takeover

The existence of the royal addendum in Najib's royal pardon raises significant questions that warrant clarification.

Najib Pardon: There is nothing pending for current Agong to deliberate on

Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) achieved record-high vehicle sales and production volumes in 2024, marking an 8.4% increase in sales compared to the previous year, along with its highest production output to date.

Perodua achieved record-high vehicle sales, production in 2024

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) expects a de-rating for the Malaysian oil-and-gas sector, given the high possibility of capital expenditure reduction by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) in 2025.

O&G sector faces de-rating on potential Petronas capex cut — Maybank IB

Malaysia’s green industrialisation efforts face significant hurdles, including a decline of its manufacturing base, requiring urgent actions by the government, according to a new study.

Study: Malaysia’s manufacturing decline hinders green industrialisation, urgent action needed

(Jan 6):&nbsp;A rally in the world’s largest tech companies lifted stocks at the start of the first full trading week in 2025. The dollar trimmed losses as President-elect Donald Trump said his tariff plan won’t be scaled back.

US stocks advance as Nvidia closes at all-time high

There are still ample near- to medium-term opportunities for Kerjaya Prospek Group Bhd (KL:KERJAYA) after the construction firm secured its first contract for the year, analysts said.

Plenty of jobs ahead for Kerjaya Prospek after its first contract win in 2025, analysts say

Toyota Motor Corp plans to move in the first 100 residents of a futuristic city at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan by as soon as this fall, but declined to specify how much the ambitious project is costing the company.

Toyota aims to open its futuristic city in Japan this year

National oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Bhd, or Petronas, said on Tuesday it is embarking on a study to explore untapped resources in the Malay Basin off the coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Petronas to study mature Malay Basin that still holds untapped resources

Royal addendum? House arrest? If you, like many Malaysians, are confused over what took place in imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's court case on Monday, below is a brief elucidation highlighting the main takeaways.

Your guide to understanding Najib's house arrest bid

The King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, on Tuesday granted an audience to Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at Istana Negara here.

King grants audience to Singapore PM at Istana Negara

SINGAPORE (Jan 7): Asia shares rose on Tuesday, tracking Wall Street's positive lead and as some investors hoped incoming US President-elect Donald Trump could adopt a less aggressive tariff stance than promised when he takes office.

Asia shares rise on prospect of softer Trump tariffs

The government has&nbsp;decided that the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project can be revived if there is full participation from the private sector, with minimal government involvement, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.&nbsp;

KL-Singapore HSR can be revived with full private participation, says Anwar

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 7): The dissolution of the government task force investigating 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was an “administrative decision”, and not as a result of any directive by then-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the court heard on Tuesday.

1MDB-Tanore: Najib says disbandment of taskforce probing wrongdoing was an ‘administrative decision’

theedgemalaysia.com highlighted five stocks with momentum at Bursa Malaysia’s afternoon close on Tuesday. Two stocks showed positive momentum, while the rest showed positive momentum.

Stocks with momentum on Jan 7, 2025: Nationgate, Lien Hoe, Gamuda, Wong Engineering, Velocity Capital

Malaysia and Singapore are reopening discussions on long-standing issues such as water supply, maritime delimitation and airspace.

Asian chip-related shares extended gains on expectations that Nvidia Corp chief Jensen Huang would spark renewed optimism over AI demand during his speech at the CES trade show in Las Vegas.

Asia chip shares surge ahead of Nvidia CEO’s Vegas appearance

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): The Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia (FIMM) has reprimanded a former unit trust consultant for allegedly cheating during its examination.

FIMM reprimands unit trust consultant for alleged cheating in exam

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): HSBC Global Research has raised its 2025 economic growth projection for Malaysia, citing robust consumption and investment despite external risks.&nbsp;

BNM Financial Stability Review

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BNM Financial Stability Review

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