PUTRAJAYA (Jan 28): Malaysia kept its 2016 fiscal deficit target intact, as widely expected, but trimmed its growth forecast for the year, as the government revises 2016 state budget because of falling oil prices.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government is maintaining ...

Revised Budget 2016 sees 11 measures introduced to spur domestic demand

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 28): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government had revised its 2016 economic growth forecast for Malaysia to between 4% and 4.5%, from 4%-5% previously, after taking into account the impact of cheaper crude oil.

Najib, who announced the country...

Malaysia's 2016 GDP growth seen at 4%-4.5%

Budget 2016 Revision Flash: Government aims to achieve fiscal deficit at 3.1% of GDP
...

Government aims to achieve fiscal deficit at 3.1% of GDP

Budget 2016 Revision Flash: Government revises Malaysia's GDP growth forecast to 4%-4.5%, assuming Brent oil at US$30-US$35/barrel
...

Government revises Malaysia's GDP growth forecast to 4%-4.5%, assuming Brent oil at US$30-US$35/barrel

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 26): Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah said Malaysia's Budget 2016 could be reviewed if Brent crude oil prices recovered and exceeded US$48 a barrel.

Ahmad Husni said Budget 2016 assumed Brent oil prices at US$48 a barrel. He said oil pri...

Review possible if oil price surpasses US$48/barrel - Ahmad Husni

UNVEILING his "Prospering the Rakyat" budget (translated as "Prospering the People"), PM Najib proposed a deficit of 3.1% of GDP for 2016 (RM38.8 billion), versus a projected 3.2% this year (RM37.2 billion).

While this is not far off the government's long-held deficit target of 3% of GD...

Beware of Malaysia's fiscal slippage - HSBC

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 26): Embattled Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak delved into the populist playbook to propose a budget sprinkled with handouts and subsidies, drawing criticism from the opposition who said he’d missed an opportunity for broader economic reform.

Faced with a funding ...

Najib relies on populist playbook in attempt to offset scandals

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 24): The increase to the national minimum wage is unlikely to have much impact on rubber glove makers as over the past few years they have invested in automated production lines to cut reliance on labour.

Careplus Group Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Lim Kwee Shyan ...

Minimum wage hike to have minimal impact on glove makers 

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 24): Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) has urged the government to engage in dialogue with the various stakeholders such as industries and especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), so that the implementation of higher wages would have the desired effect.

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Govt urged to engage various stakeholders on higher wage 

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that Moscow sees a small window of opportunity to forge agreements with the new US administration of President Donald Trump, the Interfax news agency reported.

Russia sees 'small' window of opportunity to negotiate with Trump administration

Beginning February 2025, during the short-term phase, Executive Summaries of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports under the First and Second Schedules of the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015 will be made accessible to the public.

EIA report summaries to be made public starting next month

China rolled out a basket of measures to stabilise its stock markets, including plans to boost the amount pension can invest in the nation’s listed companies, as it combats uncertainty in a second Donald Trump presidency.

The central government issued a directive to “steady the stock market, and clear bottlenecks for the introduction of mid-long term capital,” according to a notice posted by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on Wednesday.

China eases rules for long-term funds to boost stock market

Stocks in India look set for further declines as foreign investors resumed selling shares, amid persistent worries over company earnings growth and sluggish consumption.

Indian stock exodus balloons to US$5b on downbeat profits

The US sovereign debt profile remains on an unsustainable path with deficits likely to widen more than what has been recently projected by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), an analyst at investment firm DoubleLine said on Tuesday.

US fiscal path unsustainable despite improved budget forecasts, says DoubleLine

India’s government is evaluating options ranging from a trade deal, cutting tariffs and importing more goods from the US if US President Donald Trump follows through with threatened trade action.

India's Modi mulls lower tariffs, more imports to counter Trump’s threats

Mexico's president emphasised on Tuesday that she will defend her nation's sovereignty and independence but also pursue dialogue with US President Donald Trump, a day after he began his new term with a flurry of orders, including measures to curb immigration.

Mexican leader stresses sovereignty, holds off on retaliatory tariff threats

The retail price of RON95 will remain unchanged at RM2.05 per litre, while the price of RON97 will increase by five sen from RM3.38 to RM3.43 per litre from Jan 23 to 29.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF), in a statement on Wednesday, said that the retail price of diesel in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan would remain at RM2.15 per litre, while the price in Peninsular Malaysia would increase by five sen from RM3.08 to RM3.13 per litre during the same period.

Price of RON95 unchanged, RON97 and diesel up 5 sen

Below is a summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Wednesday.

FBM KLCI up 0.46% to 1,587.8 on Jan 22, 2025

Standard Chartered plc shares still have potential to soar even after an 85% increase in the stock over the past year, according to chief executive officer Bill Winters.

Standard Chartered still undervalued despite rally, says CEO

Sunway Bhd (KL:SUNWAY) has started the ball rolling for the initial public offer (IPO) of its healthcare unit, sources told The Edge.

Maybank Investment Bank Bhd and AmInvestment Bank Bhd are said to be the front-runners as principal advisers for the IPO of Sunway Healthcare Group, the sources said.

Sunway shortlists bankers for healthcare unit's IPO 

Malaysia's currency hit a six-week high and stocks advanced for a fourth straight session on Wednesday ahead of a central bank policy decision, while a gauge of emerging Asian equities reversed course weighed by China on US tariff plans.

Ringgit extends gains as BNM holds rates; China stocks drag 

MIDF Research said&nbsp;the recent selldown of data centre-linked construction stocks&nbsp;may have been overdone as it sees the US’ AI chip export restrictions having minimal impact on data centre operations here.

In a note, MIDF Research said this prompted&nbsp;its upgrade on&nbsp;Sunway Construction Group Berhad (KL:SUNCON) to a “buy”, from “neutral”.

MIDF says selldown on data centre-related stocks overdone, upgrades SunCon

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): Malaysia’s property market is now showing signs of improvement that will lift Malaysian banking stocks under pressure from uncertainties over data-centre outlook, according to CIMB Securities.

CIMB Securities: Malaysian property market now showing signs of improvement that will lift banking stocks

(Jan 22): US&nbsp;President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;on Tuesday announced&nbsp;a&nbsp;private&nbsp;sector&nbsp;investment&nbsp;of up to US$500&nbsp;billion (RM2.23 trillion) to fund&nbsp;infrastructure&nbsp;for artificial intelligence (AI),&nbsp;aiming to outpace rival nations in the business-critical technology.

Trump announces private-sector US$500 bil investment in AI infrastructure

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): TechStore Bhd, which provides hardware and software to businesses, has fixed its initial public offering (IPO) price at 20 sen per share ahead of its listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia.

Enterprise hardware and software firm TechStore sets IPO price at 20 sen

Founders of FashionValet Sdn Bhd Datin Vivy Yusof and her husband Datuk Fadzarudin Shah Anuar have been charged with the misappropriation of RM8 million from Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), belonging to the company.

FashionValet founders claim trial to alternative charges of fund misappropriation

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to hit the European Union with tariffs and said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty on Chinese imports because fentanyl is being sent from China to the US via Mexico and Canada.

Trump stirs tariff pot with fresh threats on EU, Feb 1 China deadline

Analysts are positive on Sunway Real Estate Investment Trust’s (KL:SUNREIT) acquisition of AEON Mall Seri Manjung in Perak, prompting revisions of their earnings forecasts.

Analysts raise Sunway REIT earnings forecasts after AEON Mall acquisition in Perak

SRC International Sdn Bhd’s former director Datuk Suboh Md Yasin told the High Court on Wednesday that he signed four blank cheques that led to RM19.5 million going to Umno and Umno Selangor.

Former SRC director says he signed blank cheques, didn’t know payments were to Umno

Arina, Sime Darby Property Bhd’s (KL:SIMEPROP) first single-storey linked homes in Bandar Ainsdale, achieved full take-up of all 118 units within hours of its launch on Saturday, Jan 18.

Sime Darby Property’s Arina single-storey homes in Bandar Ainsdale fully taken up within hours of launch

President Donald Trump said he would be open to billionaire supporter Elon Musk or Oracle Corp chairman Larry Ellison purchasing social video app TikTok as part of a joint venture with the US government.

Trump says he’s open to Elon Musk or Larry Ellison purchasing TikTok

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) on Wednesday kept the benchmark interest rate unchanged as widely expected, comfortable with its outlook for sustained economic growth and manageable inflation.

BNM keeps OPR steady, takes comfort in sustained growth

Global stocks rose on Wednesday as a flurry of new policies from US President Donald Trump combined with robust corporate earnings to bolster investor optimism, while tariff uncertainty kept the dollar near two-week lows.

Stocks get tech boost, tariff uncertainty weighs on dollar 

Datuk Seri Najib Razak denies seeking royalties from the Middle East to help stepson Riza Aziz over his alleged entanglement with 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds, the court heard on Wednesday.

Najib says stepson was already servicing loan from Emerati prince, phone call only to formalise agreement

Indonesia's antitrust agency on Tuesday ordered Google to pay fines about 202 billion rupiah (US$12.4 million or RM55.3 million) for unfair business practices related to its payment system services for Google Play Store, its software distribution platform.

Indonesia fines Google US$12.4m for unfair business practices

A fugitive banker accused of orchestrating a US$1 billion (RM4.45 billion) fraud in Moldova appears to be helping Russian lenders and businesses to continue conducting foreign trade amid payment problems caused by sanctions.

Fugitive banker may be helping Russian firms beat US sanctions

DAVOS, Switzerland (Jan 21): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said digitalisation is a "missing component" in all of Malaysia's previous free trade agreements (FTAs).

PM: Malaysia seeks to upgrade its free trade agreements to cover digitalisation

President Donald Trump faces a host of headwinds that could thwart his ability to generate a boom for the US economy, according to Harvard University professor Ken Rogoff.

Trump’s plan to trigger boom risks coming undone, Rogoff warns

Over the past two years, the Biden administration struck a careful balance on artificial intelligence. The White House took steps to ensure the US stayed ahead of China in developing the technology while also trying to address some of AI’s many potential risks.

Budget 2016

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