Malaysia’s inflation is expected to reverse its current downtrend and gradually rise from mid-2025, driven by subsidy rationalisation, tax adjustments, and wage increases, according to economists.

Economists warn of short-lived inflation downtrend, predict gradual rebound by mid-2025

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

Malaysia’s international reserves fell by US$700 million by mid-January this year, from a fortnight earlier, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

BNM: Malaysia’s international reserves down to US$115.5b as at mid-January

Debt costs pushed up UK government borrowing more than forecast last month, highlighting the fiscal challenges facing Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves.

UK budget deficit soars more than forecast on debt costs

Bank of Japan (BOJ) governor Kazuo Ueda is on track to raise interest rates to the highest level since 2008 on Friday, after global financial markets responded with relative calm to US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

BOJ heading towards rate hike as markets take Trump in stride — Bloomberg

Inflation in Malaysia eased slightly and was marginally slower than expected in December as prices of non-food items and services rose at a more moderate pace, official data released on Wednesday showed.

Malaysia’s inflation in December slows as non-food price pressure eases, official data shows

Companies that make up the backbone of the German economy are putting borrowing plans on hold, with sales of a local debt product dwindling amid a gloomy economic outlook.

Germany’s private debt deals diminish due to gloomy outlook

(Jan 22): Japan’s stock market is only now waking up to potential gains from record numbers of big-spending tourists.

Luxury, hotel stocks are all the rage as tourists flock to Japan

DAVOS, Switzerland (Jan 21): Malaysia cannot rely on outdated legislation to address the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements and must instead pursue reforms to foster greater opportunities for international collaboration, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar: Malaysia cannot rely on outdated legislation to face emerging challenges

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

DAVOS, Switzerland (Jan 21):  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Malaysia is not in “pressing need” to adopt nuclear power, as the country still sees much potential in solar power and the Asean Power Grid (APG).

WEF 2025: Malaysia not in 'pressing need' to adopt nuclear power, says Anwar

UK employment plunged in the weeks after Labour increased payroll taxes in its first budget, reinforcing the case for the Bank of England (BOE) to continue cutting interest rates.

UK wage growth hits six-month high ahead of crunch central bank meeting

Nomura Holdings Inc’s wholesale division chief expects the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to raise interest rates this week while taking a “cautious approach” to further hikes.

Nomura’s Willcox expects Bank of Japan to raise rates this week

The Johor-Singapore special economic zone (SEZ) is set to lift Johor’s GDP to RM250 billion by 2030, according to ANZ Research.

JS-SEZ to lift Johor's GDP to RM250b by 2030 — ANZ Research

CapitaLand Malaysia Trust (KL:CLMT) said it will continue to seek acquisition opportunities in industrial and logistic assets across Penang, Johor and the Klang Valley this year.

“We have been actively managing our balance sheet to create room for acquisitions and if we have a choice, we would be keen to deploy some of our capital again in the industrial and logistics area,” said Tan Choon Siang, the chief executive officer of the trust's manager, CapitaLand Malaysia REIT Management Sdn Bhd.

CapitaLand Malaysia Trust continues pursuit for industrial, logistic assets

The Court of Appeal has set July 2 for the hearing of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s appeal to reinstate his RM1.9 million lawsuit against former attorney general (AG) Tan Sri Tommy Thomas.

July 2 fixed for hearing of Najib’s appeal to reinstate lawsuit against ex-AG Tommy Thomas

Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal's investment company Kingdom Holding (KHC) would be interested in investing in ByteDance's TikTok if Elon Musk or others offered to buy it, CEO Talal Ibrahim al-Maiman told Al Arabiya TV on Wednesday.

The search to find a buyer for the Chinese-owned popular short-video app continues in the US after it went dark and was revived later by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump delaying the enforcement of a ban on it by 75 days.

Saudi prince's investment firm would be keen on TikTok if Musk or others buy it, says CEO 

Jentayu Sustainables Bhd (KL:JSB) said the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has denied the building material and renewable energy (RE) group’s bid for an extension of time to complete its acquisition of three RE firms proposed in 2021.

Jentayu was informed of the regulator’s decision not to approve its application seeking an extension up to March 26, 2025, via a letter on Wednesday, according to the company’s bourse filing.

SC denies Jentayu’s extension bid to complete acquisitions of RE firms

Sentral REIT (KL:SENTRAL) ended the final financial quarter with a flat net property income (NPI), as revenue gains were offset by operating expenses for Menara CelcomDigi.

Sentral REIT's net property income flat in 4Q, up 20.4% for full year

Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Bhd (EXIM Bank) has filed a lawsuit against instant coffee manufacturer Power Root Bhd (KL:PWROOT), seeking RM7.39 million over an alleged loan default.

According to Power Root’s filing with Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday, EXIM Bank is demanding repayment of RM675,509.22 for funds disbursed to its subsidiaries, namely Power Root (M) Sdn Bhd (PRM), Power Root Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (PRMFG) and Power Root ME Free Zone Company (PRME).

Power Root sued by EXIM Bank over RM7.4 mil loan default

A three-member Court of Appeal bench allowed an appeal by the K Residence joint management body (JMB) in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, to set aside a High Court order obtained by the property developer, KL Landmark Sdn Bhd, and seven others for them to be allowed to vote.

The appellate bench also ordered the matter to be reverted to the High Court to determine the arrears and not to summarily allow the originating summons by the developer and seven others.

COA rules developers with arrears cannot vote in AGM

HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd has officially opened its flagship wealth centre in Menara IQ at the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), Malaysia’s international financial hub, to serve its high-net-worth clients.

HSBC Malaysia opens flagship wealth centre at TRX to serve high-net-worth clients

The European Union (EU) must arm itself to “survive” in an increasingly uncertain global order, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday, calling on the bloc’s member states to boost spending on defence.

“If Europe wants to survive, it has to be armed,” Tusk told a session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

EU must arm itself to ‘survive’ in uncertain world, says Tusk 

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

The public portion of ACE Market-bound Northern Solar Holdings Bhd’s initial public offering (IPO) has been oversubscribed by 73.2&nbsp;times.&nbsp;

Northern Solar's IPO oversubscribed by 73.2 times

The&nbsp;industrial subsector&nbsp;is expected to continue&nbsp;its positive trend&nbsp;in 2025,&nbsp;according to&nbsp;Henry Butcher Malaysia&nbsp;chief operating officer Tang Chee Meng. The Henry Butcher Perspective — Malaysia Property Outlook 2025 report, which was&nbsp;launched&nbsp;on Wednesday, noted that&nbsp;the&nbsp;volume of industrial transactions in the first nine months of 2024 (9M2024)&nbsp;increased by 6.5%, while the value rose 22.8%.

Henry Butcher: Malaysia's industrial subsector to continue strong performance

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).

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

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): Mah Sing Group Bhd’s (KL:MAHSING) proposed acquisition of land in Sentul, its first deal of the year, is being done at fair and attractive&nbsp;valuations, analysts said.

Mah Sing's first land deal in 2025 is fair and attractive, analysts say

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.

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