Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) expects inflation to rise in 2025, driven by domestic policy reforms such as RON95 fuel subsidy rationalisation and an expanded sales and service tax (SST) scope.

HLIB sees higher inflation in 2025 on RON95 subsidy rationalisation, expanded SST scope

With Donald Trump set to return to the White House in January, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed confidence in Malaysia’s ability to safeguard its foreign policy and economic priorities amid evolving global dynamics.

Malaysia to adapt to Trump era, says Anwar

Japan's minority ruling coalition on Friday failed to secure support from a key opposition party for its tax reform plans, jeopardising Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's budget agenda for next year.

Japan's ruling camp fails to secure opposition support for tax reforms

Slowing inflation has created room for Singapore's central bank to ease monetary policy in January but it may wait until later in 2025 so it can assess incoming US President Donald Trump's policies, analysts said ahead of key data next week.

Singapore's low inflation not enough for a January easing, analysts say

Britain ran a smaller-than-expected budget deficit last month as a past lull in inflation pushed down interest paid on government bonds, giving a small boost to finance minister Rachel Reeves who has been under pressure following her budget announcement.

UK borrows less than expected in November but Reeves still under pressure 

Malaysia's international reserves dipped to US$118.1 billion as at Dec 13 this year, from US$118.3 billion two weeks earlier on Nov 29.

BNM's international reserves ease to US$118.1b as at Dec 13

MANILA (Dec 20): The Philippine central bank is open to cutting rates at its first policy meeting in 2025, and is monitoring global policy and geopolitical developments that could stoke inflation, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Eli Remolona said on Friday.

Philippine cenbank governor says open to rate cut in early 2025

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 20): Malaysia’s inflation rate dipped to 1.8% in November this year, compared to 1.9% in October, marking the first decline since August 2021, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) on Friday.

Inflation eases to 1.8% in November from 1.9% in October, driven by lower tech and clothing costs

BlackRock Inc said it’s writing down the value of one of its flagship renewable funds after two key investments for the vehicle collapsed, and it’s enlisting executives from its recently acquired Global Infrastructure Partners business to help turn around performance.

BlackRock writes down flagship renewable fund, overhauls leaders

TOKYO (Dec 20): Japan’s core inflation accelerated in November as rising food and fuel costs hit households, data showed on Friday, keeping the central bank under pressure to raise interest rates.

Japan’s core inflation accelerates, keeps BOJ rate-hike chance alive

The Bank of England kept its main interest rate unchanged at 4.75% on Thursday but policymakers became more divided about whether rate cuts were needed to tackle a slowing economy.

Bank of England keeps rates steady, policy split widens

The Russian economy is showing signs of overheating which is stoking worryingly high inflation, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Putin says Russia's economy is overheating, inflation worrying

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) kept interest rates unchanged on Thursday and its governor offered few clues on how soon it could push up borrowing costs, sending the yen and bond yields tumbling on fresh doubts over the near-term chances of a rate hike.

BOJ keeps ultra-low rates, gives few clues on when it might hike

SHAH ALAM (Dec 19): Bilateral trade between Malaysia and South Korea until November has hit RM100.6 billion, mainly in the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

He said there are 400 registered Sout...

Malaysia-South Korea trade hit RM100.6b as of Nov 2024 — Zafrul

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s pursuit of closer ties with China has raised private questions from Donald Trump’s incoming administration, European diplomats and even some senior British officials.

UK's Starmer is deepening China ties while allies turn away

The US Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday in a down-to-the wire burst of activity that will avert a destabilising government shutdown ahead of the busy holiday travel season.

US Senate passes govt funding bill, averts shutdown

Honda and Nissan are considering producing vehicles in one another's factories as part of their plan to deepen ties and potentially merge, Japan's Kyodo news agency said on Saturday.

Honda and Nissan mulling mutual production of vehicles, Kyodo reports

The Cabinet draft paper on the separation of powers between the attorney general (AG) and the public prosecutor (PP) is expected to be ready by the middle of next year, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Draft paper on separation of AG powers expected to be ready by mid-2025 — PM

The government will continue its Special Appreciation for Pensioners (PKKP) initiative, aimed at supporting affected pensioners and derivative pension recipients, to ensure the welfare of this group is well taken care of.

Govt to continue special appreciation for pensioners — PM

The Johor government has completed seven housing projects, categorised as ‘sick’ and abandoned, this year, representing an estimated property value of about RM700 million.

Seven 'sick' housing projects worth RM700m completed in Johor, says exco

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated his commitment to upholding judicial independence and advancing governance reforms, stressing that he has not interfered in judicial matters during his two years in office.

Anwar says never interfered in judiciary, no compromise on any power abuse in Cabinet

The Malaysian government is constantly striving to repatriate its citizens who have fallen victim to job scams in Myanmar, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

No let-up in efforts to repatriate job scam victims from Myanmar, says Tok Mat

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday called for an immediate end to any narratives involving racial profiling in the context of aid distribution and efforts to combat hardcore poverty in the country.

Anwar calls for end to racial profiling narratives in tackling hardcore poverty

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) announced on Friday evening several temporary measures to address the uproar over the sizeable medical insurance premium hikes that insurance and takaful operators deem necessary to cover the higher costs of medical services.

Who pays the price of runaway healthcare inflation?

Highway users nationwide will enjoy toll-free travel&nbsp;on Dec 23 and 24, in conjunction with&nbsp;Christmas celebration.

Christmas: Toll-free travel for Class 1 vehicles on all highways on Dec 23 and 24

In a&nbsp;Vanity Fair&nbsp;video&nbsp;last month, Lisa, a member of mega&nbsp;K-pop&nbsp;band Blackpink, shared her obsession with toys from Chinese company Pop Mart International Group Ltd.&nbsp;

China's hottest stock Pop Mart rockets 370% on craze for collectibles

Wall Street surged on Friday and the dollar softened as cooler-than-expected inflation data helped investors look past the possibility of a government shutdown and fresh tariff threats from US&nbsp;President-elect Donald Trump.

US stocks end sharply higher, dollar drops after inflation report

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has assured that an amicable solution will be taken to address the ongoing dispute between&nbsp;Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Sarawak's state-owned oil and gas (O&amp;G) company Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) over the distribution of natural gas in Sarawak.

PM: Amicable solution in the works for Petronas-Petros dispute over natural gas distribution

The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) has warned that it will take a firm stance against associations that openly announce price hikes, minimum pricing or new trading conditions, particularly through the media.

MyCC warns stern action against cartel activities by associations

The US&nbsp;Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday in a down-to-the wire burst of activity that will avert a destabilising government shutdown ahead of the busy holiday travel season.

Singapore’s main stock index is on track to have its best annual performance since 2017, but any celebrations over the Straits Times Index’s 15% gain so far this year are likely to be overshadowed by doubts about what lies ahead.&nbsp;

Singapore stocks’ best year since 2017 masks downbeat outlook

Alphabet Inc’s Google called a US Justice Department (DOJ) plan to force it to sell its web browser “extreme” and at odds with the law, urging a Federal Court judge to take caution lest he stifle innovation and future investment.

Google blasts Chrome sale as ‘extreme’ remedy at odds with law

Volkswagen AG (VW) reached an agreement with labour leaders to cut capacity at its namesake brand while avoiding factory closures, capping three months of tense negotiations and preventing further union walkouts.

VW, union agree to cut capacity and keep German plants open

Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected in&nbsp;Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor and&nbsp;Johor until 4pm on Saturday.

Thunderstorms in six states until 4pm on Saturday — MetMalaysia

Qualcomm Inc prevailed at trial against Arm Holdings plc’s claim that it breached a licence for chip technology that the world’s largest maker of mobile-phone processors acquired when it bought a startup in 2021.&nbsp;

Qualcomm defeats Arm’s claim over chip design licence breach

At first glance,&nbsp;Sony Group Corp’s US$1.2 billion (RM5.4&nbsp;billion) acquisition of the anime streaming site Crunchyroll in 2021 looks like a success. Subscribers to the US$8-a-month service have tripled to 15 million since then, and the number of new shows has doubled to more than 50 every quarter.

Sony's Crunchyroll finds its early lead in anime under attack

The election of Donald Trump will usher in a wave of private-company purchases that had previously been slowed by red tape, investor Cathie Wood said in an interview, in which she also reiterated her ultra-bullish view on bitcoin.

Cathie Wood predicts wave of startup M&A after Trump election, ultra-bullish on bitcoin

The launch of a new direct route from Chennai to Penang, via IndiGo, commencing on Saturday, marks a significant milestone in enhancing connectivity, generating economic opportunities, and solidifying Penang’s position as a regional air travel hub.

Direct route from Chennai elevates Penang as key regional air travel hub, says exco

The government will continue its Special Appreciation for Pensioners (PKKP) initiative, aimed at supporting affected pensioners and derivative pension recipients, to ensure the welfare of this group is well taken care of.

Nippon&nbsp;Steel alleges the White House had "impermissible undue influence" over a national security review of its US$14.9 billion (RM67.2&nbsp;billion) bid for US&nbsp;Steel and threatened legal action if the deal is blocked.

Nippon Steel alleges undue White House influence on doomed US Steel deal review, letter says

OpenAI is preparing to launch a new artificial intelligence (AI) model that it said is capable of more advanced human-like reasoning than its current offerings, ratcheting up the competition with rivals such as Alphabet Inc’s Google.

OpenAI unveils more advanced reasoning model in race with Google

With Donald Trump set to return to the White House in January, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed confidence in Malaysia’s ability to safeguard its foreign policy and economic priorities amid&nbsp;evolving global dynamics.

Honda and&nbsp;Nissan are considering producing vehicles in one another's factories as part of their plan to&nbsp;deepen ties&nbsp;and potentially merge, Japan's Kyodo news agency said on Saturday.

Economic Focus

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Economic Focus

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