PETALING JAYA (Nov 2): The overall household debt level stands at RM1.16 trillion – about 83.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) as at end-June 2018, said the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in its Economic Outlook 2019 report.

The debt level has been moderating since 2015 following macro prud...

Half of RM1.16 trillion household debt is housing loans

PETALING JAYA (Nov 2): As at September 2018, about 3,800 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has joined the Digital Free Trade Zone (DTFZ) platform, stated the Economic Report 2019 by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) today.

The increasing number of participation in e-commerce and higher co...

More SMEs joining DTFZ, propping up e-commerce

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): A total of RM314.6 billion is budgeted for the federal government's expenditure in 2019. In terms of gross domestic product (GDP), the budgeted amount is 0.3% higher than 2018's revised estimates.

Of this, a total of RM259.9 billion or 82.6% will be allocated for o...

Govt budgets RM314.6b for 2019 total expenditure

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Operating expenditure (OE) in 2018 is expected to increase by 8.2% from that of 2017's, largely due to higher allocation for subsidies and social assistance, supplies and services, emoluments, debt service charges and retirement charges.

The significant growth in s...

Operating expenditure to rise by 8.2% in 2018

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): The original 2018 budget allocation — comprising operating expenditure (OE) and development expenditure (DE) — was RM280.3 billion, before it was revised upwards to RM290.4 billion.

From the RM16.6 billion additional expenditure provided, RM11.2 billion is channell...

Total government expenditure to increase RM10.1b in 2018

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): While they are connected to the internet, most of Malaysia's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have yet to utilise the internet optimally to unlock the opportunities available due to the lack of digital skills, access to talents, high costs, low speed and unreliable connec...

SMEs yet to unlock opportunities via internet

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Ranked 5th in terms of average 4G speed in Southeast Asia — behind Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei and Myanmar — Malaysia’s low-speed and pricey broadband is a barrier to the country’s development and adoption of digital technology, the government said.

Rapidly changing...

Malaysia’s low speed, high price broadband a barrier

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): The federal government's share of petroleum-related revenue to its total revenue is estimated to drop slightly to 19.5% in 2019 from 21.7% in 2018, indicating that the government still has diverse sources of revenue despite the cut in consumption-based taxes.

The f...

Govt's oil revenue share drops despite cut in consumption-based taxes

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Malaysia’s inflation rate has been increasing since 2010, with the Government pointing to the weakening of the ringgit due to external factors, as the main driver behind the upwards trend.

Malaysia recorded its lowest increase in inflation in February 2015 at 0.1%,...

Exchange rate the biggest factor behind rising inflation

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Malaysian gross exports are estimated to grow 3.9% year-on-year (y-o-y) in 2019, supported by continuous demand for manufactured goods coupled with a rebound in commodity exports, according to Economic Outlook 2019, titled Fiscal Outlook 2019.

However, this rate is...

Malaysian gross exports to grow 3.9% y-o-y in 2019

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Malaysia’s external debt increase 6.45% to RM936.5 billion or 65.4% of the gross domestic product (GDP) as at end of June 2018, from RM500.9 billion or 37% of GDP at the end of 2017, due to higher loans by the non-financial corporations segment to finance investment activity...

Malaysia’s external debt increases to RM936.5 bil at end-June 2018

(Nov 2): These are the highlights of the Economic Report 2018/19:

> 4.9% GDP growth in 2019

> Real GDP is projected to grow at 4.8% in 2018 and 4.9% in 2019 supported mainly by domestic demand.

> Global economy to grow at 3.7% in 2019

> Global g...

Highlights of Economic Report 2018/19

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): The Finance Ministry (MoF) is anticipating the Federal Government gross borrowing to be higher for deficit financing and refinancing of matured papers, according to the Economic Report 2018/2019, titled Fiscal Outlook 2019.

The Federal Government’s gross b...

MoF expects higher gross borrowing for deficit financing, matured papers refinancing in 2019

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): There were 100 public-private partnership (PPP) projects involving outstanding government commitments of RM135.1 billion as at end-June 2018, according to the Ministry of Finance's Economic Report 2018/19, titled Fiscal Outlook 2019.

The projects, said the report, ...

Govt committed RM135.1b to 100 PPP projects at end-June 2018

(Oct 19): Meta Platforms Inc said an automated security system mistakenly suspended the Instagram account of the No Kings Coalition at the height of a nationwide series of demonstrations.

Meta says Claude AI tool triggered No Kings Instagram suspension

American private equity firm KKR is planning to invest some RM2.6 billion in PETRONAS’ renewable energy subsidiary in India, The Economic Times reported on Monday.

KKR to invest some RM2.6 bil in PETRONAS’ renewable energy venture in India

Malaysia remains prepared to extend assistance to Indonesia in addressing forest and land fires that have resulted in transboundary haze. Furthermore, Malaysia has proposed a cooperation mechanism at the Asean level to strengthen joint action in tackling this issue.

Malaysia offered to provide assistance, proposed Asean cooperation mechanism for Indonesian fires — PM

Aid for middle 40% income (M40) households, allocations for the Madani school and Kampung Angkat programmes, and the effectiveness of the Tourism Compliance Focus Zone (ZTPP) programme are among the issues scheduled to be raised at the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Monday.

M40, Madani allocations, tourism compliance zone on Dewan Rakyat agenda on Monday

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): The Negeri Sembilan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) and its secretary had on Friday (Oct 16) filed an application at the Seremban High Court, seeking permission to initiate contempt proceedings against the state Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim, its ten former exco members and six others.

DKU and its secretary seek permission to initiate contempt against Negeri Sembilan MB and 16 others

BENGALURU (Oct 19): Australia's Ampolon Monday cut its fourth-quarter output forecast for higher-value products at its Lytton refinery after bringing forward maintenance work, overshadowing a surge in third-quarter refining margins and sending its shares lower.

Ampol shares slump as maintenance work overshadows strong refining margins

BENGALURU (Oct 18): An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv carrying 57 people was diverted to the Bulgarian capital Sofia late on Sunday after a threat was made against the aircraft, an airline spokesperson told Reuters.

Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv diverts to Sofia after 'threat'

The week ahead will begin on Oct 19 with the reporting of Malaysia’s September external trade data, keenly watched by economists and the market given the stellar performance so far this year.

Bloomberg estimates put export growth  at 37.4% year on year and imports at 9% y-o-y. The ...

The Week Ahead: Malaysia September export data, two of Magnificent 7 earnings to take spotlight

(Oct 18): The United States has resumed providing Ukraine critical intelligence to help it defend against Russian missile strikes, after a brief pause, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in comments published on Sunday.

US resumes intelligence-sharing with Ukraine after pause, Zelenskiy says

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) said on Monday that it is withdrawing a planned dividend payment declared two months to conserve cash.

Zetrix AI rescinds dividend plan to conserve cash

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) said on Monday that it is withdrawing a planned dividend payment declared two months to conserve cash.

US stock futures rose and oil edged lower as traders prepared for a packed week of corporate earnings and Chinese economic data against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical risks.

US stock futures rise ahead of busy earnings week

Oil steadied after jumping on Friday, as flareups in fighting in the Middle East and Ukraine dimmed the prospect of a return to normal crude flows.&nbsp;

Brent crude holds near US$110 on Mideast and Ukraine conflicts

A budget should be judged by both the relief it provides today and the productive capability it builds for tomorrow.

Tong's Portfolio - Budget 2027: More to spend, less to build?

Here's a heads up on what to look out for today.

YOUR DAY AHEAD: Oct 19, 2026 

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): The Negeri Sembilan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) and its secretary had on Friday (Oct 16) filed an application at the Seremban High Court, seeking permission to initiate contempt proceedings against the state Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim, its ten former exco members and six others.

JAKARTA (Oct 19): The Indonesia Stock Exchange said on Monday that it has cut its lower auto-rejection limit to 7% from 15%, a move it said would support investors in making decisions.

Indonesia bourse cuts its lower auto-rejection limit to 7% from 15%

SYDNEY (Oct 19): Asian share markets slipped on Monday as unease over AI's enormous funding needs undermined confidence ahead of a week packed with earnings, while the euro eased in the wake of rioting across France.

Asian stocks skid, Wall Street and bonds aided by oil slip

When Hublot paired a precious gold case with a rubber strap in 1980, the luxury watch world called it heresy.

Taking shape: The Edge, HSBC Malaysia and The Hour Glass Malaysia host private viewing of radical timepieces by Hublot and artist Jeff Koons

BENGALURU (Oct 18): An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv carrying 57 people was diverted to the Bulgarian capital Sofia late on Sunday after a threat was made against the aircraft, an airline spokesperson told Reuters.

The week ahead will begin on Oct 19 with the reporting of Malaysia’s September external trade data, keenly watched by economists and the market given the stellar performance so far this year.

Bloomberg estimates put export growth &nbsp;at 37.4% year on year and imports at 9% y-o-y. The ...

（吉隆坡19日讯）Zetrix AI Bhd（KL:ZETRIX）周一表示，为了保留现金，公司将撤回两个月前宣布的派息计划。

为了保留现金 Zetrix AI取消派息计划

BENGALURU (Oct 18):&nbsp;AI lab Anthropic, the developer of Claude, said on Sunday that it will commit 5% of its shares to a new public benefit fund so it has increased flexibility and scale to make donations for the "public good."

Anthropic to commit 5% stake to new 'public benefit fund'

Aid for middle 40% income (M40) households, allocations for the Madani school and Kampung Angkat programmes, and the effectiveness of the Tourism Compliance Focus Zone (ZTPP) programme are among the issues scheduled to be raised at the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Monday.

BENGALURU (Oct 19): Australia's Ampolon Monday cut its fourth-quarter output forecast for higher-value products at its Lytton refinery after bringing forward maintenance work, overshadowing a surge in third-quarter refining margins and sending its shares lower.

(Oct 18): The United States has resumed providing Ukraine critical intelligence to help it defend against Russian missile strikes, after a brief pause, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in comments published on Sunday.

American private equity firm KKR is planning to invest some RM2.6 billion in PETRONAS’ renewable energy subsidiary in India, The Economic Times reported on Monday.

Economic Report 2018/2019

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