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

Malaysia's palm oil stocks declined for a third consecutive month, falling 6.91% to 1.71 million tonnes at the end of December, data from the industry regulator showed on Friday.

MPOB: Malaysia end-December palm oil stocks fall 6.91%

(Jan 10): Billionaire Elon Musk expressed doubt that his government efficiency panel in President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration will actually be able to achieve $2 trillion in cuts to the US federal budget, backtracking from a lofty target that the tech entrepreneur himself ha...

Musk now skeptical DOGE effort can cut $2 trillion from budget

Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (Maybank IB) believes the Malaysian consumer sector is poised for a strong year in 2025, driven by robust macroeconomic factors and government assistance that are expected to boost disposable income, improving consumer sentiment and spending capacity.

Maybank IB: Malaysian consumer sector poised for strong year in 2025

FRANKFURT (Jan 9): Just as Britain and the United States come under pressure from investors worried about growing debt and sticky inflation, the euro zone seems to be largely escaping the market's wrath -- even if the reasons behind that calm are not all pleasant.

The UK and U...

For good reasons and bad, global bond wobble passes over euro zone

Rachel Reeves is facing her first major test since becoming Britain's finance minister after a jump in the government's borrowing costs this week and a deepening of the pound's losses on Thursday, potentially forcing her to cut future spending.

UK's Reeves under pressure

Risks are building up towards an earlier rate hike due to Malaysia's removal of RON95 petrol subsidies, according to BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, though it officially forecasts the rate to remain unchanged this year.

BMI says Malaysia's planned RON95 subsidy removal heightens rate hike risk, but keeps OPR target at 3%

A key offshore subsidiary of China Evergrande Group was ordered to liquidate by a Hong Kong court, marking the latest legal win for liquidators who are trying to access the defaulted builder’s key assets.

China Evergrande’s key unit ordered to liquidate by HK court

Gamuda Land and Public Bank Bhd (KL:PBBANK) have introduced Malaysia’s first flexible 120% home financing package, the PB SmartLiving scheme, offering new levels of accessibility and affordability for homebuyers.

Gamuda Land, Public Bank unveil Malaysia's first 120% home financing plan

China's central bank said on Friday it has suspended treasury bond purchases, triggering a jump in yields and spurring speculation that the move was aimed at defending a falling currency.

China's central bank halts bond buying, possibly with eye on yuan

Nvidia Corp criticised new chip export restrictions that are expected to be announced soon, saying the White House was trying to undercut the incoming Trump administration by imposing last-minute rules.

Nvidia slams Biden for trying to ‘pre-empt’ Trump with policy

Malaysia’s benchmark FBM KLCI registered a strong 12.58% gain in 2024 — marking its best performance in 14 years — as the country saw a sharp recovery in investor sentiment after a prolonged period of political uncertainties, lifted by strong investment activity and trade activities.

2025 outlook: The key sectors to watch

Nvidia Corp criticised new chip export restrictions that are expected to be announced soon, saying the White House was trying to undercut the incoming Trump administration by imposing last-minute rules.

Shares of Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) could potentially climb as much as 62% from the last price if its market value catches up with the size of its order book, CGS International said on Friday.

Gamuda share price could trade over RM8 if market value catches up with order book — CGS

The US restriction of artificial intelligence (AI) chip exports may lead to a sector-wide slowdown, affecting the entire supply chain in the semiconductor industry, according to RHB Investment Bank.

US AI chip export curbs may lead to sector-wide slowdown — analysts

Wall Street futures fell in Asia and treasury yields held near eight-month highs on Friday as investors counted down to a US jobs report that could exacerbate or ease the sell-off in the global bond market.

Stocks fall, US yields near eight-month highs ahead of jobs data

Japan to be involved with REE processing in Malaysia — Anwar
...

Japan to be involved with REE processing in Malaysia — Anwar

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, currently on a two-day official visit to Malaysia, was accorded a formal welcoming ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex on Friday.

Japanese PM accorded official welcome at Perdana Putra

Risks are building up towards an earlier rate hike due to Malaysia's removal of RON95 petrol subsidies, according to BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, though it officially forecasts the rate to remain unchanged this year.

Malaysia’s national oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has reached the final investment decision for the development of the Hidayah field offshore East Java, Indonesia.

Petronas reaches final investment decision to develop Hidayah field off Indonesia

President-elect Donald Trump said a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is being set up.

At a meeting with Republican governors at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, the incoming president told a reporter that Putin “wants to meet” and added, “we’re gonna — we’re setting it up.” Any such meeting, were it to happen, would come after he’s inaugurated as president, Trump said.

Trump says meeting with Putin is being arranged

Sime Darby Property Bhd (KL:SIMEPROP) said on Friday it has fully acquired two modern double-storey logistics warehouses in Bandar Bukit Raja, Selangor for RM232 million.

Sime Darby Property fully acquires Bandar Bukit Raja warehouses for RM232 mil

Gamuda Land and Public Bank Bhd (KL:PBBANK) have introduced Malaysia’s first flexible 120% home financing package, the PB SmartLiving scheme, offering new levels of accessibility and affordability for homebuyers.

Shares of Bloks Group Ltd, the popular Chinese maker of Ultraman and Transformers figurines, surged 82% in their Hong Kong trading debut after the company’s US$215 million (RM966.68 million) initial public offering (IPO) drew overwhelming demand from individual investors.

Ultraman toymaker Bloks jumps 82% in HK after frenzy over IPO

Chinese property developers are starting 2025 facing liquidation petitions and mountains of debt as the nation’s real estate crisis enters its fifth year with little sign of improvement.

Just this week, defaulted Chinese builder Sunac China Holdings Ltd received another winding-up petition. While the company successfully restructured its offshore debt in 2023, concerns about its ability to meet payment obligations have pushed its stock and bond prices to the lowest level in months.

Chinese developers begin new year with deepening debt woes

China's central bank said on Friday it has suspended treasury bond purchases, triggering a jump in yields and spurring speculation that the move was aimed at defending a falling currency.

Outgoing US Vice-President Kamala Harris has decided to cancel her upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany due to wildfires in Los Angeles and around it, the White House said in a statement, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

Harris cancels upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany due to Los Angeles wildfires

Several Federal Reserve officials confirmed Thursday the US central bank will likely hold interest rates at current levels for an extended period, only cutting again when inflation meaningfully cools.&nbsp;

Boston Fed President Susan Collins said Thursday a slower approach to adjusting interest rates is merited now as officials confront “considerable uncertainty” over the US economic outlook.

Fed officials signal interest rates likely on hold for a while

The world’s biggest bond market halted a selloff that roiled trading around the globe, with investors gearing up for jobs data that will help shape the outlook for Federal Reserve rates.

Treasuries stabilized after a rout that drove 30-year yields to the highest since 2023.

Bond traders see jobs testing hawkish Fed pricing

Hong Kong’s residential property market is set to finally turn a corner after a three-year slump as lower interest rates draw more buyers, according to analysts. Just don’t expect prices to grow much.

Hong Kong housing analysts predict a market bottom this year

Airbus SE expects to return to delivery levels last seen before the pandemic in the “foreseeable future” as the planemaker presses its advantage against a weakened rival Boeing Co and benefits from surging aircraft demand.

Economic Report 2018/2019

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