Most Asian stock markets fell on Friday, while currencies held steady, as investors remained cautious ahead of the crucial US jobs report that could impact the outlook for further interest rate cuts and the dollar.

Most Asian stocks decline ahead of US jobs data; currencies steady

Most Asian equities retreated on Thursday, while currencies edged lower, as growing concerns that US President-elect Donald Trump's proposed policies may fuel inflation and slow rate cuts dented sentiment towards risky assets.

Most Asian currencies, equities fall on US tariff, slow rate cut concerns

Asian emerging market currencies fell on Wednesday, led by the Indonesian rupiah and the Taiwanese dollar, as the dollar strengthened after US jobs data showed the Federal Reserve did not need to rush to lower interest rates.

Asian FX knocked by dollar's strength on healthy US data

Most Asian currencies slipped on Friday and were set for weekly declines against a strengthening dollar, as investors braced for fewer Federal Reserve rate cuts and US President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Asian FX faces weekly declines as markets await Trump's policy moves

Most Asian stock markets started the year on the back foot on Thursday, as investors braced for US President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House and the prospect of US interest rates staying higher for longer.

Asian stocks drop in rocky start to 2025 as Trump policies take centre stage

Asian currencies were largely muted on the last trading day of the year, but were poised for sharp annual falls as the threat of US tariffs and prospects of fewer US interest rate cuts next year eroded the attractiveness of risky Asian assets.

Asian FX end dismal 2024 on shaky footing, shares notch annual gains

Most Asian currencies were muted on Monday, weighed down by high US treasury yields and a firm dollar while the South Korean markets reversed course to trade slightly lower after last week's parliament vote to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo.

Most Asian FX subdued; South Korean markets slide on deepening political woes

The South Korean won hit a fresh 16-year low and the stock market tumbled on Friday amid increasing political turbulence, while other emerging Asian currencies fell against a strong dollar in thin year-end trade.

South Korean won tumbles amid political woes; dollar strength undermines Asian FX

Most emerging Asian currencies weakened against a resilient dollar on Thursday while equities largely slipped in holiday-thinned trade, as investors focussed on the Federal Reserve's rate outlook.

Most Asian forex, stock markets trend lower in holiday-thinned trade

Emerging Asian stock markets rose on Tuesday and currencies struggled to gain ground against a stronger dollar as investors braced for fewer rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in the coming year.

Asian equities rise, strong dollar weighs on FX as US rates stay in focus

The Malaysian ringgit and Indonesia's rupiah rose on Monday as Asian currency and stock markets breathed a sigh of relief after a modest rise in US inflation last month allayed some fears around US interest rate moves next year.

Asian stocks, FX advance after US inflation eases rate cut worries

(Dec 22): Emerging markets (EM)-focused investors have had little to celebrate over the past year. Or for that matter, over the past decade. Now the prospect of Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade wars has some considering abandoning them altogether.

For emerging markets, ‘better luck next year’ is hard to believe

Most Asian currencies and stocks were set on Friday to close the week lower, as a hawkish US interest rate outlook weighed on investor sentiment.

Asian currencies and stocks set to close week lower on Fed's hawkish turn

Emerging Asian stocks tumbled to multi-month lows on Thursday while currencies weakened against a strong dollar, as risk aversion prevailed after the US Federal Reserve signalled a slower pace of rate cuts in the coming year.

Asian currencies, stocks slide as Fed signals slower rate cuts

Mah Sing Group Bhd (KL:MAHSING) said it is confident that its data centre projects will pass through the proposed US restrictions on the export of artificial intelligence chips.

Mah Sing confident data centre projects will pass through potential US chip export restrictions

(Jan 14): Dealmakers, who were gearing up for a busy year of initial public offerings, have already been confronted by a formidable challenge: rising Treasury yields that could deflate enthusiasm for new listings.

US IPO volume in 2025 was expected to return to prepandemic levels after ...

US IPO market rebound faces a reality check as yields spike

(Jan 14): The European Union (EU) is considering expanding its investigation into whether Elon Musk’s X social network breached its content moderation rulebook, the bloc’s top digital official said.

EU considers expanding probe into Musk’s X, digital chief says

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said long-term investments involving the healthcare, airport operations, and energy sectors are expected following his working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Anwar expects long-term investments following UAE working visit

(Jan 14): Bitcoin slumped to an almost two-month low as investors dumped riskier assets following a sharp rise in bond yields.

The original cryptocurrency dropped as much as 5.3% to $89,329 on Monday, its lowest since Nov. 18 and well below the peak of $108,316 it reached in Decemb...

Bitcoin falls to lowest since November in risk-asset selloff

Malaysian products, particularly palm oil, are expected to benefit from tariff-free access in the UK under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

CPTPP secures tariff-free access to UK market for palm oil and products, says M'sian envoy

The Philippines said China's deployment of its largest coast guard vessel inside Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was alarming and clearly meant to intimidate fishermen operating around a contested shoal in the South China Sea.

China's deployment of 'monster ship' alarming, says Philippine security official

(Jan 14): Japan’s 40-year government bond yield reached an all-time high amid a global debt selloff and expectations that the Bank of Japan will hike interest rates in coming months.

The yield rose as much as 3 basis points to 2.755%, the highest since 2007 when the bonds were sold for ...

Japan’s 40-year yield rises to highest since debut in 2007

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Jan 13): Cleveland-Cliffs is partnering with peer Nucor to prepare a potential all-cash bid for US Steel, with an offer in the high US$30s (RM135.04) per share, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Cleveland-Cliffs eyeing all-cash bid for US Steel — Reuters

THE US and Chinese stock markets have delivered solid gains in 2024, but the factors driving their performances were starkly different.

In the US, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have gained about 25-30% year-to-date (YTD), driven by advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and a f...

US/Chinese Markets: From AI to stimulus packages — how US and Chinese markets shaped 2024  

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 14): Shares of Yinson Holdings Bhd (KL:YINSON) were suspended from trading on Tuesday, pending an announcement from the oil and gas services firm.

Yinson shares suspended from trading pending announcement

Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) is in the running to secure the remaining two packages of the Penang Light Rail Transit project, analysts said, after its consortium secured the main contract as expected.

Gamuda in the running for second, third Penang LRT work packages, say analysts

(Jan 14):&nbsp;Chinese officials are evaluating a potential option that involves Elon Musk acquiring the US operations of TikTok, if the company fails to fend off a controversial ban on the short-video app, according to people familiar with the matter.

China discusses sale of TikTok US to Musk as one possible option — Bloomberg

(Jan 14):&nbsp;Asian stocks look set for a bumpy ride after renewed dip buying on Wall Street fueled a rebound in some shares, reversing a selloff triggered by a recalibration of Federal Reserve wagers.

Asian shares look shaky as fed rate-cut hopes dim

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 14): Nomura Global Markets Research expects Malaysia will tighten its monetary policy this year, due to rising inflation driven by the rationalisation of fuel subsidies.

Nomura predicts rate hike for Malaysia amid rising inflation

(Jan 14): A renewed wave of dip buying fuelled a rebound in stocks, following a selloff triggered by a recalibration of Federal Reserve wagers.

US stocks stage rebound as dip buyers wade back in 

(Jan 14):&nbsp;Oil held near a five-month high, on threats to global supplies posed by harsher US sanctions against Russian flows and potential trade tariffs from the incoming Trump administration.

Oil holds near five-month high on rising risks to crude supplies

COMING off a lacklustre 2023 in which the equity market struggled to get back on its feet amid harsh economic circumstances, Bursa Malaysia roared back to life in the first eight months of the year, mainly on the back of foreign investor buying, before easing in the last four months to trail Sing...

Market Recap: Bursa Malaysia’s biggest winners and losers in 2024

(Jan&nbsp;13): A flagship coalition aimed at aligning the asset management industry with global climate goals said it was suspending its activities on Monday, days after BlackRock, the world's biggest investor, left amid a political backlash in the United States.

Investor climate group suspends activities after BlackRock exit

THE 19th edition of The Edge Best Call Awards received an overwhelming number of submissions, with 135 nominations coming in for 96 stocks covered by analysts with 17 research outfits.

This is 93% of the total submissions we received for 2022 and 2023 put together. We received 73 nomina...

The Edge Best Call Awards 2024 

THE year 2024 was a turning point for the Malaysian equity market. After three consecutive years of negative returns, the benchmark FBM KLCI finally delivered its first annual gain in 2024, emerging as one of the best-performing markets in the region.

The 30-stock index closed at 1,591....

FBM KLCI to post first annual gain in three years amid rise of data centres, FDIs

The High Court has dismissed former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas' attempt to remove judge Roz Mawar Rozain from presiding over the malicious prosecution suit filed against him (Thomas), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and the government by former Federal Land Development Authority chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad.

Tommy Thomas fails to recuse judge in Shahrir's malicious prosecution suit

THE Kuala Lumpur Construction Index (KLCON) had shot up 59% to 305.27 points as at Dec 20. This was the index’s biggest annual increase in its 31-year history.

KLCON’s valuation had risen from a 10-year average of 13 times to 17.8 times. The keen interest in construction stocks, driven ...

Sector Of The Year: Positive momentum in construction sector expected to continue in 2025 

MALAYSIA’s number of initial public offerings (IPOs) reached its highest level in 2024 since 2005, leading regionally in terms of the number of deals. In 2005, Malaysia’s IPO count stood at 79.

This resurgence was largely driven by the listings of 99 Speed Mart Retail Holdings Bhd (KL:9...

IPOs - Malaysia’s IPO market reaches new high in nearly two decades, leads Southeast Asia

DATA centres (DCs) have been sprouting in Malaysia, particularly in Selangor, over the years or decades even, but DCs as an investment play is quite a new development on the Malaysian stock market.

Interestingly, at the start of 2024, a sudden rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) in ...

Thematic Play: Data centre a new theme that gathers steam

WASHINGTON (Jan 13): Traffic in Manhattan's central business district fell by 7.5% last week and 273,000 fewer cars entered the borough's central business district after the first congestion pricing fee in the US took effect on Jan&nbsp;5, New York City transit officials said on Monday.

Traffic falls in New York City after US$9 congestion fee introduced

A pair of Chinese-made social apps, Xiaohongshu and Lemon8, have taken over the top two positions on Apple Inc’s iPhone download charts in the US as users seek out alternatives to TikTok ahead of an imminent ban.

Risk of TikTok ban has users rushing to download two other Chinese-made apps

WASHINGTON (Jan 13): Two Democratic lawmakers on Monday urged Congress and President Joe Biden to extend a Jan&nbsp;19 deadline for China-based ByteDance to sell the US assets of TikTok, or face a US ban.

The&nbsp;Supreme Court held arguments&nbsp;Friday on Tiktok and ByteDance's challe...

US lawmakers urge Biden to extend TikTok Jan 19 ban deadline

Consumer spending in Malaysia appears resilient and may be sustained in the near term with policy measures, economists said, shrugging off the latest data showing slower retail and wholesale trade.

Consumer spending sustained in near term but downside risks are rising, say economists

Arguments are due to begin in a South Korean court on Tuesday in a trial to decide the fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached after his short-lived bid to impose martial law threw the country into the worst political chaos in decades.

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