Alibaba has raised US$5 billion (RM22.3 billion) in a dual-currency bond, China's biggest e-commerce company said on Wednesday, marking the largest deal of its kind in the Asia-Pacific this year.

Alibaba raises US$5b in dual currency bond deal

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 19): Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), in collaboration with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and four other central banks, is advancing Project Nexus to enhance the efficiency of instant payment systems (IPS) for seamless cross-border transactions globally, with full operations expected by 2027.

BIS partners BNM, four other central banks to advance Project Nexus for global cross-border instant payments

China's biggest e-commerce company Alibaba Group is aiming to raise US$5 billion (RM22.3 billion) in multi-tranche dollar and offshore Chinese yuan bonds, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Alibaba aims to raise US$5b in dual currency bond deal — Reuters

SINGAPORE  (Nov 7): An updated version of Singapore’s unified QR code, which will consolidate all payment needs with a single merchant acquirer, has been rolled out by the Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS).

Network for Electronic Transfers launches updated version of Singapore’s unified QR code SGQR+

SINGAPORE (Nov 6): The Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA) will be piloting a blockchain-based conditional payments solution from Oversea-Chinese Banking Corpo­ration (OCBC), to disburse mobilisation advance payments efficiently with greater transparency to its main contractors.

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority to pilot blockchain-based conditional payments solution with OCBC

SINGAPORE (Nov 6): Against the backdrop of one of the tightest US presidential elections in history, the ninth edition of the Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) kicked off on Tuesday (Nov 5).

MAS’ Global Finance & Technology Network expands on four key strategic biz at Singapore Fintech Festival

(Nov 6): JPMorgan Chase & Co will soon offer instant settlement for foreign-exchange (FX) conversions between the dollar and the euro via its Kinexys blockchain platform and plans to add sterling to the service over time.

JPMorgan to offer instant dollar-euro settlement via blockchain, plans to add sterling over time

Standard Chartered plc is going to use Wise plc’s payments platform to offer multi-currency money transfers in Asia and the Middle East.

StanChart partners with Wise for faster FX in Asia and Middle East

Superscrypt, a blockchain venture capital company backed by Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd, plans to raise up to US$100 million (RM437.75 million) for its second investment fund, according to people familiar with the matter.

Temasek-backed blockchain fund eyeing US$100m fundraise — Bloomberg

SINGAPORE (Nov 1): UBS Asset Management has announced the launch of its first tokenised investment fund, UBS USD Money Market Investment Fund Token (uMINT), in a press release on Friday.

UBS Asset Mgmt announces launch of its first tokenised investment fund

SINGAPORE (Oct 30): Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) has become the first Singaporean bank to have intraday institutional lending capabilities. The move will enable the bank to deploy and maximise returns from its excess intraday liquidity, said OCBC in its statement on Wednesday.

OCBC becomes first Singaporean bank with institutional intraday lending capacity

PayPal forecast fourth-quarter revenue below estimates on Tuesday as the digital payments company shifts its focus to higher-margin businesses from aggressive expansion, sending its shares down 4% before the bell.

PayPal forecasts 4Q revenue below estimates as profit push puts growth behind

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and its central bank partners have successfully demonstrated with Project Mandala that regulatory compliance can be embedded in cross-border transaction protocols.

BIS, partner central banks enhance cross-border transactions with Project Mandala

Nasdaq reported a rise in third-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by strong demand in its solutions business that houses the exchange operator's financial technology products.

Nasdaq's third-quarter profit rises on fintech strength

The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) is set to launch about 12 projects with a gross development value (GDV) of RM1.5 billion in 2025, reflecting its commitment to advancing Selangor’s property market, said group chief executive officer Datuk Mahmud Abbas.

PKNS to launch property projects with RM1.5b GDV in 2025

The assistance provided to the people, including the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid, has increased during the first two years of the Madani government's administration, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Increased assistance provided to M'sians under Madani govt, says Anwar

The Madani government remains focused on initiatives to develop the country, and will not entertain "trivial" statements that do not contribute to such efforts, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Govt to disregard 'trivial' statements as it focuses on development — PM

The government is committed to ensuring that the implementation of Madani economic reforms has minimal or no impact on the people in general, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Malaysians won't be burdened by economic reforms, says Anwar

The Adani Group will respond to bribery allegations levelled by the US after a detailed legal review and once it has secured approvals from its counsel to speak on sub-judice issues.

Adani to respond to US bribery allegations after legal review

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said on Saturday she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assassinated if she herself were killed, prompting Marcos' office to vow "immediate proper action".

In widening rift, Sara Duterte says she would have Marcos assassinated if she is killed

The Ministry of Transport has proposed the establishment of a dedicated logistics hub in Nilai or Enstek, Negeri Sembilan, to further bolster Malaysia’s logistics sector.

Loke proposes new logistics hub in Nilai or Enstek

President-elect Donald Trump may have campaigned hard against high inflation, but by the time of his Nov 5 election victory financial professionals had moved on from rising prices and begun worrying about rising US debt, possible recession, and risks to global trade as among the top threats to the stability of the financial sector, according to a new Federal Reserve (Fed) survey released on Friday.

Fed survey finds inflation fading as a risk next to debt, trade wars

Bitcoin touched a record high on Friday, with its sights set firmly on the US$100,000 (RM446,800) barrier, in a stellar rally for the cryptocurrency sparked by expectations of a more friendly regulatory environment under a Donald Trump administration.

Bitcoin at record highs, sets sights on US$100,000

The health of the US consumer and the retail sector will be in focus in the coming week, as Black Friday kicks off a holiday shopping season that could shed light on how buyers are grappling with higher prices.

Black Friday puts consumer spending in market's glare with stocks near records

The government has increased the rooftop solar capacity by another 300MW for the commercial and industrial segment, and by 50MW for households.&nbsp;

Additional rooftop solar quota for M'sian businesses, households

The Ministry of Transport has proposed the establishment of a dedicated logistics hub in Nilai or Enstek, Negeri Sembilan, to further bolster Malaysia’s logistics sector.

When Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP) was established in 2007, with an initial fund of RM41.9 billion, the federal government’s pension and gratuity obligations stood at a mere RM8.25 billion, just 6.7% of its total operating expenditure (opex).

The pension conundrum: KWAP pushes for thoughtful reform amid growing charges

The corporate earnings reporting season for the July-September quarter comes to a close this week. Among the companies slated to announce their financial results are banking groups Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK), Public Bank Bhd (KL:PBBANK), RHB Bank Bhd (KL:RHBBANK) and Hong Leong Bank Bhd (KL:HLBANK) as well as utility giant Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA).

The Week Ahead: Spotlight on corporate earnings of banks, Tenaga and Opec+ meeting

Keck Seng (M) Bhd (KL:KSENG) booked an unrealised foreign exchange (forex) loss of RM81.84 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), which in turn dragged the group into the red.&nbsp;

Unrealised forex loss of RM81.8 mil pulls Keck Seng into the red in 3Q

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday said he will nominate prominent investor&nbsp;Scott Bessent&nbsp;as the US&nbsp;Treasury secretary, a key Cabinet position with vast influence over economic, regulatory and international affairs.

Trump taps tax reform, deregulation advocate Scott Bessent for Treasury

Nvidia&nbsp;chief executive officer Jensen Huang said on Saturday that global collaboration and cooperation in technology will continue, even if the incoming US&nbsp;administration imposes stricter export controls on advanced computing products.

Nvidia CEO says global cooperation in tech will continue under Trump administration

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said on Saturday she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assassinated if she herself were killed, prompting Marcos' office to vow "immediate proper action".

Bitcoin touched a record high on Friday, with its sights set firmly on the US$100,000 (RM446,800) barrier, in a stellar rally for the cryptocurrency sparked by expectations of a more friendly regulatory environment under a&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;administration.

Global&nbsp;stocks registered&nbsp;a strong weekly gain on Friday, while US&nbsp;Treasury yields&nbsp;slipped as&nbsp;markets&nbsp;eyed President-elect&nbsp;Donald Trump's likely policies&nbsp;and their&nbsp;impact on the US&nbsp;economy, even as bitcoin traded near the US$100,000 (RM446,800) threshold.

Stocks notch strong weekly gain, US yields slip as markets eye Trump policies

The Madani government remains focused on initiatives to develop the country, and will not entertain "trivial"&nbsp;statements that do not contribute to such efforts, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Amazon.com Inc&nbsp;is investing an additional US$4 billion (RM17.87 billion) in artificial intelligence (AI) startup Anthropic, boosting its stake in one of OpenAI’s chief rivals.

Amazon invests additional US$4b in AI firm Anthropic

US&nbsp;bank Citigroup has received approval to establish&nbsp;its regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Friday.

Citi granted licence for regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia, memo shows

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate the Two Years of Madani Government (2TM) Programme and the 2024 National Convention on Public Service Reform in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Saturday.

PM to officiate 'two years of Madani govt' programme, national convention on public service reform on Saturday

The Adani Group will respond to bribery allegations levelled by the US after a detailed legal review and once it has secured approvals from its counsel to speak on sub-judice issues.&nbsp;

The Selangor State Development Corporation&nbsp;(PKNS) is set to launch about&nbsp;12 projects with a gross development value (GDV) of RM1.5 billion in 2025, reflecting its commitment to advancing Selangor’s property market, said group chief executive officer Datuk Mahmud Abbas.

The assistance provided to the people, including the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid, has increased during the first two years of the Madani government's administration, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

President-elect&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;may have campaigned hard against high inflation, but by the time of his Nov&nbsp;5&nbsp;election victory&nbsp;financial professionals had moved on from rising prices and begun worrying about rising US&nbsp;debt, possible recession, and risks to global trade as among the top threats to the stability of the financial sector, according to a new Federal Reserve (Fed) survey released on Friday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Cabinet approved a stimulus package that’s slightly bigger than last year’s, as he followed up on a pledge to ramp up support for households and businesses struggling to cope with higher costs.

Japan’s Cabinet approves stimulus in show of progress for Ishiba

As of the end of October, Malaysia’s 5G coverage in populated areas had reached 82.1%, up from 80.2% last year, while internet coverage in populated areas stood at 98.38%, compared with&nbsp;97.07% in 2023.

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