Alipay+'s proposal to link with India's instant payments system for cross-border transactions has been stalled due to national security concerns in New Delhi and questions about the storage and use of customer data, three sources familiar with the discussions said.

India stalls Alipay+ payments link over security, data concerns — Reuters

Singapore has earmarked S$220 million (US$173 million or RM696.23 million) over three years to fund financial technology and innovation, as it seeks to stay competitive with other rival hubs including Hong Kong that are also investing in this area.

Singapore plans US$173 mil in fintech funding over three years

Axiata Group Bhd's fintech arm is valued at US$340 million after securing a US$20 million (RM81.7 million) investment from the International Finance Corp.

Boost Holdings still on the hunt for capital after World Bank's IFC investment  — Axiata

A consortium of buyout firm Advent and payment processor Stripe has decided to abandon its pursuit of fintech pioneer PayPal Holdings Inc, a potential deal that would have ranked as one of the biggest-ever leveraged buyouts, according to people familiar with the matter.

Advent, Stripe abandon US$50 bil pursuit of fintech pioneer PayPal — Bloomberg

Standard Chartered plc expects rebalancing of its global headcount due to the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) but sees hiring growing in markets such as India, home to its largest global capability centres.

StanChart expects Indian tech hub roles to grow as AI expands

Rakuten Group Inc earned its first quarterly net income in six years thanks to surging growth in its financial technology (fintech) and e-commerce segments.

The Japanese online shopping mall operator reported a net income of ¥7.7 billion (US$49 million or RM199 million) in the three months ended in June, up from a ¥50.96 billion loss a year ago. Analysts on average expected a loss of ¥19.16 billion.

Rakuten earns first profit in six years with fintech boost

Malaysia ranks among the top three global markets for artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in finance, but over half of the country's high-net-worth investors still prefer a hybrid approach that integrates AI with human expertise when making financial decisions, according to HSBC.

HSBC: 85% of Malaysian investors use AI for finance, but most still prefer human guidance

The European Commission said on Friday it had charged Chinese online retailer Temu with not cooperating with investigators during a December raid on its European headquarters in Dublin as part of a subsidy investigation.

Temu hit with EU charges for not cooperating in December raid

Mastercard posted a rise in second-quarter profit on Thursday, boosted by robust transaction volumes driven by steady consumer spending.

Mastercard profit jumps as stable spending drives transaction volumes

GoTo Group reported its second consecutive quarter of net income, boosting the Indonesian ride-hailing and food delivery company’s efforts to navigate a challenging consumer market and a looming cut to ride-hailing commissions.

GoTo posts second straight profit after cost cuts kick in

Visa Inc is eliminating about 2,600 jobs as chief executive officer Ryan McInerney seeks to make the firm more efficient as it competes in an increasingly tough payments industry.

Visa to cut 7% of workforce as CEO seeks to revamp company

PayPal doubled down on its turnaround plan on Tuesday, raising its 2026 profit forecast and outlining cost-saving steps, as it looks to convince investors that it is worth more than the US$53 billion (RM216.6 billion) takeover offer that analysts described as "low-ball".

PayPal presses on with turnaround in pivotal quarter as sale questions linger

Ant International, the global arm of the Jack Ma-backed fintech company, has raised US$1.2 billion (RM4.91 billion) to bolster its expansion in cross-border payments and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled commerce.

Ant International raises US$1.2 bil for global expansion

Swift, whose messaging system is used by banks for millions of transactions a day, said a blockchain-based network designed to facilitate round-the-clock money transfers across borders is ready for initial use.

Swift unveils blockchain system for 24/7 cross-border payments

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on the people to play their part in addressing the increasingly worrying haze situation, while the government continues to seek solutions in the interest of all.

In a Facebook post, Anwar said he also performed special prayers (solat hajat) with members of the congregation after Friday prayers at Surau Nur Perdana, Precinct 10 in Putrajaya, on Friday, seeking Allah SWT’s help for the country to recover from the haze situation soon.

Haze: Anwar urges public to do their part as govt seeks solutions

TSR Capital Bhd (KL:TSRCAP) said on Friday it has secured a contract worth about RM158 million for building works in Selangor.

TSR Capital bags RM158m PKNS contract for Selangor building works

Four men, including a civil servant, were arrested for allegedly staging the disappearance of a Toyota Vellfire to facilitate an insurance claim following financial problems faced by one of them.

Padang Besar police chief ACP Mohd Shokri Abdullah said the suspects, aged between 32 and 45, were arrested in raids at three locations in the Padang Besar and Arau districts at about 5.15 pm on Thursday.

Civil servant among four held over alleged Toyota Vellfire insurance scam

Wall Street's main indices fell on Friday in the final stretch of a turbulent week, as investors digested shifting oil prices, higher Treasury yields and a Federal Reserve rate hike.

Wall Street slips as higher Treasury yields weigh on sentiment

Evocom Bhd’s initial public offering (IPO) has been oversubscribed by 3.60 times, ahead of its planned listing on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market on Sept 28.

Logistics firm Evocom reports 3.6 times IPO oversubscription ahead of ACE debut

US factory output unexpectedly declined for the first time this year as production of business equipment cooled and manufacturers grappled with higher input costs.

US factory output unexpectedly falls for first time this year

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.

AirAsia Group, Capital A, KYM Holdings, TMK Chemical, Tenaga Nasional, Vestland, Eco World, Zetrix AI, Jati Tinggi 

Malaysia's Securities Commission plans to ask companies to disclose how they are preparing for El Niño amid concerns the country's businesses may be ill prepared for the fallout from the weather phenomenon, chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi told Reuters.

SC to ask publicly-traded firms for El Niño plans, eyes deeper Middle East ties

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) saw RM3.03 billion wiped off its market value in late-session selling on Friday, following the national utility's announcement it would absorb the government's expanded electricity subsidy for households until the year-end.

TNB sheds RM1.6 bil market cap after agreeing to absorb subsidy for domestic users

ES Sunlogy Bhd (KL:SUNLOGY) said on Friday it has secured a RM15.63 million subcontract for electrical phase two services works for a serviced apartment development in Johor.

ES Sunlogy bags electrical services subcontract for Johor serviced apartments

AirAsia Group Bhd's (KL:AAGB) operation is sustainable with over RM1 billion cash in hand, group adviser Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said&nbsp;as he dismissed concerns about the airline's finances.

AirAsia sustainable with RM1 bil cash, no govt bailout requested, says Fernandes

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been allowed house arrest to serve out his&nbsp;remaining sentence for grand corruption.&nbsp;

King consents to house arrest for Najib until August 2028

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh has denied signing any house arrest order involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, which has been circulating on social media.

Hannah Yeoh denies signing Najib’s house arrest order

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) is postponing its cash dividend payout following a court order secured by a substantial shareholder of the digital services firm.

One shareholder's court order holds up Zetrix AI's entire cash dividend payout

Malaysia Airlines’&nbsp;parent is said to be closing in on an order for Boeing Co 787 Dreamliners as the carrier seeks to renew its long-haul fleet, according to people familiar with the matter. 
&nbsp;

Malaysia Airlines closing in on order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners — Bloomberg

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) saw RM3.03 billion wiped off its market value in late-session selling on Friday, following the national utility's announcement it would absorb the government's expanded electricity subsidy for households until the year-end.

It is unfeasible for rivals to absorb AirAsia Group Bhd's (KL:AAGB) domestic market share even as a contingency plan, the airline’s adviser Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said.

Talks of rival airlines absorbing AirAsia's capacity 'ludicrous' — Fernandes

Pakatan Harapan will hold a presidential council meeting on Friday evening to discuss current developments, according to a local news report.

Pakatan Harapan leaders to meet on current political developments — report

The Democratic Action Party (DAP) said its central executive committee will be meeting on Saturday to discuss and decide on the party's stance and follow-up actions, after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was allowed house arrest to serve out his remaining corruption sentence.

DAP respects King’s prerogative on Najib, CEC to meet Saturday to decide party direction

The pardon given by the Federal Territory Pardons Board on Friday — for imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence for his SRC International Sdn Bhd conviction under house arrest until the end of his sentence in August 2028 — on condition that the RM50 million fine he had been given is paid first, sets a precedent for white collar crimes, says senior criminal lawyer Datuk N Sivananthan.

Pardon to serve house arrest sets precedent for white collar and other crimes, says lawyer

TMK Chemical Bhd (KL:TMK) has agreed to acquire Chemical Company of Malaysia Bhd (CCM) from Batu Kawan Bhd (KL:BKAWAN) and its wholly-owned unit Enternal Edge Sdn Bhd for RM939.9 million.

TMK Chemical to buy CCM from Batu Kawan for RM939.9m

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) will absorb the impact from the electricity tariff fuel surcharge exemption that has been expanded to more households up until the end of this year.

Tenaga Nasional to absorb fuel surcharge for electricity subsidy expansion

Civil society groups have expressed concern and regret over the Federal Territories Pardons Board’s decision to allow former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.

Civil society groups voice concern and regret over Najib’s house arrest decision

Sunway Medical Group broke ground for the RM800 million Sunway Medical Centre Iskandar Puteri in Johor on Friday, further completing the 2,000-acre Sunway City Iskandar Puteri township development.&nbsp;

Sunway Medical Group breaks ground for RM800 mil Sunway Medical Centre Iskandar Puteri in Johor

All ongoing court cases involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak must continue, national news agency Bernama reported on Friday, citing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar says all legal cases involving Najib must continue — report

Russia took control of the local businesses of Swiss food giant Nestle SA and French supermarket chain Auchan in the Kremlin’s largest takeover of foreign corporate assets since at least 2024 amid rising tensions with Europe.

Russia grabs Nestle assets in biggest seizure since 2024

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh and Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar attended the&nbsp;64th meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya at Istana Negara on Friday.

Hannah Yeoh, AG attend Pardons Board meeting

Malaysia's inflation was a tad faster than expected in August as price growth in transport, utilities and food picked up, official data released on Friday showed.

Malaysia inflation speeds up in August, underlying price growth slows

Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA) has proposed a debt restructuring scheme involving wholly owned subsidiary Move Digital Sdn Bhd, in a bid to resolve its historical liabilities.

Capital A proposes to divest BigPay, Tune Protect stakes under debt restructuring scheme

Indonesia’s new finance minister will retain the policy of his predecessor of keeping about US$17 billion (RM69.33 billion) in the government’s standby funds with state lenders to help boost borrowing and economic activity.

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