With US President-elect Donald Trump due to be sworn in on Monday, Jan 20, Malaysia believes it can navigate any political or economic uncertainties arising from his second term in the White House.

Malaysia confident of navigating possible challenges from Trump's presidency, says Anwar

The European Union (EU) is debating whether to drop a sensitive trade investigation against China over alleged coercive activity targeting Lithuania, a prospect that’s frustrated officials in Washington, where the incoming Trump team sees it as capitulation to Beijing.

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to take a tough line on China and the possible EU move would reinforce for his team how the bloc will approach dealing with Beijing, according to people familiar with the matter.

EU mulls dropping China trade case, frustrating Trump team

The European Union (EU) and Mexico agreed to a revamped free-trade agreement, just as both are under pressure from president-elect Donald Trump, who has threatened them with a new round of tariffs.

The agreement aims to boost both trade and economic security by de-risking supply chains, securing a sustainable supply of critical raw materials and tackling climate change, according to a European Commission statement on Friday.

EU, Mexico seal trade deal as Trump threatens tariffs

The International Monetary Fund on Friday raised its forecast for global growth in 2025 by one-tenth of a percentage point, with stronger-than-expected growth in the US offsetting downward revisions in Germany, France and other major economies.

IMF lifts US outlook, warns countries against protectionism, subsidies

Donald Trump’s team may have been batting around the idea of a gradual ratcheting up of import tariffs on much of the world, but bankers who finance the companies in his firing line are in a frenzy nonetheless.

As the president-elect’s inauguration looms next week, some European businesses in threatened industries have accelerated borrowing plans to get ahead of any punitive measures.

Trump’s tariff threat sending junk debt market into panic mode

Falling wages and high inflation in India will have dented earnings at HDFC Bank Ltd, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd and Hindustan Unilever Ltd as the lenders brace for an asset quality deterioration and consumer firms grapple with penny-pinching customers.

HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank are expected to report increases in bad loans, which should lead to higher provisions and weigh on quarterly profit.

HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever squeezed as Indian middle class struggles

A US government investigation concluded that Chinese subsidies unfairly benefit the nation’s shipbuilding industry and harm American competitors, a decision that likely sets the stage for tariffs.

Trump gets new tool to fight China with findings on shipbuilding

The World Bank on Thursday warned that US across-the-board tariffs of 10% could reduce already lacklustre global economic growth of 2.7% in 2025 by 0.3 percentage point if America's trading partners retaliate with tariffs of their own.

World Bank warns that US tariffs could reduce global growth outlook

Chinese officials and automakers are eyeing German factories slated for closure and are particularly interested in Volkswagen's sites, a person with knowledge of Chinese government thinking told Reuters.

Chinese buyers interested in unwanted German Volkswagen factories — Reuters 

Indonesia’s fragile garment industry may have to lay off hundreds of thousands of workers this year if the government is unable to rein in persistent dumping from China, an industry association official warned.

Redma Gita Wirawasta, chairman of the Indonesian Filament Yarn and Fibre Producers Association, said on Wednesday that dozens of factories are at risk of shutting down as they struggle to compete with cheap Chinese-made clothing that has flooded the market in recent years.

Indonesia garment sector faces massive layoffs on imports of cheap China-made clothing

European Union companies could become more competitive against their US and Chinese rivals if they paid less for energy — a goal governments could achieve by cooperating to invest and to integrate the EU's fragmented energy market, the IMF said.

EU can stand up to US, China with integrated energy market, IMF states

Britain’s economy narrowly returned to growth in November but fell short of expectations as the UK struggles to shake off concerns that the country is in the grip of stagflation.

Gross domestic product increased 0.1% following a 0.1% contraction in both September and October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. That was below forecasts for 0.2% growth. It means the economy is still smaller than it was in June, the month before Labour came to power.

UK disappoints with GDP growth of 0.1% in first month after Reeves’ budget

Despite incoming US President Donald Trump's pledge to impose sweeping 60% tariffs on all Chinese imports, the implementation is likely to be far less drastic, according to Affin Bank’s chief economist Alan Tan Chew Leong.

Impact of Trump's proposed tariffs on Chinese imports likely to be less severe than feared for region — Affin Bank

Germany’s economy shrank for a second consecutive year in 2024 and is unlikely to grow much in 2025, laying bare the challenge for the country’s new government once snap elections are held in February.

Gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.2% after dropping 0.3% in 2023, the statistics office said on Wednesday.

German GDP shrinks for second straight year before election

All parties to Israel-Hamas war have agreed that the Gaza ceasefire will take effect at 8.30am local time on Sunday, a few hours earlier than had been anticipated, Qatar announced.

Gaza ceasefire to start on Sunday morning following Israeli approval

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court on Saturday to argue against a request for his detention to be extended after his arrest earlier this week.

Impeached S Korean president Yoon defends himself in court against longer detention

The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will hold talks with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to enable the mobile application for the selling and buying of used motorcycles to be integrated with the mySIKAP system for simpler, faster and safer transactions.

MOT, JPJ to discuss integrating app for buying and selling used motorcycles with mySIKAP

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained four more individuals suspected of accepting bribes in return for assisting in processing and approving personal loan applications submitted by a financial consultancy firm.

MACC arrests four more suspects over loan bribery scandal

Phase 3 of the e-invoicing initiative has received over 4,900 early voluntary participants, according to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

In a statement on Saturday, the IRB noted that the e-invoicing implementation had now entered the second phase and shown a promising increase in participation.

Over 4,900 early voluntary participants in Phase 3 of e-invoicing, says IRB

JF Technology Bhd (KL:JFTECH) co-founder and managing director Datuk Foong Wei Kuong, who became the second-largest shareholder of Cosmos Technology International Bhd (KL:COSMOS) on Wednesday, said he intends to tap into the growing opportunities within Malaysia's water infrastructure sector.

JF Tech boss sees water infrastructure potential in Cosmos as he becomes second-largest shareholder

Deutsche Lufthansa AG completed the acquisition of a minority stake in Italian carrier ITA Airways late on Friday after first making an offer for its competitor in January 2023.

Lufthansa finalises deal for 41% stake in Italy’s ITA Airways

Malaysia's economy is projected to grow at a moderate pace of 4.5% to 5.0% in 2025, benefiting from strong economic fundamentals and an uptick in foreign investments, Hong Leong Bank Bhd or HLB (KL:HLBANK) said.

HLB forecasts M'sian economic growth at moderate pace of 4.5% to 5% in 2025

A four-day road ban on goods vehicles will be enforced in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration to alleviate traffic congestion and minimise the risk of accidents.

MOT to enforce road ban on goods vehicles during Chinese New Year

Discussions are underway between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Microsoft, the owner of LinkedIn, regarding the licensing of the social media platform, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

MCMC discussing LinkedIn licensing with platform owner Microsoft, says Fahmi

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained four more individuals suspected of accepting bribes in return for assisting in processing and approving personal loan applications submitted by a financial consultancy firm.

The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will hold talks with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to enable the mobile application for the selling and buying of used motorcycles to be integrated with the mySIKAP system for simpler, faster and safer transactions.

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court on Saturday to argue against a request for his detention to be extended after his arrest earlier this week.&nbsp;

Global Economy

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