The global economy is under threat from persistently high energy prices, record public debt and risks from the artificial intelligence (AI) investment boom, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned on Wednesday, urging governments to implement protective fiscal and monetary policy measures.

IMF chief warns energy shock, growing debt and AI risks threaten global growth

Singapore’s top diplomat touted what he called “a moment of great potential” for Southeast Asia, as economies expand rapidly on surging technology demand even as much of the world faces growing uncertainties.

Singapore sees Southeast Asia thriving amid ‘breakdown’ of world order

Sharp spikes in food and energy prices will likely become more common, the International Monetary Fund said, warning such crises drive inflation expectations higher for longer, worsen poverty and threaten economic stability.

Cost-of-living crises have lasting impact on inflation expectations, poverty, IMF says

Billionaire Ray Dalio warned that the Treasury market is vulnerable to a pullback of demand from China and Japan, two of the US’s largest foreign creditors, highlighting a potential pain point for a sector that has endured wild swings this year.

Ray Dalio warns China, Japan may pull back from US Treasuries

Britain’s jobs market is stuck in its longest downturn since the early 2000s, according to a closely-watched survey, surpassing the decline during the financial crisis.

UK job slump longer than during financial crisis, PMI says

Any urgency among Federal Reserve and European Central Bank policymakers to follow up September interest-rate hikes at this month’s meetings has been dialled back in the wake of soft US jobs data and acute stress in French financial markets.

US Fed, ECB minutes to show inflation fears as hike bets fade

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the recent rise in US Treasury yields was in line with global trends and didn’t warrant consternation, even as worries about persisting price pressures pushed some benchmark rates to their highest in more than two decades.

Bessent downplays worries on rising yields, AI bubble concerns

World food prices rose in September to their highest in nearly four years as logistics disruptions and weather concerns affected crop markets, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization said.

World food prices near four-year high in September, UN says

Global bond markets are still functioning in an orderly fashion, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday, following the recent sharp rise in yields that has driven world borrowing costs to their highest levels in decades.

Bond markets functioning in orderly manner, IMF says

Global bonds were engulfed by heavy selling again on Thursday, with borrowing costs for governments from the US to France and Japan surging to levels not seen in decades and stocks shaken as the turmoil began to spill into broader markets.

Global bonds gripped by fresh selling, US 10-year yield hits 24-year high

Factory activity across Europe and Asia expanded last month as demand, partly boosted by the global AI spending boom, remained strong even as the energy price shock from the Iran war kept inflation elevated, surveys showed on Thursday.

Global factory activity boosted by AI spending boom

A resurgent El Niño pattern risks deepening a sell-off in Southeast Asian bonds, strategists say, threatening to push yields higher just as rising US Treasury rates and oil prices squeeze regional debt.

El Niño to compound drag on Southeast Asian debt, analysts say

TOKYO (Oct 1): Factory activity across Asia expanded in September thanks to the global AI boom, private surveys showed on Thursday, offering some relief to policymakers who are concerned about nagging cost pressures attributable to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Asian factory activity expands thanks to global AI boom

OTTAWA (Sept 28): Cleveland-Cliffs is idling some production at its Hamilton, Ontario plant in ​Canada and will lay off hundreds ‌of workers, citing the damage done by US tariffs, CBC News said on Monday.

Citing ​an internal memo, CBC said the ​company would ...

Cleveland-Cliffs to idle output at Canada steel plant, blames tariffs, says CBC

In recent times, it is not politicians, but bond vigilantes, who hold the most power over the global economy. In 2022, then-newly minted UK Prime Minister Liz Truss presided over a meltdown in the UK government bond market after her government announced sweeping tax cuts without any corresponding spending adjustments.

We have to thank the bond markets for telling the truth: Tharman

YOUR DAY AHEAD: Oct 8, 2026

No bidders turned up at an auction for a six-acre land that the Penang state government intends to sell to raise funds for the long-delayed Ayer Itam road bypass project.

Penang state land auction draws a blank, sources say

Here's a heads up on what to look out for today.

YOUR DAY AHEAD: Oct 8, 2026 

India’s central bank raised interest rates for the first time in nearly four years and signaled further hikes may be on the table as accelerating inflation and a weakening currency drive a policy pivot.

RBI signals further rate hikes as price pressures intensify

Asian stocks were poised for declines, tracking moves on Wall Street as elevated oil prices continued to stoke inflation concerns. Equity-index futures for Japan, Australia and South Korea pointed to a second day of declines for a regional stock gauge

Asian stocks to dip as oil fuels inflation worries

Oil edged higher after a report that the White House asked the Pentagon to draw up strike options against Iran that could be executed before the midterm elections, and as a storm shut some US output.

Oil edges higher on Iran strike options report and storm impact

A record-breaking run in stocks hit a wall as still-elevated oil prices stoked concerns that potential inflationary pressures could trigger Federal Reserve interest-rate hikes.

Stocks fall from all-time highs on inflation worry

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) has confirmed that it owes the Road Transport Department (JPJ) RM314 million in unremitted collections between May and September 2026, and said the liability has been recognised as a payable on its balance sheet.

Zetrix AI confirms RM314m JPJ arrears after Bursa demands direct answer

HSBC said on Wednesday consultations were underway, after the Financial Times (FT) reported that hundreds of jobs were at risk from the bank's adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).

UK unit job cuts: HSBC says 'consultations' underway amid AI adoption

Police have arrested seven people, including several foreigners, in connection with&nbsp;the theft of 2.5kg of jewellery worth over RM1.7 million from a shopping mall in Genting Highlands, Bentong, in August.

Seven arrested over RM1.7 mil jewellery heist in Genting Highlands

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) has confirmed that it owes the Road Transport Department (JPJ) RM314 million in unremitted collections between May and September 2026, and said the liability has been recognised as a payable on its balance sheet.

Malaysia still faces RM20.1 billion in outstanding obligations related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) if no additional funds are recovered, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Govt still has to bear RM20.1b 1MDB burden if no further funds recovered — MOF

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

Yinson, Northern Solar, Aemulus, Datasonic, CIMB, AMMB, PJBumi, MMM Group

Bursa Malaysia Securities has dismissed MMM Group Bhd’s (KL:MMM) appeal against the rejection of its proposed regularisation plan, paving the way for the company to be delisted on Oct 12.

MMM Group to be delisted on Oct 12 as Bursa Malaysia dismisses appeal

British 30-year bond yields rose to a 28-year high on Wednesday as a global bond sell-off pushed equivalent US borrowing costs to their highest since 2002, adding to pressure on finance minister John Healey before his first budget in three weeks' time.

UK 30-year gilt yields hit 28-year high in global sell-off

The additional tax claim against Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) will not&nbsp;result&nbsp;in the cost being passed on to consumers through electricity tariff hikes, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

TNB's additional tax claim not passed on to consumers via tariffs, says MOF

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin is disputing the auditor general’s projection that the first of the long-delayed littoral combat ship (LCS1) would only achieve full operational readiness by December 2035.

Defence Minister disputes AG's 2035 readiness projection for long-delayed combat ships

Lighting solutions provider Speedy Best Holdings Bhd, which also manufactures and sells steel poles and provides smart city solutions, is planning an ACE Market listing to raise funds for capacity expansion and to further develop its proprietary platform that uses artificial intelligence for smart city management.

Speedy Best plans ACE Market IPO to raise funds for capacity expansion

Enterprise IT services provider Ancile Tech Bhd has filed its draft prospectus for an initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market, as it seeks funds to set up an in-house network operations centre (NOC) and security operations centre (SOC), and expand its business beyond northern Peninsular Malaysia.

IT solutions provider Ancile Tech files draft prospectus for ACE Market listing to fund business expansion

ACE Market-listed Aemulus Holdings Bhd (KL:AEMULUS) has secured new orders worth US$3.86 million (RM15.77 million) from an undisclosed Singapore customer for test systems used in the data centre and artificial intelligence (AI) market.

Aemulus secures RM15.8m orders for data centre, AI test systems from Singapore customer

The Nasdaq and the S&amp;P 500 eased from record highs on Wednesday as Treasury yields and oil prices rebounded, keeping investors cautious as they awaited the minutes of the Federal Reserve's September meeting.

Nasdaq, S&P 500 slip from record highs as yields and oil rebound

No bidders turned up at an auction for a six-acre land that the Penang state government intends to sell to raise funds for the long-delayed Ayer Itam road bypass project.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is finalising&nbsp;a proposal to enact the Statutory Bodies and Controlled Entities (Financial Governance) Act to strengthen the governance of government-owned companies.

MOF finalising proposed law to strengthen governance of govt-owned companies

The government is reviewing a formal agreement with Dapat Vista Sdn Bhd, the company that operates the eJamin system for online payment of court bail, before submitting it to the Cabinet soon.

eJamin: Govt reviewing formal agreement with Dapat Vista before presenting it to Cabinet

Asian stocks were poised for declines, tracking moves on Wall Street as elevated oil prices continued to stoke inflation concerns.&nbsp;Equity-index futures for Japan, Australia and South Korea pointed to a second day of declines for a regional stock gauge

The interest rate on the most common US home loan jumped last week to its highest in almost three years, worsening affordability for buyers four weeks before elections that will decide if President Donald Trump's Republicans keep control of Congress.

US 30-year mortgage rate hits highest in nearly three years

Oil edged higher after a report that the White House asked the Pentagon to draw up strike options against Iran that could be executed before the midterm elections, and as a storm shut some US output.

Transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz deemed illegal by Iran will soon be closed, an adviser to the Revolutionary Guards' Commander told the semi-official Fars News Agency on Wednesday, referring to the southern pathway hugging Oman's coast.

Iranian official says 'illegal Hormuz routes' to soon be blocked

The holding company of Canada's Weston family has agreed to buy British health and beauty retailer Boots from private equity firm Sycamore Partners and the Pessina family for US$8.9 billion (RM36.4 billion), including debt, it said on Wednesday.

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