Oil tumbled nearly 4% as a potential US-Iran nuclear deal raised the prospect of increased global crude supply on Thursday, while stocks markets took a well-earned breather following their weeks-long recovery run.

Oil dives on US-Iran hopes as stocks surge stalls

European stocks were little changed as markets took a breather after a strong rally on easing global trade tensions, while the dollar extended losses from the day before as relatively benign US inflation data kept Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts on the table.

European shares steady, dollar softens further on tariff truce, muted inflation

A rally in global stocks and the dollar lost some momentum on Tuesday, as initial euphoria over a trade truce between the United States and China gave way to the persistent concern among investors over the impact of the standoff on the global economy.

Global stocks edge up, dollar dips as trade-deal sugar rush fades

With Wall Street embracing another rally, some financial markets are trading like Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” shock never happened.

‘Buy America’ sweeps across global markets after trade talks

SYDNEY (May 12): Wall Street stock futures climbed and the US dollar firmed against safe haven peers on Monday, as signs of progress in US-China trade talks boosted hopes a global recession might be avoided, though specifics were still sorely lacking.

Stocks, US dollar up on US-China trade hope, details lacking

MSCI's global equities index barely rose on Friday and the dollar lost ground as a US trade deal with Britain fuelled guarded optimism for US tariff negotiations with China and other countries.

Stocks hit pause, dollar slips with US-China trade talks in focus

World stocks hovered around their highest prices in six weeks after a US trade deal with Britain fueled guarded optimism for progress in tariff talks with other countries.

Trade hopes feed risk appetite, boosting stocks and spurring bitcoin

Shares in Asia firmed on Thursday after US President Donald Trump flagged a first trade deal in his global tariff war, while the dollar tried to hold overnight gains as markets pushed out the chance of near-term rate cuts.

World shares lifted by trade deal hopes, dollar holds post-Fed gains

World stocks held on to most of their recent gains on Wednesday and oil prices rose on news of a forthcoming meeting between top US and Chinese trade officials.

World stocks pause as markets eye US-China talks, Fed

The steep recovery in equity markets over the past two weeks is typical of bear market rallies, and the erratic swings mean almost every investor will experience pain whichever direction the market suddenly moves.

Goldman says bear market rallies are the norm

Global stocks drifted lower on Tuesday and the dollar dipped against major peers as concerns about tariffs and their impact on the economy lingered, while focus was turning to the Federal Reserve's policy announcement on Wednesday.

Stocks drift lower on lack of trade progress, dollar slips again

Apple Inc and General Motors Co had to pay up on bonds they sold on Monday, a sign investors are demanding more to hold debt from companies under pressure from President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive.

Apple, GM see pressure from bond investors as trade fears swirl

Oil prices tumbled over 2% on Monday after oil producing group Opec+ agreed to accelerate oil production increases, while Taiwan's dollar surged to almost three-year highs at the start of a central bank-packed week for world markets.

Oil tumbles, Taiwan's dollar surges at start of central bank-packed week

Wall Street and European stocks rallied and US Treasury yields surged on Friday as investor risk appetite was strengthened by a strong employment report and signs China is open to tariff negotiations.

World stocks end higher on US jobs data, signs of easing trade tensions

A yacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch and six others, was vulnerable to violent winds and was probably knocked over by gusts of more than 117 kilometres (73 miles) per hour, an interim UK report said on Thursday.

Interim report finds Mike Lynch's yacht toppled by extreme wind

Chinese smartphone and electric vehicle maker Xiaomi said on Thursday it would launch a new self-developed mobile phone chip, XringO1, in late May.

China's Xiaomi to launch self-developed mobile chip in late May

In less than a month after emerging as a substantial shareholder of Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA), Norges Bank has now ceased to be a substantial shareholder in the automated test equipment maker.

Norges Bank ceases to be substantial shareholder of Pentamaster after less than a month

BTM Resources Bhd (KL:BTM) has called off its plan to build a 10MW biomass power plant after the banking facilities it obtained for the project was cancelled. It is also considering whether to cancel another 7M biomass power plant, which it has put on hold for now.

BTM Resources cancels 10MW biomass plant after losing bank funding, shelves another plant

Prices paid to US producers unexpectedly declined in April by the most in five years, largely reflecting a slump in margins, suggesting companies are absorbing some of the hit from higher tariffs.

US producer prices fall unexpectedly as margins decline

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits was unchanged last week, but job opportunities are becoming more scarce for those out of work as economic uncertainty from tariffs discourages businesses from boosting hiring.

US weekly jobless claims unchanged amid stable labour market

Growth in US retail sales decelerated notably in April, suggesting consumers pulled back spending on cars, sporting goods and other categories of imported goods amid concerns about rising prices from tariffs.

US retail sales barely rise, suggesting some spending pullback

US authorities are preparing to announce one of the biggest cuts in banks' capital requirements in over a decade, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

US set to cut capital requirements for banks — report

New York state factory activity contracted in May for a third month while a gauge of prices paid for materials jumped to the highest level since July 2022, highlighting the impact of the Trump administration’s tariffs.

New York manufacturing activity shrinks for a third month

In the first quarter of 2025, Malaysia’s high-tech manufacturing sector — covering electrical, electronics, and optical products — saw a slight drop in labour demand, from 655,000 to 649,000 jobs.

High-tech manufacturing struggles to fill jobs as number of openings grows — official data

Proton is offering RM2,000 to buyers who trade in ‘unroadworthy’ vehicles over 15 years old for new Proton models under a new programme that will run until the end of the year.

Proton launches RM2,000 trade-in programme for ‘unroadworthy’ vehicles

KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): A total of 76 houses in Taman Matang Jaya, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, sustained various types of damage after being struck by flying gravel fragments from a nearby quarry during a blasting operation on Tuesday (May 13).

Quarry blasting causes damage to 76 houses in Sungai Buloh

IN the wee hours of the morning on April 24, hours before the market opened at Bursa Malaysia, a WhatsApp message on Bina Puri Holdings Bhd (KL:­BPURI) was being circulated. The message read, “Bank suing, originating summons on Bina Puri. Exim RM20 million. Can’t settle.”

That Thursday ...

Cover Story: Bina Puri in the spotlight

Police have arrested Datin Seri Pamela Ling Yueh’s husband to assist in investigations over her disappearance but failed to get a remand order for him from the courts.

Police arrest husband of abducted Pamela Ling

Thailand's&nbsp;ambassador to Malaysia, Lada Phumas, has suggested that the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which starts in Kota Bharu, be extended to the Sungai Golok border to enhance rail connectivity between Malaysia and Thailand.

Thai envoy suggests extending ECRL to Sungai Golok to boost trade

Crude palm oil (CPO) prices and Malaysian palm oil refiners could see gains following Indonesia’s decision to raise its CPO&nbsp;and refined palm oil export levies, according to RHB Investment Bank.

CPO prices, Malaysian refiners may gain from Indonesia’s palm oil export levy hike — RHB

Russian President Vladimir Putin criticised a United Nations probe that found his country culpable for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which killed all 298 passengers and crew in 2014.

Putin criticises MH17 probe in meeting with Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): MSCI Malaysia Small Cap Index’s latest rebalancing could result in selldown of up to RM146 million in the six stocks to be removed, according to CIMB Securities’ estimates.

MSCI Malaysia Small Cap Index review could result in RM146m selldown — CIMB

Malaysia’s national oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd, or Petronas, said it has signed a production sharing contract for gas and condensate fields in Turkmenistan.

Petronas signs contract for natural gas production in Turkmenistan

KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): Malaysian banks can absorb potential credit risks from US tariffs on borrowers, with a “hefty” RM4.86 billion management overlay — a key buffer used by banks to guard against future loan losses — serving as a shield, according to CGS International.

Malaysian banks have RM4.86b buffer to withstand credit risks from US tariffs — CGS International

Genting Singapore has reported earnings of S$145 million (RM479.17 million) for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 (1QFY2025), down 41% year-on-year (y-o-y). Quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q), earnings grew 2%.

Genting Singapore’s 1Q earnings down 41% to S$145m; CEO Tan Hee Teck retires

Billionaire Li Shufu is shaking up his sprawling Geely auto empire, lining up a new chief executive weeks after a shock move to take its US-listed premium electric car brand Zeekr private.

Geely appoints Zeekr head as new group CEO in leadership shakeup

Beijing has pushed back against a US decision aimed at curbing Chinese-made artificial intelligence chips, a first sign of discord between the world’s two largest economies since they agreed to a trade truce last weekend.

China accuses US of ‘unilateral bullying’ on Huawei AI chips 

KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): YNH Property Bhd (KL:YNHPROP) and Sunway Real Estate Investment Trust (Sunway REIT)(KL:SUNREIT) have agreed to take another four months to complete the sale of Aeon Mall Seri Manjung for RM138 million.

YNH, Sunway REIT extend Aeon Mall Seri Manjung sale by four months, add new conditions

Discussions between Malaysia and the US regarding reciprocal tariffs have so far proceeded smoothly, with many issues being resolved while some require further scrutiny, particularly those related to the country’s strategic sectors.

Malaysia-US tariff negotiations going smoothly, many issues can be resolved, says Zafrul

Gold may retest its record high prices before the year ends as global macroeconomic uncertainty and lower US interest rates continue to drive demand for the safe haven assets, said UBS Investment Bank.

Gold may retest record high after short-term consolidation, says UBS strategist

Property developer LBS Bina Group Bhd (KL:LBS) is collaborating with Penang-based Oriental Holdings Bhd (KL:ORIENT) to undertake a mixed-use project in Klebang, Melaka, with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM7 billion.

LBS Bina partnering Oriental Holdings for RM7b mixed development in Melaka 

The Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia (FIMM) has reprimanded a former unit trust consultant for performing unauthorised switching transactions.

Former unit trust consultant reprimanded over unauthorised switching transactions 

PUTRAJAYA (May 15): Regardless of labels attached to the 2022 purported leaked “judgement” in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s graft trial, the conclusion that she was guilty in the documents raises concerns and is pertinent in the dispensing of justice, the Court of Appeal (COA) heard on Thursday.

Research or opinion, ‘leaked documents’ on Rosmah’s graft trial should not have been in judgement format, defence argues

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s quarterly revenue missed projections, reflecting a persistent Chinese consumer downturn as well as intense rivalry in the critical field of AI.

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