The likelihood of El Niño developing now exceeds 90%, bringing expectations of a prolonged period of hotter and potentially drier conditions in Malaysia in early 2027. Climate change could further intensify the heat and other weather extremes.

The Super El Niño

Sustainability hasn’t retreated, but its progress has fractured into winners and laggards, and CEOs must build conviction rather than assume uniform momentum, according to Bain and Company’s 2026 CEO Sustainability Report.

US$2.4 tril in green investment, yet most sectors are being left behind

Affluent and high-net-worth (HNW) investors in Malaysia are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools for finance and investment, but they still rely heavily on the critical oversight that comes from human professional judgement. This is why more than half, or 58%, still want human-AI synergy when making financial decisions.

Human-AI hybrid preferred in financial decision-making

While Malaysians are no strangers to floods and heatwaves, these events are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity, a development many attribute to climate change.

Counting the cost of climate change

Malaysia recorded more than 21 million international visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, up 2.5% despite geopolitical tensions in West Asia that led to the cancellation of 4,111 scheduled flights to the country.

Tourist arrivals in Malaysia grow 2.5% in 1H despite Middle East tensions

Recent geopolitical tensions have highlighted the lack of investment in industries now deemed strategic, such as energy infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, defence, digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI). At the same time, technological breakthroughs are opening opportunities for a new wave of investment.

Catalysing competitiveness

Gold prices posted a gain of nearly 7% in the first week of August – the biggest weekly rise since January, as expectations of US rate hikes receded and inflation worries linked to the US-Iran peace deal eased.

Central banks stay positive on gold despite volatility

International premium-class travel (business and first class) climbed 4.5% year on year to 109.7 million passengers in 2025, accounting for 5.5% of all international travellers, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) newly released World Air Transport Statistics (WATS).

Global premium air travel extends recovery in 2025

Artificial intelligence has become inseparable from global trade, according to Allianz Research. AI growth depends on globalised supply chains for chips, computing infrastructure and digital services, while trade itself is increasingly shaped by who controls AI infrastructure and data flows.

AI is rewiring global trade but concentrating power in fewer hands

Singapore is the most expensive city in the world, followed by Zurich and Monaco, according to Julius Baer’s “Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2026”, which was published on July 7. Monaco, a sovereign city-state on the French Riviera, broke into the top three for the first time, nudging Hong Kong into fourth place. Bangkok made its way into the top 10 list for the first time in at least the last five years, according to the report.

Singapore is world’s most expensive city, Bangkok ranked 10th

Global IPO proceeds tripled to US$186.8 billion in the first half of 2026 (1H2026) despite a 12% decline in listing volumes as investors concentrated capital behind larger transactions, artificial intelligence (AI)-related opportunities and companies with strong growth narratives.

IPO markets gathered pace in 1H2026

Southeast Asia remains a hot spot for investments in climate technology, according to a report published by global market intelligence platform Tracxn last month. Titled ‘Southeast Asia Climate Tech Report 2026’ , it analysed funding trends and investment themes in the region from 2020 to May 2026.

Southeast Asia attracting climate tech funding for seed and early-stage start-ups

Household waste has become the defining environmental pressure. The world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with at least 33% not being managed in an environmentally safe way. Daily waste generation per person averages 0.74kg, but ranges from just 0.11kg to as much as 4.54kg, depending on the country. The World Bank projects that total waste, left unchecked, will rise to 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050 (from 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016), growing far faster than the global population.

The cost of throwing away your dinner

Consumer expectations are rising faster than healthcare systems can keep up in Asia-Pacific, affecting patient trust and experience as consumers become more informed and demanding. Clinicians are burnt out: one-in-five doctors in the region are considering switching organisations, ready to walk away from an overburdened system. While technology and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities can offer solutions, most organisations are not ready to scale up investments and adoption.

Widening tensions in healthcare delivery

(Sept 29): Toyota Motor Corp’s car sales fell again last month due to a prolonged slump in China, where legacy brands are grappling with mounting competition from fast-moving local electric-vehicle makers.

Toyota sales fall for seventh straight month on China slump

Vantris Energy Bhd (KL:VANTNRG) remained in the black for a fourth consecutive quarter, helped by lower foreign exchange losses and finance costs following the completion of its restructuring exercise, as well as the absence of a favourable insurance claim recorded a year earlier.

Vantris Energy stays in the black in 2Q on lower forex losses, finance costs

(Sept 29): Tata group shares fell on Tuesday after the controlling charities proposed a restructuring of the holding company to prevent a central-bank-mandated listing, disappointing some investors.

Tata shares slip as trusts' proposal clouds Tata Sons listing prospects

Oil and gas

OVERWEIGHT

HONG LEONG INVESTMENT BANK RESEARCH (SEPT 14): Brent has returned above US$100 per barrel as risks rise across Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb and Saudi’s E...

Brokers Digest: Local Equities - Oil and gas, Sorento Capital Bhd, Bermaz Auto Bhd, UMedic Group Bhd

NWE Resources Group Bhd is looking to tap into changing health and wellness trends among younger consumers with six new health food formulations as part of its business expansion for its initial public offering (IPO).

NWE Resources to tap into changing health trends among younger consumers

BRUSSELS (Sept 29): Alphabet's Google has challenged two EU orders to help AI rivals such as OpenAI access its services and search engine competitors to access its search data, saying these would undermine privacy safeguards and cause irreversible harm to European users.

Google challenges EU orders to open up to AI, search-engine rivals

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): Anuar Fariz Fadzil will be ending his tenure as CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) once his contract ends on Oct 2.

Anuar Fariz to step down as MDEC CEO after contract ends

Government-linked investment companies (GLICs) and government-linked companies (GLCs) are stepping up their role in developing the domestic economy, backed by an additional RM120 billion under the GEAR-uP initiative over 2024-2028.

GLICs, GLCs to catalyse economy with RM120b investments under GEAR-uP over 2024-2028 — Amir Hamzah

Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) said its consortium has inked an agreement with a US-based technology company for a proposed 680-megawatt renewable energy project in Perak.

Gamuda-SD Guthrie consortium to build solar plant in Perak for US-tech giant

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): Kelington Group Bhd (KL:KGB) has secured a RM172 million contract for engineering and early-stage infrastructure development works for an advanced data storage manufacturing facility in Kuching, Sarawak.

Kelington bags RM172m engineering job for Sarawak manufacturing facility

Visitors walking through Kuala Lumpur International Airport's Terminal 2 (KLIA T2) will notice hoardings — temporary boards and barricades put up around shops that are empty or under renovation — at several areas of its retail section.

KLIA T2 retail occupancy holds steady despite airline capacity cuts

Kenanga Research has issued the most bullish call yet on ACE Market-bound EcoSys (Malaysia) Bhd, setting a fair value of 54 sen per share — double its initial public offering (IPO) price of 27 sen.

Kenanga most bullish on EcoSys, sets fair value at double IPO price

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): Trading in the shares of integrated high-precision engineering and manufacturing firm UMS Integration Ltd (KL:UMSINT) was suspended on Tuesday pending an announcement.

UMS Integration shares suspended on Bursa pending announcement

Mohd Zaid Abdul Jalil, a former chief executive officer of Felda Investment Corp Sdn Bhd (FIC), has been charged with two counts of cheating the board of the state-owned company. &nbsp;

Felda Investment Corp’s ex-CEO charged with cheating, claims trial

Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) said its consortium has inked an agreement with a US-based technology company for a proposed 680-megawatt renewable energy project in Perak.

Oil prices and bond yields rose in an uncomfortable combination for stocks on Tuesday, as investors braced for an era where short-term borrowing costs settle at their highest levels in years.

Rising bond yields put the brakes on stocks

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): Malaysia’s data centre boom has brought a fresh wave of foreign capital into the country, with global technology giants committing billions of ringgit to expand their digital infrastructure.

Powering past the data centre boom: How Malaysia must build, not just host

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): LNG Canada, a massive liquefied natural gas project backed by Malaysia’s PETRONAS, is expected to see an expansion costing RM86 billion, according to a news report.

PETRONAS-backed LNG Canada project to see RM86 bil expansion — report

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said he will quit Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet once jailed former PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak begins serving his house arrest granted under a conditional royal pardon.&nbsp;

Loke vows to quit when Najib begins house arrest

OVER the past couple of weeks, homegrown accounting firm TGS TW PLT has resigned as external auditor of as many as 18 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia’s Main, ACE and LEAP markets — mostly small-capitalisation and recently listed companies.

Only two — HE Group Bhd (KL:HEGROUP) and Exc...

TGS TW drops 18 Bursa-listed clients as senior auditors depart

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): KLK Land Sdn Bhd's newly soft-opened Coalfields Retail Park in Sungai Buloh is scheduled to achieve 100% occupancy by 1Q2027, according to a press statement issued on Tuesday.

KLK Land's Coalfields Retail Park scheduled to reach 100% occupancy by 1Q2027

BENGALURU (Sept 29): Oil prices rose for a second successive session on Tuesday as lingering concern over Middle East supply disruption brought about by US-Iran conflict outweighed signs of recovering crude exports from the region.

Oil prices rise for second session on continued Middle East supply concern

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's defence team will study all documents from the prosecution before deciding if they will challenge the validity of the charge.

Ismail Sabri case: Defence wants to study all documents before making any potential applications

The planned National Ageing White Paper in 2027 must translate Malaysia’s National Ageing Blueprint 2025-2045 into coordinated and measurable action, according to Prime Minister&nbsp;Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.&nbsp;

Ageing White Paper must turn blueprint into measurable action — PM

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): S&amp;P Global Ratings maintained Malaysia’s sovereign rating at A- with a stable outlook on expectations of steady fiscal performance over the next two to three years.

S&P affirms Malaysia’s A- sovereign rating, outlook stable

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): Malaysia’s semiconductor companies could see their future earnings growth constrained by a shortage of skilled talent, according to MBSB Investment Bank.

Talent crunch could limit semiconductor earnings upside, says MBSB

Datuk Seri M Saravanan's defence team hopes that the trial dates for the former human resources minister's case can be set at the earliest time possible.

Saravanan's defence team again seeks earliest possible trial dates

NWE Resources Group Bhd began taking orders from investors for the consumer product company’s ACE Market listing at 20 sen per share.

NWE Resources begins taking applications for ACE Market IPO at 20 sen per share

A US import ban on a select number of Canadian products took effect at 12.01am Washington time, marking the latest escalation in the trade war between the two countries.&nbsp;

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