(April 19): Sony Group Corp and Apollo Global Management Inc are considering teaming up in a bid for the film and TV giant Paramount Global, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The two companies haven’t submitted an official offer, said the person, who asked to not be identi...

Sony in talks with Apollo on joint Paramount bid

Axiata Group Bhd, Malaysia’s largest telecommunications company by revenue, and India’s Bharti Airtel Ltd signed a definitive agreement on Thursday to combine their Sri Lankan operations.

Malaysia’s Axiata, Bharti Airtel of India to combine Sri Lankan ops

Abu Dhabi's largest Islamic bank is in talks to buy a minority stake valued at around US$1.1 billion (RM5.3 billion) in Indonesia's top Islamic lender, Bank Syariah Indonesia, two sources told Reuters, with an aim to tap into a fast-growing market in Southeast Asia.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank in talks to buy US$1.1b stake in Indonesian lender — Reuters

EU antitrust regulators have concluded that Microsoft's US$13 billion (RM62.2 billion) investment into OpenAI is not an acquisition, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, signalling the deal will avoid a formal European probe that could have led to onerous remedies for the US tech giant.

Microsoft-OpenAI deal set to dodge formal EU merger probe — Reuters

Property developer Menang Corp (M) Bhd said on Wednesday it had signed an agreement to acquire 20% of an Indonesian healthcare joint venture (JV) for RM4 million.

Menang Corp to take up 20% stake in Indonesian healthcare JV

Gina Rinehart has amassed a near-6% stake in Lynas Rare Earths Ltd, adding to the iron ore billionaire’s portfolio of stakes in critical mineral producers vital to the energy transition and lifting shares in the Australian producer.

Billionaire Rinehart buys stake in rare earths producer Lynas

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said his ministry has no objection to MMC Corp Bhd divesting a stake in MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd, including to foreign entities, as long as it does not contravene the government's policy that requires 51% ownership of major national assets to remain with local companies.

Loke says MMC Port free to sell stake to foreign firms, but govt has to be notified of shareholding changes

United States Steel Corp shareholders voted in favour of a US$14.1 billion (RM67.26 billion) takeover offer by Nippon Steel Corp, leaving the fate of the deal for the iconic American steelmaker to the realm of US regulators and politics.

US Steel shareholders approve Nippon Steel’s US$14b takeover offer

Some Paramount Global investors are speaking out about a possible merger with Skydance Media, calling on the US media conglomerate to look at other options and to treat shareholders equitably if this deal should be inked.

Paramount Global shareholders grow increasingly vocal about possible Skydance Media merger

Australia is overhauling its merger and acquisition (M&A) rules as the government seeks to increase competition in highly concentrated areas of the economy, such as retailing and banking, while also streamlining approvals of uncontentious deals.

Australia unveils sweeping M&A law changes that may curb deals

Large companies planning a takeover in Australia will first have to seek clearance from the antitrust regulator, which will be able to block small deals that "entrench" a big firm's market power, under sweeping changes to the country's buyout rules to be unveiled on Wednesday

Australia sets mandatory notification rule in M&A shakeup

L’Occitane International SA’s billionaire owner Reinold Geiger and Blackstone Inc are nearing a deal to take the skincare company private, people familiar with the matter said, potentially ending its 14-year run on Hong Kong’s stock exchange.

The world’s largest alternative asset manager may provide debt financing for the buyout, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public. An announcement may come as soon as in the coming days, they said. Trading of L’Occitane was suspended in Hong Kong on Tuesday, pending announcement related to takeover codes.

Blackstone nears buyout of skincare company L’Occitane

Alternative investment manager Ares Management Corp has sent a proposal in recent days to some banks to buy out a stake in a HK$10.2 billion (US$1.3 billion or RM6.19 billion) project loan backing luxury-property development The Corniche in Hong Kong, according to people familiar with the matter.

Ares seeks to buy most of US$1.3b loan for Hong Kong tower

Winking Studios has proposed the acquisition of Malaysian art and animation outsourcing company Pixelline Production.

Winking Studios proposes acquisition of M'sian animation outsourcing firm Pixelline Production

S P Setia Bhd has officially launched the LakePoint Complex commercial hub at the 1,235-acre freehold township of SetiaAlam Impian in Shah Alam on Saturday. The ceremony was officiated by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Selangor Sultan officiates launch of S P Setia’s LakePoint Complex at Setia AlamImpian

The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has extended condolences to the family of former inspector general of police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar, who died early on Saturday morning.

Selangor Sultan conveys condolences to Tun Hanif Omar’s family

Perikatan Nasional (PN) will hold a supreme council meeting on Monday (April 22) on the selection of candidate to contest in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election on May 11.

Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election: PN to hold supreme council meeting on Monday

Next week’s earnings reports from some of the market’s biggest technology and growth companies could prove an important test for the US stock rally, which has flagged as expectations for interest cuts fade.

'Crowded' megacap trade in US stocks awaits earnings test

Elon Musk postponed a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing obligations at his Tesla automaker and saying he aimed to reschedule the visit for later this year.

Tesla's Elon Musk postpones India trip, aims to visit this year

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), the operator of Malaysia’s 5G telecommunications assets, said the process in relation to the subscription of its shares by five mobile network operators (MNOs) in this country is ongoing.

DNB says process relating to subscription of its shares by five mobile network operators ongoing

Approved road transport logistics companies will obtain “fleet cards” from select fuel retailers to purchase subsidised fuel under the diesel subsidy rationalisation programme, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said.

Approved logistics players to get diesel fleet cards amid subsidy rationalisation

PKR Information chief Fahmi Fadzil said no specific names were discussed regarding the leadership of the Sabah PKR State Leadership Council (MPN) at a special meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday.

No specific names discussed for Sabah PKR State Leadership Council head, says Fahmi

Efforts to reform the Bretton Woods institutions – the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank – are progressing, albeit slowly. In December, the IMF Board of Governors approved a 50% increase in member quotas, which will reduce its reliance on borrowed resources, and the World Bank has re...

The Frontiers Of Growth : How to Govern the Bretton Woods Institutions Better

A highly anticipated Bitcoin software update called the “halving” has been completed, dealing a potential blow to the companies that make money by ensuring that the digital currency functions smoothly and securely.

Bitcoin ‘halving’ cuts supply of new tokens in threat to miners

Former inspector general of police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar died at 2.15am on Saturday. He was 85.

Former IGP Tun Hanif Omar passes away

The long-awaited Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem) has finally been introduced, along with guidelines on cross-border electricity sales announced by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) last Monday for exports of green electricity from Malaysia to Singapore and Thailand.

Enegem: Malaysia edges closer to RE exports

A Philippine freight railway project may be built with the support of the US and Japan, an official in charge of it said, as Manila seeks alternative financing deals after dropping funding talks with China.

Philippines wants US, Japan to take over rail deal eyed by China

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), the operator of Malaysia’s 5G telecommunications assets, said the process in relation to the subscription of its shares by five mobile network operators (MNOs) in this country is ongoing.

Attention this week will be on the March inflation rate, with the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) slated to put out Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the key gauge for inflation — data on Thursday.

Inflation edged up by a higher-than-expected 1.8% i...

The Week Ahead: Eyes on March inflation, US 1Q GDP and tech earnings

A highly anticipated Bitcoin software update called the “halving” has been completed, dealing a potential blow to the companies that make money by ensuring that the digital currency functions smoothly and securely.

Approved road transport logistics companies will obtain “fleet cards” from select fuel retailers to purchase subsidised fuel under the diesel subsidy rationalisation programme, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said.

The ringgit is likely to trade in the same range of around 4.78 against the US dollar next week, as the situation in the Middle East will continue to be under scrutiny by investors, said an analyst.

Ringgit likely to trade around 4.78 versus greenback next week

The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has extended condolences to the family of former inspector general of police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar, who died early on Saturday morning.

Next week’s earnings reports from some of the market’s biggest technology and growth companies could prove an important test for the US stock rally, which has flagged as expectations for interest cuts fade.

Elon Musk postponed a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing obligations at his Tesla automaker and saying he aimed to reschedule the visit for later this year.

Shareholders of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed this week on the importance of addressing challenges faced by low-income countries, many of which are facing unsustainable debt burdens, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday.

IMF concerned about debt, fiscal challenges facing low-income countries

Persistent inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates were cited as key risks to financial stability in the Federal Reserve's (Fed) latest survey of US central bank contacts, with geopolitical troubles and the 2024 US presidential election also mentioned as "a potentially significant source of shocks".

Fed survey cites inflation, US election as key financial stability risks

The World Bank on Friday said that 11 countries have pledged to contribute over US$11 billion (RM52.62 billion) to new hybrid capital and portfolio guarantee instruments designed to expand the bank's financing capacity by US$70 billion over a decade to tackle climate change, pandemics and other global challenges.

World Bank wins US$11b in pledges to boost lending for climate, global crises

Perikatan Nasional (PN) will hold a supreme council meeting on Monday (April 22) on the selection of candidate to contest in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election on May 11.

PKR Information chief Fahmi Fadzil said no specific names were discussed regarding the leadership of the Sabah PKR State Leadership Council (MPN) at a special meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday.

S P Setia Bhd has officially launched the LakePoint Complex commercial hub at the 1,235-acre freehold township of SetiaAlam Impian in Shah Alam on Saturday. The ceremony was officiated by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

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