Major global companies have boosted hiring for professional roles as they enter the final quarter of the year, especially in retail, technology and healthcare, but demand for financial services recruits is more sluggish, a survey showed on Tuesday.

Global employers boost hiring towards year end, survey shows

LONDON (Oct 24): Sentiment among British manufacturing companies fell at the fastest pace in two years ahead of finance minister Rachel Reeves' first budget next week, a survey showed on Thursday.

The Confederation of British Industry's measure of business sentiment dropped in the three...

UK business sentiment weakest in two years before budget, CBI says

Germany is suffering a mild recession and output across the whole of 2024 will be flat, according to a Bloomberg survey — underscoring the malaise in Europe’s largest economy.

Germany in recession and 2024 to show no growth, survey says

Children are still predominantly seen as 'great investments' for retirement among Singapore residents, according to the Manulife Asia Care Survey 2024.

Children still seen as ‘great investments’ for retirement in Singapore — Manulife survey

The number of Malaysians who believe the country is on the wrong track has been on the rise, with financial and political corruption remaining the primary concern, says Ipsos Malaysia.

More Malaysians believe country on the wrong track, corruption remains primary concern — study

Economists have upgraded Singapore's 2024 growth forecast, according to a survey by the country's central bank published on Wednesday, with better-than-expected external growth seen as the top upside driver for the economy.

Economists upgrade Singapore 2024 growth forecast, survey shows

A perceived decay in the quality of social media platforms will drive 50% of consumers to abandon or significantly limit their social media interactions by 2025, according to Gartner.

Most consumers to limit social media interactions by 2025 — survey

Jamie Dimon has lorded over JPMorgan Chase & Co for more than 17 years, quadrupling the stock price and captivating legions with candid comments and occasional zingers on the economy, regulators and politicians.

Jamie Dimon is boss bankers crave, investor survey shows

Malaysia came in at 73rd spot in a new “stateness” index for 2022 created by researchers in Germany, lagging far behind Singapore which ranked first on the list.

Malaysia ranked 73rd in new 'stateness' index for 2022, lags behind index-topper Singapore 

Up to 51% of Malaysian employees believe their organisations will not survive more than 10 years from now, according to the latest findings in PwC's Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2023 released on Wednesday (June 21).

PwC: Half of M'sian employees believe their employers will not survive beyond next decade without transformation

The publicity of ChatGPT has prompted executive leaders to increase artificial intelligence (AI) investments, according to respondents of a poll.

In a statement on May 3, consulting firm Gartner Inc said 75% of executives said their organisations are in investigation and exploration mode with generative AI, while 19% are in pilot or production mode.

ChatGPT has prompted increase in AI investment, says Gartner

Nearly half of Americans are anxious about the safety of the money they have in accounts at banks or other financial institutions, according to a latest poll.

Nearly half of Americans worried about their money's safety in banks — Gallup 

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 28): A majority of women (64%) think they can do their manager’s jobs better than men, versus 47% of men who believe the same (that women can do the job better).

Majority of women think they can do their manager’s job better — CNBC

Security remains the top information technology (IT) funding priority across all regions and almost all industries, with 44% of survey respondents calling it one of their top three funding priorities — eight points higher than cloud infrastructure, the second highest priority.

Security remains top IT funding priority, says Red Hat

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): Malaysia’s central bank made two unusual changes to the government bond auction calendar by rescheduling a tender set for this month, and scrapping another pencilled in for December.

BNM reschedules govt bond auction, scraps one issue in unusual move

Sunway Construction Group Bhd (KL:SUNCON) posted a 32.71% jump in its net profit for its third quarter on the accelerated progress of its data centre projects.

Net profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024) rose to RM46.47 million from RM35.01 million in 3QFY2023, as revenue rose 28.48% to RM865.33 million from RM673.51 million, its Thursday bourse filing showed.

SunCon's 3Q profit jumps 32.71% on accelerated data centre progress

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday that about 70% to 80% of the costs of his official trips to five countries over the past two weeks were paid by private companies.

Private firms paid up to 80% of costs for recent official trips abroad, Anwar tells Dewan Rakyat

Sugar producer MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd (KL:MSM) continued to record losses for the second consecutive quarter, after the group reported a RM49.75 million net loss for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024).

MSM Malaysia continues to bleed for the second consecutive quarter

Atlan Holdings Bhd's (KL:ATLAN) Singapore-listed subsidiary Duty Free International Ltd (DFIL), which plans to challenge the compulsory acquisition of two plots of land in Kedah by the Malaysian government, announced on Thursday that it had received RM69.6 million as compensation for the land.

The sum was received from the Home Affairs Ministry, which is force-buying the plot from DFIL's wholly-owned Cergasjaya Sdn Bhd and Cergasjaya Properties Sdn Bhd, on Monday (Nov 18).  DFIL itself is 75.53% owned by Atlan.

Home Affairs Ministry pays Atlan RM69.6 mil for compulsory purchase of its Kedah plot

After two years, property developer Maxim Global Bhd (KL:MAXIM) has decided not to pursue further action against the revocation of plantation concession licences issued by Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry in January 2022 in relation to assets owned by its 90%-owned subsidiaries — PT Trimegah Karya Utama (PT TKU) and PT Manunggal Sukses Mandiri (PT MSM) — in Papua, Indonesia.

Maxim Global gives up plantation concession permits in Indonesia

Convenience store chain operator 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd (KL:SEM) said on Thursday its net profit fell 24% in the third quarter from a year earlier as operating expenses grew faster than revenue.

Net profit for the three months ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024) was RM10.93 million, according to an exchange filing. Operating expenses rose 8.6% from store and logistics costs due to longer hours and expanded workforce with new outlets. Revenue for the quarter rose 5.5% to RM744.05 million.

7-Eleven 3Q net profit down 24% as expenses rise faster than revenue, expects better 4Q

The minimum wage in Selangor will be standardised at RM1,700 next year, aligning with implementation at the federal level, said State Human Resources and Poverty Eradication Committee chairman V Papparaidu.

Selangor to standardise RM1,700 minimum wage 

Oil company Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd (KL:PETRONM) suffered a 94.3% drop in its third-quarter net profit, on lower sales volume due to a correction in domestic fuel demand following the implementation of the retail diesel targeted subsidy in June this year.

Petron Malaysia's 3Q net profit down 94% on lower sales volume, oil prices

Globetronics Technology Bhd (KL:GTRONIC) has inked an agreement valued at RM145 million to provide integrated circuit (IC) product packaging, testing and backend services to Taiwan-based ChipMOS Technologies Inc.

Globetronics secures RM145 mil contract to provide assembly and test services to Taiwan’s ChipMOS

(Nov 21):&nbsp;Dyson Ltd&nbsp;is dialling back its hairdryer-related operations in Malaysia, according to people familiar with the matter who declined to be identified discussing matters that are private, as the consumer goods company seeks to streamline its business in the region.

Dyson dials back Malaysian hairdryer ops, redeploys staff in Johor — Bloomberg

Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (KL:PCHEM) may be in for tougher days ahead following a massive paper loss that sent the company into the red for the first time ever and prompted analysts to cut their forecasts.

Petronas Chemicals' outlook gloomy, analysts warn amid mounting joint venture losses

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his alleged role in a US$265 million scheme to bribe Indian officials, plunging his conglomerate deep into crisis for the second time in two years.

Indian tycoon Adani charged in US over US$265m bribery scheme, dismisses allegations as ‘baseless’ 

IOI Properties Group Bhd (KL:IOIPG) has officially relaunched the Putrajaya Marriott Hotel in IOI Resort City last week after completing a RM100 million renovation.

Sitting on 6.5 acres of land, the five-star Putrajaya Marriott Hotel is managed by IOI Properties and comprises 487 guest rooms, including 35 exclusive suites. The renovations took place from Feb 2023 till Nov 2024 and were carried out in phases. The massive undertaking focused on the refitting and renewal of its guest rooms, lobby, restaurants and private villa.

IOI Properties relaunches Putrajaya Marriott Hotel after RM100m renovation

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): Malaysia’s central bank made two unusual changes to the government bond auction calendar by rescheduling a tender set for this month, and scrapping another pencilled in for December.

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): Shares of RCE Capital Bhd (KL:RCECAP) fell on Thursday after the company, which mainly provides financing to civil servants, reported weaker than expected quarterly results.

RCE Capital shares fall on Thursday after weaker than expected results

Nvidia forecast its slowest revenue growth in seven quarters on Wednesday, failing to meet lofty expectations of some investors who have made it the world's most valuable firm.

Nvidia's AI chip demand still booming but slowing sales growth worries investors

Starbucks Corp is exploring options for its Chinese operations including the possibility of selling a stake in the business, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Starbucks said to consider selling stake in Chinese business

Starbucks Corp reduced its US retail workforce by 8% in its most recent fiscal year, even as the coffee chain added hundreds of new locations.&nbsp;

Starbucks shrank retail staff 8% despite hundreds of new stores

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): Mah Sing Group Bhd (KL:MAHSING) has unveiled the sales gallery of its RM850-million M Aspira serviced-apartment project in Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (Nov 20).&nbsp;

Mah Sing unveils M Aspira sales gallery in Taman Desa

China's Huawei plans to start mass-producing its most advanced artificial intelligence chip in the first quarter of 2025, even as it struggles to make enough chips due to US restrictions, said two people familiar with the matter.

Huawei aims to mass-produce newest AI chip in early 2025, despite US curbs

PARAMARIBO (Nov 20): Suriname's state-run oil company Staatsolie said on Wednesday that US oil giant ExxonMobil has withdrawn from its offshore block 52, and block operator Petronas Suriname E&amp;P will take over its 50% stake.

Suriname’s Staatsolie says ExxonMobil has withdrawn from offshore block, Petronas’ unit to take over 50% stake

Sime Darby Property Bhd (KL:SIMEPROP) on Thursday said that the company is seeking more assets that would generate recurring income for the real estate developer.

Sime Darby Property seeks more assets generating recurring income

Shares of Adani Group companies lost about US$28 billion (RM125.3 billion) in market value in morning trade on Thursday after US prosecutors charged the billionaire chairman of the Indian conglomerate in an alleged bribery and fraud scheme.

India's Adani Group sees US$30b in value wiped off after US indictments 

Northern Solar Holdings Bhd has signed an underwriting agreement with M&amp;A Securities Sdn Bhd for its proposed initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia.

The solar energy firm said its IPO scheduled to take place in February 2025, entails a public issue of 67.3 million new shares and the sale of 35.6 million existing shares.

All in all, the listing would offer investors up to a 26% stake in the company.

Northern Solar Holdings signs underwriting agreement with M&A Securities

The extended six-year contract signed between the government and Bestinet Sdn Bhd for the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS) could cost the government a minimum of RM3.2 billion, according to a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Bestinet contract extension for foreign worker recruitment system could cost govt minimum of RM3.2b, says PAC

Sime Darby Property Bhd (KL:SIMEPROP) is working urgently with authorities to help resolve the recurring flood incidents in Bandar Bukit Raja, said managing director Datuk Seri Azmir Merican.

Tackling floods in Bandar Bukit Raja a top priority, says Sime Darby Property

The Biden administration told Congress it plans to cancel US$4.65 billion (RM20.8 billion) in debt owed by Ukraine, according to a letter obtained by Bloomberg News, the latest in a series of moves meant to bolster support for Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Biden administration seeks to cancel US$4.6b of Ukraine’s debt

Bitcoin hit US$95,000 (RM425,030) for the first time as the digital-asset sector moves to cement its influence with Donald Trump by pushing for a new White House post dedicated to cryptocurrency policy.

Bitcoin climbs closer to US$100,000 on Trump’s support for crypto

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): E-services provider MyEG Services Bhd’s (KL:MYEG) earnings are expected to continue to be boosted by contributions from its Zetrix-related applications, prompting an earnings upgrade from at least one analyst.&nbsp;

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