Manulife Investment Management (M) Bhd had one of its best years at the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards 2023. The firm clinched three group awards — Best Equity Group (Malaysia), Best Mixed Assets Group (Islamic) and Best Bond Group (Provident) — and bagged five fund awards.

Manulife wins the most group awards

The last couple of years have been a roller-coaster ride for most fund managers because of global uncertainties. According to Xav Feng, director of Lipper Asia Pacific Research, most funds of various asset classes experienced outflows in 2022, compared with conservative net inflows in 2021.

Money market funds suffered highest outflows in 2022

In a challenging year of tight monetary policies and high inflation, UOB Asset Management (M) Bhd (UOBAM) clinched the Best Mixed Assets Group (Malaysia) award and three fund awards at the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards 2023.

UOB Asset Management takes home  a group award, three fund awards

Under the leadership of its founder and chief strategist Dr Tan Chong Koay, Pheim Asset Management Sdn Bhd took home four awards at the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards 2023.

Pheim wins Mixed Asset awards for eighth year in a row

RHB Asset Management Sdn Bhd (RHBAM) swept the awards for Best Bond MYR in the three-, five- and 10-year categories in the Provident universe. Chief investment officer Michael Chang attributes its success to the firm’s structured investment management process.

RHB Asset Management dominates Bond MYR (Provident) space

Maybank Asset Management Sdn Bhd bagged a trophy at the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards 2023 through its Maybank Malaysia Income (MMI) fund, which clinched the Best Bond MYR — Malaysia award in the 10-year category.

Maybank bags Bond Fund award

Inter-Pacific Asset Management (IPAM) continues its winning streak. For the second year in a row, the InterPac Dana Safi won the Best Mixed Asset MYR Flexible (Islamic) Fund award for the three-year category.

Inter-Pacific Asset Management wins Best Mixed Asset awards again

Eastspring Investments (EI) Bhd bagged four Refinifiv Lipper Fund 2023 awards for their equity and fixed income funds.The Eastspring Investments Asia Select Income Fund won Best Mixed Asset MYR Balanced - Global (Malaysia) in the 10-year category; the Eastspring Investments Balanced Fund won Best Mixed Asset MYR Balanced - Malaysia (Malaysia) in the three- and 10-year categories; and the Eastspring Investments Islamic Equity Income Fund won Best Equity Malaysia Income (Islamic) in the three-year category.

Eastspring Investments takes home four awards 

Areca Capital Sdn Bhd bagged four awards at the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards 2023. This is the sixth year in a row that the fund house has walked away with the Best Equity Malaysia awards in the five- and 10-year categories. It also won the Best Equity Malaysia Income awards in the three- and five-year categories.

Areca Capital on six-year winning streak

KAF Investment Funds Bhd won five fund awards at the Refinitiv Lipper Funds Awards 2023. It won the Best Equity Malaysia Small & Mid Cap (Provident) and Best Equity Asia Pacific (Malaysia) awards.

KAF Investment Funds shines with five awards

Principal Asset Management Bhd clinched five awards in the Asia Pacific ex-Japan space and another award in the Equity Global category at the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards 2023.

Principal Asset Management leads in Asia Pacific ex-Japan space

Hong Leong Asset Management Bhd (HLAM) maintained last year’s record, winning 15 fund awards at the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards 2023.

HLAM continues winning streak with 15 fund awards

Despite the challenging and volatile market conditions in 2022, Public Mutual Bhd bagged 19 fund awards at the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards 2023.

Public Mutual biggest winner with 19 awards

Last year was challenging for most asset classes. For the most part, the key challenge was to keep the investment portfolios defensive while seeking to deliver income targets. The high inflationary pressure and corresponding interest rate hikes scenario were a bad recipe for bonds.

AmInvest takes home Best Bond Group (Malaysia) award

(Nov 23): UK retail sales declined more than expected in October, as uncertainty over Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves first budget prompted consumers to hold back spending.

The volume of goods sold in stores and online fell 0.7% month on month, the Office for National Sta...

UK retail sales fell more than expected amid budget anxiety

NEW YORK (Nov 22): The banks most reluctant to tap the U.S. central bank's discount window to shore up their capital are in fact those who face the highest failure risk, according to new research from the New York Federal Reserve that turns the notion of bank emergency borrowing stigma on it...

New York Fed paper challenges notion of discount window stigma

ORLANDO, Florida (Nov 22): A record-high $7 trillion of cash is currently sitting "on the sidelines" in money market funds (MMFs). Anyone hoping to see a significant chunk of this flooding the wider investment field in the coming months may be disappointed.

Many strategists assume ...

America's $7 trillion cash stash isn't going anywhere

Cboe Global Markets Inc. said it is set to list the first cash-settled index options related to the spot price of Bitcoin, marking the latest addition of cryptocurrency-related securities to traditional exchanges.

Cboe to launch cash-settled Bitcoin ETF options as crypto booms

French defence and technology firm Thales said on Friday it was denying unspecified allegations after Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced a joint investigation with French authorities into suspected bribery and corruption.

Thales denies wrongdoing as Anglo-French bribery probe hits shares

As the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) chair for 2025, Malaysia has a key role in strengthening the Asean community and tackling complex regional challenges, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said.

Malaysia to strengthen Asean community, tackle regional challenges as Asean chair 2025 — Mohamad

A weekly round-up of tanker and dry bulk market (Nov 22, 2024)

Baltic Exchange shipping updates: Nov 22, 2024

Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Friday.

Allianz Malaysia, Bumi Armada, Bintulu Port, D&O, Sarawak Plantation, Favelle Favco, CSC Steel, BM Greentech, SkyWorld, Lagenda Properties, Solarvest, SMI, Icon Offshore, Top Glove, MNRB, Chin Hin Group Property

The S&P 500 and the Dow touched over one-week highs on Friday after data showed a still robust economy, while small-cap stocks outperfomed large-cap indexes.

The S&P flash PMI showed manufacturing activity stood at 48.8 in November, in line with estimates from a Reuters poll of economists.

S&P 500, Dow touch over one-week highs after business activity data

Vizione Holdings Bhd (KL:VIZIONE) said its unit has served a notice to Inspirasi Langkawi Sdn Bhd to terminate its employment as main contractor for the development of a 14-storey hotel in Langkawi, claiming it had not been properly paid for its works so far.

Vizione quits RM116 mil hotel construction job over alleged unpaid works

Top Glove Corp Bhd (KL:TOPGLOV) has entered into a joint venture (JV) with US glove importer Tronex (Asia) Ltd, and Polywel International Trade Co Ltd for the production and distribution of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) gloves.

Top Glove in JV for high density polyethylene glove biz

Vizione Holdings Bhd (KL:VIZIONE) said its unit has served a notice to Inspirasi Langkawi Sdn Bhd to terminate its employment as main contractor for the development of a 14-storey hotel in Langkawi, claiming it had not been properly paid for its works so far.

The largest shareholder of South Malaysia Industries Bhd (KL:SMI) has called for an upcoming extraordinary general meeting (EGM) scheduled for Jan 9, 2025, to appoint six new directors to the company’s board, including former Perak police chief Datuk Pahlawan Mior Faridalathrash Wahid.

SMI's largest shareholder calls for EGM to appoint six new directors including ex-Perak police chief

Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Friday.

Global investment conglomerate Bin Zayed International Group of Companies (BZI) has committed to investing US$2 billion (RM8.93 billion) in Malaysia over the next five years.&nbsp;

Bin Zayed International (M) Bhd managing director Datuk Seri Dr Shamir Kumar Nandy said as part of its strategic expansion plan, the group would tap into real estate, renewable energy and financial services to attract investments into the country.

Bin Zayed International commits US$2 bil investment in Malaysia over next five years

Sarawak Plantation Bhd (KL:SWKPLT) has announced a second interim dividend of 15 sen per share, as its latest third quarter net profit rose 14.6%, despite lower revenue, thanks largely to a higher fair value gain on its biological assets.

Sarawak Plantation pays bumper 15 sen dividend as 3Q profit hits record

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EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

The government successfully saved almost RM1 million in the flight cost for the official delegation led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to five countries recently, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

Fahmi: Govt saves nearly RM1 mil in Anwar's flight cost for visits to five countries

ORLANDO, Florida (Nov 22):&nbsp;A record-high $7 trillion of cash is currently sitting "on the sidelines" in money market funds (MMFs). Anyone hoping to see a significant chunk of this flooding the wider investment field in the coming months may be disappointed.

Many strategists assume ...

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has called the influence of tech billionaires such as Elon Musk over US President-elect Donald Trump a "huge concern".

Germany's Merkel laments influence of big business on Trump

MNRB Holdings Bhd (KL:MNRB), in which the Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) holds a 41.88% stake, has appointed Datuk Rudy @ Rodzila Che Lamin as interim president and group chief executive officer (CEO) of the company, effective Friday.

MNRB names Rudy Rodzila Che Lamin as interim president and CEO

Offshore support vessel company Icon Offshore Bhd (KL:ICON) said on Friday it has signed definitive agreements for a slew of previously announced acquisitions worth over RM400 million.

Icon Offshore signs definitive agreements for previously announced acquisitions worth over RM400m

Melaka-based D&amp;O Green Technologies Bhd’s (KL:D&amp;O) net profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024) was flat at RM18.25 million from a year earlier despite thinner gross margin.

D&O posts flat 3Q net profit amid eroding gross margin, pays 0.3 sen dividend 

Favelle Favco Bhd (KL:FAVCO) sank into the red in the third quarter — the crane manufacturer's first quarterly loss since listing back in 2006 — on foreign exchange loss.

Favelle Favco falls to first-ever quarterly loss on forex loss

Allianz Malaysia Bhd (KL:ALLIANZ), which provides both life and general insurance, saw its net profit dip 7.4% for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), despite higher revenue, as certain expenses jumped while it recorded a drop in dividend income and lower fair value gains from investments.

Allianz Malaysia's 3Q profit dips 7.4% as expenses jump

Biomass boiler firm BM Greentech Bhd (KL:BMGREEN) reported a 55% jump in net profit for its second quarter ended Sept 30 (2QFY2025) to a record high of RM13 million from RM8.38 million a year earlier, driven by higher revenue.

BM Greentech books record quarterly profit and revenue in 2Q

Lagenda Properties Bhd (KL:LAGENDA) said on Friday that an indirectly owned subsidiary of the company has secured the right to develop a 139-acre land in Kota Tinggi, Johor, for RM99.62 million, cash. The final purchase price may still vary.

Lagenda Properties secures right to develop another Kota Tinggi plot for RM99.62 mil

Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, the focal agency for Malaysia’s startup ecosystem, has partnered with digital securities exchange platform Kapital DX Sdn Bhd (KLDX) to provide Malaysian startups with an alternative avenue for fundraising.

Cradle Fund partners KLDX to introduce alternative fundraising platform for startups

Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd (KL:BIPORT), the operator of East Malaysia’s largest container port, reported a 13.68% drop in its third quarter net profit, mainly due to a jump in operating costs due to an increase in expenditure incurred on service contracts, as well as for repair and maintenance.

Bintulu Port’s 3Q net profit down 13%, pays three sen dividend

CSC Steel Holdings Bhd (KL:CSCSTEL) said on Friday its third quarter net profit fell 21% from a year earlier though the company is optimistic of rising prices and demand for steel ahead.

Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards 2023

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