The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities said on Tuesday it plans to propose consolidation of rubber smallholders in the upcoming Budget 2025 to boost production amid a vast swath of untapped rubber trees nationwide.

Plantation Ministry proposes consolidation of rubber smallholders in Budget 2025

RHB Investment Bank Research has maintained “neutral” on the rubber products sector and said the recovery of the Malaysian rubber glove industry remains uneven, as indicated by April’s weak export data.

RHB expects global glove demand to contract by 5% y-o-y in 2023

NanoMalaysia Bhd (NMB), the agency of nanotechnology and advanced solution commercialisation under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) to promote successful uptake and commercialisation of local intellectual properties (IPs) and products developed by Malaysian companies related to the rubber industry.

NanoMalaysia inks MOU with Malaysian Rubber Council to commercialise local IPs

Given the growth of Malaysia's rubber exports by 150% to RM44.43 billion in the first half of this year (1H21) from RM17.77 billion in the same corresponding period of 2020, the industry is projected to rebound for the full year of 2021.

Rubber exports expected to rebound in 2021 as double-digit growth in global demand continues

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Amid a fall in rubber prices to a low this year of RM5.16 a kg on Oct 4, the Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) assured smallholders that their welfare will not be affected under the government’s Rubber Production Incentive (IPG). 

"The IPG will ensure that rubber prices received by smallholders, at estate level, are not affected by the decline in the world market," LGM said in a statement. "At the international level, Malaysia continues to cooperate with the major rubber producing countries, namely Thailand and Indonesia, under the framework of the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC) to address the long-term decline in rubber prices through measures such as the Supply Management Scheme, the Demand Promotion Scheme and the Agreed Export Tonnage Scheme."

Amid rubber price decline, LGM says smallholders' welfare unaffected by govt incentive scheme

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 4): The Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) is expecting rubber prices to remain "relatively low" ahead of an expected oversupply until 2023.

"In general, rubber price (for grade MSR-20) will remain relatively low at about RM5-RM6 for the next one or two years," said MRB dir...

Malaysian Rubber Board expects prices to remain subdued

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 31): Global rubber prices are not only impacted by demand and supply but other factors including the performance of futures markets and crude oil prices, said Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur.

Currency exchange rates a...

Demand-supply not sole factor in determining global rubber price, says minister

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 13): Rubber prices are likely to continue rising in the near term and may reach heights previously seen earlier this year, according to technical analysts.

"Current prices appear to be at the beginning of a bullish trend," said Jupiter Securities chief market strategi...

Rubber prices likely to remain bullish until 2018, say analysts

KUALA LUMPUR (June 14): The production of natural rubber (NR) increased 17.1% to 48,889 tonnes in April 2017, from 41,753 tonnes a year earlier.

On a monthly basis, however, it decreased 39.2% from 80,384 tonnes in March 2017.

In a statement today, the Statistics Department sa...

Malaysia's April rubber production up 17.1% on year

TOKYO (April 12): Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures tumbled to near 5-month lows on Wednesday, as a sharp slide in Shanghai futures amid concerns over a supply glut in China added to pressure, while rising geopolitical tensions also weighed on sentiment.

"Shanghai rubber market has co...

TOCOM hits near 5-mth low on Shanghai slide amid oversupply fears

TOKYO (April 11): Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures ended down on Tuesday as the market came under pressure from extended declines in Shanghai futures and a stronger yen against the dollar, which makes Japanese currency-denominated assets more expensive when purchased in other currencies.

...

TOCOM tumbles to lowest in four months on weak Shanghai, stronger yen

TOKYO (April 10): Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures trimmed gains on Monday as Shanghai futures extended their sharp declines amid concerns over ample supplies.

Shanghai futures ended down 3.4%, on top of the 4.7% decline on Friday, after China's Sinopec ordered its rubber unit in Yanshan ...

TOCOM trims gains on extended sharp fall in Shanghai

TOKYO (April 7): Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures tumbled more than 4% on Friday, leading to a third straight weekly loss, as a plunge in Shanghai futures to 5-month lows prompted a flurry of selling.

"Shanghai has been setting the tone for rubber prices in Asia," said Masayo Ko...

TOCOM tumbles, dragged down by plunging Shanghai

TOKYO (April 6): Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures slid on Thursday, surrendering some of their sharp gains from the previous session, as weaker Shanghai futures and softer oil prices prompted some profit-taking.

"Some investors were making position adjustments amid concerns over the ...

TOCOM slides as weaker Shanghai futures, oil prices weigh on market

Leaders from a US dockworkers’ union and the group that represents their employers are set to resume contract talks on Jan 7 as the threat of a strike looms, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

US dockworkers, port employers set to restart talks on Tuesday — Bloomberg

Constellation Energy Corp has signed a pair of deals with the US government to provide more than US$1 billion (RM4.47 billion) of electricity and services, enough to fund upgrade projects that will boost capacity at the country’s biggest nuclear fleet. The shares surged.

Constellation Energy signs US$1 bil power deal with US govt

Airbus SE fell just short of meeting its annual delivery target for 2024 by handing over about 760 aircraft to customers following a last-month spurt that helped the company overcome a slow start to the year.

Airbus delivered about 760 jets last year, 10 short of annual goal

The suspect who died in a Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump Las Vegas hotel on Wednesday was identified as Matthew Alan Livelsberger, according to people familiar with the matter. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is treating the case as a possible terrorist attack, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the probe is private.

Suspect in deadly Las Vegas Cybertruck blast identified — Bloomberg

Any development in Kampung Baru will take into account its history and land status to ensure that the area remains preserved as a Malay village, according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

Kampung Baru development will preserve Malay identity — Zaliha

Wisma Putra has confirmed the detention of a Malaysian in Saudi Arabia, saying it has extended consular assistance to the individual.

In a statement to Bernama on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said efforts are ongoing to ensure local laws protect that person's rights.

Wisma Putra confirms Malaysian detained in Saudi Arabia

Do Kwon, the South Korean cryptocurrency entrepreneur behind two digital currencies that lost an estimated US$40 billion (RM178.76 billion) in 2022, was set to appear in US court on Thursday to face criminal fraud charges after being extradited from Montenegro this week.

Former crypto executive Do Kwon due in US court on criminal fraud charges

The cutting of Russian gas supplies to Moldova's breakaway Transdniestria region has forced the closure of all industrial companies except food producers, an official said on Thursday.

The mainly Russian-speaking territory of about 450,000 people, which split from Moldova in the 1990s as the Soviet Union collapsed, has suffered a painful and immediate hit from Wednesday's cut-off of Russian gas supplies to central and eastern Europe via Ukraine.

Starved of Russian gas, industry shuts down in breakaway Transdniestria

Value Partners Group Ltd's co-founder Cheah Cheng Hye will step down from his roles as co-chairman and co-chief investment officer (CIO) on Jan 2, 2025, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX)-listed firm announced on Thursday.

Value Partners Penang-born co-founder Cheah Cheng Hye steps down as co-chairman and co-CIO, named honorary chairman  

If the latest round of airline delays over the holiday season has you feeling anxious about your next flight, the 2024 annual on-time performance list from Cirium, published on Jan 2, may help.

The aviation analytics firm analyses more than 25 million data points from 600-plus sources each day to determine whether airlines are meeting their scheduled arrival times.

Aeromexico tops 10 most on-time airlines in the world last year

Two senior executives at Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAG), the parent company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd, have resigned in a surprise move, sources told The Edge.

Malaysia Aviation Group to see departure of two senior executives

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) is offering a special flat-rate compound fee of RM150 for three types of offences over a six-month period starting Friday, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He said the special compound payment covers certain types of JPJ summons notices, namely Summons 53A (AwAS Summons) for speeding violations or running red lights captured by the AwAS camera system, Notice 114 (Interview Notice) and Notice 115 (Sticker Summons Notice by JPJ).

JPJ offers RM150 flat-rate compound for three offences starting Friday

Rolex SA, the biggest luxury Swiss watch brand, raised prices on some of its most popular models after gold values surged in 2024. 
&nbsp; 
The Geneva-based company, controlled by a Swiss foundation named for its co-founder Hans Wilsdorf, began the year by hiking prices as much as 8% on some models made from precious metals.

Rolex kicks off 2025 by increasing watch prices after gold soars

Infrastructure works for the Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) Mutiara Line project and the expansion of the Penang International Airport (PIA) may be carried out simultaneously to minimise inconvenience to the public, according to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

CM: Penang LRT works, airport expansion to proceed simultaneously

Velocity Capital Partner Bhd (KL:VELOCITY) sees the emergence of a new majority shareholder yet again.

Velocity Capital sees emergence of single largest shareholder

Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) has been served with a writ and statement of claim by Ocado Innovation Ltd, a subsidiary of UK-based online grocery technology company Ocado Group, over allegations of patent infringement involving warehouse automation and robotics technologies.

Pentamaster faces legal action from UK-based Ocado over alleged warehouse automation patent infringement

Condom maker Karex Bhd (KL:KAREX) has redesignated its independent director Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman as the group’s chairperson, effective immediately.

Karex elevates Adeeba Kamarulzaman to chairperson after Ong Eng Long’s resignation

A brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday.

Awantec, Pentamaster, Velocity Capital, Ecobuilt, Karex, Sunway REIT

Eastern Pacific Industrial Corp Bhd (EPIC), a Terengganu government-linked company, on Thursday said it has secured a contract to provide pan Malaysia services to national oil-and-gas company Petronas.

Terengganu-backed EPIC bags contract for pan-Malaysia services

Below is a summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Thursday.

FBM KLCI down 0.58% to 1,632.87 on Jan 2, 2025

Awanbiru Technology Bhd (KL:AWANTEC) has secured at least a one-year extension to its cloud framework agreement (CFA 1.0) with the government, under which it manages and delivers Google cloud services to the government.

Awantec secures extension of at least one year to provide Google cloud services to govt

Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd and Lincotec Technology (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Taiwan’s Linco Technology Co Ltd, have entered into a sale and purchase agreement for Lincotec to acquire 4.02 hectares (9.93 acres) of industrial land.

Taiwan's Linco Technology acquires Senai Airport City land

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 2): MMC Corporation Bhd’s 70%-owned unit, Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), has become the first container terminal in Malaysia to handle over 12.25 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in a single year in&nbsp;2024.

PTP is Malaysia’s first container terminal to surpass 12m TEUs throughput in a single year — chairman

AmInvestment Bank Bhd projects that mandatory Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for non-citizen employees could channel up to RM1.7 billion in additional annual inflows into Malaysia’s domestic equity market.

According to its Sector Report, the estimate is based on the presence of 2.5 million foreign workers, a minimum monthly wage of RM1,700, combined employee and employer EPF contributions of 11% and 13%, respectively, and the assumption that 14% of EPF assets would flow into domestic equities, as indicated in the latest 2023 annual report.

AmInvestment forecasts RM1.7 bil boost to Malaysia's equity market from non-citizen employees' EPF contributions

<div class="ceonothumb mx-auto pb-5">
<div>
<div class="iframe-w100-wrapper"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_jtY_TTsLH4?si=EJn8MQBYV-CAV27h&amp;rel=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="840"></iframe></div>
</div>

E...

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

The KLCC Light Rail Transit (LRT) Station was temporarily closed after smoke was detected in the station's electronic equipment room on Thursday.

Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd, in a statement, advised passengers to use Persiaran KLCC Station and Ampang Park Station to continue their journeys.

KLCC LRT Station closed temporarily after pump switch panel catches fire

German power prices dropped below zero on the first trading day of the year, an increasingly frequent phenomenon in Europe as renewables expand.

Intraday prices in Germany, the region’s biggest market, turned negative during four hours overnight as wind-energy output reached as much as 40 gigawatts, far outstripping demand.

German power slips below zero as negative-price phenomenon grows

Wall Street's main indexes rose in the first trading session of 2025 as investors pinned their hopes on a fresh political landscape and more interest rate cuts, but Tesla limited gains on the Nasdaq after a dour deliveries report.

Wall Street rises in first trading session of 2025; Tesla slides

Tenaga Nasional Berhad's (TNB) Monopole Transmission Tower Project, a high-impact initiative to enhance Penang's electricity supply, became operational on Dec 22 last year.

Penang’s Infrastructure, Transport, and Digital Committee chairman, Zairil Khir Johari, stated that the RM500 million project, launched at the end of 2022, will be officially inaugurated in the next two months.

TNB Monopole Transmission Towers: New landmarks in Penang set for inauguration soon

Value Partners Group Ltd's co-founder Cheah Cheng Hye will step down from his roles as co-chairman and co-chief investment officer (CIO) on Jan 2, 2025, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX)-listed firm announced on Thursday.

Rubber

‌‌

‌
‌