A top Asian junk bond investor purchased more of such debt during the recent tariff-induced market turmoil, reiterating a bullish view on the sector, given fewer defaults and expectations of a lighter blow from trade tensions.

Top UBS fund manager says he bought ‘oversold’ Asian junk bonds during rout

The financial industry is abandoning caution and chasing the rally in European stocks, hiking their targets and looking to the upside.

Nearly half of the strategists in a monthly Bloomberg survey have raised their forecasts for the Stoxx Europe 600 Index since last month — when about two thirds of strategists were expecting downside ahead.

Market strategists finally upgrade Europe after years of caution

Citigroup Inc downgraded its view on US equities while upgrading China to 'overweight', another sign of the growing divergence in the outlook towards the world’s top two markets.

Citi downgrades US stocks, raises China as 'America first' fades

The 2% Employees Provident Fund (EPF) mandate for foreign workers, which will only take effect in the fourth quarter of 2025 (4Q2025) instead of immediately as feared, provides a reprieve for corporate earnings this year.

Corporate earnings seen getting reprieve in 2025, with 2% EPF mandate for foreign workers taking effect in 4Q

Analysts have lowered their earnings forecasts and year-end target price for the FBM KLCI Index due to a weak earnings outlook and sentiment.

Analysts cut FBM KLCI valuation, year-end target on weak outlook

KUALA LUMPUR (March 4): TA Securities has cut its FBM KLCI valuation multiple estimate for 2026, while lowering its 2025 target to 1,785 from 1,845, due to adjusted earnings forecasts and weak market sentiment.

TA Securities cuts FBM KLCI valuation on lower earnings outlook

Investors looking for alternatives to battered data centre and artificial intelligence (AI) proxy stocks may want to consider domestic-driven and defensive stocks, said Maybank Investment Bank.

Consider refuge in domestic-driven stocks as alternatives to AI proxies, says Maybank

January 2025 was the worst first month of the year for Malaysian stocks in three decades, amid massive foreign sell-offs, though February has been historically positive, CIMB Securities said on Wednesday.

January 2025 worst for Malaysian stocks in 30 years, February historically positive, says CIMB

Asian dividend stocks could offer valuable diversification for investors in 2025 amid geopolitical tensions, market volatility, and crowded trade in US mega-cap stocks, said Schroders.

Asian dividend stocks may offer good alternative in 2025 — Schroders

Rakuten Trade advises investors to focus on bargain hunting, as the expected Chinese New Year rally is unlikely to happen this year.

Seize bargain opportunities amid a weak CNY rally, says Rakuten

Malaysia’s benchmark FBM KLCI registered a strong 12.58% gain in 2024 — marking its best performance in 14 years — as the country saw a sharp recovery in investor sentiment after a prolonged period of political uncertainties, lifted by strong investment activity and trade activities.

2025 outlook: The key sectors to watch

Malaysia’s stock market will have little upside ahead following strong run-up even as economic growth remains intact, HSBC flagged on Thursday.

Valuations are not as appealing, especially when compared to elsewhere in Asean, HSBC said in a note.

Malaysia stocks have little upside ahead after recent rally, says HSBC

Analysts have revised their earnings forecasts for Malaysian stocks and trimmed the year-end target for the benchmark FBM KLCI following mixed results across sectors in the July-September quarter (3Q2024).

In a note, UOB Kay Hian has trimmed earnings forecasts for the FBM KLCI by 0.8% for 2024 and 1.7% for 2025, driven by downgrades in the plantation and consumer sectors and weakness in the oil and gas shipping segment.

Analysts revise KLCI growth forecast after mixed 3Q, cut year-end target

CGS International views the recent lacklustre market performance as an excellent buying opportunity, as it sees potential price-earnings (P/E) expansion going into 2025.

CGS sees market dip as prime buying opportunity, predicts P/E growth by 2025

(April 28): China's Huawei Technologies is preparing to test its newest and most powerful artificial-intelligence processor, hoping to replace some higher-end products of U.S. chip giant Nvidia, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

Huawei has approached some Chinese tech...

China's Huawei develops new AI chip, seeking to match Nvidia, WSJ reports

It was a fairly quiet day at the pub, and the bartender was busy looking at some charts on his tablet. Upon my query, he suddenly became chatty, raving about gold prices and the value of his investments.

In January this year, he invested in gold through an online platform that is based ...

Alternative Views: The glittery carat entices, but beware of the stick

KUALA LUMPUR (April 28): Close to half of Malaysian employers plan to grow their permanent staff size in the first half of the year (1H2025), according to a survey conducted by Jobstreet by SEEK in its latest Hiring, Compensation & Benefits Report.

Half of Malaysian employers want more permanent staff in 1H2025 — survey

Aster Chemicals and Energy, the new operator of the Bukom refining complex, is planning to bid for Exxon Mobil's petrol stations in Singapore, five people with knowledge of the matter said, as the refiner seeks retail fuel sales outlets.

Aster Chemicals to bid for Exxon Mobil's Singapore fuel stations — Reuters

LONDON (April 27): Confidence among people in Britain about the economy over the next 12 months has fallen to the lowest on record, polling firm Ipsos MORI said on Sunday, with only a small number expecting improvement over the period.

Seventy-five percent of Britons expect the economy ...

Britons' confidence in economy falls to lowest since at least 1978, Ipsos MORI poll shows

US tariffs will have multiplier effects that will "generate a broader negative income and demand shock to the Singapore economy", the Monetary Authority of Singapore said in its macroeconomic review released on Monday.

US tariffs will cause demand shock to Singapore economy — MAS

The Public Services Department (JPA) will introduce a new academic merit-based sponsorship model to replace the current job placement merit system for pre-service training (LSP) programmes, effective June 1, 2025.

JPA introduces new academic merit-based sponsorship model starting June

Last week, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced that Malaysia is expanding its elective language offerings in schools to include Asean languages such as Thai, Khmer and Vietnamese.

Frankly Speaking: Let’s not spread ourselves too thin

I just returned from a trip to Washington, DC. I believe the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) team had productive engagement sessions on April 24 with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and the US Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer.

Malaysia stands rea...

My Say: JS-SEZ is poised to bridge supply chain barriers amid the global tariff storm

KUALA LUMPUR (April 28): Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s (KL:ASTRO) stock rose on Monday to its highest in more than a month, after the pay-television operator reached a federal tax settlement agreement.

Astro Malaysia shares top one-month high on tax settlement agreement

KUALA LUMPUR (April 27): The daughter of former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, Hannah Thomas, will run against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Grayndler in Australia’s Federal Election on May 3.

Daughter of former AG Tommy Thomas, Hannah, to stand against Albanese in Australian election

KUALA LUMPUR (April 28): Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s (KL:ASTRO) stock rose on Monday to its highest in more than a month, after the pay-television operator reached a federal tax settlement agreement.&nbsp;

Singapore lenders are taking advantage of recent weakness in their share prices to purchase stock, making up the bulk of total corporate buybacks that are set to be the biggest in the city-state in four years.

Singapore banks dominate surge in share buybacks

Asian share markets and the dollar made a cautious start on Monday as confusion over US trade policy showed little sign of easing, in a week packed with major economic data and mega-tech earnings.

Asian shares edge up; dollar at mercy of US trade whims

SINGAPORE (April 28): Oil prices inched up in early trade on Monday but remained dogged by uncertainty over trade talks between the US and China clouding the outlook for global growth and fuel demand, while the prospect of Opec+ raising its supply cast more gloom.

Oil edges up despite murky economic outlook, potential Opec+ supply hike

The Federal Court on Monday gave permission to hear Attorney General (AG) Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar’s challenge against a Court of Appeal decision that allowed Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s appeal for a judicial review of the alleged house arrest addendum to be heard.

AG gets nod from Federal Court to challenge Najib’s house arrest bid 

(April 28):&nbsp;Asian economies geared for exports and facing some of the highest US “reciprocal” tariffs are leading the way over their western counterparts in trade negotiations with the Trump administration.

Asia takes lead in race for interim deals to avoid Trump tariffs

(April 27): US President Donald Trump suggested on Sunday that his sweeping tariffs would help him reduce income taxes for people making less than US$200,000 (RM875.462) a year, as public anxiety rises over his economic agenda.

Trump floats new income tax cut in bid to ease tariffs bite

Supercomnet Technologies Bhd’s (KL:SCOMNET) net profit could grow as much as 30% in the first quarter thanks to stronger sales to the medical segment as it shrugs off worries of US tariffs, TA Securities said.

Supercomnet's 1Q net profit could grow up to 30%, shrug off trade tensions — TA

President Donald Trump urged Russia on Sunday to stop its attacks in Ukraine while his top diplomat said the United States might walk away from peace efforts if it does not see progress.

Trump urges Russia to stop attacks; Rubio says US might walk away from peace efforts

STOCKHOLM (April 28): World military expenditure reached US$2.72 trillion (RM11.9 trillion) in 2024, an increase of 9.4% from 2023 and the steepest year-on-year rise since at least the end of the Cold War, according to a report released by a leading conflict think tank on Monday.

World military spending hits US$2.7 trillion in record 2024 surge

When the leaders of some of the world's largest companies flocked to Beijing for a business forum last month, their main purpose was a coveted meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Amid Trump tariffs, China's trade and economy tsar steps into spotlight

Singapore is negotiating concessions for pharmaceutical exports to the US while ensuring it still has access to high-end AI chips from the American market, said Trade and Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.

Singapore negotiating for US concessions on pharmaceuticals, chips 

S&amp;P Global Ratings warned Australia’s prized AAA sovereign credit rating may be at risk if election campaign pledges result in larger structural deficits, debt and interest costs, highlighting fiscal pressures facing the next government.

S&P warns Australia’s AAA rating at risk from election promises

The Public Services Department (JPA) will introduce a new academic merit-based sponsorship model to replace the current job placement merit system for pre-service training (LSP) programmes, effective June 1, 2025.

PUTRAJAYA (April 28): Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who arrived on Sunday for a four-day official visit to Malaysia, was accorded an official welcoming ceremony at Perdana Putra Complex here on Monday.

Maldives president accorded official welcome at Perdana Putra

China’s State Council approved 10 new reactors on Sunday in a vote of confidence for nuclear power to remain central to the nation’s clean energy transition.

China approves 10 new reactors in nuclear power ramp-up

KUALA LUMPUR (April 28): Former Nenggiri assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim has withdrawn his legal action challenging the cessation of his membership from his former party, Bersatu.

Ex-Nenggiri assemblyman drops lawsuit over cessation from Bersatu

WASHINGTON (April 27): Global finance leaders came to Washington this past week, seeking clarity on what it would take to get some relief from President Donald Trump's multi-layered tariff assault and on just how much pain it will bring to the world economy.

IMF-World Bank meetings end with little tariff clarity, but economic foreboding

The Bank of Japan is widely expected to signal a pause in policy normalisation this week as US tariffs heighten global uncertainty, without shifting its stance on gradually raising interest rates when the outlook clears.

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