India, the world's biggest vegetable oils importer, is considering lowering import taxes on the commodities to try to curb food inflation, two government and two industry sources said on Wednesday, as the peak demand festival season gets under way.

India considers cutting vegetable oil import taxes as prices climb

India's soyoil imports surged to a record in August, while palm oil purchases climbed to a six-month high, as refiners stocked up ahead of the country's festival season, a leading industry body said on Tuesday.

India's August soyoil, palm oil imports rise on stocking

Malaysia has raised its October crude palm oil reference price to a level that maintains the export duty at 10%, a circular on the Malaysian Palm Oil Board website showed on Tuesday.

Malaysia raises October crude palm oil reference price, duty remains at 10%

Malaysia’s total palm oil stocks rose by 196,590 tonnes, or 7.48%, to 2.82 million tonnes in August 2026 from 2.62 million tonnes a month earlier, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

Malaysia’s total palm oil stocks rise 7.48% to 2.82 million tonnes in August — MPOB

India's aggressive vegetable-oil buying has led to congestion at major ports, delaying vessel unloading by as much as 10 days as shore tanks fill and refiners struggle to clear incoming cargo, industry officials told Reuters.

India's vegetable oil imports strain port storage, delaying unloading

Palm oil rose as traders weighed the risk of supply disruptions from forest fires raging across Indonesia, the world’s biggest producer.

Palm oil climbs as Indonesian forest fires put supply at risk

Malaysian palm oil exports likely fell last month on weaker-than-usual festival demand in major buyer India.

Malaysian palm oil exports fell in August on weak Indian demand — Bloomberg survey

Indonesia's palm oil output in 2027 is expected to drop by 2.9% to 56.8 million metric tonnes due to prolonged dry weather that has disrupted plantation maintenance, an official from the palm oil association Gapki said on Wednesday.

Indonesia's 2027 palm oil output to drop 2.9%, Gapki says

Indonesia exported 2.23 million metric tonnes of palm oil in July, up 15.44% on a yearly basis, but exports in the first seven months of this year declined annually, statistics bureau data showed on Tuesday.

Indonesia July palm oil exports rise 15.4% annually, decline in first seven months 

Indonesia’s palm oil production may shrink by up to three million tonnes next year due to the severe El Niño weather forecast for the coming months, according to an industry estimate, adding to upward pressure on prices.

El Niño to crimp Indonesian palm oil output, producer group says

Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Bhd's (KL:HSPLANT) net profit doubled from a year earlier thanks to higher sales volumes and prices of crude palm oil (CPO).

Net profit for the three months ended June 30, 2026 (2QFY2026) rose to RM39.32 million from RM19.66 million, the Sabah-based company said in a bourse filing. Revenue increased 29.2% to RM201.73 million from RM156.11 million.

Hap Seng Plantations 2Q profit doubles on higher palm oil sales and prices

The impact of the El Niño phenomenon on commodity crop yields, especially palm oil, usually manifests several months after prolonged hot weather and reduced rainfall.

Impact of El Niño on palm oil yield not immediate — plantation minister

Indonesia expects palm oil export levy collection to jump about 31% this year compared with 2025, a government statement said on Friday, amid rising crude oil prices and a hike in the palm oil export tariff.

Indonesia expects palm oil export levy collection to jump about 31%

Palm oil climbed to its highest level in about 20 months, as rising biofuel demand and mounting production risks from the strengthening El Niño underpin prices.

Palm oil hits highest since 2024 as biofuels, El Niño cut supply

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) is postponing its cash dividend payout following a court order secured by a substantial shareholder against the digital services firm.

One shareholder's court order holds up Zetrix AI's cash dividend payout

Fitch Ratings revised Thailand's outlook to "stable" from "negative" on Friday, citing increased confidence that government debt will broadly stabilise over the medium term and that political conditions will improve following the general elections held earlier this year. Here are the details from the report:

Fitch revises Thailand's outlook to 'stable' on debt stabilisation

Eco World Development Group Bhd (KL:ECOWLD) has won the bid to develop a prime residential site in Singapore for S$208.1 million (RM667.6 million).

EcoWorld wins tender for prime residential site in Singapore with RM668m bid

Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (KL:SCIB) has announced that Datuk Chong Loong Men has resigned as non-executive chairman with immediate effect.

Chong Loong Men quits as Sarawak Consolidated Industries chairman

(Sept 18): The Bank of Japan raised interest rates to a 31-year high of 1.25% on Friday in a widely expected move to forestall risks of inflation overshooting its 2% inflation target.

At a two-day policy meeting that ended on Friday, the board decided by a 7-2 vote to raise its pol...

Investors react to BOJ raising interest rates to 31-year high

Berkshire Hathaway said on Friday that Warren Buffett, its former chief executive officer and the world's most revered investor, has been named chairman emeritus, effective immediately.

Berkshire Hathaway names Warren Buffett chairman emeritus

Civil society groups have expressed concern and regret over the Federal Territories Pardons Board’s decision to allow former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.

Civil society groups voice concern and regret over Najib’s house arrest decision

For much of modern history, one of healthcare’s greatest achievements has been extending life. A child born in Malaysia today can expect to live 75.3 years, nearly two decades longer than one born around the time of independence, reflecting decades of progress in healthcare, public health, and living standards. Yet this success raises a more complex question: should progress be measured only by longevity, or also by how much of that life is spent in good health?

Opinion: Pulse of the nation: Protecting the years that matter

The decision to grant a conditional pardon to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak falls within the powers of the King, Communications Minister and Madani Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said.

Najib’s conditional pardon within King’s powers — Fahmi

Vestland Bhd (KL:VLB) has secured a job worth RM107.61 million to undertake slope mitigation and related works at a reservoir catchment area in Terengganu.

Vestland bags third contract this month, this time for RM108 mil on slope mitigation

AirAsia Group Bhd's (KL:AAGB) operation is sustainable with over RM1 billion cash in hand, group adviser Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said&nbsp;as he dismissed concerns about the airline's finances.

AirAsia sustainable with RM1 bil cash, no govt bailout requested, says Fernandes

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been allowed house arrest to serve out his&nbsp;remaining sentence for grand corruption.&nbsp;

King consents to house arrest for Najib until August 2028

AirAsia Group Bhd (KL:AAGB) has sold six newly-delivered aircraft since the start of last year, including two in July, in an unusual about-face that points to the financial strain gripping the airline.&nbsp;

Cash-strapped AirAsia takes unusual step of unloading new planes

Budget 2027 could see further sales and service tax (SST) exemptions to reduce costs embedded in businesses, alongside possible personal income tax relief for middle-income taxpayers, according to CIMB Securities.

Budget 2027 may bring SST exemptions, income tax relief for middle-income earners — CIMB Securities

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh has denied signing any house arrest order involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, which has been circulating on social media.

Hannah Yeoh denies signing Najib’s house arrest order

Malaysia Airlines’&nbsp;parent is said to be closing in on an order for Boeing Co 787 Dreamliners as the carrier seeks to renew its long-haul fleet, according to people familiar with the matter. 
&nbsp;

Malaysia Airlines closing in on order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners — Bloomberg

It is unfeasible for rivals to absorb AirAsia Group Bhd's (KL:AAGB) domestic market share even as a contingency plan, the airline’s adviser Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said.

Talks of rival airlines absorbing AirAsia's capacity 'ludicrous' — Fernandes

Keyfield International Bhd (KL:KEYFIELD) slid to a one-year low amid softer accommodation workboat demand and charter rates.

Kenanga says sell-off unjustified after Keyfield hits one-year low

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised its benchmark interest rate in a split decision showing dissent within the board as it confronts mounting inflation risks and unusually explicit calls for further policy normalisation from Washington.

Japan's central bank hikes rates in split decision after US pressure

Pakatan Harapan will hold a presidential council meeting on Friday evening to discuss current developments, according to a local news report.

Pakatan Harapan leaders to meet on current political developments — report

Indonesian tycoon Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad agreed to acquire a major stake in miner PT Bayan Resources, setting the stage for him to become one of the biggest players in the global coal industry. 
&nbsp;

Indonesian tycoon close to Prabowo creates coal mining giant

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) will absorb the impact from the electricity tariff fuel surcharge exemption that has been expanded to more households up until the end of this year.

Tenaga Nasional to absorb fuel surcharge for electricity subsidy expansion

Sunway Medical Group broke ground for the RM800 million Sunway Medical Centre Iskandar Puteri in Johor on Friday, further completing the 2,000-acre Sunway City Iskandar Puteri township development.&nbsp;

Sunway Medical Group breaks ground for RM800 mil Sunway Medical Centre Iskandar Puteri in Johor

The Democratic Action Party (DAP) said its central executive committee will be meeting on Saturday to discuss and decide on the party's stance and follow-up actions, after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was allowed house arrest to serve out his remaining corruption sentence.

DAP respects King’s prerogative on Najib, CEC to meet Saturday to decide party direction

TMK Chemical Bhd (KL:TMK) has agreed to acquire Chemical Company of Malaysia Bhd (CCM) from Batu Kawan Bhd (KL:BKAWAN) and its wholly-owned unit Enternal Edge Sdn Bhd for RM939.9 million.

TMK Chemical to buy CCM from Batu Kawan for RM939.9m

The pardon given by the Federal Territory Pardons Board on Friday — for imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence for his SRC International Sdn Bhd conviction under house arrest until the end of his sentence in August 2028 — on condition that the RM50 million fine he had been given is paid first, sets a precedent for white collar crimes, says senior criminal lawyer Datuk N Sivananthan.

Pardon to serve house arrest sets precedent for white collar and other crimes, says lawyer

Binastra Corporation Bhd (KL:BNASTRA) eked out a new all-time high in Friday trading while analysts raised their outlook after the construction firm’s latest results.

Binastra shares eke out new record, analysts raise outlook after results

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh and Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar attended the&nbsp;64th meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya at Istana Negara on Friday.

Hannah Yeoh, AG attend Pardons Board meeting

All ongoing court cases involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak must continue, national news agency Bernama reported on Friday, citing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

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