Investors have fallen over each other in recent weeks to buy the yen on bets that interest rates are finally about to tip in Japan’s favour. They face a moment of truth next Wednesday.

The currency is holding onto an advance of about 5% against the dollar since just before it began surging on July 11, in a move that was amplified by suspected intervention by Japan. Some investors warn that the rally is fragile, as was on show when the yen rapidly retraced gains after stronger-than-expected US economic growth figures.

‘Crazy’ yen rally at risk of shattering as soon as next week

Currency strategists and investors are seizing on Norway’s kroner as it weakens to the lowest in over a year, betting the currency will rebound from near the bottom towards the top of the Group of 10 (G10) ranking.

SocGen, BofA say time to buy Norway’s kroner as rout overdone

The Indian rupee is poised to drop to a lifetime low against the US dollar at open on Monday amid a decline in most Asian peers, unless, like in the past, the Reserve Bank of India intervenes.

Rupee counts on cenbank help to avert all-time low

The dollar is surging by the most this month as traders reconsider the effect of Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index climbed as much as 0.5% on Thursday, the most since early June — putting the gauge on course for its first weekly gain in three. That came after Trump said in an interview that a strong dollar, compared to weaker foreign currencies, is “a tremendous burden” for the US economy.

Dollar’s biggest jump this month sends global currencies sliding

The yen strengthened steadily against the dollar on Wednesday, with traders suspecting another round of official buying after Japanese authorities last week likely stepped in to haul the currency away from 38-year lows.

Japan's yen posts outsized gains, traders suspect new bout of intervention

A potential return of Donald Trump as the next US president may bring bad news for emerging market currencies, given the threat of his protectionist economic policies.

Emerging market currencies under threat as Trump odds rise

Yen traders buffeted by suspected intervention once more have a number of speed bumps to navigate before a showdown with the Bank of Japan (BOJ) on the last day of the month.

Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve

Encouraging foreign direct investments by government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) to Malaysia, as well as monitoring the exchange of export and import revenues are among concerted efforts undertaken by the government to strengthen the ringgit, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.

Amir Hamzah sees ringgit staging rebound in 2H2024 

India's foreign exchange reserves rose by US$5.2 billion (RM24.3 billion) to hit a record high of US$657.16 billion as of July 5, data from the central bank showed on Friday.

India's foreign exchange reserves hit record high

The pound is trading at its strongest level in a year, cementing its position at the top of the G10 pack with strategists from Goldman Sachs Group Inc to Pictet predicting more gains to come.

Pound optimism builds with US$5b riding on gains

Japan likely stepped into currency markets for a third time this year to prop up the yen soon after US inflation data came out Thursday, according to a Bloomberg analysis of central bank accounts.

Japan likely spent US$22b on yen intervention Thursday

Indonesia’s moves to ease concern over the nation’s fiscal outlook and growing bets for more Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts sent the rupiah on its best rally in almost eight years.

Indonesian rupiah set for longest rally in eight years as Prabowo sought to allay debt fears

The ringgit climbed to its highest in six months against the greenback, and was the best performing major Asian currency on Friday, as easing US inflation bolstered the case for Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts.

Ringgit climbs to six-month high against US dollar, best performing Asian currency

Emerging-market currencies jumped to their highest since May after US consumer prices unexpectedly fell in June, cementing bets that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will cut interest rates soon.

Emerging-market currencies hit highest since May on US CPI data

SARAWAK expects to formalise a deal to raise its stake in Affin Bank Bhd to about 30% in about a month, according to the state’s premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.

In an exclusive interview with The Edge in Kuala Lumpur last Friday (July 19), Abang Johari said the state is committed to...

Premier: Sarawak expects to ink S&P on Affin Bank deal in a month

Treasuries are rising at the end of a volatile week as the Federal Reserve’s favourite inflation gauge cemented traders’ expectations for an interest-rate cut in September.

The advance pushed yields lower across the curve on Friday, with two- and 10-year yields down by about five basis points (bps) to 4.38% and 4.2%, respectively.

Treasuries rally as data points to a September rate cut

The developer of a supertall condo tower in Miami’s Brickell neighbourhood has hired a new sales team after ousting an embattled real estate brokerage from the project.

One Sotheby’s International Realty has taken over marketing at 888 Brickell Dolce & Gabbana Miami, JDS Development’s pre-construction building overlooking Biscayne Bay in the city’s financial centre.

Miami condo tower moves on from brokers facing rape allegations

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof paid a courtesy visit to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday.

"During the meeting with His Excellency, I reaffirmed the commitment of the prime minister and the Malaysian government to continue strengthening cooperation between Malaysia and Vietnam," he said in a post on the social media platform X.

Deputy PM Fadillah pays courtesy visit to Vietnamese PM, strengthens bilateral cooperation

Wall Street bounced back on Friday as megacap tech and chip stocks recovered from the week's pummeling, while a largely in-line key inflation reading kept bets for an early start to interest-rate cuts alive.

Wall Street rebounds on tech recovery, small caps jump after benign inflation data

Malaysia has urged dialogue partners attending the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference in Laos to support a ceasefire in Gaza and end the brutal killings of Palestinians.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia, along with Indonesia and Brunei, brought forward this motion during the meeting at the National Convention Centre (NCC) here.

Malaysia urges Asean dialogue partners to support ceasefire in Gaza

US authorities filed criminal and civil charges against prominent activist short seller Andrew Left for an alleged long-running market manipulation scheme involving bets on stocks including Nvidia and Tesla, they said on Friday.

US charges Citron's Andrew Left over alleged multi-million fraud scheme

Malaysia, as the country coordinator for Asean-China Dialogue Relations, will intensify efforts to finalise the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said Malaysia, which assumed the role of country coordinator this year, aims to establish a code of conduct accepted by all parties.

Malaysia steps up efforts to finalise South China Sea code of conduct

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

AirAsia X, Capital A, Hibiscus, Dagang NeXchange, ViTrox, Ekovest, Knusford, Alam Maritim, Datasonic, Kumpulan Kitacon, DXN, Homeritz, Westport, MGRC 

VIENTIANE (July 26): The Asean Post Ministerial Conference kicked off in the Laos capital here on Friday, as Asean foreign ministers engaged with top diplomats from dialogue partners to discuss various regional and international issues of common interest.

Asean Post Ministerial Conference kicks off in Laos; regional, global issues in focus

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

Ekovest Bhd (KL:EKOVEST) said it has agreed to a further extension of time to discuss a merger between its wholly owned subsidiary Ekovest Construction Sdn Bhd (ECSB) and Knusford Bhd (KL:KNUSFOR).

Ekovest agrees to six-month extension for merger discussion between subsidiary and Knusford

US prices increased moderately in June as the declining cost of goods tempered a rise in the cost of services, underscoring an improving inflation environment that could position the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates in September.

US inflation rises moderately, consumer spending cools

The prestigious five-star Lexis Hibiscus 2 luxury resort is currently under construction by the KL Metro Group and is expected to be completed by 2029, said Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.

Construction of RM1.6 bil GDV Lexis Hibiscus 2 resort will be completed in 2029

Wall Street bounced back on Friday as megacap tech and chip stocks recovered from the week's pummeling, while a largely in-line key inflation reading kept bets for an early start to interest-rate cuts alive.

Upholstery furniture products manufacturer Homeritz Corp Bhd’s (KL:HOMERIZ) net profit surged 46.37% in the third quarter from a year earlier, thanks to higher sales volume and stronger US dollar. &nbsp;

Net profit for three months ended May 31, 2024 (3QFY2024) climbed to RM9.09 million or earnings per share of 1.96 sen, from RM6.21 million or 1.34 sen per share recorded in 3QFY2023. &nbsp;

Homeritz’s 3Q net profit soars 46.37% on higher sales and strong greenback

Cyberview Sdn Bhd has signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with three companies to make Cyberjaya a global technology hub.

Chief executive officer Kamarul Ariffin Abdul Samad said the companies involved were Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB), Selangor Information Technology &amp; Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC) and digital infrastructure company Equinix Malaysia.

Cyberview signs three MOUs to make Cyberjaya a global technology hub

The developer of a supertall condo tower in Miami’s Brickell neighbourhood has hired a new sales team after ousting an embattled real estate brokerage from the project.

One Sotheby’s International Realty has taken over marketing at 888 Brickell Dolce &amp; Gabbana Miami, JDS Development’s pre-construction building overlooking Biscayne Bay in the city’s financial centre.&nbsp;

SARAWAK expects to formalise a deal to raise its stake in Affin Bank Bhd to about 30% in about a month, according to the state’s premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.

In an exclusive interview with The Edge in Kuala Lumpur last Friday (July 19), Abang Johari said the state is committed to...

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof paid a courtesy visit to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday.

"During the meeting with His Excellency, I reaffirmed the commitment of the prime minister and the Malaysian government to continue strengthening cooperation between Malaysia and Vietnam," he said in a post on the social media platform X.

Kumpulan Kitacon Bhd (KL:KITACON) has secured a RM54.5 million contract to undertake the construction of 186 terrace houses in Rawang, Selangor.

Kumpulan Kitacon bags RM54.5m job to build houses in Rawang

Treasuries are rising at the end of a volatile week as the Federal Reserve’s favourite inflation gauge cemented traders’ expectations for an interest-rate cut in September.

The advance pushed yields lower across the curve on Friday, with two- and 10-year yields down by about five basis points (bps) to 4.38% and 4.2%, respectively.

Penang Port Sdn Bhd (Penang Port) on Friday announced the acquisition of five Kalmar container handling machines to optimise operations and improve service levels.

Penang Port acquires Kalmar container handling equipment to enhance services

A new recruitment of 3,950 staff, comprising 3,200 medical officers, 350 dental officers and 400 pharmacy officers, will be made through contract (interim) appointments, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.

More than 3,900 contract officers to be appointed in latest recruitment — MOH

Malaysia, as the country coordinator for Asean-China Dialogue Relations, will intensify efforts to finalise the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said Malaysia, which assumed the role of country coordinator this year, aims to establish a code of conduct accepted by all parties.

Hungary will face fuel shortages from September if full Russian oil flows are not restored, a government official said on Friday, accusing Ukraine of blackmailing it by partially suspending supplies.

Eastern European Union (EU) members Slovakia and Hungary have been hit by a stop in flows from Russian group Lukoil coming via Ukraine after sanctions were imposed on the company.

Hungary says it will face fuel shortages from September without Lukoil supplies

The government will now determine the locations for distributing subsidised cooking oil packets to retail outlets to prevent further leakage of controlled goods, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

KPDN to set subsidised cooking oil distribution locations to curb leakage — Armizan

Digital Penang has announced the Market Access Thailand programme, which aims to propel Penang’s startups into Thailand’s market and create opportunities for exponential growth and innovation.

Digital Penang announces cross-border startup collaboration with Thailand

Apollo Global Management Inc has agreed to buy International Game Technology plc’s (IGT) gaming division and the gambling machines company Everi Holdings Inc in a US$6.3 billion (RM29.38 billion), all-cash deal that will see the two businesses merged.

Apollo funds to buy IGT’s gaming, Everi in US$6.3 bil deal

Malaysia has urged dialogue partners attending the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference in Laos to support a ceasefire in Gaza and end the brutal killings of Palestinians.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia, along with Indonesia and Brunei, brought forward this motion during the meeting at the National Convention Centre (NCC) here.

Currency

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