SEOUL (July 26): Two South Korean e-commerce platforms owned by Singapore-based Qoo10 slipped deeper into crisis on Friday, after failing to make payments to vendors, with companies cutting ties and irate customers thronging their offices, demanding refunds.

Woes at Qoo10’s South Korean e-commerce units intensify as companies cut ties

Nasdaq beat estimates for second-quarter profit on Thursday, driven mainly by strong demand for its products that help traders navigate compliance requirements and safeguard against financial crimes.

Nasdaq profit beats estimates as fintech sales soar

Sea Ltd appointed Natalia Goh as the new leader of its Singapore digital bank, picking the operating chief of rival Trust Bank to steer the Southeast Asian internet company’s budding finance arm.

Sea’s digital bank picks new chief to ward off tough competition

SINGAPORE (July 11): Southeast Asian retailers are placing big bets on social media with 68% planning to increase investments in social commerce over the next 12 months, according to Shopify’s 2024 Southeast Asia Retail Report.

Southeast Asian retailers are planning to increase investments in social commerce — Shopify

KUALA LUMPUR (July 11): The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) is inviting applications for the second cohort of the FIKRA ACE Accelerator programme, which is part of the FIKRA ACE initiative.

The SC, in a statement on Thursday, said that the programme supports startups in develop...

SC seeks fintech startups to enhance Islamic capital market in FIKRA ACE Accelerator programme

SINGAPORE (July 9): The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) have announced that within the next three months, major retail banks in Singapore will progressively phase out the use of one-time passwords (OTPs) for bank account logins by customers who are digital token users.

Singapore bank account OTP logins to be phased out for digital token users within next three months — cenbank and banks association

BENGALURU (July 7): British fintech company Revolut's chief executive officer (CEO) Nikolay Storonsky will cash in part of his multibillion dollar stake in the company as part of a US$500 million share sale, Sky News reported on Sunday.

Revolut CEO to sell part of stake in US$500m share sale, Sky News reports

TAIPEI (July 7): Taiwan's central bank said on Sunday that it has no timetable for launching a digital currency, warning that the process will be "huge and complex", but it will hold public hearings on the matter next year to spread knowledge.

Taiwan central bank says no timetable for launching digital currency

MyEG Services Bhd (KL:MYEG) said it is teaming up with credit reporting agency Credit Bureau Malaysia Sdn Bhd (CBM) to offer a self-check service for individual credit reports.

MyEG teams up with Credit Bureau Malaysia to offer self-check service for individual credit reports

Whether tokenisation achieves its potential to transform finance depends on the underlying networks on which digital tokens operate, but existing digital networks are not fit-for-purpose as a global infrastructure for a tokenised financial system, said Ravi Menon, a former managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

Tokenisation, AI, quantum computing best prospects for transforming finance, says former MAS managing director

KUALA LUMPUR (June 28): Alibaba.com, a prominent global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform under the Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, is reinforcing its commitment to supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) worldwide by scaling its artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Alibaba.com expands AI tools to empower MSMEs in Malaysia and beyond

HSBC Holdings plc is testing a range of new products and services as part of its push to win a larger share of business from India’s affluent diaspora, who sent more than US$100 billion (RM472.15 billion) back home last year.

HSBC taps metaverse to win business from India’s rich diaspora

SINGAPORE (June 25): Singapore-based financial technology (fintech) firm Atome Financial said on Tuesday that it had secured an up to US$100 million debt facility, including from EvolutionX, a debt financing platform jointly set up by DBS and Temasek, to expand in Southeast Asia.

Atome Financial gets up to US$100m debt facility including from EvolutionX for expansion

A US$30 billion (RM141.37 billion) settlement between Visa Inc, Mastercard Inc and retailers to cap credit-card swipe fees is likely to be rejected by a federal judge in Brooklyn, a setback in the two decade-long litigation.

Judge likely to reject US$30b Visa, Mastercard fee deal, Bloomberg reports

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

Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that made headlines today.

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

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

Practice Note 17 (PN17) company Alam Maritim Resources Bhd (KL:ALAM) has announced its regularisation plan, which includes a share capital reduction of RM440 million, 10-to-one share consolidation, an issuance of renounceable rights shares with warrants and a scheme of arrangement with its creditors.

Alam Maritim submits regularisation plan to exit PN17 status

Health and wellness direct selling company DXN Holdings Bhd (KL:DXN) said on Friday its net profit rose 10.26% in the first quarter from a year earlier due to higher revenue recognised from overall operating segments.&nbsp;

DXN Holdings 1Q net profit up 10.26%, targets market presence in Zambia, Ghana  

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

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.

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

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.

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