New Zealand’s central bank kept interest rates unchanged for a fourth straight meeting, but signalled there’s an increased risk it could hike again next year. The local dollar jumped.

New Zealand keeps rates unchanged, forecasts risk of hike

Investing in Asian private credit can offer a premium over similar deals in Europe and the US, in part because the supply of private debt capital is lower in Asia, Brian Dillard, head of Asia credit at KKR in Hong Kong, said in an interview with Bloomberg News.

KKR sees private credit returns in Asia beating US and Europe

China has secured a significant stake in a network of global ports that are central to world trade and freedom of navigation.

China controls global network of strategically vital ports — report

European Central Bank officials may soon revisit their €1.7 trillion (RM8.9 trillion) pandemic bond portfolio and reconsider how long they will replace maturing securities, president Christine Lagarde said.

ECB may look at pandemic bond reinvestments soon, Lagarde says

Global goods trade is recovering from a recent slump amid stronger demand for autos and electronics, the World Trade Organization said in a report that warned geopolitical strains are making the short-term outlook “highly uncertain.”

Global goods trade rebounds on demand for cars — WTO 

The central bank governors of Poland and Hungary are caught up in noisy disputes with opponents over their rate-setting policy, raising new hazards for investors willing to brave central Europe's bitterly polarised politics.

Political noise distracts central Europe's rate-setters

A gauge of bank funding costs in Hong Kong jumped to the highest in 16 years, as year-end demand for cash exacerbates an already-tight liquidity environment.

Hong Kong cash demand sends local bank rate to 16-year high

Two of Australia’s largest pension investors pledged to pour US$19 billion (RM88.93 billion) into UK and European markets in coming years, as the industry increasingly looks for opportunities overseas.

Two Australian pension giants pledge US$19b for UK, Europe

European shares wavered after the latest economic data highlighted Germany’s struggle to recover from an energy-induced downturn last winter and the mounting impact of higher borrowing costs.

European stocks waver as economic picture darkens

A trade meeting between the US and European Union due to take place next month is expected to slip to early next year as the two allies remain deadlocked in talks about steel and critical minerals.

EU and US delay key trade meeting amid deadlock in negotiations

A recession in the euro area is looking increasingly likely as the economic downturn persists in the final quarter of the year, private-sector activity surveys showed.

Euro-area business weakness increases the odds of a recession

BUENOS AIRES (Nov 23): Argentina's libertarian President-elect Javier Milei is sticking by his plans for economic "shock" therapy to fix the country's myriad crises from triple-digit inflation to rising poverty and a dearth of foreign currency reserves.

In an interview late on...

'There's no money': Argentina's Milei doubles down on economic shock therapy

Southeast Asia’s longer-dated bonds have been the winning trade as the region’s yield curve flattened, and there are signs to suggest that the bet will remain profitable.

US Fed pivot hopes to turbocharge Southeast Asia’s curve flattening 

As the cost of living began rising in Australia in 2021, Amber Daines and her family decided to rent out their three-bedroom residence in Sydney and buy a cheaper house about an hour up the coast, with every intention of selling it at retirement age and investing the proceeds. The economy had other plans.

Australia’s cost-of-living crisis is hitting even the well-heeled

Public Bank Bhd's net profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2023 rose 7% to RM1.70 billion from RM1.59 billion a year earlier, on the back of healthy loans and customer deposits growth.

Public Bank's 3Q net profit rises 7% to RM1.7 bil

The survival of natural rubber as a smallholder crop is in doubt due to the depressed rubber prices seen over the last couple of years. Rubber smallholders, due to poor incomes from the sale of rubber, are finding it very difficult to survive economically. They have no control whatsoever over rub...

My Say: Cultivating rubber smallholders for the good of the planet

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29): Leform Bhd’s investors might have finally sighed a relief over the past two months, as the steel product manufacturer they invested in made a steep climb after staying range-bound for the most part last 12 months since the company’s initial public offering (IPO) nearly a year ago.

Leform’s 33% rise in share price month-to-date raises eyebrows

Oil moved in a narrow range on Wednesday as investors turned cautious ahead of a crucial Opec+ meeting to decide output policy in the next months, while a supply disruption in the Black Sea provided a floor for prices.

Oil little changed as Opec+ decision awaits, Black Sea storm disrupts supply

Malaysia's banking sector will revert to a pre-pandemic state of modest growth and profitability in 2024, said Fitch Ratings.

Malaysian banking sector to see modest growth, profitability in 2024, says Fitch Ratings

Bursa Malaysia was marginally lower at midday on Wednesday, weighed down by continuous selling across the board on a lack of fresh catalysts.

KLCI little changed at midday

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29): ISP Group of Companies (ISP), a real estate developer and investment holding company, commenced construction of its purpose-built workers accommodation (PBWA) in Kapar, Selangor on Monday (Nov 27), according to a press statement on the same day.

ISP Group of Companies commences construction of its 3,780-bed purpose-built workers accommodation in Kapar

Media Prima Bhd posted a net profit RM14.06 million on the back of revenue of RM213.92 million for the first quarter ended Sept 30, 2023.

In August 2022, Media Prima’s financial year end was changed from Dec 31 to June 30.

Media Prima posts RM14 mil net profit in 1Q

China’s 5Y Capital is on track to surpass its target of raising US$700 million (RM3.25 billion) for a closely watched venture fund, in a sign that investors are regaining confidence in the world’s biggest internet arena.

Early Xiaomi backer to surpass funding goal in major China test

BENGALURU (Nov 29): Most emerging Asian currencies hit multi-month highs on Wednesday, with the Taiwan dollar and Malaysian ringgit leading the pack, as the US dollar slid to a more than three-month low on increasingly dovish commentary from the Federal Reserve, while investors also awaited a Thai central bank decision on rates.

Most Asian FX boosted by increasingly dovish comments; Thai decision eyed

Charlie Munger, who quit a law career to become Warren Buffett's trusted confidant and longtime second-in-command at Berkshire Hathaway, died on Tuesday morning. He was 99.

Charlie Munger, who was Warren Buffett's right-hand man, dies at 99

In 2022, the number of graduates in Malaysia rose 5.1% to 5.92 million, while the graduate’s unemployment rate declined 3.7%, according to data released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia in its Graduate Statistics 2022 report.

Rise in number of graduates, drop in number of those unemployed

Analysts have upgraded their ratings on Farm Fresh Bhd (FFB), as they expect the dairy producer’s sequential earnings to improve further.

Analysts upgrade Farm Fresh ratings on expected improvement in sequential earnings

Analysts remain positive on KPJ Healthcare Bhd’s growth trajectory, and said they favour the medical group’s strategy to further grow its medical tourism business.

Analysts stay positive on KPJ’s growth trajectory

MSCI's&nbsp;global&nbsp;stock index advanced on Tuesday, while the dollar fell as a Federal Reserve (Fed) official signalled that the US&nbsp;central bank is done raising rates, and could even consider rate cuts if inflation keeps easing.

Stocks rise as dollar falls, gold rallies on Fed commentary

Japanese mobile operator NTT Docomo Inc&nbsp;has joined a consortium led by Mitsui &amp; Co&nbsp;in the bidding for a majority stake in the tower unit of Malaysia’s biggest wireless firm Axiata Group Bhd, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Japan’s NTT Docomo joins Mitsui-led group in Edotco bidding, sources say

DAP veteran Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, the party's national chairman Lim Guan Eng, and Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok have filed separate defamation suits against Kepala Batas MP Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad in the Georgetown High Court.

Three DAP leaders file defamation suits against Kepala Batas MP

The ringgit continued its upward momentum to open higher against the US dollar on Wednesday, as US Treasury yields and dollar indices dropped to their lowest in months, said an analyst.

Ringgit continues uptrend against US dollar

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29): Prolonged weakness in the ringgit and a surge in petrol and diesel prices may risk Malaysia’s producer price index (PPI) and consumer price index (CPI) in 2024, despite analysts foreseeing low inflationary pressure to persist at least until the first half of 2024 (1HCY2024), said MIDF Research in a note on Wednesday.

MIDF Research: Prolonged weakness in ringgit and surge in petrol and diesel prices may risk Malaysia’s PPI and CPI in 2024

The search and rescue (SAR) operation continued on Wednesday morning for four victims feared to be still buried in the rubble of a logistic warehouse under construction that collapsed&nbsp;in Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas here&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;night.

Search and rescue operation continues after Bayan Lepas warehouse collapse

Analysts maintained their recommendations on Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd, despite the integrated aluminium producer’s earnings for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2023 (3QFY2023) missing market consensus forecasts, with expectations that aluminium prices will remain subdued.

Press Metal's 3Q results miss market expectations; aluminium prices to remain subdued

Apple is pulling the plug on its credit card partnership with Goldman Sachs Group, The Wall Street Journal&nbsp;(WSJ) reported on Tuesday.

Apple to end credit card partnership with Goldman Sachs — WSJ

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29): Kepong Member of Parliament (MP) Lim Lip Eng has been granted a stay of execution over the RM2 million judgement in a defamation suit brought against him by MonSpace (M) Sdn Bhd and its founder Datuk Seri Jessy Lai.

Kepong MP gets stay on RM2 mil libel award in MonSpace defamation suit until disposal of appeal

Public Bank Bhd's net profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2023 rose 7% to RM1.70 billion from RM1.59 billion a year earlier, on the back of healthy loans and customer deposits growth.

The Sessions Court here has denied former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s bid to have his passport returned to him permanently and unconditionally.&nbsp;

Muhyiddin fails to get permanent release of passport but secures temporary release

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research has downgraded Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd (BIMB) to “hold” at RM2.24, with an unchanged target price (TP) of RM2.35, and said BIMB’s profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2023 (3QFY2023) decreased 2% year-on-year due to a negative Jaws ratio (from higher operating expenditure), along with larger financing loss provision.

HLIB downgrades Bank Islam to 'hold', keeps target price at RM2.35

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29): Analysts are upbeat on Wasco Bhd’s outlook after the pipe-coating solutions provider’s results for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2023 (3QFY2023) came in within expectations.

Analysts upbeat on Wasco’s outlook after 3Q earnings meet expectations

Options in GameStop Corp&nbsp;are seeing wild volumes, as traders bet that the stock will rally 50% in little over a week.

Traders bet GameStop will jump 50% within two weeks

Bursa Malaysia opened on a positive note&nbsp;on Wednesday,&nbsp;taking its cues from the US equity markets overnight, a dealer said.

Bursa opens higher in early trade

The dollar fell broadly on Wednesday to hit its lowest against the yen in more than two months and languished near a three-month trough against its major peers, as expectations mount the Federal Reserve (Fed) could begin lowering rates by early next year.

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