US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Panama and four other countries in Central America and the Caribbean starting late next week during his first overseas trip as Washington's top diplomat, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Thursday.

The trip, which Bruce said will also include stops in Guatemala, El Salvador, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, comes as President Donald Trump has put immigration at the centre of his foreign policy agenda and made a push for the US to take back the Panama Canal in comments that have angered the Central American country.

Rubio to visit Central America in late January in first foreign visit

The European Commission plans to seek an extension of the region’s binding gas-inventory targets until 2027 to help ease continuing supply concerns, according to people familiar with the matter.

The European Union introduced the goals for its natural gas stores at the height of the 2022 energy crisis to ensure adequate supplies during the coldest periods.

EU plans proposing extension of gas-storage goals to 2027 — Bloomberg

President Donald Trump said he would ask Saudi Arabia and other Opec nations to “bring down the cost of oil” and reiterated his threat to use tariffs to bring manufacturing back to the US as he addressed world leaders gathered in Davos on Thursday.

Trump also said he would demand an immediate drop in interest rates, which he said had ratched up deficits and resulted in what he cast as economic calamity under the tenure of his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Trump urges to lower oil prices, interest rate cuts at Davos

Top diplomats from China and India will meet next week in Beijing as the nuclear-armed neighbors try to repair ties marred by a border dispute nearly five years ago.

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will meet his Chinese counterpart during a two-day trip to Beijing starting Sunday, India’s External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.

India, China diplomats to meet in Beijing to pursue better ties

US President Donald Trump told business leaders gathered at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday that he is working to reverse inflation and illegal immigration while boosting fossil fuels production in the US.

"What the world has witnessed in the past 72 hours is nothing less than a revolution of common sense," Trump said via video conference, adding that he would focus on deregulation and making the US  a hub of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies while extending tax cuts passed during his first term in office.

Trump tells Davos business elite he wants to reverse inflation, cut taxes

Tianqi Lithium Corp warned that it expects to post a net loss of as much as 8.2 billion yuan (RM4.97 billion) for 2024, and is halting an expansion project in Australia as a downturn in the battery metals markets drags on.

A slump in lithium prices contributed to a sharp drop in operating profitability over the course of 2024, even as production and sales of lithium products grew, the company said in a notice to investors on Thursday.

China’s Tianqi Lithium issues profit warning and halts expansion on metals downturn

Persistently high US bond yields will force private investors to turn their backs on emerging markets desperately in need of financing to fight global warming.

That’s according to Srini Nagarajan, head of Asia at British International Investment, which is the UK government’s development finance unit.

Juicy US yields may sap funding desperately needed in emerging-market climate finance

The authorities’ strict action in shutting down illegal crossings at the Malaysia-Thailand border in Rantau Panjang here forced the operators of the illegal jetties to move their operations to the neighbouring country two days ago.

The General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade commander, Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid, said this move, enforced on Dec 1, reflects the growing compliance of the communities in border areas with the ban on illegal border crossings.

Border crossing ban cripples illegal jetties in Rantau Panjang

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

YTL Corp, YTL Power, MRCB, Westports, IGB REIT, IGB Commercial REIT, Axis REIT, KIP REIT, Destini, Citaglobal, T7 Global, Oriental Kopi, Econframe, Unitrade 

Denmark’s defence minister wants to raise the Nordic country’s total military spending to more than 500 billion kroner (US$70 billion) through 2033 as it seeks to ramp up investment in security in the Arctic region.

Denmark wants to spend more on Greenland defence amid Trump spat

Friedrich Merz, the conservative front-runner in the race to be Germany’s next chancellor, warned domestic companies against making bigger investments in China.

“The decision to invest in China is a decision with great risk,” Merz said at a foreign policy event in Berlin on Thursday. “If you take this risk, do it in such a way that it doesn’t endanger the entire company group if you have to write off this investment from one year to the next.”

German frontrunner Merz warns companies against China investment

The world’s top beef exporter Brazil is in advanced talks to begin shipments to Japan, according to a major industry group, in a move that may hurt US sales to the Asian nation.
  
Brazil has provided Japan with information about its production system and shipments for two decades, and now the industry is optimistic that the world’s third-biggest importer of the meat will finally open up its market, according to Roberto Perosa, who formerly served in the country’s agriculture ministry and is the current president of the Brazilian Association of Beef Exporters.

Brazil in talks for beef shipments to Japan in threat to US

Furniture maker Rhong Khen International Bhd (KL:RKI) is selling its Vietnamese indirect subsidiary RT Industries Company Ltd (RTI) to Singapore-based Maideli Pte Ltd for US$7.12 million (RM31.66 million) in cash.

The sale is expected to yield a gain of up to RM15.5 million for Rhong Khen. This move is part of the group’s strategy to streamline operations, reduce costs amid challenging market conditions, and strengthen its liquidity position.

Furniture maker Rhong Khen to rake in RM16 mil gain from Vietnam indirect unit sale 

Pent-up demand for mergers and acquisitions, particularly among private equity firms, is poised to spur a surge in deal activity, Morgan Stanley Chief Executive Officer Ted Pick said.

“Part of the dilemma is that the vernacular of whether we’re really moving with animal spirits is whether we see a bunch of M&A prints,” Pick said Thursday in an interview with Bloomberg Television at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Morgan Stanley CEO Pick sees comeback in M&A activity on horizon

YTL Corp Bhd (KL:YTL) and YTL Power International Bhd (KL:YTLPOWR) have each proposed a bonus issue of free warrants, on the basis of one free warrant for every five shares held in the respective companies. The warrants are planned to be exercised at a discount to the share prices of each company —&nbsp;at 37% discount for YTL Corp, and a 39.5% discount for YTL Power based on their closing prices on Thursday&nbsp;— bourse filings showed.

YTL Corp, YTL Power plan free warrants; exercise prices at discount to market prices

Sime Darby Property Bhd (KL:SIMEPROP) has signed five anchor tenants for its upcoming KLGCC Mall, marking a significant milestone in the company's retail expansion strategy.

The tenants include Jaya Grocer, Serai Group’s flagship concept, ACE Hardware, Asia Ballet Academy, and the first HarborLand kids playland in Malaysia.

Sime Darby Property secures five anchor tenants for KLGCC Mall

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has issued a statement to give the assurance that&nbsp;it is closely monitoring recent takeover activities in the Malaysian market&nbsp;to ensure compliance with relevant regulations, and to safeguard the integrity of the capital market, citing recent interest in such matters.

SC says it is keeping close watch on takeovers amid public interest in MAHB deal

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 23): KIP Real Estate Investment Trust (KL:KIPREIT) said it remains in acquisition mode, aiming to expand its portfolio with more retail and industrial properties.

KIP REIT remains in acquisition mode, says CEO

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Cover Story 2: Investing ideas for 2025

Singapore has charged Wang Junjie, the former director of a local corporate service provider linked to individuals caught up in the city-state’s record S$3 billion (US$2.2 billion or RM9.7 billion) money-laundering case.

Singapore charges former director in record laundering case

Digital investment platform StashAway will be offering Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange traded funds (ETFs) on its platform, enabling Malaysians to invest in the two largest cryptocurrencies through a regulated and trusted platform.

StashAway brings Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs to its platform

The Ipoh Sentral project, a transit-oriented development (TOD) covering an area of 27.11 hectares, is set to commence in six months, with the first phase focusing on landscaping, enhancements, and preservation of heritage and cultural elements.

Ipoh Sentral project to begin in six months

TNG Digital Sdn Bhd (TNG Digital) has introduced a new feature, SOS Balance, to ensure users are able to pass through toll booths despite insufficient balance in their TNG eWallet.&nbsp;

It will be introduced to selected TNG eWallet users starting Thursday at no cost, giving them a 24-hour grace period to top up their eWallet and settle any outstanding toll charges.

TNG Digital launches free feature in eWallet allowing toll pass-throughs

US President Donald Trump downplayed the national security risk posed by TikTok in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, days after offering the social video app a reprieve from legislation that would have forced it to shut down.

Trump downplays threat of China using TikTok to spy on Americans

KUCHING (Jan 23): Cahya Mata Cement Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (KL:CMSB), expects to double its clinker production capacity with the development of a new facility, Clinker Line 2, in Mambong here.

Cahya Mata Sarawak’s unit expects to double clinker production with new facility

The 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore trial revisited the termination of KPMG as the company’s external auditor, with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak asserting that it was not his "character" to threaten anyone.

Najib says not in his nature to intimidate people

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has recovered US$20 million (RM90 million) of misappropriated 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds related to a solar energy project in Malaysia with the help of US authorities.

MACC recovers RM90m 1MDB funds with help of US authorities

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

Malaysia's e-invoicing system offers a streamlined adoption process for small businesses, according to Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia council member Harvindar Singh.

E-invoicing system eases transition for small businesses, says expert

Despite questioning the veracity of his signatures, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak claimed that the issue only came to light to him during trials of his criminal court cases related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), the first of which commenced in 2018.

Najib says only made aware of self-claimed 'forged' signatures during 1MDB trials

Maintenance and upgrading works led to a decline in net property income (NPI) for IGB Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) (KL:IGBREIT) and IGB Commercial REIT (KL:IGBCR) in their fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2024 (4QFY2024). Property developer IGB Bhd is the sponsor of both trusts, holding 47.95% in IGB REIT and 50.01% in IGB Commercial REIT.

IGB's REITs report dips in 4Q net property incomes amid upgrades

Censof Holdings Bhd (KL: CENSOF) said on Thursday that it has secured a RM4.3 million contract from pension fund Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) or KWAP, to replace and implement a new cloud-based accounting system.

The system, dubbed the government resource planning (GRP) system, is designed to migrate operations from on-premises to cloud-based platforms, aiming to enhance efficiency, scalability, and accessibility while streamlining processes and improving adaptability.

Censof bags RM4.3 mil cloud-based accounting system contract from KWAP

Malaysian palm oil is likely to trade around RM4,000 Malaysian per tonne in 2025, except for a brief rise up to RM4,800 in February, amid stiff competition from soyoil, industry analyst Dorab Mistry said.

The benchmark palm oil contract FCPOc3 for April delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange lost RM64, or 1.52%, to RM4,144 a tonne by midday.

Malaysian palm oil to trade around RM4,000 per tonne in 2025, says Mistry

The government will introduce more incentives in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to stimulate the economy that goes beyond the distribution of funds and projects, said Economy Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Rafizi Ramli.

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