In today’s edition of Evening 5 — Bank Negara has kept OPR at 3% after holding its final MPC meeting for 2023. Meanwhile, Malaysia Aviation Group says that it is on the path to turning profitable, its first full-year net profit since its privatisation. </div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage>

EVENING 5: BNM keeps OPR at 3% for the rest of 2023

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Friday it is too early to reveal the specific conditions that will be imposed on U Mobile Sdn Bhd to lead the second 5G network.

Fahmi says still premature to reveal conditions set for U Mobile on second 5G network

Malaysian benchmark palm oil futures are expected to trade above and around RM5,000 per tonne until June 2025, supported by tight supply and bullish demand, leading industry analyst Dorab Mistry said on Friday.

Malaysia palm oil futures seen around and above RM5,000 per tonne until mid-2025, analyst Mistry says

Sony Group Corp nudged up its revenue outlook after logging strong music sales and continued momentum for PlayStation games.

Sony lifts sales outlook again on boost from music and games

Oil prices fell slightly on Friday as the risk that a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico will significantly affect US oil and gas output declined, while the market weighs how President-elect Donald Trump's policies might affect supplies.

Oil prices fall as Hurricane Rafael expected to start weakening

CYBERJAYA (Nov 8): Malaysia is set to experience 20% to 40% more rainfall during the upcoming Northeast Monsoon season, compared to a year earlier, according to the Meteorology Department.

Malaysia braces for up to 40% more rainfall this monsoon season, officials say

United Overseas Bank Ltd (UOB) will consider a share buyback, among other options, chief executive officer Wee Ee Cheong said at an earnings briefing on Friday.

UOB shares jump as CEO considers share buyback

Global palm oil output is seen rising by 2.3 million tons in the October 2024 to September 2025 season, rebounding after drop of 1.2 million tons in 2023-2024 season, industry analyst Thomas Mielke said on Friday.

Global palm oil output seen 2.3 mil tons higher in 2024-25, analyst says

Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) led the fall among semiconductor-related counters on Bursa Malaysia on Friday, after the company announced that its quarterly net profit tumbled to a six-year low.

Gloomy earnings outlook puts semiconductor-related stocks under selling pressure

Genting Singapore Ltd’s shares fell to a two-year low, after analysts downgraded the stock following lacklustre third-quarter results from the firm.

The shares dropped as much as 7.7% to hit the lowest since October 2022, before paring some losses. The company reported a net income of S$79.4 million (US$60 million or RM263.4 million) for the three months ended September, missing estimates by a wide margin.

Genting Singapore shares fall to two-year low on earnings miss

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 8): The election for Youth Parliament members will feature a new format starting March next year, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.

Johari Abdul: Election of Youth Parliament members in March 2025 to feature new format

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 8): Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has to pay a total of RM1.35 million in damages for defaming ex-finance minister Lim Guan Eng with his statements concerning tax breaks for Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary’s charity foundation Yayasan Albukhary.

Court orders Muhyiddin to pay RM1.35m in damages to Guan Eng over defamatory comments on Yayasan Albukhary’s tax breaks

A spate of lacklustre debuts throughout October fails to dent sentiment as issuers charge ahead with their initial public offerings (IPO) while investors still want a piece of the market action.

Issuers charge ahead with IPOs, investors unfazed despite string of weak debuts

US Federal Reserve (Fed) chair Jerome Powell said he would not resign from his role if asked to do so by a re-elected Donald Trump, following the Fed’s decision on Thursday to lower interest rates by a quarter percentage point.&nbsp;

Fed cuts rates by 25 bps; Powell says wouldn’t resign if asked by Trump

Donald Trump's recent US election&nbsp;win will affect Malaysian exporters, but is largely neutral for domestic growth, the ringgit, and the equity market, said CGS International.

Trump presidency largely neutral for Malaysia, while market consolidation offers buying opportunities — CGS

Maxis Bhd’s (KL:MAXIS) continuous efforts to recruit subscribers with lower prices are paying off.&nbsp;

The telecommunications company announced that its net profit grew by 28% for the three months ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), helped by a larger subscriber base, coupled with a drop in staff costs after earlier lay-offs.

Maxis 3Q net profit rises 28% with more subscribers, lower staff costs

Former deputy international trade and industry minister Professor Dr Ong Kian Ming wondered if are there plans for Digital Nasional Bhd to transition fully to a 100% mobile network operator-owned entity, so that it can compete fairly with U Mobile once the second 5G network is rolled out to a high enough area of coverage.

Questions on the second 5G network

Asian stocks rose broadly on Friday, tracking Wall Street's overnight rise to record highs, as investors digested the Federal Reserve's (Fed)&nbsp;message&nbsp;for careful interest rate cuts, even with expectations for big fiscal spending under incoming US President Donald Trump.

Asian stocks climb on Wall Street's lead; dollar sags after Fed cut

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 8): Shares of Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) fell on Friday, after the automated test equipment company reported that its net profit nearly halved in the latest quarter.

Pentamaster shares fall after profit nearly halved in latest quarter

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) proposed that revisiting the Shenton House acquisition could present a prime opportunity for IOI Properties Group Bhd (KL:IOIPG), given the favourable market conditions.

Revisiting acquisition of Shenton House 'best available option' for IOI Properties — HLIB

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election, and said he is ready to hold discussions with the new American leader.

Putin says Trump’s proposals on Ukraine deserve attention

Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) led the fall among semiconductor-related counters on Bursa Malaysia on Friday, after the company announced that its quarterly net profit tumbled to a six-year low.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Analysts are&nbsp;positive about Axiata Group Bhd's (KL:AXIATA) focus on emerging markets&nbsp;while reaping benefits from the CelcomDigi merger over a longer term.

Analysts positive on Axiata's emerging-market focus, CelcomDigi merger benefits

WASHINGTON&nbsp;(Nov 7):&nbsp;Donald&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;Republicans were projected to pick up another US Senate seat on Thursday, and appeared to be retaining their narrow hold on the House of Representatives, putting them&nbsp;on track to control both chambers of Congress&nbsp;next year.

Republicans widen Senate majority, on track to win House

US stocks hit fresh all-time highs, climbing alongside bonds and commodities, in a concerted cross-asset advance that by one measure was the best for a Federal Reserve (Fed) day in 2024.

Wall Street has best Fed day of 2024 across assets

SUNGKAI (Nov 8): FGV Holdings Bhd (KL:FGV), one of the world’s largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO), said it is actively working with its clients to facilitate the export of crude-palm-kernel-oil (CPKO) products that comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) into Europe.

FGV working closely with clients to facilitate export of crude-palm-kernel-oil products

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 7): The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) has confirmed that six members of the Malaysian Battalion (MALBATT) were injured in an explosion near Saida Stadium in Lebanon on Thursday.

Six Malaysian Battalion members injured in Lebanon blast — armed forces

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 8): As the year-end 11.11 sale is approaching, e-commerce giant Lazada Malaysia introduced AI Lazzie, an artificial intelligence (AI) shopping assistant to help users navigate, discover and shop on the platform.

Lazada launches new AI assistant on its app

SINGAPORE (Nov 8): Sats has returned to the black with a profit of S$134.7 million (RM444.5 million) for its 1HFY2025 ended Sept 30,2024, reversing from a loss of S$7.8 million in 1HFY2024, with a growth of S$142.5 million year-on-year.

Sats returns to black with 1HFY2025 profit of S$134.7m, declares 1.5 Singaporean cents dividend

Malaysia’s industrial output rose slower than expected in September, as manufacturing activity and electricity generation growth eased, while mining production contracted, official data on Friday showed.

Malaysia's industrial output grew slower in September, mining sector contracted further, official data show

Oil prices fell slightly on Friday as the risk that a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico will significantly affect US oil and gas output declined, while the market weighs how President-elect Donald Trump's policies might affect supplies.