<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>(Aug 28): US mortgage rates fell again last week to the lowest level since April 2023, spurring a modest pickup in applications to buy a home.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>The contract rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage eased for a fourth week to 6.44%, the longest stretch of declines this year, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday. That provided a small boost to home-purchase applications in the week ended Aug 23 after a sizeable drop in the prior period.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Mortgage rates move in tandem with Treasury yields, which have been falling recently on expectations the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates in September. Minutes of the central bank’s July meeting last week indicated “several” officials saw a case for reducing rates at the time, and chair Jerome Powell said Friday “the time has come for policy to adjust.”</div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>The MBA survey, which has been conducted weekly since 1990, uses responses from mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts. The data cover more than 75% of all retail residential mortgage applications in the US.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Uploaded by Magessan Varatharaja</div>

US mortgage rates fell again last week to the lowest level since April 2023, spurring a modest pickup in applications to buy a home.

US mortgage rates drop again to lowest level since April 2023

(Nov 23): The US government’s debt load is now seen as the biggest risk to financial stability, outweighing persistent inflation in a Federal Reserve survey.

“Concerns surrounding US fiscal debt sustainability were atop the list this survey, followed by escalating tensions in the Middle...

US debt load tops Fed’s survey of financial stability risks

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally scored a landslide victory in Maharashtra, the country's richest state, while the opposition bloc performed strongly in Jharkhand, a mineral-rich region.

Modi's BJP wins richest state of India in elections; opposition retains mineral-rich region

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte met US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida as Europe waits apprehensively to see how the next administration will approach the war in Ukraine.

Nato’s Rutte meets Trump in Florida amid fears over Ukraine aid

There is still no evidence to show that the pollution at Pantai Esen in Permatang Damar Laut, Batu Maung near here is due to reclamation works for the man-made Silicon Island.

No evidence Pantai Esen pollution due to Silicon Island reclamation works — exco

China's Huawei, blacklisted by the US, said on Saturday it is targeting 100,000 applications for its Harmony operating system (OS) in coming months as it seeks widespread help to achieve self-reliance.

Huawei aims 100,000 apps on Harmony OS in six to 12 months

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed the Madani government's commitment to prioritising the welfare of the people across all states, including those led by the opposition, by steadily increasing their allocations.

Govt committed to raising allocations to all states — PM

The founding family of Japan's Seven & i Holdings has approached KKR & Co and other investment firms about participating in the potential buyout of the retailer, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday.

Seven & i founding family sounded out KKR, others about buyout — Nikkei

The European Union (EU), US and other wealthy countries at the COP29 climate summit have agreed to raise their offer of a global finance target to US$300 billion (RM1.34 trillion) per year by 2035, sources told Reuters on Saturday.

Wealthy countries back raising COP29 climate deal to US$300b, Reuters reports

The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) is set to launch about 12 projects with a gross development value (GDV) of RM1.5 billion in 2025, reflecting its commitment to advancing Selangor’s property market, said group chief executive officer Datuk Mahmud Abbas.

PKNS to launch property projects with RM1.5b GDV in 2025

The assistance provided to the people, including the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid, has increased during the first two years of the Madani government's administration, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Increased assistance provided to M'sians under Madani govt, says Anwar

The government has increased the rooftop solar capacity by another 300MW for the commercial and industrial segment, and by 50MW for households.&nbsp;

Additional rooftop solar quota for M'sian businesses, households

The Ministry of Transport has proposed the establishment of a dedicated logistics hub in Nilai or Enstek, Negeri Sembilan, to further bolster Malaysia’s logistics sector.

Loke proposes new logistics hub in Nilai or Enstek

Keck Seng (M) Bhd (KL:KSENG) booked an unrealised foreign exchange (forex) loss of RM81.84 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), which in turn dragged the group into the red.&nbsp;

Unrealised forex loss of RM81.8 mil pulls Keck Seng into the red in 3Q

The corporate earnings reporting season for the July-September quarter comes to a close this week. Among the companies slated to announce their financial results are banking groups Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK), Public Bank Bhd (KL:PBBANK), RHB Bank Bhd (KL:RHBBANK) and Hong Leong Bank Bhd (KL:HLBANK) as well as utility giant Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA).

The Week Ahead: Spotlight on corporate earnings of banks, Tenaga and Opec+ meeting

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said on Saturday she would have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assassinated if she herself were killed, prompting Marcos' office to vow "immediate proper action".

In widening rift, Sara Duterte says she would have Marcos assassinated if she is killed

Bitcoin touched a record high on Friday, with its sights set firmly on the US$100,000 (RM446,800) barrier, in a stellar rally for the cryptocurrency sparked by expectations of a more friendly regulatory environment under a&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;administration.

Bitcoin at record highs, sets sights on US$100,000

The founding family of Japan's&nbsp;Seven&nbsp;&amp; i Holdings has approached KKR &amp; Co and other investment firms about participating in the potential buyout of the retailer, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday.

The Madani government remains focused on initiatives to develop the country, and will not entertain "trivial"&nbsp;statements that do not contribute to such efforts, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Govt to disregard 'trivial' statements as it focuses on development — PM

Nvidia&nbsp;chief executive officer Jensen Huang said on Saturday that global collaboration and cooperation in technology will continue, even if the incoming US&nbsp;administration imposes stricter export controls on advanced computing products.

Nvidia CEO says global cooperation in tech will continue under Trump administration

The Selangor State Development Corporation&nbsp;(PKNS) is set to launch about&nbsp;12 projects with a gross development value (GDV) of RM1.5 billion in 2025, reflecting its commitment to advancing Selangor’s property market, said group chief executive officer Datuk Mahmud Abbas.

China's Huawei, blacklisted by the US, said on Saturday it is targeting 100,000 applications for its Harmony operating system (OS) in coming months as it seeks widespread help to achieve self-reliance.

Amazon.com Inc&nbsp;is investing an additional US$4 billion (RM17.87 billion) in artificial intelligence (AI) startup Anthropic, boosting its stake in one of OpenAI’s chief rivals.

Amazon invests additional US$4b in AI firm Anthropic

The assistance provided to the people, including the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid, has increased during the first two years of the Madani government's administration, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Adani Group will respond to bribery allegations levelled by the US after a detailed legal review and once it has secured approvals from its counsel to speak on sub-judice issues.&nbsp;

Adani to respond to US bribery allegations after legal review

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate the Two Years of Madani Government (2TM) Programme and the 2024 National Convention on Public Service Reform in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Saturday.

PM to officiate 'two years of Madani govt' programme, national convention on public service reform on Saturday

The government is committed to ensuring that the implementation of Madani economic reforms&nbsp;has minimal or no impact on the people in general, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Malaysians won't be burdened by economic reforms, says Anwar

President-elect&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;may have campaigned hard against high inflation, but by the time of his Nov&nbsp;5&nbsp;election victory&nbsp;financial professionals had moved on from rising prices and begun worrying about rising US&nbsp;debt, possible recession, and risks to global trade as among the top threats to the stability of the financial sector, according to a new Federal Reserve (Fed) survey released on Friday.

Fed survey finds inflation fading as a risk next to debt, trade wars

Lattice Semiconductor Corp&nbsp;is considering making an offer for all of Intel Corp’s Altera, people familiar with the matter said, in a twist that could complicate the chip giant’s plans to sell a minority stake in the unit.&nbsp;

Lattice Semiconductor mulling offer for Intel’s Altera unit, Bloomberg reports

The health of the US&nbsp;consumer and the retail sector will be in focus in the coming week, as Black Friday kicks off a holiday shopping season that could shed light on how buyers are grappling with higher prices.

Black Friday puts consumer spending in market's glare with stocks near records

As of the end of October, Malaysia’s 5G coverage in populated areas had reached 82.1%, up from 80.2% last year, while internet coverage in populated areas stood at 98.38%, compared with&nbsp;97.07% in 2023.