<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>(Oct 20): Hong Kong will roll out several measures with the aim of becoming an international trading center for gold and other commodities, Financial Secretary Paul Chan wrote in his blog Sunday.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Policymakers plan to increase gold inventory facilities and accelerate the development of related businesses, such as trading, insurance and logistics, according to Chan. The city’s government will also expand gold-related derivatives trading to satisfy mortgage and hedging needs.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Chief Executive John Lee said in his 2024 policy address Wednesday that the government would form a working group to establish a global gold trading center and enhance its position as an international financial hub.</div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Apart from gold-related trading, Hong Kong will also speed up the development of non-metals commodities trading, Chan wrote. The city is studying policies, including tax measures, to encourage large commodities companies to set up offices there.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Uploaded by Magessan Varatharaja</div>

Hong Kong will roll out several measures with the aim of becoming an international trading center for gold and other commodities, Financial Secretary Paul Chan wrote in his blog Sunday.

Hong Kong to bring in measures to boost gold trading — financial secretary

Malaysia's fiscal prudence, as guided in the recently announced Budget 2025, will bode well for the sustainability of the country's economic development moving forward, said a fund manager from British asset manager Schroders plc.

Malaysia's fiscal prudence bodes well for economic sustainability — Schroders

Auto parts manufacturer Betamek Bhd (KL:BETA) has co-developed with Perodua an auto telematics system, which was unveiled at the Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd (DMC) exhibition in Osaka, Japan.

Betamek showcases telematics system for cars co-developed with Perodua

THE competition for an urban mobility infrastructure project to serve the southern Johor region is set to intensify as telecommunications and technology company, Theta Edge Bhd (KL:THETA), has switched over to a rival consortium. This move strengthens the grouping consisting of LBS Bina Bhd (KL:L...

Theta Edge’s move to rival consortium may raise competition for Johor mobility project

The Philippines is trying to enlist Taiwanese chip giants in an effort to expand in semiconductors, a bid to catch up with its neighbours who are emerging as significant suppliers in the industry.

Philippines chip industry wants help from Taiwan’s TSMC

HSBC Holdings said on Tuesday it would combine its commercial and investment banking operations in a major overhaul under new chief executive officer Georges Elhedery that has also seen key senior staff depart.

HSBC merges commercial and investment banking units, names first female CFO

The trading debut of Tokyo Metro Co, which runs one of the world’s largest subway systems, is set to support the bull case for the Japanese stock market after an oversubscribed public offering.

Japan’s biggest listing in six years got more than 15 times demand, some of the underwriters said on Tuesday. The sale is a key gauge of appetite for Japanese shares just days before a crucial election that may shape expectations for further interest-rate rises.

Tokyo Metro’s solid demand boosts bull case for Japanese stocks

Road charges imposed on Singapore-registered vehicles entering Malaysia are expected to surpass RM100 million in 2024, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

Road charge collections from Singapore-registered vehicles to surpass RM100 mil in 2024, says Loke

Chinese companies rushed to shift money back into their home market last month as US rate cuts reduced returns on dollar assets, leading to the largest monthly capital inflow in about two years.

China’s capital inflow jumps in September as firms shift to yuan

Yen selling against the dollar tends to intensify when North America-based traders come online, an indication about the source of the biggest short-selling trades for Japan’s currency, a Bloomberg News analysis shows.

Yen selling set to intensify during North American trading hours

Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) and its joint-venture (JV) partners have been awarded a RM4.3 billion main design and build contract by the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, New Taipei City Government, to deliver the Xizhi Donghu Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in Taiwan.

Gamuda JV wins RM4.3 bil MRT job in Taiwan

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas)&nbsp;is considering selling a minority stake in renewable energy firm Gentari Sdn Bhd&nbsp;to help expand the business, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The state-owned energy company is working with an adviser, and has drawn interest from infrastructure funds and industry peers, the people said, asking not to be identified as the process is private.&nbsp;

Petronas could sell minority stake in renewable energy unit Gentari to help expand business — Bloomberg

The appointment of Datin Nooryana Najwa Najib, daughter of jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as a director of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) needs some explaining.

Frankly Speaking: Has Nooryana done anything to deserve Matrade appointment?

Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) and its joint-venture (JV) partners have been awarded a RM4.3 billion main design and build contract by the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, New Taipei City Government, to deliver the Xizhi Donghu Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in Taiwan.

Beverage manufacturer Life Water Bhd has launched its initial public offering (IPO) that would raise RM81.87 million for its listing on the Main Market.

Priced at 65 sen per share, the IPO would give the Sabah-based company a market capitalisation of RM307.57 million, nearly 11 times the net profit for the financial year ended June 30, 2024 (FY2024), according to the prospectus unveiled on Tuesday.

Life Water starts accepting IPO applications from investors for RM82m Main Market listing

Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA) is expected to report a sequential decline in third-quarter earnings, amid lower trading volume and higher expenses, said CIMB Securities.

Net profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024) may have declined as much as 11% to RM71.3 million, as average daily volume fell and the cost-to-income rose, CIMB said in an earnings preview note. The stock exchange operator will also book lower operating profit margins in the derivatives market, the house said.

Bursa may report 11% sequential dip in 3Q earnings as volume slips, costs rise — CIMB

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said that the new proposal under the Urban Renewal Act (URA) to lower the threshold of consent from strata owners is intended to speed up the redevelopment of sites, while still safeguarding owners' rights.

Lowered consent threshold to accelerate redevelopment while protecting owners' rights, says Nga

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim defended&nbsp;the&nbsp;political appointees&nbsp;in government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) made under the unity government, saying they are all professionals.

Appointees in GLICs and GLCs are professionals — PM

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the merger of Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd (PBMB), Exim Bank&nbsp;and SME Bank is still in progress, and&nbsp;the focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will continue.

Merger of BPMB, Exim Bank and SME Bank still ongoing, says Anwar

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will stay on its toes against risks of faster than expected inflation in 2025 as the government embarks on subsidy rationalisation and raising taxes, said DBS Bank.

BNM to stay on high alert for inflation risk in 2025 as subsidy retargeting looms, DBS warns

Asian stocks turned lower and the dollar stood by multi-month peaks on Tuesday, as a sharp sell-off in bonds and a jump in gold suggested investors are hunkering down ahead of the US&nbsp;election.

Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields rose 11 basis points (bps) overnight and a further 1 bp in early Asian trade to 4.19%. Gold hit a record high just above US$2,740 (RM11,846) an ounce on Monday and traded at US$2,725 early on Tuesday.

Bonds and Asian stocks slide, gold steady, as US election looms

Great Eastern now has till Jan 24, 2025&nbsp;to comply with the free float rule. The extension was announced on Monday, two days before the company’s previous deadline of Oct 23.

Great Eastern to have till January 2025 to comply with free float rule

Stocks took a breather after notching their longest weekly rally this year, with traders gearing up for key earnings reports from Tesla Inc&nbsp;to Boeing Co&nbsp;and United Parcel Service Inc (UPS).

Following a relentless advance to all-time highs, equities dropped from nearly overbought levels. In another sign of how greed has trumped fear, the S&amp;P 500 hasn’t suffered back-to-back losses in about 30 sessions. While a month with no consecutive down days may not sound like much, the current streak ranks among the very best since 1928, according to data compiled by SentimenTrader.

US stocks fall from record as earnings set to pick up

A year after the latest escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has not stopped since 1948, Gaza is still burning. The images of tents outside the Al-Aqsa hospital, which were burnt with people dying in them, after yet another Israeli air raid in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, and a...

My Say: No ceasefire and de-escalation in sight, instead full-blown war in the Middle East looms

Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of the founder of modern Singapore Lee Kuan Yew and estranged brother of former premier Lee Hsien Loong, said on Tuesday he is now a political refugee from Singapore under the UN Refugee Convention.

Son of founder of modern Singapore says he is now a political refugee

The US is paying close attention to the ‘dark fleet’ of tankers carrying restricted oil and doing ship-to-ship transfers in Southeast Asian waters, the State Department’s top energy official said.

Countries in the region need to consider the risks these activities pose, Geoffrey Pyatt, an&nbsp;assistant secretary for energy resources, said on the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week conference.&nbsp;

US watching 'dark fleet' ship-to-ship oil transfers in Asian waters

The police have opened two investigation papers in connection with an altercation that went viral on social media&nbsp;involving several individuals, including a man believed to be an aide to the Kedah menteri besar.

Police probing altercation on TikTok allegedly involving Kedah MB's aide

HSBC Holdings said on Tuesday it would combine its commercial and investment banking operations in a major overhaul under new chief executive officer Georges Elhedery that has also seen key senior staff depart.

Bagan Member of Parliament Lim Guan Eng called for an increase in the corporate income tax threshold to alleviate the burden on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) following the implementation of the new minimum wage of RM1,700.

Guan Eng calls for higher corporate tax threshold following minimum wage hike

The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities on Tuesday proposed investing in new technologies and infrastructure to more efficiently convert wastes from palm oil production into biomass energy.

Plantation Ministry proposes investing in new tech, infra for waste-to-energy production

European natural gas prices surged to €40 (RM186) per megawatt-hour as tensions in the Middle East generated a fresh wave of market volatility.

Benchmark futures settled 2.1% higher on Monday, following gains for oil and offsetting last&nbsp;Friday’s losses. Markets are bracing for a possible escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran that could spark a wider regional conflict, potentially affecting supplies of the heating fuel.