<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>(Dec 16): Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is nearing a deal to sell its department store business to Youngor Fashion Co for around US$1 billion (RM4.45 billion), according to people familiar with the matter.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The Chinese tech group could announce the sale of Intime as soon as the coming days, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Alibaba acquired Intime for about US$2.6 billion in 2017. It had reached out to several potential buyers earlier this year, <em>Bloomberg News</em> reported in February.&nbsp;</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a shift in strategy under new leadership since last year, Alibaba has been focusing more on core e-commerce operations and its cloud-computing business. Deliberations are ongoing and talks could still drag on longer or fall apart, the people said.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Representatives for Alibaba and Youngor didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Data released on Monday showed China’s total retail sales rose the slowest in three months in November, missing even the most bearish forecasts and indicating that domestic demand remains sluggish. Chinese policymakers have made boosting consumption a top priority for next year.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>Uploaded by Felyx Teoh</em></p></div>


Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is nearing a deal to sell its department store business to Youngor Fashion Co for around US$1 billion (RM4.45 billion), according to people familiar with the matter.

Alibaba close to selling Intime to Youngor Fashion for US$1 bil — Bloomberg

Malaysia aims to emerge the region's conduit for electricity, talent, and supply chain diversification, while also strengthen its position in oil and gas, semiconductors, and Islamic finance this year, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Malaysia aims to be conduit for electricity, talent, and supply chain diversification in 2025, says PM

Malaysia aims to locally produce its own graphics processing unit (GPU) chips in the next five to 10 years, in line with the increasing demand from data centres, according to Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.

Malaysia aims to locally produce graphics processing unit chips within 5-10 years, Rafizi says

The worst is over for Malaysian banks’ asset quality, and investors should take the opportunity to buy during near-term profit-taking for their solid loan growth and dividend yields, said MIDF Amanah Investment Bank.

Worst is over for banks' asset quality, buy into selldown — MIDF

Airport Authority Hong Kong has raised US$7 billion (RM31.51 billion) this week by issuing bonds in three currencies — the largest ever public offering of bonds by a Hong Kong company.

Hong Kong airport makes history raising US$7 bil in bonds' issue

The union representing 45,000 dock workers on the US East and Gulf Coasts and their employers on Wednesday said they reached a tentative deal on a new six-year contract, averting further strikes that could have snarled supply chains and taken a toll on the US economy.

Second US port strike averted as union, employers reach deal

Oil prices declined for a second day on Thursday after large builds in fuel inventories in the US, the world's biggest oil user, though expectations for increasing winter fuel demand and concerns over tighter supply limited the drop.

Oil prices edge down on rising US fuel inventories

China's consumer prices barely rose in 2024 while factory-gate prices extended into a second straight year of declines, official data showed on Thursday, weighed by persistently weak domestic demand.

China's consumer prices stall in 2024 on feeble demand

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will make a two-day official visit to Malaysia beginning Thursday, his first visit to the country since assuming office in October 2024.

According to a statement from Wisma Putra (Malaysia's Foreign Ministry) on Thursday, Ishiba will  receive an official welcoming ceremony at the Perdana Putra Complex, Putrajaya, followed by a delegation meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Japan’s PM Ishiba on two-day official visit to Malaysia

There is a possibility for Public Bank Bhd (KL: PBBANK) to offer "more than biannual" dividend payments, despite not having the highest dividend yield, according to Kenanga Investment Research.

Kenanga sees possibility for Public Bank to offer 'more than biannual' dividends, cites synergies from LPI acquisition

Affin Bank Bhd expects Malaysia’s economy to grow by 5.2% this year compared with its 5% estimate in 2024.

The bank said the projection is in line with the Finance Ministry's (MOF) forecast of between 4.5% and 5.5%.

Affin Bank expects 5.2% GDP growth in 2025

<p>Malaysia’s technology stocks broadly fell on Thursday following news reports that the US is planning to impose further export curbs on artificial intelligence (AI) chips to keep them out of the hands of China and Russia.</p>


Malaysia's tech stocks broadly lower amid news of US export curbs on AI chips

<p>BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, expects Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s reform agenda to be hindered by ongoing signs of friction between the component parties of the unity government.</p>


BMI: Political tensions within unity govt may slow down Anwar’s reform agenda

<p>The global bond rout that has pressured equities and boosted the safe-haven US dollar showed signs of slowing on Thursday, even as Japanese yields edged to new multi-year highs.</p>


Bond selloff slows in Asia, stocks fall with eyes on UK gilts, US policy

<p>Some European firms are sacrificing efficiency and losing their global edge as they wall off their operations in China and come under pressure to produce more locally, according to a business group whose members include many of the continent’s biggest companies.</p>


European firms say China’s pressure to go local is raising costs

<p>President Joe Biden’s administration plans one additional round of restrictions on the export of artificial intelligence (AI) chips from the likes of Nvidia Corp just days before leaving office, a final push in his effort to keep advanced technologies out of the hands of China and Russia.</p>


Biden to further limit Nvidia AI chip exports in final push

<p>Federal Reserve officials in December adopted a new stance on rate-cutting amid elevated inflation risks, deciding to move more slowly in the months ahead.</p>

<p>“Participants indicated that the committee was at or near the point at which it would be appropriate to slow the pace of policy easing,” minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee’s Dec. 17-18 gathering showed.</p>


Fed minutes show officials were eager to slow interest-rate cuts

<p>Malaysia’s upcoming five-year development plan, the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), has been moulded in a “globalist lens”, according to Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli.</p>


Rafizi: 13MP will adopt globalist stance against protectionism, isolationism

<p>Malaysia’s growth is set to sustain last year’s pace and exceed 5% in 2025, as strong foreign direct investments and support from local funds shield the economy from any global risks, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said.</p>


Malaysia’s growth set to surpass 5% this year, minister says

<p>Energy is the star sector of the S&amp;P 500 Index in the early days of 2025, shaking off two consecutive years when it was a market laggard, and gaining despite Wall Street’s dim outlook for oil and gas stocks.</p>

<p>The S&amp;P 500 Energy Index has gained 2.2% this year, leading the S&amp;P 500’s 11 sectors and outpacing the index’s 0.4% rise.</p>


Energy sector goes from S&P 500’s ‘worst to first’ in 2025 start

<p>Having successfully worked to get his candidate elected in the US, Elon Musk is setting his sights on Europe.</p>

<p>In a series of posts on his X platform in recent weeks, the billionaire backer of Donald Trump has honed in on Germany and the UK, criticised the respective governments, questioned laws they’ve enacted and cast doubt on their economic competence.</p>


Musk takes slash-and-burn style to Europe after bolstering Trump

<p>There is a possibility for Public Bank Bhd (KL: PBBANK) to offer "more than biannual" dividend payments, despite not having the highest dividend yield, according to Kenanga Investment Research.</p>


<p>The 20-year Treasury bond offered a grim warning as a selloff fuelled by inflationary angst gripped global debt markets: 5% yields are already here.</p>


Treasury market gets first 5% yield in sign of what could come

<p>The takeover offer of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd or MAHB (KL:AIRPORT) by Gateway Development Alliance (GDA) marks a critical inflection point for Malaysia’s aviation sector and its future in the hyper-competitive Asean region. With GDA securing 84.1% of MAHB shares and extending the offer period to Jan 17, the stage is set for a seismic shift in how Malaysia’s airports are managed. If the consortium achieves the 90% threshold required for delisting, MAHB will transition from the scrutiny of public markets into the hands of private ownership, enabling GDA to execute a bold, long-term restructuring strategy without the burden of quarterly earnings pressures.</p>


Can Gateway Development Alliance help MAHB take flight again?

<p>（吉隆坡9日讯）新闻报道称，美国拟进一步限制人工智能（AI）晶片出口，以防止其落入中国和俄罗斯之手，大马科技股周四应声走低。</p>


美国拟限制AI晶片出口 大马科技股应声跌

<p>Stock traders refrained from making big bets, with the market set to close on the eve of Friday’s jobs report. Treasuries rebounded as a solid US$22 billion (RM98.97 billion) sale brought a degree of relief after the recent selloff.</p>


Wall Street braces for jobs jolt as stocks churn

<p>The worst is over for Malaysian banks’ asset quality, and investors should take the opportunity to buy during near-term profit-taking for their solid loan growth and dividend yields, said MIDF Amanah Investment Bank.</p>


<p>Japanese workers’ base salaries grew the most in 32 years, offering potential support for the central bank to raise rates this month if other data back up the thesis that a positive economic cycle is strengthening.</p>


Japan’s base pay rises most in 32 years, helping rate hike path

<p>BIMB Securities expects Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA) to report strong double-digit growth for its final quarter and FY2024 earnings, driven by a robust securities trading segment.</p>


BIMB expects Bursa to report double-digit earnings for 4Q and FY2024

<p>China's consumer prices barely rose in 2024 while factory-gate prices extended into a second straight year of declines, official data showed on Thursday, weighed by persistently weak domestic demand.</p>


<p>Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived here on Thursday for a one-day working visit to Malaysia.</p>

<p>The special aircraft carrying Prabowo and his delegation landed at the Bunga Raya Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here at 10.15am.</p>
