This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on November 3, 2025 - November 9, 2025

Bank Negara Malaysia is scheduled for a monetary policy decision on Nov 6, with economists expecting the central bank to keep the benchmark overnight policy rate (OPR) at 2.75%, in view of resilient domestic demand and easing global trade tensions.

Notably, a stronger-than-expected 5.2% flash expansion estimate was recorded for Malaysia’s GDP in the third quarter (3Q), leading several research houses to raise their 2025 economic growth forecast to between 4.5% and 4.7%, from between 3.9% and 4.3% previously. Final 3Q GDP data is scheduled to be released on Nov 15.

“In the absence of a severe and unexpected negative growth shock in the near term, we expect Bank Negara to preserve ammunition and flexibility for further easing, opting for a wait-and-see approach for now,” DBS Group Research says in an Oct 31 note.

On Nov 7, Bank Negara will release its international reserves as at end-October. International reserves stood steady at US$123.4 billion (RM516.8 billion) as at Oct 15.

Market attention will also be on the MSCI Malaysia index review on Nov 5, as any inclusion into the index can trigger inflows as passive investors add the new constituent into their portfolios to mirror the benchmarks. As at end-September, Public Bank Bhd (KL:PBBANK), Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK) and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB) were the index’s top three constituents that collectively account for 37.7% of its weightage.

On Nov 7, the Department of Statistics Malaysia is scheduled to release the Industrial Production Index (IPI) and manufacturing statistics for September. Production output expanded 4.9% year on year in August, supported by the relatively stable performance of the mining sector.

Within the region, Indonesia and the Philippines are expected to announce their 3Q economic growth performance on Nov 5 and Nov 7 respectively.

The S&P Global October manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for markets such as Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam will be out on Nov 3.

On Nov 2, an Opec+ monthly meeting will be held to decide on December production levels. UOB Global Economics & Markets Research said in a note last Friday that a Bloomberg survey of 10 oil traders found that nine expected a 137,000-barrel-per-day increase from the meeting, while one anticipated a larger rise. It added that Opec+ was in the process of restarting 1.66 million barrels per day in monthly stages to reclaim its share of the global oil market.

In the US, the ongoing government shutdown is expected to delay the release of several economic data reports. Nonetheless, it will be another busy week for corporate earnings, with more than 1,650 US firms — including 133 S&P 500 companies — scheduled to announce their third-quarter results.

Locally, KNM Group Bhd (KL:KNM) is set to be delisted on Nov 5 after withdrawing its appeal against Bursa Malaysia’s rejection of its PN17 regularisation plan. The oil and gas engineering firm was listed in 2003.

Companies scheduled to hold their annual general meetings this week include IOI Corp Bhd (KL:IOICORP) and Eco-Shop Marketing Bhd (KL:ECOSHOP) on Nov 4, as well as IOI Properties Group Bhd (KL:IOIPG) and Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd (KL:MPI) on Nov 6.

Wasco Bhd (KL:WASCO) will hold its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Nov 3 to seek shareholder approval for the proposed spin-off listing of its renewable energy unit, Wasco Greenergy Bhd.

Meanwhile, poultry producer CAB Cakaran Corp Bhd (KL:CAB) will convene its EGM on Nov 5 to obtain shareholder approval for its proposed RM231 million acquisition of commercial animal feed manufacturer Cargill Feed Sdn Bhd.

At the courts, the Federal Court will hear Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd’s application for leave on Nov 6 to appeal a Court of Appeal ruling in June that overturned a High Court order directing that the 263-acre Duta Enclave be registered under Semantan Estate’s name (see “Invalid acquisition, but landowner entitled only to compensation and not land?FCtodecide” on Page 24). The appellate court had also unanimously dismissed the company’s bid to physically acquire the land and its buildings.

On the same day, the Federal Court is scheduled to hear the Malaysian Armed Forces veterans’ leave application to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision earlier this year that allowed the government’s appeal and ruling that there was no discrimination in pension adjustments.

Meanwhile, on Nov 5, the High Court is expected to deliver its decision on an application by the family of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin seeking leave to initiate judicial review proceedings to challenge the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s seizure and freezing of their bank accounts.

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