This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 24, 2026 - August 30, 2026
The key focus in this holiday-shortened week will be corporate earnings for the April-June quarter. Among those scheduled to report their results are banking heavyweights Malayan Banking Bhd (KL:MAYBANK) on Aug 27; CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB) and RHB Bank Bhd (KL:RHBBANK) on Aug 28; and Public Bank Bhd (KL:PBBANK) tentatively on Aug 26. Axiata Group Bhd (KL:AXIATA) will release its financials on Aug 28.
Malaysia and Indonesia’s stock markets will be closed Aug 25 for the Maulidur Rasul public holiday.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) will release the July Producer Price Index (PPI) and more detailed July external trade figures on Aug 28. DoSM is also scheduled to publish the third-quarter (3Q) business tendency statistics and 2Q labour market review on Thursday.
On Aug 28, Bank Negara Malaysia will provide a detailed breakdown of its international reserves as at end-July, along with July banking statistics.
Over in the courts, the trial of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who faces seven charges of abuse of power and money laundering, continues on Aug 25, 26 and 27.
On Aug 28, the Federal Court will hear an application by a Sabah-based non-government group — the Registered Trustees of Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (Sabar) — to intervene in the Sarawak government’s petition over its petroleum rights and application to amend its petition or originating summons. At the same time, the apex court will also hear national oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s application to object to Sabar’s application to intervene.
Asian countries with an interest rate decision this week are Thailand (Aug 26), and the Philippines and South Korea (both Aug 27). A Bloomberg poll suggests that Thailand’s central bank will maintain its key interest rate, while South Korea and the Philippines will raise rates by 25 basis points (bps).
“We expect the Bank of Korea (BOK) to raise the base rate by a further 25bps to 3% at this meeting, alongside an upgrade to its annual macroeconomic forecasts,” DBS Group Research said in an outlook report on Aug 21.
However, it adds that a “hawkish hold” at this meeting cannot be ruled out either. “This view mainly reflects the recent tightening in financial market conditions, driven by strong won appreciation and heightened [stock market] volatility. The BOK could therefore keep rates unchanged … while signalling the possibility of a further hike at the October meeting.”
DBS Group Research says that the Philippine central bank is likely to raise the benchmark rate by 25bps to 5%, noting that recent communication from the governor had focused on inflation risks, despite readings coming off recent highs and 2Q growth slowing sharply. “Officials would likely prefer to see a more convincing disinflationary trend before drawing a pause,” it observed.
Meanwhile, South Korea will also release its July trade data on Aug 28.
Singapore will announce its July inflation data on Aug 24 and will issue July industrial production data on Aug 26.
In Japan, figures for the leading composite index and coincident composite index for June will be out on Aug 25, as will the nationwide department store sales data for July. The country will release July PPI for services on Aug 26; bond trading data on Aug 27; and the Tokyo consumer price index for August and the jobless rate in July on Aug 28.
China will release July industrial profits data on Aug 27, while India will put out July industrial production figures on Aug 28.
The US will release its second reading of 2Q gross domestic product (GDP) data on Aug 26. The first reading showed that GDP increased at an annual rate of 1.5%, slowing down from a 2.1% increase in the first quarter.
Other macroeconomic data out from the US include July new home sales and the August Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index (Aug 25); July personal income and spending, and durable goods orders (Aug 26); and July advanced goods trade and wholesale inventories (Aug 27).
Nvidia Corp
, the world’s most valuable artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor company, is due to report its fiscal 2Q results early on Aug 27, Malaysian time.
Meanwhile, investors will continue to follow geopolitical developments in the Middle East. “US Treasury Secretary [Scott] Bessent announced that he will hold a press conference on Aug 24 to discuss ‘exactly what we’re going to do’ about Iran, while adding that the Trump administration’s plan to crush Iran’s economy will likely negate the need for the US to wage major military operations. Of great interest will be if the US will carry through the threat to ramp up pressure on Iran by targeting Iran’s economic partners, in particular on China, which is the main buyer of Iranian oil,” UOB Global Economics & Markets Research said in an outlook report last week.
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