This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 31, 2026 - September 6, 2026
It is a holiday-shortened week in several countries in Asia this week, including Malaysia, which is celebrating National Day on Monday (Aug 31), even as the Philippines marks National Heroes Day. Indian markets will close on Friday (Sept 4) to observe Janmastami, a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna.
Markets are likely to be pricing in their reading of interest rate trajectory from US Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh’s remarks at the Jackson Hole economic symposium in Kansas City, Wyoming, last Friday night (Aug 28) local time. The Fed has “work to do” if inflation does not move to 2%, Warsh said, raising the odds for a quarter-point rate hike when the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets in mid-September.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will be attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) annual summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from Aug 31 to Sept 1. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are among leaders scheduled to attend the summit.
Six months since the US and Israel attacked Iran on Feb 28 and sparked the ongoing Middle East conflict, questions remain over the state of the Strait of Hormuz as well as how the US plans to widen economic sanctions against Iran and its trading partners, including Beijing, which is also the biggest buyer of Iranian oil.
Last Thursday (Aug 27), Trump told reporters that he could sanction Chinese banks, even as US and Chinese officials proceed with preparations for Xi’s state visit to Washington on Sept 24 — a summit hoped to result in an extension of the one-year trade agreement reached in Busan last October. China vowed to protect its interests.
Brent crude oil rose above US$90 per barrel last Friday (Aug 28) but was hovering around US$89 a barrel at press time. Oil price watchers will be keeping a close eye on whether Venezuela is considering the possibility of leaving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec). The United Arab Emirates withdrew from Opec in May.
“A Venezuelan exit would raise fresh questions about Opec’s cohesion and ability to influence global crude markets. It could also pave the way for greater participation by international oil companies in rebuilding Venezuela’s oil industry and production capacity,” UOB Global Economics & Market Research told clients in a note dated Aug 28.
Investors keen on semiconductors will be watching for Nasdaq-listed Broadcom Inc’s earnings release early Thursday morning (Sept 3), especially after Asian semiconductor stocks climbed last week, following a stronger-than-expected earnings report from Nvidia on Aug 26.
In Kuala Lumpur, Bank Negara Malaysia’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has a rate decision due on Thursday (Sept 3).
The central bank is widely expected to hold rates unchanged at 2.75% — a level it has maintained since a pre-emptive rate cut in July 2025.
Six of seven economists polled by Bloomberg expect no change in the overnight policy rate (OPR), while one expects a 25-basis-point rate hike to 3%. UOB Bank Malaysia senior economist Julia Goh and economist Jasrine Loke are in consensus.
“Given the benign domestic inflation backdrop, uneven sectoral growth momentum, and persistent volatility in global financial markets, they expect Bank Negara to maintain its data-dependent and cautious stance, keeping the OPR unchanged at 2.75% while closely monitoring external development,” UOB said.
The Bank of Canada is also expected to hold rates unchanged at 2.25% on Wednesday (Sept 2), according to all 26 economists polled by Bloomberg.
All 15 economists polled by Bloomberg, however, expect the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to increase its policy rate by 25bps to 2.75% on Wednesday (Sept 2).
Other key economic data releases this week include the US ISM manufacturing data for August and Job Openings and Labour Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data for July on Sept 1, followed by US ISM Services Index Survey for August on Sept 3 and US Labour Market Report for August on Sept 4. The Fed’s latest Beige Book is slated for release on Sept 3, before it enters an external communications blackout period (Sept 5 to 18).
In Japan, key data releases this week include wages for July as well as consumer confidence reading and household spending for August. In the eurozone, the key data release is the preliminary August Consumer Price Index on Sept 1.
In the UK, Prime Minister Andy Burnham is scheduled to attend his inaugural Prime Minister’s Questions in parliament on Wednesday (Sept 2).
Meanwhile, the Department of Statistics Malaysia is scheduled to release its Malaysia Statistical Handbook as well as the Mining of Petroleum and Natural Gas statistics for the second quarter of 2026 on Thursday (Sept 3).
Companies that will hold their annual general meetings this week include Kumpulan Fima Bhd (KL:KFIMA) on Sept 1; THMY Holdings Bhd (KL:THMY) on Sept 2; Hartalega Holdings Bhd (KL:HARTA), Bintai Kinden Corp Bhd (KL:BINTAI) and RCE Capital Bhd (KL:RCECAP) on Sept 3; and FCW Holdings Bhd (KL:FCW) on Sept 4.
Companies holding extraordinary general meetings this week include Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd (KL:PMETAL) and Well Chip Group Bhd (KL:WELLCHIP) on Sept 3 as well as Ann Joo Resources Bhd (KL:ANNJOO) on Sept 4.
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