<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>(Nov 2):&nbsp;Global investment firm Brookfield has tapped KB Kookmin Bank to be lead arranger for South Korea’s largest-ever syndicated loan that will help finance the purchase of AI chips to be used by domestic tech giant Naver Corp.</p></div>

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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The proceeds from the financing will be used to procure AI computing infrastructure, including graphic processing units (GPU), KB said in a statement Sunday. The 10.7 trillion won (US$8 billion) loan is part of a larger package worth 12.6 trillion won, according to the bank.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The deal marks South Korea’s first sizable GPU financing and the AI chips will be leased to Naver Cloud on a long-term basis, according to the bank. Banks and private credit funds in Asia are expanding AI financing to cover not just the construction of data centres but also the hardware that powers them, such as chips.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>A special purpose company established by Brookfield will procure the AI infrastructure. Other major Korean financial institutions are also participating in the deal, according to KB.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>Uploaded by Liza Shireen Koshy</em></p></div>
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(Nov 2): Global investment firm Brookfield has tapped KB Kookmin Bank to be lead arranger for South Korea’s largest-ever syndicated loan that will help finance the purchase of AI chips to be used by domestic tech giant Naver Corp.

Brookfield taps KB Kookmin Bank to lead Korea’s first GPU loan at US$8 bil

The Middle East and Gulf region should not become a battleground for great-power rivalry and China is willing to work with Arab nations to achieve lasting peace, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Oman's sultan on Monday.

Middle East shouldn't become battleground for great power rivalry, says China's Xi

GDANSK (Nov 2): French train maker Alstom cut its full-year outlook again on Monday, after execution problems on its Coradia Max platform in Germany drove half-year profitability sharply lower and worsened cash flow.

Alstom slashes profitability target, warns of €1.5 bil cash burn

Gold prices bounced on Monday, after a sell-off in the previous session, as weaker oil prices tempered inflation concerns, while investors assessed comments from the Federal Reserve (Fed) for clues on the path of US interest rates.

Gold rises on softer oil as markets parse Fed signals

Alphabet Inc is offering euro bonds for the second time this year, with a seven-part sale in the latest effort by a hyperscaler to fund artificial intelligence.

Alphabet kicks off sale of its second euro bond this year

(Nov 2): The North Korean group accused of the world’s largest-ever crypto heist is a state-sponsored collective of elite hackers, groomed from an early age to hunt for “big game”. Artificial intelligence has now provided them with a powerful new tool to swell Kim Jong Un’s coffers and fund his military expansion.

North Korea’s hackers supercharge crypto heists with AI skills

Oil prices slipped more than 3% on Monday after Iranian and Qatari officials held a third straight day of talks aimed at pushing for a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Oil prices ease 3% on optimism for Qatari-led talks on ending Iran war

Summary

•    JCorp and CVC, together with the EPF, are shareholders of the fast-food businesses through Massive Equity Sdn Bhd

•    Massive Equity wholly owns...

JCorp, CVC said to eye exit from KFC and Pizza Hut

SEOUL (Nov 2): South Korea's financial regulator on Monday urged local cryptocurrency exchanges to tighten security measures to prevent hacking attacks, after a US$6.3 billion theft at Binance last week.

South Korea urges cryptocurrency exchanges to tighten security

As Malaysia’s tropical climate takes its toll on home façades, Nippon Paint Malaysia introduces Weatherbond® Ultimate Anti-Dirt, an ultra-premium exterior paint featuring its 5X Power Anti-Dirt Formulation to help homeowners maintain cleaner walls and longer-lasting protection

Fresh façade: How to keep outside walls cleaner, longer

BP plc completed a deal to offload its Castrol lubricants business, giving the oil and gas major US$6 billion (RM24.4 billion) to pay down debt as it works to repair the balance sheet.

BP gets US$6 bil to pay down debt as Castrol deal closes

<p>More than one-third of Malaysian tertiary graduates are working in jobs that do not fully utilise the qualifications they spent years earning. At the same time, employers are saying they cannot find workers with the skills they need. These two phenomena may appear contradictory. Yet, both are true at once. In Part 2 of our three-part series on education in Malaysia this week, we examine what this skill mismatch reveals about our education system.</p>


Tong's Portfolio — More degrees, wrong skills: Malaysia’s graduate mismatch

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): The government will reject applications for new manufacturing licences that perpetuate heavy reliance on low-skilled foreign labour, according to Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.</p>


Govt to reject new manufacturing licences premised on heavy foreign labour reliance — trade minister

<p>RHB Bank Bhd's (KL:RHBBANK) dividend payout appears secure for the year with the fourth-largest bank by assets unfazed by rising bond yields, an analyst said on Monday.</p>


RHB Bank’s dividends intact, not swayed by rising bond yields — analyst

<p>Share markets bounced in Asia on Monday as investors hoped for Apple earnings later in the session to provide some relief from artificial intelligence (AI) cash-burn worries, while oil prices slid after talks continued between Iranian and Qatari mediators.</p>


Stocks bounce in Asia as Apple earnings near, oil falls

<p>President Donald Trump said a US-Canada trade deal is “very close” after talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said both sides would work on a “mutually beneficial” outcome in the weeks ahead.&nbsp;</p>


Trump says US-Canada trade deal is close after talks with Carney

<p>Oil prices slipped more than 3% on Monday after Iranian and Qatari officials held a third straight day of talks aimed at pushing for a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran.</p>


<p>Are Malaysian workers underpaid? It is an important question. But citing a relatively low labour share does not answer it.</p>


Tong's Portfolio — We repeat: A smaller share of GDP does not mean workers are underpaid

<p>The Sabah portion of the Pan Borneo Highway (PBH) will go down in the Malaysian record books as one of the costliest road infrastructure projects in the region.</p>


Frankly Speaking: The mind-boggling cost of Sabah’s Pan Borneo Highway

<p>The Penang government has received no fresh request from Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) to reauction a six-acre (2.42-hectare) plot of land near Gurney Drive after an earlier auction failed to attract bidders.</p>


CZC no longer cash-strapped, no request for reauction of land near Gurney Drive, says Penang CM

<p>The Malaysian passport renewal service through the MyOnline passport system will offer a choice of five- or 10-year validity periods starting from Monday.</p>


Five- and 10-year passport renewal options available from Monday via MyOnline system

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is actively advancing key strategic projects to build capacity and accelerate commercial expansion.</p>


Malaysia Aviation Group advances strategic projects to drive commercial expansion

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): October saw renewed growth in output and new orders, signalling a fresh improvement in Malaysia's manufacturing health, according to the latest S&amp;P Global purchasing managers index (PMI) data.</p>


Malaysian manufacturing sector regains growth in October — PMI data

<p>Foreign institutions returned to net buying on Bursa Malaysia, recording US$323.1 million (RM1.3&nbsp;billion)&nbsp;in net inflows, according to MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB).</p>


Foreign investors return to net buying with US$323 mil net inflows last week — MBSB IB

<p>CelcomDigi Bhd’s (KL:CDB) core earnings for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2026 (FY2026) to FY2028 are expected to take a small hit, between 1% to 4%, following an assignment to boost its network capacity and coverage, according to CIMB Securities.</p>


CIMB Securities trims CelcomDigi’s FY2026-FY2028 earnings forecasts on spectrum cost

<p>Malaysia's strong export performance and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows may not translate into equivalent gains for the ringgit, as profit repatriation by multinational companies and growing investments abroad offset some of the benefits, according to HSBC Malaysia.</p>


Profit repatriation, AI investment risks could limit ringgit gains — HSBC

<p>Here's a heads up on what to look out for today.</p>


YOUR DAY AHEAD: Nov 2, 2026 

<p>CTOS Digital Bhd (KL:CTOS) said on Monday that all credit reporting services affected by a cybersecurity breach have been restored following the implementation of remediation measures and enhanced security controls.</p>


CTOS fully restores services following cybersecurity breach

<p>The main event for the week ahead locally is Bank Negara Malaysia’s policy decision on Thursday (Nov 5). Eight of nine economists polled expect the overnight policy rate (OPR) to stay at 2.75%. UOB economists Julia Goh and Jasrine Koke expect a 25-basis-point (bp) hike to 3%, citing the policy guidance shift in September, stronger-than-expected 3Q2026 advance gross domestic product (GDP) and the expansionary Budget 2027, which includes a higher minimum wage, more cash assistance and tax relief.</p>


The Week Ahead: All eyes on Bank Negara’s OPR decision and US midterm elections

<p>Three companies linked to businessman Datuk Ng Meng Kee took a nosedive last Thursday and Friday, prompting Bursa Malaysia to issue them with unusual market activity queries.</p>


Frankly Speaking: Will the nosedive of three stocks trigger a wider speculative sell-off?

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<p><span style="color:#c0392b;"><strong>Summary</strong></span></p>

<p>•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Menara Tun Perak’s listed book value is around RM65.87 million. The building is currently on a 10-year triple-net lease deal with PNB, which generates a minimum rental in...