Asean, which has faced a series of global uncertainties, has emerged from a quiet corner of the global economy to become central to it, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

From currency shocks to global contagion, Asean has seen it all, the prime minister said in his keynote address at the gala dinner in conjunction with Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship of the Finance Track here on Wednesday.

Asean emerges as a central player in global economy after overcoming series of adversities — Anwar

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s trip to see President Xi Jinping will offer a chance to swap notes on a common problem: how to respond to an increasingly unreliable US.

Sanchez, who is due in Beijing on Friday, will be the first European leader to visit China since President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on most of the world. With agreements due to be signed in areas including pharmaceuticals, agricultural and medical products, Sanchez can argue that Spain is the go-to partner for China in Europe at a time of growing economic uncertainty.

Spain pushing for EU pivot to China to counter Trump tariffs

Spain will pursue closer trade ties with China in the interests of its citizens and of the EU, its agriculture minister Luis Planas said on Wednesday, rejecting a US warning that moving closer to the Asian country would be "cutting your own throat".

Spain defends closer trade ties with China after US warns against 'cutting own throat'

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the administration is considering plans to offer assistance to farmers amid worries that the US-China trade war will have a disastrous effect on American agricultural producers.

US weighs farmer bailout as China retaliation threatens exports

CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd rejected accusations it failed to pay about 1.2 billion balboas (US$1.2 billion or RM5.4 billion) to the Panamanian state over the concession contract to run the two key ports in the Central American country.

CK Hutchison rejects accusations over Panama Ports payments

KUALA LUMPUR (April 9): Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made news on Wednesday;

AMMB Holdings Bhd's (KL:AMBANK) group chief financial officer Shafiq Abdul Jabbar is stepping down “to pursue other professional opportunities”. Industry sources say Shafiq ...

AMMB, KIP REIT, Khee San, Sapura Energy, Jati Tinggi, AWC, Hibiscus Petroleum, HHRG

China on Wednesday issued a risk alert for Chinese tourists travelling to the US, according to a statement from the culture and tourism ministry.

China issues risk alert for tourists travelling to US

The angry mutterings at the Permian Basin Petroleum Association’s “Spring Swing” golf tournament this week weren’t all about missed putts or lost balls. The Texas oilmen on the fairways had a more serious concern: The president they helped elect was tanking oil prices.

Texas wildcatters impatient with Trump as oil prices tank

When the 24% reciprocal tariff US President Trump imposed on Malaysia on April 9 takes effect, Malaysia would face the biggest economic threat since we transitioned from an agricultural and commodity exporting country to a manufacturing exporting country in the 1980s. The reciprocal tariff would bulldoze all the economic prosperity that Malaysia has generated since then, rendering us a hollowed industrial ecosystem with a high unemployment rate.

How Malaysia’s manufacturing industries can survive Trump’s reciprocal tariff

Wall Street's main indexes inched higher on Wednesday as investors lapped up cheaper technology stocks in a choppy session that remained centered on tariff moves as China retaliated with more levies on US goods.

Tech shares lift Wall Street amid escalating US-China tariff war

AMMB Holdings Bhd's (KL:AMBANK) group chief financial officer Shafiq Abdul Jabbar is stepping down “to pursue other professional opportunities”,&nbsp;the banking group said in a bourse filing on Wednesday.

AMMB CFO to step down, said to be joining Maybank

Cuckoo International (MAL) Bhd said on Wednesday it is delaying its Bursa Malaysia listing by two months due to the current global market volatility.

Cuckoo International delays Bursa listing to June amid market rout

KUALA LUMPUR (April 9): A lawyer is challenging the constitutionality of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) and its power to appoint judges, arguing that the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 is unconstitutional. &nbsp;

Lawyer launches constitutional challenge against Judicial Appointments Commission's judge appointment power 

The High Court on Wednesday recorded a consent judgement between 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), SRC International Sdn Bhd, along with several other companies, and Shabnam Naraindas Daswani, where the Singaporean national was sued along with Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

1MDB withdraws suit against Singaporean Shabnam in US$346m Rosmah luxury goods case

Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) is looking to exit its positions in legacy investments, allowing it to strengthen other asset classes, including fixed income, said its deputy president and group chief executive officer Datuk Rick Ramli.

PNB looking to quit legacy investments to strengthen portfolio

Reach Ten Holdings Bhd is pushing ahead with its initial public offering (IPO) — the first Main Market&nbsp;listing for a Sarawak-based company in 15 years — against a worldwide market downturn.

Reach Ten pushes ahead with Main Market IPO, first Sarawak firm listing in 15 years

Emphasising a people-first approach,&nbsp;Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (KL:LSH) non-executive chairman Tan Sri Lim&nbsp;Keng&nbsp;Cheng said his vision for the Kuala Lumpur Tower is grounded in compassion and continuity, particularly in safeguarding the livelihoods of all existing staff.

LSH Capital chairman refutes KL Tower staff replacement rumours

KIP Real Estate Investment Trust (KL:KIPREIT) is acquiring four retail properties worth RM118 million in Kuala Selangor&nbsp;and Kuantan, Pahang, marking a strategic suburban expansion.

KIP REIT to acquire RM118m worth of suburban retail assets, boosting portfolio to RM1.5b

China retaliated against new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump by announcing it would raise duties on US goods, roiling markets and deepening a trade war between the world’s largest economies.

China raises tariffs on US goods to 84% as trade rift worsens

Glove counters on Bursa Malaysia surged in early trade on Wednesday, buoyed by hopes of a trade diversion from China to Malaysia amid escalating US-China tariff tensions — but the rally fizzled out by market close, with most stocks paring earlier gains.

Glove stocks pare early gains as US-China tariff drama unfolds

(April 9):&nbsp;Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd&nbsp;said the uncertainty stemming from US President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs is making it difficult to exit private assets, as it reviews its portfolio.

Khazanah MD says US tariffs uncertainty makes it hard to exit private assets

The sweeping United States (US) tariffs will be credit negative for the Asia-Pacific (Apac), but lower-tariff countries such as Malaysia, India and the Philippines may gain market share through trade triangulation to serve the US market, according to Moody’s Ratings.

Malaysia among countries that could boost market share as US tariffs shift Apac trade — Moody’s

The drugs and firearms trial involving Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s former research officer Muhammad Yusoff Rawther took a turn at the High Court on Wednesday, following questions over how the front passenger door of his Nissan Teana could be opened, after he had previously failed to do so using the car’s remote control.

Questions arise as to how front passenger door to Yusoff Rawther's car could be opened

Oil prices fell to a four-year low on Wednesday while several commodities, including coffee, tumbled as the trade war between China and the US intensified.

Oil hits four-year low, coffee falls as trade war escalates

(April 9):&nbsp;The owners of Edotco Group Sdn Bhd&nbsp;are seeking a financial adviser to help with a sale that could value the Malaysian telecommunication tower company at about US$3 billion (RM13.49 billion) including debt, people familiar with the matter said.

Axiata said to seek adviser for Edotco sale — Bloomberg

Ray Dalio warned that investors are too narrowly fixated on tariffs and not paying enough attention to the bigger “once-in-a-lifetime” breakdown occurring in major monetary, political and geopolitical orders.&nbsp;

Billionaire Ray Dalio sees once-a-lifetime collapse in economic, political order

KUALA LUMPUR (April 9): Specialty chemicals manufacturer SumiSaujana Group Bhd (KL:SUMI) announced on Wednesday that it will continue its overseas expansion into the Middle East and North America, amid fears of a global trade war.

SumiSaujana to stay the course on overseas expansion amid global trade war fears — chairman

Malaysia is set to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit from April 15 to 17, Madani government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said.

China's Xi to visit Malaysia from April 15 to 17, says Fahmi

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he envisions reaching trade agreements with US allies that would then lay the ground for a collective approach toward Beijing to address what he described as China’s unbalanced trade structure.

Bessent sees a deal with allies, then group approach on China

Below is a summary of how key Bursa Malaysia indices and the ringgit performed on Wednesday.

FBM KLCI hits 20-month low, down 2.98% to 1,400.59 on April 9, 2025

Prolonged global supply chain disruptions in recent years have in no uncertain terms laid bare that logistics can cause immense disruption. Due to Asia's high growth prospects, these supply chain bottlenecks could derail the potential of the various national economies throughout the continent.

Epicor