KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Petronas’ first bond issuance in four years is expected to attract strong investor demand, potentially tightening spreads, lowering yields, and reducing its borrowing costs, according to CreditSights, a research arm of Fitch.

Petronas’ first bond issuance in four years likely to spike demand, making it cheaper to raise funds — CreditSights

Concerns are mounting over potential US restrictions on semiconductor exports, which could disrupt supply chains and impact Malaysia’s trade balance, according to the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO).

Malaysia’s trade at risk amid US semiconductor tariffs, research group says

Shares of Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd (KL:ASTRO) hit another record low on Wednesday, as investors remained wary of the pay-television operator’s outlook, amid softening advertising expenditure and declining subscription.

Astro tests new record low as results disappoint, analysts flag uncertain future

YTL Power International Bhd’s (KL:YTLPOWR) artificial intelligence data centre (AI DC) segment could contribute up to RM900 million to its net earnings by mid-2027, provided that it achieves full capacity offtake, according to CGS International.

AI data centre segment could contribute RM900m to YTL Power’s earnings by mid-2027 — CGS International

Shares of Master-Pack Group Bhd (KL:MASTER), a paper packaging manufacturer, rallied to a new record high on Tuesday in highly active trade.

Master-Pack extends rally to new record high in active trade

Analysts have flagged US “Liberation Day” reciprocal tariffs as a key risk to Malaysia’s economic outlook after Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) better-than expected projections for the economy.

US 'Liberation Day' tariffs a key risk to Malaysia’s economic outlook — analysts

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said on Monday that it will facilitate financial sector innovation by leveraging emerging technologies such as asset tokenisation.

BNM governor says engaging global regulators to explore blockchain innovation for financial sector

Malaysia’s central bank on Monday said that the current level of overnight policy rate remains supportive and in line with its outlook on economic growth and inflation.

Current policy rate supportive, in line with outlook on growth, inflation — BNM

KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): The Ministry of Health (MOH) will review the regulatory oversight of private hospitals as part of efforts to promote greater price transparency and curb medical inflation, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Health Ministry will review private hospital regulations to improve price transparency, says BNM

KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): The Malaysian ringgit could be more volatile this year as capital flows fluctuate sharply with global policy uncertainties, the central bank cautioned.

Ringgit may see heightened volatility this year amid global policy uncertainties, BNM cautions

(March 27): Junk bonds don’t seem quite so junky anymore. US investors are piling into an asset class that has grown a little safer in recent years, and in recent weeks has drawn investors seeking a safe harbor from market turbulence.

Last year, about 51% of the US high-yield index was ...

Junk bonds win over investors seeking calm from market storm

The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) anticipates a surge in traffic to 2.77 million vehicles per day on major expressways, during the upcoming Aidilfitri holiday.

Aidilfitri: 2.77 mil vehicles expected on major expressways

Borrowers are piling into bond markets to get deals done ahead of US President Donald Trump’s plans to impose global tariffs on April 2.

Bond markets draw rush of issuers before Trump’s tariffs hit

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): AMMB Holding Bhd (KL:AMBANK) may pay out higher than expected dividends when the sixth-largest Malaysian bank by assets announces its strong results for the current financial year.

AMMB may pay higher than expected dividend, analysts flag

Municipal bonds issued for riskier projects like charter schools and small colleges may break a 12-year record for distress as pandemic aid dries up and inflation raises the cost of labour and supplies.

Charter schools, colleges push muni debt distress near record

Analysts have trimmed their forecasts for Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) after weaker-than-expected earnings for the first half ended Jan 31, 2025 (1HFY2025).

Analysts trim Gamuda earnings forecasts after 1H miss

DBS Group Holdings Ltd’s incoming chief executive officer Tan Su Shan is stepping into the role at a time of strength rather than adversity, says Morningstar Singapore’s senior equity analyst Michael Makdad. Her challenge, writes Makdad in a Wednesday (March 26) commentary, will be to navigate the bank through “potentially more difficult times” while striving to maintain its high levels of profitability.

DBS’ incoming CEO Tan Su Shan should focus on tech stability, growing Asean footprint: Morningstar

Over the next two decades, four major structural trends will converge, creating what we (the authors) describe as a “perfect storm” for senior citizens in Malaysia. We believe that this perfect storm requires fundamental solutions, which we will describe in this article.

State Of Health: Reverse annuity solution for seniors with catastrophic illnesses

China has told state-owned firms to hold off on any new collaboration with businesses linked to Li Ka-shing and his family, according to people familiar with the matter, after the Hong Kong billionaire irked Beijing with his plan to sell two Panama ports to a global consortium.

China said to pause new deals with Li Ka-shing, family following plan to sell Panama ports to BlackRock-led consortium

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Ekuiti Nasional Bhd, Malaysia’s state-owned private equity firm also known as Ekuinas, said its chief executive officer Datuk Syed Yasir Arafat Syed Abd Kadir will step down on March 31.

Ekuinas announces CEO Syed Yasir Arafat to step down on March 31

Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas), which was formed in 2009, will be put under Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) as part of the government’s plan to consolidate the bumiputera-focused investment institutions.&nbsp;

Ekuinas to be under PNB’s purview, say sources  

China has told state-owned firms to hold off on any new collaboration with businesses linked to Li Ka-shing and his family, according to people familiar with the matter, after the Hong Kong billionaire irked Beijing with his plan to sell two Panama ports to a global consortium.

US President Donald Trump said he would consider lowering tariff rates imposed on China to secure Beijing’s support for a sale of the US operations of ByteDance Ltd’s social video platform TikTok to an American company.

Trump says he could cut China tariffs to secure TikTok deal

President Xi Jinping is making China’s presence more felt across the Indo-Pacific region by testing US allies on sensitive issues, as US President&nbsp;Donald Trump’s attention is taken up elsewhere.

Xi tests US allies in Indo-Pacific as Trump looks elsewhere

Used cooking oil has become an important commodity as it can be used as a base material for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which has low carbon emissions.

Used cooking oil now main commodity in production of sustainable aviation fuel

The Selangor Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has so far culled only 14,000 pigs of various categories suspected of being infected with African Swine Fever (ASF).

14,000 pigs culled so far in Selangor to curb ASF outbreak, says Veterinary Services Dept

Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT), the pension fund for the Malaysian armed forces, has declared a seven-high dividend of 5.25% for 2024.

LTAT declares seven-year high dividend of 5.25% for 2024

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): The board of directors of HHRG Bhd (KL:HHRG) has decided against convening an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) requisitioned by its largest shareholder Cfamillie Holdings Sdn Bhd to remove the board of directors of the company, and has filed a legal suit to stop it from being convened.

HHRG rejects largest shareholder’s call for EGM to remove board, files suit to stop meeting

SHAH ALAM (March 27): An AirAsia flight bound for Shenzhen, China, had to make a turnback to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 shortly after takeoff, due to a reported engine fire.

AirAsia flight to China turns back to KLIA Terminal 2 due to engine fire, lands safely

Bursa Malaysia and its subsidiaries will be closed on Monday and Tuesday (March 31 and April 1) in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri public holiday, subject to the official announcement by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal.

Bursa Malaysia, subsidiaries to close for Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Asian shares skidded with Wall Street on Thursday, while the dollar hovered near a three-week high, after US&nbsp;President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;announced new&nbsp;tariffs&nbsp;on all auto imports, ratcheting up a&nbsp;global&nbsp;trade war that risks fuelling inflation.

Stocks skid, dollar nears three-week high as Trump announces auto tariffs

Police are investigating a viral video clip depicting an unregistered organisation allegedly promoting communist ideologies in the country.

Cops probing video, organisation suspected of promoting communist ideology

US President Donald Trump signed an order to implement a 25% tariff on auto imports, expanding a trade war designed to bring more manufacturing jobs to the US and setting the stage for an even broader push on levies next week.

Trump to hit auto imports with 25% tariff in trade fight

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Petronas’ first bond issuance in four years is expected to attract strong investor demand, potentially tightening spreads, lowering yields, and reducing its borrowing costs, according to CreditSights, a research arm of Fitch.

Three days of relative peace were broken on Wall Street, with big tech driving major stock benchmarks lower, as concern about a trade war’s impact on the economy and inflation resurfaced to squelch risk appetites.

Stocks fall in late hours amid Trump auto tariffs

Analysts have trimmed their forecasts for Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) after weaker-than-expected earnings for the first half ended Jan 31, 2025 (1HFY2025).

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng Inc&nbsp;is looking to ramp up its global expansion, including investing in manufacturing plants and infrastructure, with a focus on large markets such as Europe.

Xpeng may add EV output in Europe, Latin America in growth push

More to come

Read also: 
<a href="https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/741412" target="_blank">Prasarana's 2024 public transport ridership up 24%, eyes nearly 20% jump this year</a>
...

Govt allocating RM1.9b to Prasarana for 1,660 new diesel, electric buses, says Amir Hamzah

The Atlantic released the transcript of a group chat between top US officials on Signal that inadvertently included its top editor, revealing how Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared details of timing and weapons systems to be used in attacks against militants in Yemen.

Syafiqah Salim

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Syafiqah Salim

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