Technology

Massive year-end bonuses at Chinese internet, tech companies

CHINESE internet and tech companies have unveiled what they would pay as year-end bonuses, with the top payout hitting the equivalent of 10 months' salary — a significant move that industry experts said will help retain and attract high-caliber talent and enhance corporate competitiveness moving forward.

Banking

Exim Bank Malaysia inks tripartite MOUs with Turkish firms to boost bilateral trade, investment ties

KUALA LUMPUR: The signing of three partnerships between EXIM Bank Malaysia and Turkish companies has further reinforced bilateral trade and investment collaboration, while supporting the international expansion of Malaysian companies in line with Malaysia's broader industrial and trade diversification objectives.

Economy

Malaysia's wholesale, retail trade sales up 6.4% y-o-y to RM158.9bil in Nov

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's wholesale and retail trade registered total sales of RM158.9 billion in November 2025, marking a year-on-year (y-o-y) growth of 6.4 per cent.

Economy

Malaysia's IPI maintains positive momentum, rising 4.3% in Nov 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Industrial Production Index (IPI) rises 4.3 per cent year-on-year in November 2025, induced by positive momentum in all sectors, said the Department of Statistics, Malaysia (DOSM).

Markets

Asian stocks ease, dollar firms ahead of jobs report, ruling on tariffs 

SINGAPORE: Asian stocks drifted lower and the dollar stood tall on Friday ahead of a crucial jobs report, while investors girded for a Supreme Court ruling on the legality of President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariff that jolted markets last year.

Commodities

Oil prices gain on concerns about supply disruptions in Venezuela, Iran

SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose for a second day on Friday, set for their third weekly gain, on uncertainty about the future of supply from Venezuela and as Iranian unrest increases concerns about output there.

Corporate News

Iconic Worldwide unit inks tenancy deal for Batu Kawan factory

KUALA LUMPUR: Iconic Worldwide Bhd said its wholly-owned subsidiary Iconic Medicare Sdn Bhd has rented out its Batu Kawan factory in Seberang Perai, Pulau Pinang, to optical modules contract manufacturer Aperion Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd for rental revenue of at least RM75.6mil over a six year term.

Corporate News

KKB subsidiary inks RM212mil contract with PETRONAS Carigali

KUALA LUMPUR: KKB Engineering Bhd said it subsidiary OceanMight Sdn Bhd has received a RM212mil contract from PETRONAS Carigali for the provision of minor engineering, procurement and construction (ePC) of a fixed offshore structure and host tie-in at Erb West for the Belud South Greenfield Development (GFD) project.

Markets

FBM KLCI enters midday on positive footing, poised for weekly gain

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI remained positive as trading halted for the lunch break, even as traders eyed upcoming US payrolls data for signs on the health of the world's largest economy.

Economy

MARC Ratings forecasts Malaysia's economy to expand 4.3% in 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's economy is forecasted to grow by 4.3 per cent in 2026, supported by continued domestic demand and sustained investment activity, driven by rapid demand for electrical and electronic products as well as data centre infrastructure.

Economy

Affin Bank projects 4.3% GDP growth for Malaysia this year

GEORGE TOWN: Affin Bank Bhd expects Malaysia's economy to maintain its strong momentum with gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast at 4.3 per cent in 2026, following the likely 4.6 per cent expansion in 2025.

Corporate News

Brahim's to expand PIA kitchen this year, eyes rising tourist arrivals

KUALA LUMPUR: Brahim's Dewina Group of Companies (Brahim's) plans to expand its in-flight catering kitchen at Penang International Airport (PIA) this year to meet rising demand from Visit Malaysia 2026.

Markets

Bursa Malaysia bounces slightly ahead of US payrolls data

KUALA LUMPUR: Trading on Bursa Malaysia is expected to remain cautious ahead of the weekend release of US employment data that could offer more insight into the country's economic outlook and potential interest rate cuts.

Forex

Ringgit opens lower against firmer US$ ahead of US non-farm payrolls release

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened lower against the US dollar, weighed by a firmer US Dollar Index (DXY) as global markets position ahead of tonight's US non-farm payrolls release.

Aviation

Nov 2025, air passenger demand up 5.7% y-o-y - IATA

KUALA LUMPUR: Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up by 5.7 per cent in November 2025 versus the same period a year ago, while total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased 5.4 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y), said the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Commodities

Oil settles up on Venezuela news, supply worries

Oil prices climbed over 3% on Thursday after two straight days of declines, settling at a two-week high as investors assessed developments in Venezuela and worried about supplies from Russia, Iraq and Iran.

Markets

Street ends mixed as tech dips, defence stocks rally

Wall Street ended mixed on Thursday, as Nvidia and other technology stocks dipped, while defence companies advanced after President Donald Trump called for an enlarged US$1.5 trillion military budget.

Corporate News

Trading ideas: Sunway, Capital A, Kinergy, Orkim, T7 Global, Insights Analytics, Alam Maritim, Globaltec, PJBumi, IGBREIT, ISF

KUALA LUMPUR: Here is a recap of the announcements that made headlines in Corporate Malaysia.

Economy

Safeguard duties on cotton fabric imports imposed

The government has signed a regulation to impose safeguard duties on woven cotton fabrics to curb imports of the commodity in a bid to protect local industry. Finance Ministry Regulation No. 98/2025 was signed by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on Dec 22, with the tariffs set to take effect soon.

Markets

Global bond sales hit record to kick off 2026

Global bond sales are having their busiest ever start to a year as borrowers of every stripe seize on investors' insatiable appetite for risk.