Grab Holdings Ltd is moving forward with its attempt to take over GoTo Group, according to people familiar with the matter, who said the Singaporean ride and delivery firm has begun due diligence on its Indonesian rival.

Grab said to move forward with talks to acquire rival GoTo

Indonesian ride-hailing and food delivery provider GoTo Group forecast earnings for this year above analysts’ estimates, a sign of confidence as it battles intensifying competition from Grab Holdings Ltd.

GoTo earnings forecast tops estimates as cost cuts kick in

GoTo earnings forecast tops estimates after cost cuts kick in

Salesforce Inc plans to invest US$1 billion (RM4.43 billion) in Singapore over the next five years, joining other US technology companies in betting on growth in Southeast Asia.

Salesforce to invest US$1b in Singapore to grow products including AI platform

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto ordered ride-hailing firms including GoTo Group and Grab Holdings Ltd to give holiday bonuses to their drivers as the country nears its biggest annual holiday.

Indonesia tells Grab, GoTo to give drivers holiday bonuses

Deepfakes of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong are circulating online and being used to sell cryptocurrency, money-making schemes and permanent residency application services, the country’s leader said on Friday.

Deepfakes of Singapore PM used to sell crypto, residency programme

Investigators hired by the board of eFishery Pte have determined the Indonesian startup is in far worse shape than they previously thought, and that investors are likely to get back less than 10 cents for every dollar they invested, according to documents seen by Bloomberg News.

SoftBank, Temasek among eFishery investors facing near wipeout

Grab Holdings Ltd shares plunged after it predicted full-year revenue that trailed estimates, suggesting caution around a Southeast Asian ride-hailing and food delivery market where GoTo Group remains a formidable rival.

Grab shares dive as weak guidance casts spotlight on intense competition

eFishery Pte is eliminating more than 1,000 jobs, or about 90% of the workforce, as the Indonesian agritech company suspected of fraud weighs a potential liquidation.

eFishery cuts about 90% of jobs as potential liquidation looms

(Feb 4): Grab Holdings Ltd and GoTo Group have accelerated merger talks and target a deal this year, seeking to end years of losses in Southeast Asia’s competitive internet market.

Grab, GoTo accelerate merger talks, aim for deal in 2025 — Bloomberg

For a small domestic-focused bank, Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd (KL:ABMB) has managed to rack up admirable growth in the last two years by playing to its strategy of doubling down on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) — its niche business — while firing up the consumer and corporate banking businesses that had been lagging.

Can Alliance Bank keep up its strong growth momentum?

Information technology company MDT Innovations Sdn Bhd's founder Liew Choon Lian has ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Systech Bhd (KL:SYSTECH).

Liew Choon Lian ceases to be substantial shareholder in Systech

A dollar gauge is on track for its worst performance during the first 100 days of a US presidency in data going back to the Nixon era, when America abandoned the gold standard and switched to a free-floating exchange rate.

Dollar poised for worst first 100 days of presidency since Nixon

Wall Street's main indices were on track for weekly gains on Friday, though they struggled for direction on the day as investors navigated contradictory messages on US-China trade and a mixed spate of corporate earnings.

Wall Street set for weekly gains with trade signals, earnings in focus

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged Malaysians not to be affected by negative rhetoric, including during the Ayer Kuning state by-election, but to instead focus on the nation’s growing achievements and its future prospects.

Anwar urges Malaysians to focus on nation’s future, not be affected by negative rhetoric

The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) seized, froze and forfeited assets and issued compounds worth over RM285 million last year in an effort to combat crimes involving corruption.

MACC seized, froze and forfeited assets worth over RM285 mil last year — Azam Baki

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail is optimistic that Barisan Nasional (BN) will emerge victorious at Saturday’s by-elections and retain the Ayer Kuning state seat.

Pahang MB optimistic about BN retaining Ayer Kuning seat

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made a personal appeal to Singaporeans, urging them to vote for candidates who will prioritise the nation and its people above all else, and to choose the best team capable of leading the country through a period of global uncertainty.

Singapore GE2025: PAP, oppositions make pitches in first political broadcasts

The UK has agreed to collaborate with Malaysia in various fields, including technology and new energy management, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

UK agrees to assist Malaysia in technology, new energy — Fadillah

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.

Bina Puri, Pos Malaysia, Petronas Gas, Sarawak Oil Palms, Chin Teck Plantations, CTOS Digital, UEM Edgenta, Taghill, Catcha Digital, Astro Malaysia, Iskandar Waterfront City and Key Alliance

Foreign investors have sold US$63 billion (RM275.8 billion) of US equities since the start of March, Goldman Sachs strategists estimate, noting that the data from high-frequency fund flows suggest that European investors have been driving the selling, while other regions have continued to buy US stocks.

Foreign investors dumped US$63b in US equities, Goldman says

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.

Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd has publicly reprimanded Reach Energy Bhd (KL:REACH) and seven directors, for failing to promptly announce that the company had triggered the Practice Note 17 (PN17) criteria under listing rules, after its auditors raised concerns about its ability to continue as a going concern.

Bursa reprimands Reach Energy, fines six directors over PN17 disclosure delay

A senior Morgan Stanley trading executive’s abrupt departure last month was triggered by an internal investigation into his interactions with colleagues, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Morgan Stanley fired head of a trading unit after conduct probe

Key Alliance Group Bhd's (KL:KGROUP) executive chairman Datuk Wira Farhash Wafa Salvador has emerged as a substantial shareholder in the loss-making company.

Farhash Wafa Salvador emerges as substantial shareholder in Key Alliance

ACE-Market listed LYC Healthcare Bhd (KL:LYC) has made the full payment of RM600,000 to SOG Mummy &amp; Baby Centre Pte Ltd, which had served a winding-up petition to the company.

LYC Healthcare settles RM600,000 outstanding payment with winding-up petitioner

The World Bank has projected Malaysia’s economic growth to slow in 2025, citing the challenging global environment.

World Bank projects Malaysia’s 2025 GDP growth at 3.9%

Wall Street's main indices were on track for weekly gains on Friday, though they struggled for direction on the day as investors navigated contradictory messages on US-China trade and a mixed spate of corporate earnings.

Large-scale construction of the Mutiara Line light rail transit (LRT) project is set to begin in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2026, said Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim.

MRT Corp says large-scale construction of Penang Mutiara Line LRT to begin in 4Q of next year 

Information technology company MDT Innovations Sdn Bhd's founder Liew Choon Lian has ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Systech Bhd (KL:SYSTECH).

Iskandar Waterfront City Bhd (KL:IWCITY) has requested another six months from tycoon Tan Sri Lim Kang Hoo to deliberate its potential merger with Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd (IWH).

IWCity seeks another six-month extension to deliberate IWH merger

Bitcoin’s leading a rebound in risk assets, with the original digital currency on pace for its biggest weekly increase since just after the US presidential election victory of Donald Trump.

Bitcoin outpaces stocks in biggest weekly gain since US election

Microsoft Corp is planning to use third-party firms to handle more sales of software to small and mid-size customers, echoing efforts by its peers to adjust sales strategies in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

Microsoft to contract out more software selling in the age of AI

Catcha Digital Bhd (KL:CATCHA) is raising up to RM35.32 million through a renounceable rights issue and private placement to partially fund around RM111 million worth of acquisitions and strengthen its financial reserves.

Catcha Digital makes cash call to raise RM35.32 mil for acquisitions and reserves

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged Malaysians not to be affected by negative rhetoric, including during the Ayer Kuning state by-election, but to instead focus on the nation’s growing achievements and its future prospects.

Congress will likely exert more authority over US trade policy if the White House doesn’t demonstrate “significant progress” in the ongoing tariff negotiations with dozens of countries in the coming weeks, says New York Republican Representative Mike Lawler.

Lawler says Congress should intervene if Trump trade war drags on

US consumer sentiment fell to one of the lowest readings on record and long-term inflation expectations climbed to the highest since 1991 on fears of the economic fallout from tariffs.

US consumer sentiment slides while inflation expectations jump

A dollar gauge is on track for its worst performance during the first 100 days of a US presidency in data going back to the Nixon era, when America abandoned the gold standard and switched to a free-floating exchange rate.

Malaysia’s temporary medical centre located in the 700th Anniversary Field in Parami Ward, Sagaing Region in Myanmar is offering eight medical services.

Malaysia's temporary medical centre in Myanmar offering eight medical services

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are future technologies that must be mastered from the school level.

Olivia Poh

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Olivia Poh

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