Rubber glove counters on Bursa Malaysia rallied broadly on Thursday, lifted by higher crude oil prices and a recent price hike by China's leading glove maker Intco Medical Technology Co Ltd.

Rubber glove stocks rally as Brent crude tops US$100

Malaysian data centre operators could turn to the offshore US dollar bond market for funding “quite soon” as local banks become increasingly selective in financing a sector where data centre deals continue to grow in size, according to S&P Global Ratings.

S&P sees Malaysian data centre operators tapping offshore US dollar bonds as local banks tighten financing 

Elevated crude palm oil (CPO) prices will persist through the second half of the year, backed by tightening supply conditions that are set to boost plantation companies' earnings, according to Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB).

High CPO prices set to lift plantation companies’ earnings in 2H, says HLIB

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 7): Hotter and drier conditions from El Niño could put greater pressure on Malaysia’s electricity and water systems into 2027, according to CIMB Securities.

El Niño could worsen Malaysia’s power, water stress, says CIMB Securities

Malaysian banks may step up provisioning amid macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, limiting earnings upside ahead, an analyst said.

Malaysian banks may write down more assets, limiting earnings upside — analyst

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 3): The S&P Global Asean Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) edged down to 52.3 in August from 52.8 in July, indicating a slightly softer but still solid improvement in the region’s manufacturing sector.

Asean manufacturing growth eases slightly to 52.3 in August — S&P Global

The billions of dollars being borrowed to fund data centers in Asia are pushing banks to their limits and making them more selective about which projects to finance, according to senior bankers at Barclays Plc.

Asian data centre debt binge hitting banks’ limits, Barclays says

Double-digit medical claims growth is expected to persist in the near term following a 12.28% rise in claims inflation in 2025, driven mainly by more insured individuals seeking treatment at private hospitals.

Double-digit medical claims growth set to continue in near term, say associations

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume warned on Friday that the car sector's problems would only intensify in the coming years, arguing deep cost cuts were needed to keep Europe's top automaker afloat as it gears up for weeks of crunch talks over a planned revamp.

Volkswagen needs deep cuts to remain competitive, CEO says ahead of crunch talks

Malaysia should drive innovation by developing more specialised and higher-value rubber products, said Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.

She said the rubber industry must accelerate the adoption of digital technologies and invest in developing the talent to advance the industry in the future

Malaysia must drive innovation, develop higher-value rubber products — Noraini

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 18): Malaysia’s new vehicle registration rose in July amid a jump in sales of diesel-powered pickup trucks.

Malaysian vehicle sales up 8% in July, aggressive promotion expected to last into August — MAA

SEPANG (Aug 17): Malaysia has taken a step towards reducing its 100% dependence on imported grain maize through large-scale local production to meet domestic demand.

Local grain maize production to reduce Malaysia’s import dependence, says minister

Wilmar International is expected to see shortfalls in production in 2027-2028 compared to the second half of this year (2H2026), as risks of a prolonged dry spell in Indonesia pressure plantations.

Wilmar may face production shortfalls in 2027-2028, benefitting Malaysian planters — CIMB Securities

Malaysia, alongside Singapore and Vietnam, is emerging as one of Southeast Asia’s biggest beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence (AI) technology upcycle, according to HSBC senior Asean economist Yun Liu.

Malaysia emerges as AI tech upcycle winner, but chip ambitions face talent hurdle — HSBC

Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday that competition and liability give AI companies enough reason to act individually on safety, appearing to break from calls by leaders of top AI firms for a coordinated slowdown in AI development.

Meta's Zuckerberg says AI labs have enough incentive to build safely

(Sept 16): The US is preparing to provide Israel thousands of bombs that are among the most destructive in its arsenal, the largest single transfer of such weapons in years.

The potential arms transfer, worth as much as US$2.8 billion (RM11.3 billion) and first reported by The Washin...

US plans to provide thousands of massive weapons to Israel

(Sep 16): Koukyo Yoneta, a fifth-generation Buddhist priest in a small town in Hokkaido, was struggling to keep up with the maintenance needs of his century-old temple, so he chose a path that would have been unthinkable for his predecessors — rather than wait for his congregation to give mo...

Cash-strapped Japanese monks turn to investing as inflation worsens

SINGAPORE/LONDON (Sept 15): Government borrowing costs hit their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis on Tuesday, with 10-year U.S. Treasury yields rising above 5%, highlighting ​the tension between fast-growing global debt loads and so far resilient economic growth.

The averag...

Global bond yields hit fresh highs, raising stakes for big borrowers

Malaysia's government has asked Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air whether they could absorb AirAsia's (KL:AAGB) domestic market share, said two people with knowledge of the matter, as part of what they described as scenario planning while authorities monitor the financial health of Southeast Asia's largest low-cost airline.

Malaysia talks to rival airlines as it monitors AirAsia's financial health — Reuters

Stocks made tentative gains at the start of the Asian trading session on Wednesday as a rise in global bond yields and oil prices paused ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy decision due later in the day.

Asian markets make nervous start ahead of Fed decision

Reliance Worldwide said it agreed to a roughly US$2.9 billion (RM11.7 billion) buyout from global investment firm Brookfield, a reprieve for the Australian plumbing supplies company that is facing the impact of US tariffs and economic uncertainty.

Australia's Reliance Worldwide agrees to Brookfield's US$2.9b buyout bid

Japan posted its largest increase in imports in nearly four years in August as higher oil prices lifted energy costs, while exports rose for a 12th month on resilient semiconductor-related demand, government data showed on Wednesday.

Japan August imports jump as oil prices lift costs, exports stay firm

The amount of money South Korean retail traders claim they lost through fraud rose by a fifth to about US$250 million (RM1 billion) in the first half of 2026, according to police data seen by Reuters, as scammers exploited market swings to steal from investors.

Korean retail investors lost US$250m from scams during stock swing

Gold was steady after a two-day drop as high oil prices continued to fuel inflation concerns and keep interest-rate hike bets a near-certainty ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision later Wednesday.

Gold steadies below US$4,300 as markets await Fed rate decision

The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) said it decided not to proceed with four charges against former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after concluding that continuing the prosecution posed litigation risks that could compromise the remaining charges against him.

Pressing on with Bukhary Equity-linked charges posed risks to broader case against Muhyiddin — AGC

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

AirAsia Group, EcoWorld, KPJ, YTL Power, Cuscapi, Hextar Retail, Pestech, Butterfield FB, Crest Builder, PTT Synergy, Frontken, UUE

Malaysia's government has asked Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air whether they could absorb AirAsia's (KL:AAGB) domestic market share, said two people with knowledge of the matter, as part of what they described as scenario planning while authorities monitor the financial health of Southeast Asia's largest low-cost airline.

Eco World Development Group Bhd (KL:ECOWLD) has emerged as the top bidder for a residential site at Lorong Puntong/Sin Ming Avenue in Singapore, with an offer of S$208.1 million (RM667.62 million).

Eco World tops bids for Singapore residential site with S$208.1 mil offer

The Attorney General must provide a detailed explanation for seeking a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to discontinue part of the prosecution against former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said Democratic Action Party (DAP) national chairman Gobind Singh Deo.

Gobind calls on AG to explain decision to drop part of Muhyiddin's charges mid-trial

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended a range of Trump administration economic policies before lawmakers on Tuesday, from currency and bond market interventions to AI safety, disclosing plans to meet with his Chinese counterpart this weekend.

Bessent defends Trump economic policies, reveals plans to meet Chinese official

Meta Platforms said on Tuesday it is launching "Meta One" subscription service for better AI capabilities and new features across its social media apps, including Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.

Meta launches subscriptions with enhanced AI features

Nvidia Corp chief executive officer Jensen Huang dismissed the need for new artificial intelligence security regulations on Tuesday, arguing that market forces will help companies safely innovate.

Nvidia’s Huang says AI industry doesn’t need any new laws

The US poverty rate edged down to the lowest on record in 2025, while median household income hit a record high, the Census Bureau said on Tuesday. There were 34.5 million people in poverty in 2025, the agency said.

US poverty rate dips to lowest on record, Census Bureau says

OpenAI is working on steps to address artificial intelligence safety issues with its top competitors Anthropic PBC and Google DeepMind, escalating industry efforts to respond to a groundswell of concern that the technology poses an economic and security threat.

OpenAI says working with Anthropic, Google on AI safety

The New Zealand Superannuation Fund, one of the world’s top-performing sovereign wealth funds, returned 14.2% in the year through June, powered by a rally in global equity markets despite being underweight in outperforming tech stocks.

New Zealand’s world-beating sovereign wealth fund returns 14.2%

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is set to attend US President Donald Trump's state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Nvidia CEO to attend Trump dinner for Xi — Reuters

The US Senate failed on Tuesday to advance comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation backed by President Donald Trump in a major blow for digital asset companies and Republicans who had championed the bill for months.

US Senate fails to advance sweeping cryptocurrency bill in blow for industry

Stocks made tentative gains at the start of the Asian trading session on Wednesday as a rise in global bond yields and oil prices paused ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy decision due later in the day.

OpenAI has recently held discussions with large investors about a fresh capital raise that would increase the ChatGPT maker's valuation to about US$1.2 trillion (RM4.8 trillion) before it goes public, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

OpenAI mulls funding round at US$1.2 tril valuation ahead of IPO — report

Gold was steady after a two-day drop as high oil prices continued to fuel inflation concerns and keep interest-rate hike bets a near-certainty ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision later Wednesday.

The amount of money South Korean retail traders claim they lost through fraud rose by a fifth to about US$250 million (RM1 billion) in the first half of 2026, according to police data seen by Reuters, as scammers exploited market swings to steal from investors.

The US Justice Department on Tuesday urged a federal court to require states seeking to block Paramount Skydance's US$110 billion (RM444.9 billion) takeover of Warner Bros Discovery to post a "proper bond" covering the costs of any delay in completing the deal.

US DOJ backs bond demand in Paramount-Warner Bros antitrust fight

Oil prices fell on Wednesday after an unexpected build in US crude inventories, while investors assessed supply risks after Saudi Arabia suspended oil loadings at its Yanbu port following an attack on its East-West pipeline to the Red Sea.

Oil falls as US crude inventories rise despite Saudi supply concerns

SINGAPORE/LONDON (Sept 15): Government borrowing costs hit their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis on Tuesday, with 10-year U.S. Treasury yields rising above 5%, highlighting ​the tension between fast-growing global debt loads and so far resilient economic growth.

The averag...

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