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Corporate News

Kinergy powers up

PETALING JAYA: Kinergy Advancement Bhd is emerging as a new name in Malaysia's independent power producer (IPP) space.

Plantations

If I were Ganoderma on oil palm trees

GANODERMA boninense is the oil palm industry's Public Enemy No. 1 – quietly costing more than RM2bil a year. It doesn't shout.

Commodities

Calmer time forecast for palm oil this year

PETALING JAYA: After a volatile 2025 marked by sharp price swings and shifting trade flows, RHB Research is expecting the palm oil market to enter a more balanced phase this year, albeit one still shaped by geopolitics, biofuel policies and weather risks.

Property

Real estate sector set for upswing this year

PETALING JAYA: There is plenty of positivity in the real estate sector in 2026, with factors such as a solid economic outlook, buoyant property transactions and a steady stream of infrastructure projects among the key catalysts.

Commodities

Gold’s shine to sustain

PETALING JAYA: Gold is poised to glitter as it enters 2026, with the yellow metal showing strong momentum amid geopolitical risks, expectations of lower US interest rates and consistent global central banks' demand for the bullion.

Economy

Yayasan Peneraju unveils new basic package to accelerate Bumiputera AI upskilling

KUALA LUMPUR: Yayasan Peneraju (YP) is introducing the latest addition to its financing scheme, the 'Basic Package', available from Jan 9, 2026, aimed at accelerating Bumiputera upskilling in artificial intelligence (AI) training.

Star Biz7

DIY homes: A growing trend

As living costs continue to rise and salaries remain stagnant, more people are turning to do-it-yourself (DIY) projects at home rather than calling in the experts. Electrical and plumbing works aside, unless one is a qualified electrician or plumber, DIY home projects are significantly growing in Malaysia.

Star Biz7

More fresh paint forl aneways

Once dismissed as dingy service corridors, Malaysia's urban alleyways are quietly being reimagined as lively public spaces. With colourful murals, small independent businesses and small pockets of historical significance tucked into narrow lanes, these spaces show that even the most overlooked parts of a city can take on new meaning.

Star Biz7

Why speculation hurts homebuyers

Today, the Malaysian housing market appears steady on the surface but the reality beneath is far more uneven. Growing up, the older generation often advised their children to secure at least one property as a hedge against inflation.

Forex

Ringgit likely to trade within 4.04-4.07 range next week

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit is expected to trade within the 4.04-4.07 range next week with the balance of risks tilted modestly towards a firmer ringgit as global investors rotate away from the dollar and back into emerging-market carry and growth exposure, an analyst said.

Short Position

Semiconductors still in US crosshairs

After a seeming detente by the US government toward China in the ongoing tech war, an announcement last week served as a reminder that Washington remains very hawkish when it comes to anything related to semiconductors.

Star Biz7

The big catch

Bursa Malaysia had a banner year for listings in 2025, chalking up 60 debuts – the most in over a decade – and nearly RM30bil in fresh market capitalisation. But the money raised told a different story, with initial public offering (IPO) proceeds easing to RM6bil from RM7.4bil.

Short Position

The puzzling MMAG premium exit that wasn’t

Datuk Seri Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak's departure from MMAG Holdings Bhd initially appears to be a well-timed exit.

Star Biz7

Banking on trust

Today's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face an increasingly challenging landscape, marked by rising costs, unpredictable global economic conditions and rapidly changing customer demands.

Star Biz7

Qipao elegance unveiled

A new exhibition at the Shanghai Museum brings to the limelight the iconic Chinese qipao (cheongsam), featuring pop singer Jeff Chang's collection and donated garments from socialite Chiang Shih-yun (1912 to 2016), also known as Aileen Pei.

Insight

Can paralysed Europe rise again?

By any measure, 2025 will be remembered as a crucial tipping point. Violent armed conflict escalated in many areas, notably Ukraine, Israel-Gaza-Iran-Lebanon, Pakistan-India, Thailand-Cambodia, Venezuela, Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, among others.

Star Biz7

Rolls-Royce revs up custom cars

When Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd launched the Spectre in late 2023, the British automaker's ultra-wealthy customers jumped at the chance to buy the brand's first electric vehicle (EV) that offered a silent ride over the noise of a V12 engine. 

Star Biz7

Offering luxury for less

Diners want it, and chefs and restaurant owners contending with diner apathy are happy to provide it.

Star Biz7

Thai auto gears up, bumps and all

Thailand's automotive sector faces a mixed year with production ticking up but earnings still under pressure as the market pivots away from its traditional strengths and towards new electric vehicle (EV) players.

Insight

Strategic challenge facing banks in asset management

The recent news that United Overseas Bank (UOB) plans to hive off its asset management business highlights the strategic challenges that banks face with regard to their asset management divisions.