Markets

Japan's Nikkei rises to record closing high on tech boost

TOKYO: Japan's Nikkei share average rose for a third consecutive session and hit a record closing high on Wednesday, supported by heavily weighted tech stocks, though uncertainty over U.S.-Iran peace talks tempered sentiment.

Commodities

Gold rises as oil weakens after US extends ceasefire with Iran

GOLD prices rose on Wednesday as lower oil prices, following a U.S. extension of a ceasefire with Iran, eased fears of an inflation spike and prolonged high interest rates.

Aviation

Asian airlines brace for sky-high jet fuel prices

WITH the Middle East crisis heightening jet fuel supply risks, Asian airlines are taking action, to cope with supply instability and rising costs, from cutting flights to raising fares.

Commodities

Oil prices barely moved as investors assess outlook for US-Iran peace talks

TOKYO: Oil prices were largely flat on Wednesday after rising about $1 at the start of Asian trading, with investors assessing the outlook for U.S.-Iran peace talks following the U.S. extension of a ceasefire.

Markets

FBM KLCI succumbs to profit-taking at midday

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI lost its earlier momentum and turned into the red as regional markets wobbled, even as traders held on to hope there would be a breakthough in the Middle East conflict.

Banking

AmBank provides RM102.40mil financing to Gajahsuria Power for solar project in Perak

KUALA LUMPUR: AmBank Group has extended RM102.40 million in financing facilities to Gajahsuria Power Sdn Bhd (GSP) to support the development of a 29.99 megawatt of alternating current (MWac) Large Scale Solar 5 (LSS5) project located in Kampung Gajah, Perak.

Corporate News

YTL Cement issues offer document for CEPCO takeover offer

KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Cement Bhd today issued the offer document in relation to its unconditional mandatory takeover offer for the remaining shares it does not own in Concrete Engineering Products Bhd (CEPCO), giving the first closing date of the offer as May 13 at 5 pm.

Markets

Japan's Nikkei rises to record high on tech boost

TOKYO: Japan's Nikkei share average hit a record high on Wednesday, supported by a handful of heavily weighted tech stocks such as SoftBank Group, though uncertainty over U.S.-Iran peace talks tempered sentiment.

Forex

Ringgit opens almost flat against greenback as US extends ceasefire with Iran

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened almost flat against the US dollar on Wednesday as market sentiment remained cautious following news that the United States-Iran ceasefire, originally expected to expire today, has been extended to allow negotiations with Iran to conclude.

Markets

Bursa extends gains as extension to peace talks fuels optimism for equities

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia kept the upward momentum going as an extension to the peace talks in the Middle East fuelled hopes for a breakthrough.

Markets

Stocks gain, dollar wobbles as Trump extends Iran ceasefire

SINGAPORE: U.S. stock futures rose and the dollar wavered on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said he would indefinitely extend the Iran ceasefire keeping sentiment buoyed although with the Strait of Hormuz still closed oil held onto its recent gains.

Corporate News

Trading ideas: CIMB, Sunway Healthcare, NexG, Silver Ridge, Uzma, Enra, Chin Hin, Grandcape, UchiTech, Karex, Steel Hawk, KK Mart, EI Power

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

Commodities

Brent futures retreat on Iran ceasefire extension

Oil prices pared gains on Tuesday after briefly climbing above US$100 a barrel following an announcement from US President Donald Trump that he was extending a ceasefire with Iran until Tehran submits a proposal.

Markets

Wall St falls as Mideast fears offset earnings

US stocks closed lower on Tuesday, with early gains evaporating as renewed concerns about the Middle East war outweighed initial optimism over a round of solid corporate earnings.

Corporate News

Karex to raise prices sharply as Iran war strains supply chain

Karex Bhd, the world's top condom producer, plans to raise prices by 20% to 30% and possibly further if supply chain disruptions drag on due to the Iran war, its chief executive officer (CEO) says.

Corporate News

Lower 1Q26 earnings likely for Hap Seng Plantations

UOB Kay Hian (UOBKH) Research expects Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Bhd to deliver lower earnings year-on-year (y-o-y) in its first quarter of financial year 2026 (1Q26), due to softer crude palm oil (CPO) prices despite improved operational performance.

Forex

Ringgit rises against the greenback

The ringgit strengthened against the US dollar and other major currencies at yesterday's close, despite a firmer US Dollar Index, as investors closely monitored developments and anticipated the outcome of ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Markets

Bursa ends higher on Gulf optimism

Bursa Malaysia closed higher yesterday with market sentiment improving following reports that Iran may attend a second round of negotiations with the United States in Pakistan.

Corporate News

MRCB sees clear growth momentum

Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) views the next three years as a clear progression in delivery and momentum.

Corporate News

Gentari strengthens efforts for 40GW renewable capacity by 2030

Global clean energy company Gentari is strengthening efforts to achieve its target of 30GW to 40GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, underpinned by rapid growth but contingent on market readiness and returns.