Markets

Malaysia's US$1.5bil global sukuk 4.7 times oversubscribed, record-low spread

PUTRAJAYA: Strong investor demand drove a 4.7 times oversubscription for Malaysia's US$1.5 billion Global Sukuk issuance, which was priced at a record-low spread, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said.

Markets

Japan's Nikkei falls more than 2% on AI spending worries

TOKYO: Japan's Nikkei share average fell more than 2% on Friday, as a sharp decline in Google parent Alphabet shares spurred concerns about heavy AI spending.

Forex

Dollar rides yield surge as Middle East and trade wars raise inflation stakes

SINGAPORE: The dollar rode U.S. Treasury yields higher on Friday and hovered near a 40-year peak against the yen, as a spike in oil prices and a renewed global trade war raised the stakes for inflation.

Business

Asian stocks skid as oil spike revives inflation fears, bonds take a hit

SYDNEY: Asian shares fell on Friday as oil prices stormed back above $100 a barrel amid an intensifying conflict in the Gulf, rattling bond markets and reviving fears of a fresh inflation shock.

Forex

Ringgit opens higher against major currencies, softer vs US$

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened higher against most major currencies on Friday but eased against the US dollar as markets turned risk-off, with crude oil prices continuing to climb and the Trump administration stepping up its trade protectionist policies.

Markets

Surging oil prices sap appetite for equities

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's stock market started on the backfoot as investor sentiment was weighed down by the price of crude oil, which surged past the US$100 a barrel mark overnight.

Aviation

IATA appoints Saadia Zahidi as its first female director general

KUALA LUMPUR: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appointed Pakistani-Swiss economist Saadia Zahidi as its ninth director general, making her the first female to hold the position.

Corporate News

Trading ideas: Kerjaya, Zecon, MBSB, YNHP, Maybank, Westports, Samaiden, Alpha IVF, KIP REIT

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

Commodities

Oil tops US$100 as Houthi attacks raise supply risks

Oil prices settled above US$100 on Thursday for the first time since May after Yemen's Houthis said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, causing further global supply disruptions following a near-halt in trade through the Strait of Hormuz.

Corporate News

HSBC sells Singapore insurance business to Germany's Allianz in US$2.09bil deal

HSBC said on Friday it will sell its Singapore life and health insurance business to Germany's Allianz, in a deal valuing the unit at S$2.7 billion ($2.09 billion).

Markets

Wall St falls as AI worries grow, oil tops US$100

Wall Street indices closed lower on Thursday with Nasdaq sinking more than 2% as the latest earnings updates from large technology companies revived concerns about heavy AI spending, while soaring oil prices amped up inflation worries, lifting bond yields.

Corporate News

Bosideng taps AI to capture consumer demand

Chinese down apparel giant Bosideng is accelerating its brand upgrading and artificial intelligence (AI) integration to capture new opportunities in the country's rapidly evolving consumer market.

Economy

Capital market push

Malaysia's drive to attract higher-quality investments will be bolstered by deeper access to international capital, with the country looking to leverage on Hong Kong's financial markets to help fund high-value industries and major infrastructure projects under a new phase of bilateral capital market cooperation.

Corporate News

Garment maker to shut Java factory after year of losses

South Korean-owned garment maker PT Samwon Busana Indonesia will permanently shut its factory in Jepara, Central Java, on Aug 1, affecting around 680 workers, as it has been grappling with losses since the coronavirus pandemic.

Economy

Minister orders probe into stalled LRT projects

Housing and Settlements Minister Maruarar "Ara" Sirait has pledged to hold to account a state-owned enterprise responsible for the construction of the stalled LRT City project, following a wave of public complaints.

Corporate News

Earnings visibility clearer for Velesto with Hess job

Velesto Energy Bhd's latest drilling contract for its Naga 8 jack-up rig is expected to strengthen the group's earnings visibility through financial year 2028 (FY28), while ensuring uninterrupted fleet utilisation, according to analysts.

Business

China home respiratory care set to take off

China is shifting chronic respiratory disease management beyond hospitals toward home-based care, as policymakers, clinicians and medical-device makers promote earlier screening and digital monitoring, creating opportunities in one of the fastest-growing healthcare markets.

Economy

Hanoi steps up exports to achieve US$550bil target

Vietnam is intensifying efforts to sustain export momentum in the second half of financial year 2026 (2H26) as the country works towards its target of US$550bil in export revenue for the year, despite continuing uncertainties in global trade.

Economy

Halal demand drives Vietnam exports to Turkiye

Vietnamese food and beverage exporters are being encouraged to take a more market-orientated approach to Turkiye, where growing demand for halal-certified products is creating fresh opportunities but also raising expectations for quality, traceability and localisation.

Corporate News

Intel, AMD sign server CPU deals with Chinese firms

US chipmaking giants Intel and Advanced Micro Devices are signing longer-term purchase commitments with Chinese server customers for data-centre processors as prices surge, two people familiar with the talks say.