Energy
Brent crude was 0.21% lower at US$33.29 per barrel at 2.26pm.
Forex
Ringgit up 0.88% to 4.1275 versus the US dollar at 2.51pm
Top foreign stories
Thai Q4 quarterly growth misses forecast, recovery still fragile: Thailand reported economic growth of 2.8% in 2015, compared with 0.8% the previous year, but its recovery remains fragile as exports and domestic consumption are weak and political uncertainties linger. — Reuters
China January exports slump 6.6%: China’s exports tumbled 6.6% year-on-year to 1.14 trillion yuan (around US$174 billion) in January, authorities said on Monday, as the struggling manufacturing sector remained a drag on the world’s second-largest economy. — AFP
Airlines reject criticism of fares after oil price drop: Global airlines countered allegations of profiteering from low oil prices on Monday after renewed criticism that air fares have failed to come down in line with tumbling fuel costs. — Reuters
SoftBank to purchase up to US$4.4b of own shares: Japanese telecoms conglomerate SoftBank Group said on Monday it will purchase up to 500 billion yen (US$4.4 billion) worth or as much as 14.2% of its own shares, in its biggest buyback to date. — Reuters
Top local stories
Malaysia faces spike in risks as central bank chief retires, gas markets tank: After grappling with a sliding currency and a slowing economy, Malaysian policymakers may have to cope with heightened risks from April - the departure of the country’s respected central bank governor and a further slump in the price of gas exports. — Reuters
Malaysia Airlines to be profitable by 2018: Malaysia Airlines Bhd is set to return to profitability by 2018, helped by job cuts and route changes put in place after reeling from two high-profile plane crashes, chief executive officer Christoph Mueller said. The airline is on track with its restructuring effort and is done with laying off people, Mueller said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. — Bloomberg
Court adjourns Repco Low sentencing to Feb 29: The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court has once again adjourned the sentencing of Low Thiam Hock, better known as “Repco Low” in stock market circles, to Feb 29 following a near two-hour mitigation session by Low’s lawyer on Monday. — StarBiz
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