Exit plan: Both companies are trying to find a way for Disney to exit by the end of the year.
Energy
Brent crude was 1.27% lower to US$48.35 per barrel at 3.32pm.
Forex
Ringgit up 0.04% to 4.0965 versus the US dollar at 3.40pm.
Top foreign stories
BoJ keeps policy steady even as it cuts price view: The Bank of Japan (BoJ) kept monetary policy steady on Thursday even as sluggish global growth and anaemic inflation put policymakers under pressure to do more to reflate the economy out of stagnation, bolstering the yen and battering Tokyo stocks. — Reuters
Disney’s China fairytale begins with US$5.5b park opening: Walt Disney Co has opened the gates to its first theme park in China, its largest overseas investment at US$5.5 billion, betting on country’s middle class and booming domestic tourism. Disney hopes it will offset an otherwise lacklustre international theme park business, better known for cash-burning sites such as Euro Disney. — Reuters
ASML to buy Taiwan’s Hermes Microvision for US$3.1b in chip sector shake-up: Chipmaking equipment giant ASML Holdings NV has agreed to buy Taiwanese peer Hermes Microvision Inc (HMI) for about T$100 billion (US$3.1 billion) in a deal to boost their firepower in high-tech services for semiconductor makers. — Reuters
Singapore OCBC’s private bank unit exploring China onshore presence: The private banking unit of Singapore’s second-biggest lender OCBC is exploring launching an onshore presence in China either with a domestic partner or on its own, its CEO told the Reuters Global Wealth Management Summit on Thursday. — Reuters
China’s Midea launches US$5b offer for German robot maker Kuka: Chinese home appliance maker Midea formally launched a 4.5-billion-euro (US$5.1 billion) offer for German industrial robot maker Kuka on Thursday, reiterating its aim to acquire more than 30% of the company. — Reuters
S. Korea considering supplementary budget to support economy: South Korea is considering a supplementary budget in addition to other measures to support the economy as domestic and global downside risks grow, the country’s Vice-Finance Minister said. — Reuters
Top local stories
Mah Sing seeks to buy more land: Cash-rich Mah Sing Group Bhd
is looking to buy more land in greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley, as well as in Johor Baru, Penang and states with strong economic prospects. — StarBiz
MARC affirms Senai-Desaru Expressway’s RM1.89b sukuk, outlook stable: Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd (MARC) has affirmed its BBB-IS rating on Senai-Desaru Expressway Bhd’s RM1.89bil Islamic medium-term notes (restructured sukuk) programme with a stable outlook. — StarBiz
Al Rajhi Bank launches Islamic debit card with takaful cover: Al Rajhi Bank Malaysia is offering Rafahia Debit Card-i, Malaysia’s first Islamic debit card with Takaful protection of up to RM1 million. The product is for Muslims looking to perform the haj or umrah within the next 12 months. — Bernama
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
