Banking

CIMB upgraded to AAA in MSCI ESG ratings on stronger sustainability practices

KUALA LUMPUR: CIMB Group Holdings Bhd has been upgraded from AA to AAA in the MSCI ESG Ratings, the highest possible rating, reflecting strengthened sustainability practices and disclosures, particularly in the consumer protection and workforce management pillars.

Markets

Poultry farmer Hock Soon Capital seeks to raise RM60mil from IPO

KUALA LUMPUR: Hock Soon Capital Bhd is aiming to raise RM60mil from its initial public offering, the bulk of which will go towards establishing a new poultry farm in Teluk Intan, Perak.

Markets

Bursa Malaysia continues uptrend at midday

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia extended its gains at midday on sustained buying interest in selected heavyweight stocks, supported by the firmer tone in most regional markets.

Markets

AMS Advanced Material gets Bursa Malaysia's nod for ACE Market listing

KUALA LUMPUR: Aluminium supplier, AMS Advanced Material Bhd (AMSB), has received approval for its listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd.

Corporate News

Malaysia Airports strengthens China connectivity at KLIA, Tawau to support VM2026

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports continues to expand international air connectivity with new airline services linking key cities in China to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Tawau Airport, in support of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).

Corporate News

HSS Engineers' associate secures RM22mil EPCC job for data centre in Perak

KUALA LUMPUR: HSS Engineers bhd said its associate company HSS Integrated Sdn Bhd has been appointed the project management consultant for the enginering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the proposed 10.06MW load data centre and associated works in Bagan Datuk, Perak, (Phase 1 - 10MW)(Facility F1).

Markets

South Korea's KOSPI stock benchmark tops 5,000 on AI boom, market reforms

SEOUL: South Korea's stock benchmark topped 5,000 points for the first time on Thursday, powered by gains in chip firms and automakers on artificial intelligence optimism, reaching a level promised by President Lee Jae Myung in just over six months since he took office.

Commodities

Oil edges up after Trump backs off tariff threat on Greenland

BEIJING/SINGAPORE: Oil prices edged up on Thursday, after U.S. President Donald Trump ratcheted down tension with Europe over his demand for Greenland, while disruptions in supply from two large fields in Kazakhstan and a better demand outlook for 2026 lent support.

Markets

Guan Huat Seng opens slightly lower at 24 sen in ACE Market debut

KUALA LUMPUR: Melaka-based food products manufacturer, Guan Huat Seng Holdings Bhd, opened at 24 sen per share in its ACE Market debut, slightly under its initial public offering (IPO) price of 25 sen per share.

Forex

Australian dollar scales 15-month high on strong jobs data

SYDNEY: The Australian dollar hit 15-month highs on Thursday as an apparent easing in U.S.-European tensions soothed risk sentiment, while a strong set of domestic jobs data narrowed the odds on a near-term rate hike.

Markets

Gold dips, stocks lift as Trump walks back Greenland threats

SINGAPORE: The dollar was higher, gold softer and stocks on the rebound on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump dropped tariff threats and ruled out seizing Greenland from an ally by force.

Forex

Ringgit opens firmer on OPR hold expectations

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar on Thursday, as the market priced in expectations that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) would keep the overnight policy rate (OPR) unchanged at 2.75 per cent at its policy meeting later in the day, offsetting a firmer tone in the greenback.

Markets

Bursa Malaysia tracks global rebound as Trump walks back tariffs threat

KUALA LUMPUR: The framework deal struck between the US and EU nations on Greenland quelled fears of a fresh tariffs war, sparking a global rebound in equities.

Corporate News

Trading ideas: Sunway, IJM, Binastra, Capital A, Elridge, Oxford Innotech, Steel Hawk, Carimin, SMRT, Reneuco, Suria, KIP REIT, Pantech

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

Commodities

Oil prices settle higher on expected tighter supply

Oil prices closed 0.5% higher on Wednesday on optimism around tighter supply after a temporary shutdown at two large fields in Kazakhstan and as low volume of Venezuelan oil exports highlighted slow progress in reversing output cuts in the South American country.

Markets

Wall Street jumps on Greenland framework deal

Wall Street ended higher on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 posting its biggest one-day percentage gain in two months, as investors were buoyed by news that a framework for an agreement on Greenland had been reached and the possibility of new US tariffs on European allies had been averted.

Corporate News

Infomina to gain from shift in back end tech systems

Infomina Bhd is well positioned to benefit from the accelerating adoption of hybrid mainframe cloud systems across Asean and North Asia, analysts say.

Corporate News

Miner seeks revised quota for projects

Nickel miner PT Vale Indonesia (PT Vale) is seeking approval to revise its annual production plan (RKAB) after revealing that its current ore production quota is insufficient to meet supply commitments for three major high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) projects.

Corporate News

Visa-processing startup Spun bags US$1.8m for expansion

Jakarta-based travel technology startup Spun has raised US$1.8mil in seed funding to expand visa-processing operations across South-East Asia, as visa systems in the region remain fragmented amid rising cross-border travel and work mobility.

Economy

Inbound tourism heats up in China’s Hainan Free Trade Port

On Dadonghai beach in Sanya, a coastal resort in South China's island province of Hainan, foreign tourists are soaking up the winter sun, including Malika from Moscow, who has chosen Sanya as her first travel destination in China.