Morning Brief

Last Friday the S&P 500 hit record highs on the back of investor enthusiasm over tech earnings and in anticipation of Fed rate cuts. Does this tech rally continue to have legs, or is there a reality check ahead? We discuss trends affecting US tech equities with Santosh Rao, Technology Analyst & Head of Research at Manhattan Venture Partners. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystud...

Following the disclosure of the contents of a letter by Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah, the lawyer for convicted former PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak, which purportedly detailed the process in which the decision was made by the Pardons Board, debates have been raging. Arinah Najwa Ahmad Said, Director at BowerGroup Asia breaks down how these developments might affect Umno as well as the Madani government. Im...

Up to 2.4 million vehicles a day are expected on roads this Chinese New Year, as the exodus from city to hometown begins. How can we quell rising road accidents and fatalities? Professor Dr Kulanthayan K.C. Mani, Head of Putra Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Group, Universiti Putra Malaysia shares his advice for drivers to keep safe this festive season. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See om...

With malware scams posing serious threats to user privacy, Google has taken action by launching a trial in Singapore to block sideloading i.e. installations from unverified sources on Android devices. We discuss the efficacy of this feature and whether its implementation should be considered in Malaysia with cybersecurity expert CF Fong.  Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/list...

Last week, New York Community Bank (NYCB) revealed losses of USD$252 million in the fourth quarter due to exposure to the commercial real estate market. Could there be a contagion effect to other regional banks, reminiscent of the 2023 collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank? We discuss the implications with Herman Chan with Bloomberg Intelligence. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Se...

The yield of Malaysian planters has been on a downward trend due to a myriad of factors. We explore how to revitalise this sector with Khor Yu Leng, economist at Segi Enam Advisors as it is critical Malaysia maintain its edge as a leading producer of CPO. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Coalition for Clean & Fair Elections has weighed in on the Pardons Board's decision to commute the prison sentence and fine of convicted felon and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. It is concerned about the potential repercussions on public trust in the judiciary. Bersih chairman Faisal Abdul Aziz gives us an overview about what Malaysians need to be aware of regarding this&nbs...

The Reserve Bank of Australia recently kept its cash rate target at 4.35% at its first meeting of 2024, as inflation appears to be under control. Canberra also plans to introduce a taxation schedule designed to be more progressive and bring better economic growth down under. Sean Langcake, Head of Macroeconomic Forecasting at Oxford Economics shares his outlook for the Australian economy for the r...

The Ringgit has been on a downward trend against the US Dollar since the Asian Financial Crisis. Julia Goh, senior economist at UOB Malaysia gives her views on what measures should be adopted to see an appreciation of the currency. Wealth Advice That Matters is brought to you by UOB Privilege Banking. Visit www.uob.com.my/bfm to find out more about upcoming topics. See omnystudio.co...

Following the proposal for a Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, there has now been a proposal to transform the Greater Klang Valley into a special economic zone as well. The SEZ plan aims to reposition the region for larger investment inflows. Might its impact be marginal or momentous?  Dr Geoffrey Williams, Economist & Professor, Malaysia University of Science and Technology makes a...

The government is considering a proposal permitting international graduates to work in Malaysia to address talent shortages, particularly in engineering and technical fields. However, there are concerns that this could harm opportunities for locals and hinder the country's investment in skilled graduates. Datuk William Ng, Chairman of Small and Medium Enterprises Association shares insights on how...

The Bank of Thailand is expected to stand pat on its interest rates later today as the embattled Thai economy recorded its fourth consecutive month of negative inflation in January. Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin has called for coordinated fiscal and monetary policy to revive the struggling economy. Poon Panichpibool, Markets Strategist, Krung Thai Bank provides some insights on recent deve...

Last Friday, the Pardons Board reduced Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s prison sentence and fine. While this has left numerous unresolved questions lingering, criticism has been directed at both the prime minister and political parties within the unity government questioning their commitment to stamping out corruption. Ong Kian Ming, former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and me...

Singapore has been seeing an influx of wealthy families interested in setting up single family offices in Singapore with an interest to tap into tax incentives. As money-laundering cases are also becoming a growing concern, authorities are weighing tougher measures. Sarah Jane Mahmud, a senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, shares her views on this issue. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omn...

Many Malaysians turn to the Employees Provident Fund for their retirement savings. However it is still important to diversify and to that end, EPF has EPF i-Invest, an online platform that allows eligible members to invest part of their savings in selected unit trust funds and private mandate portfolios Shamsul Fadzil Kamaruddin, Senior Manager, Investment Strategy & Analytic Department, EPF t...

Last Friday, the Pardons Board decided to halve former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak’s jail time, cutting it from 12 years to six years whilst also reducing the fine to just RM50mn. We get reactions from the across the aisle of the August house with Dr Afif Bahardin, Bersatu Supreme Council Member and Taman Medan Assemblyman. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com...

Malaysian employers are set to face new conditions regarding the foreign labour on their payrolls. These include increased the frequency and fees for their mandatory medical examinations, as well as having to house them in centralised living quarters. Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, Executive Director of the Malaysian Employers Federation shares his views. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omn...

Southeast Asia's e-commerce market saw spectacular growth in recent years with names like Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop becoming household names. However as economic headwinds are beginning to exact a toll, layoffs start to make headlines, along with the aborted Grab-foodpanda deal. Jianggan Li, CEO of Momentum Works, shares his perspective. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/liste...

Southeast Asian countries have still not seen their tourism numbers recover to 2019 levels, before the Covid-19 pandemic decimated this industry. We check in with Hannah Pearson, the founder of travel market research firm, Pear Anderson, for her insights into how developments like China's visa-free travel agreements and the likelihood of a high-speed rail between KL and Singapore might shape the r...

The IMF has recently raised global GDP to 3.1% from 2.9%. Is this optimism warranted? Selena Ling, Chief Economist at OCBC Bank tells us if there are truly reasons to be optimistic whilst weighing in on the Chinese economy and the headwinds it faces. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday was the golden jubilee of the formation of the Federal Territories and also the 50th anniversary of Kuala Lumpur’s designation as a Federal Territory. We will be speaking to Koh Cha-Ly, CEO of Urbanmetry on what’s next for Kuala Lumpur city and how the recently gazetted KL Structure Plan 2040 will shape the development of the city moving forward. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnyst...

In today's fast-paced media world, the rush to break news often conflicts with ethical standards. Speed can lead to errors while, sensationalism can detract from important content, and the abundance of unreliable sources can worsen the problem. Wathshlah Naidu, Executive Director, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) tells us what are the best practices, journalist should adopt today....

Transparency International released their 2023 Global Corruption Perceptions Index, where Malaysia’s ranking as well as score have improved for the first time in three years. But have we truly made significant progress in combating corruption, and what more can be done? Dr Muhammad Mohan, President, Transparency International Malaysia weighs in. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/li...

Today marks the first day of the five-year reign of Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, who will be the seventeenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He replaced Pahang’s Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah whose reign was marked by political uncertainties and also the Covid-19 pandemic. Lawyer Andrew Khoo helps us understand the role of the Agong in Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy system. Image credit:...

On Monday, a Hong Kong court ordered property giant China Evergrande Group’s liquidation. The developer is the biggest casualty of a real estate crisis that continues to weigh on China’s embattled economy. Brock Silvers, Chief Investment Officer of Hong Kong-based Kaiyuan Capital tells us what this ruling means for investors and the Chinese economy. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.co...