(April 18): The world’s largest crypto exchange Binance has converted the entire pool of assets held in an emergency fund for users into USDC, the stablecoin issued by US firm Circle Internet Financial.

Binance converts its billion-dollar ‘Safu’ emergency fund into stablecoin USDC

Federal jurors in New York heard sharply contrasting arguments on whether a trader manipulated the Mango Markets cryptocurrency exchange to steal US$110 million (RM527.1 million) or executed a perfectly legal strategy that was permissible under the rules of the platform.

Crypto trader’s US$110m manipulation case now with jury

Hong Kong gave initial approvals for asset managers to start spot bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the firms said, a development that boosted both digital assets as well as the wider crypto market.

Hong Kong gives initial bitcoin, Ether ETF nod, issuers say

For enthusiasts of bitcoin, a once-every-four-years software update called the “halving” has long been held as one of the keys to propping up its value.

Bitcoin ‘halving’ will deal a US$10b blow to crypto miners

(April 12): FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried will appeal his conviction and 25-year prison sentence for committing a multibillion dollar fraud at his once-thriving cryptocurrency exchange.

Bankman-Fried to appeal 25-year sentence, conviction for fraud

Spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could be launched in Hong Kong this month with the first approvals likely to be announced next week, two people familiar with the matter said.

That timeline would make Hong Kong Asia's first city to offer the popular ETFs and is much faster than industry expectations of launches sometime this year.

Hong Kong set to approve first spot bitcoin ETFs in April, sources say

Consumers are divided over bitcoin’s staying power, with about one-third expecting the world’s largest cryptocurrency to slide below US$20,000 (RM95,065) by year end, according to a survey by Deutsche Bank.

Some see bitcoin below US$20,000 in Deutsche Bank survey

A jailed trader accused of stealing US$110 million (RM522.56 million) on the Mango Markets exchange faces a criminal trial this week that will test the reach of a US crackdown on cryptocurrencies.

Crypto trader’s criminal trial tests ‘code is law’ claim

A jury in Manhattan found Singapore-based Terraform Labs and its founder Do Kwon liable on civil fraud charges on Friday, agreeing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that they misled investors before their stablecoin's 2022 collapse shocked cryptocurrency markets.

Terraform Labs and founder Do Kwon found liable in US civil fraud trial

Singapore authorities awarded a licence to crypto market maker GSR Markets, a rare step in the digital-asset sector where liquidity providers globally still largely operate without regulatory permits.

Singapore licenses crypto market maker GSR in rare step for industry

The former head of legal and compliance for the phony cryptocurrency OneCoin was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting she helped launder hundreds of millions of dollars in proceeds from the scam.

OneCoin legal head gets four years in US$4b crypto scam

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has amended the Payment Services Act (PSA) and its subsidiary legislation taking effect in stages from April 4.

Singapore's central bank expands scope of regulated payment services, to cover digital payment token services

FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison for stealing billions of dollars from customers, marking the final chapter in a case that has upended the crypto industry.

Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison over FTX collapse

A federal judge in Manhattan on Wednesday said the US securities regulator's lawsuit against Coinbase can move forward, but dismissed one claim the agency made against the largest US cryptocurrency exchange.

The decision partly granted Coinbase's motion to dismiss the Securities and Exchange Commission's lawsuit alleging the company is flouting its rules.

Coinbase must face US securities regulator's lawsuit

Dubai Airports Chief Operating Officer (COO), Majed Al Joker announced that Dubai International Airport (DXB) will resume normal operations within 24 hours, signifying a return to its full capacity and regular schedule.

Dubai International Airport set to resume full operations within 24 hours

The remains of the late Tan Sri Joseph Kurup arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport here at 11.20pm on a commercial flight.

The flight which was initially scheduled at 9.15am on Thursday was cancelled due to ash clouds from Mount Ruang’s volcanic eruption in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, engulfing the air space.

Remains of late Joseph Kurup arrive in Kota Kinabalu on Thursday night

FE Green Pet (M) Sdn Bhd’s new high-tech recycling factory is expected to make Melaka a green investment destination and complement the economic growth strategy in the state, said Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

He said with an investment totalling approximately RM958 million, the plant on 14 hectares of land is projected to be completed by 2Q 2025, creating almost 500 jobs.

RM958 mil high-tech recycling factory puts Melaka on green investors map — Ab Rauf

The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed lower for the fifth consecutive day, said palm oil trader David Ng.

He said the weaker soybean oil market and lower crude oil prices continue to pile pressure on prices.

CPO futures end lower for 5th consecutive trading day

The US dollar's dominant reserve currency status is likely to endure partly because even the most talked about alternative the Chinese yuan falls short as a credible challenger, Morgan Stanley said in a report on Thursday.

Rivalry with China, Russia's war in Ukraine, wrangling in Washington over the US debt ceiling and rising debt levels have put the dollar's status as the world's dominant currency under scrutiny in recent years.

Dollar's dominant reserve currency status to endure, says Morgan Stanley

Wall Street's main stock indexes gained on Thursday as investors cheered upbeat earnings across several sectors, while advancing megacap growth stocks were amongst the biggest boosts.

Megacap growth stock Meta Platforms outpaced peers and gained 2.7% after Bernstein raised its price target to US$590, a sixth such hike on the stock this week.

Wall St ticks up on megacaps, earnings boost

Goldman Sachs Group Inc President John Waldron warned that out-of-control spending could expose the US to serious risk in the event of a political crisis.

Goldman’s Waldron sounds alarm over US debt jolt to markets

The head of the International Monetary Fund warned the US that the global economy is closely watching interest rates and industrial policies given the potential spillovers from the world’s biggest economy and reserve currency.

“All eyes are on the US,” Kristalina Georgieva said in an interview on Bloomberg’s Surveillance on Thursday.

IMF boss says ‘all eyes’ on US amid risks to global economy

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday:

Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiT...

HeiTech Padu, Axiata, AmanahRaya REIT, AmFirst REIT, RHB Bank, 7-Eleven Malaysia, MBSB, Awantec, MAA Group, UMediC, Systech, Pansar, Auro, Kimlun and AWC

Swiss state prosecutors are seeking long prison terms for two men accused of embezzling US$1.8 billion from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) — Saudi-Swiss businessman Tarek Obaid and his Swiss-British business partner Patrick Mahony, the AFP reported.

Swiss prosecutors seek long jail terms for duo in US$1.8bil 1MDB fraud — report

The Federal Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) over the Court of Appeal’s decision last year that decided that non-paying members in a residential area (RA) could raise the boom gates at the entrance to the housing area themselves without the security guards' assistance.

Federal Court dismisses MBPJ’s appeal on residents' boom gate operation

Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiTech Padu Bhd, just one month after acquiring a 15.9% stake via a private vehicle in the company.

Amid controversy over govt contracts, Farhash ceases to be HeiTech Padu substantial shareholder after one month

Elon Musk said some of the severance packages sent to former Tesla Inc employees as part of its biggest-ever workforce reduction were too low.

Musk apologises for ‘incorrectly low’ Tesla severance packages

Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB) has recommended a final dividend of 3.5 sen for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2023 (FY2023).

This would equate to a payout of RM287.78 million, based on the bank’s share base of 8.22 billion shares as at end-December 2023, according to MBSB’s bourse filing on Thursday.

MBSB proposes 3.5 sen dividend for FY2023

Digital payment and financial technology provider Ant International is going to establish what it calls a new digital business centre in Malaysia, creating more than 500 job opportunities in the first year, with more hirings in the next four years until 2028.

Ant International to set up new business centre in Malaysia, creating over 500 jobs

Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s wholly-owned Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) will hold its inaugural auction of renewable energy certificates (RECs) on June 25 to support Malaysia’s energy transition plans and corporates’ net-zero aspirations.

Bursa to hold auction of maiden RE certificates on June 25

When Iraq fired dozens of Scud missiles on Israel in early 1991, the US implored then prime minister Yitzhak Shamir not to respond. Shamir said he had to act. After days of late-night calls, high-level visits and long Cabinet meetings, Israel stood down and the US led a 42-nation alliance that defeated Iraq in what became the Gulf War.

Israel caught between hitting Iran and heeding allies

Bursa Malaysia continued its upbeat momentum to end higher for the second straight day on Thursday, due to an improvement in sentiment and a resurgence in bargain-hunting following the recent downturn, said an analyst.

Bursa closes higher on improved sentiment, bargain hunting

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): IT services firm Systech Bhd said on Thursday that shareholders have approved several proposals, including an acquisition and bonus shares issue.

Systech gets shareholders’ nod for acquisition, bonus shares issue

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): AwanBiru Technology Bhd (Awantec) said trading in its shares will be suspended from April 26, after the group failed to submit its regularisation plan to the regulators for approval within the stipulated timeframe.

Awantec faces trading suspension from April 26 after failing to submit regularisation plan

After spending over two years in court due to a suit from Empire Holdings Ltd, MAA Group Bhd, its major shareholder Tunku Datuk Yaacob Khyra and Turiya Bhd have been dropped as parties in the suit over MAA’s purchase of Turiya shares from a Bahrain-based bank. &nbsp;

MAA Group exits legal bout over 2021 Turiya share acquisition under settlement deal

Malaysia needs to restructure the whole ecosystem of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes, so that it can effectively meet the industry’s requirements, said Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai.

Revamp needed for TVET ecosystem to reduce mismatch, says FMM president

Economists at Citigroup Inc&nbsp;are going out on a limb by wagering that virtually everyone on Wall Street is wrong about the US Federal Reserve (Fed).

After&nbsp;three straight months&nbsp;of slightly faster-than-expected inflation readings, rivals at Bank of America Corp, Goldman Sachs Group, Morgan Stanley, and other banks have dialled back their forecasts for interest-rate cuts this year. Chair Jerome Powell lent support to those moves on Tuesday, when he&nbsp;signalled&nbsp;that policymakers are in no hurry to ease policy.&nbsp;

Citi says Wall Street wrong to slash Fed rate-cut bets

Australia brought 23 companies seeking investment in maritime decarbonisation and renewable energy (RE) sectors to Malaysia as part of the Australia-Southeast Asia Business Exchange programme.

Australia brings 23 firms looking to invest in maritime decarbonisation, RE sectors in Malaysia

Malaysia’s current tallest building, the Merdeka 118 tower, has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification in the LEED v2009 Core and Shell rating system, marking it as the first megatall building in the country to achieve it, according to a press statement on Thursday.&nbsp;

Merdeka 118 first megatall building in Malaysia to get LEED Platinum certification

Pansar Bhd has secured a contract worth RM269.1 million to upgrade the capacity of a water treatment plant in Sibu, Sarawak.

The construction and infrastructure outfit secured the job from Lembaga Air Sibu via an open tender, through its wholly owned Perbena Emas Sdn Bhd.

Pansar bags RM269m job to upgrade water treatment plant in Sarawak

High-impact projects such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and&nbsp;Special Financial Zone&nbsp;(SFZ) in Forest City can spur Johor’s economy to outpace that&nbsp;of other states in the next one to two years, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Special economic, financial zones can help Johor surpass other states economically, says Anwar

A former technician was brought before the Sessions Court again here on Thursday on a charge of posting offensive messages insulting Islam on his Facebook account in&nbsp;March, regarding the sale of stockings bearing the word 'Allah'.

'Allah' socks insults: Former technician brought before Sessions Court again

ACE Market-bound Sin-Kung Logistics Bhd, which launched its&nbsp;initial public offering (IPO) on Thursday, said that demand for trucking services remains intact amid higher logistics costs and economic uncertainty.

Sin-Kung expects demand for trucking services to stay intact amid higher logistics costs, economic uncertainty

A wedding party and prospective umrah pilgrims were among thousands of passengers stranded at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), here, following the cancellation of flights involving Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Sabah and Sarawak on Thursday.

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