China passed a law on Friday strengthening its trade defence capabilities as the US and the European Union take aim at Beijing over excess industrial capacity.

China passes tariff law amid tensions with trading partners

US monthly inflation rose moderately in March, but stubbornly higher housing and transportation costs suggested the Federal Reserve could keep interest rates elevated for a while.

US inflation rises in line with expectations; consumer spending strong

President Xi Jinping warned America’s top diplomat that the US shouldn’t target or oppose China, as the world’s largest economies wrapped two days of talks spanning thorny disputes on trade and Beijing’s support for Russia’s war machine.

Xi warns Blinken against ‘vicious competition’ between US, China

GDANSK/BRUSSELS (April 26): The boss of Spanish steelmaker Acerinox says the European Union (EU) should do more to curb steel imports from Asia, which are hurting some of the EU's mills, as demand and prices weaken.

EU should do more to curb steel imports from Asia, says Acerinox CEO

The allies of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are drafting proposals that would attempt to erode the Federal Reserve's independence if he wins, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Trump allies drafting plans to erode Fed's independence — WSJ

MOSCOW/LONDON (April 26): Russia's central bank held its key interest rate at 16% for the third meeting running on Friday, but raised its inflation forecast for 2024, acknowledging for the first time that it may struggle to reach its 4% target this year.

Russian central bank holds rates at 16%, raises inflation forecast

SEPANG (April 26): A good airline company management can provide substantial wages to employees, commensurate with their services, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

PM: Good management can provide substantial wages to employees

Global manufacturing activity recovery had seen a gradual improvement in late 2023, and is expected to continue into 2024, although it remained in contractionary territory after two years of downturn.

Global manufacturing activity recovery to continue gradually into 2024, says S&P Global

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) largely left its monetary policy settings unchanged on Friday, which the market will see as a dovish move and likely to lead to further yen weakness, analysts say.

Dovish BOJ decision paves way for even weaker yen, analysts say

Malaysia is poised to be the next home of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd’s (Geely) methanol-powered vehicles, after China and the European market.

Malaysia the next market for Geely’s methanol vehicle

Japan said it plans to expand restrictions on exports of four technologies related to semiconductors or quantum computing, the latest in a global push to control the flow of strategic tech.

Japan tightens export controls on more chip and quantum tech 

The yen swung sharply from the day’s low to near its high amid jittery trading in the wake of the Bank of Japan’s decision to keep monetary policy unchanged.

Yen swoons in jittery trading in wake of BOJ standing pat

KUALA LUMPUR (April 26): Malaysia’s export prices grew 1.7% to 149.8 points in March from 147.3 points in February, while import prices saw a marginal uptrend of 0.1% from 129.9 points to 130.0 points, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Malaysia’s export prices up 1.7%, import prices grew 0.1% in March 2024 — DOSM

Russia is considering downgrading the level of its diplomatic relations with the US if Western governments go ahead with proposals to confiscate its frozen assets, state news agency RIA quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Thursday.

Russia says it may downgrade ties with US if its assets are confiscated

FRANKFURT/BERLIN/PRAGUE (April 26): Thyssenkrupp will sell a 20% stake in its steel business to the energy holding controlled by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, a major breakthrough for the German conglomerate after years of unsuccessful attempts to divest the unit.

Thyssenkrupp sells stake in steel unit to Czech billionaire Kretinsky

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.

BCorp, Capital A, AAX, YNH, Sam Engineering, Turiya, Gadang, Microlink, Nestle, Wiradani, D&O, Homeritz, Unisem

(April 26): HSBC Holdings Plc successfully fought off a London court claim brought by a group of investors in a £1.3 billion (US$1.6 billion) lawsuit over tax breaks linked to Walt Disney Co film financing.

HSBC wins £1.3 bil suit over Disney film finance scandal

KUB Malaysia Bhd has extended the deadline for its mandatory general offer for Central Cables Bhd (CCB) a second time to May 20 from April 30, according to its latest filing on Bursa Malaysia.

KUB extends deadline for CCB MGO a second time

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

KUALA LUMPUR (April 26): KPJ Healthcare Bhd, through its premier educational institution KPJ Healthcare University (KPJU), has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday with Trusx Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Trustr), a global digital health organisation, as an initiative to revolutionise healthcare.

KPJ Healthcare, Trusx Malaysia collaborate for AI-driven healthcare solutions

Wall Street's main indexes advanced on Friday as most megacap growth stocks rose after robust quarterly results from Alphabet pushed its market value over US$2 trillion (RM9.5 trillion), while an in-line inflation reading calmed interest rate jitters.

Wall Street rises as Big Tech charges higher

In today’s edition of Evening 5: 00:00 Merger of airlines enough to reverse negative equity - Fernandes 02:16 Govt set to unveil second 5G network next week  03:26 Unisem’s 1Q hit by margins, forex 04:30 Berjaya Corp denies Forest City casino talks   05:30 Homeritz’s 2Q earnings spike on stronger greenback

EVENING 5: Merger of airlines enough to reverse negative equity - Fernandes

A weekly round-up of tanker and dry bulk market (April 26, 2024)

Baltic Exchange shipping updates: April 26, 2024

Most read this week - Stay up to date with the biggest news and latest trending topics by checking out the top 10 articles of the week. 

Most read this week

Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) has obtained a summary judgement at the High Court here against ACE Credit (M) Sdn Bhd, ACE Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd, and the company directors Datuk Choong Chee Meng and Chang Ai Nee, for defaulting on a RM46.47 million loan given to them by the bank.

Maybank obtains summary judgement against ACE Corporation, three others for RM46m loan default

KUALA LUMPUR (April 26): Gamuda Land, the property arm of Gamuda Bhd, has unveiled partners for Gardens Square, the latest commercial development at the 810-acre Gamuda Gardens in Sungai Buloh.

Gamuda Land announces retail partners for upcoming commercial development in Gamuda Gardens

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has emerged as the second largest shareholder of aero-engine components manufacturer Sam Engineering &amp; Equipment (M) Bhd, after Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd.

EPF emerges as second largest shareholder of Sam Engineering

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday suggested all parties mentioned in a recent report&nbsp;alleging that the government is planning to issue&nbsp;a licence for a casino in&nbsp;Forest City, Johor, to take necessary action&nbsp;against the foreign news agency.

Anwar wants action taken against Forest City casino licence news report

Shares of AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) rose to a six-month high as investors cheered a restructuring plan that would make the company the largest low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia.

AirAsia X logs best day in six months on Capital A restructuring

YNH Property Bhd (YNH) issued a clarification to bondholders via Malaysian Trustee Bhd on the technical default of its Islamic notes, as well as the status of its mall sale and the appointment of a new auditor.

YNH says it has remedied 'technical default' involving sukuk programme

Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd is slated to raise prices for 22 of its products starting July 1, according to the Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia (FSGMAM).

Nestle Malaysia to adjust prices of 22 products starting July 1

Gadang Holdings Bhd has secured a RM280 million contract to design and develop the Klang Valley Data Centre&nbsp;Block 2 in Cyberjaya from TM Technology Services Sdn Bhd, a business entity of Telekom Malaysia Bhd.

Gadang wins RM280 mil Klang Valley data centre jobs from TM Technology

MYAirline Sdn Bhd will continue to retain its nominated post holders as well as key personnel, while ensuring that its air operator’s certificate (AOC) documentation remains as current as possible.

MYAirline seeking multiple investors, to retain nominated post holders

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow&nbsp;has announced that he is in talks with a group of companies which have recently participated in Selangor’s integrated circuit (IC) design park.

Integrated circuit design firms to announce investments in Penang on Saturday, says Chow

Wiradani Development Sdn Bhd — a property developer linked to the son of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin — has filed a fresh winding-up petition against SPNB Aspirasi Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB).

SPNB unit faces fresh winding-up petition on failure to complete payment to Wiradani after settlement

S P Setia Bhd will launch Casaville, which comprises 38 single-storey bungalows, in its Setia EcoHill township in Semenyih at end-April.

With a gross development value (GDV) of RM50 million, the homes measure 52ft by 90ft each, with built-ups from 1,994 to 2,074 sq ft, and a three-bedroom, three-bathroom layouts. The selling price starts from RM1.376 million. It is slated for completion in the second quarter of 2026.

S P Setia to launch single-storey bungalows in Setia EcoHill at end-April

KUALA LUMPUR (April 26): Software company Microlink Solutions Bhd said on Friday that it has secured a contract worth RM56.45 million to implement and maintain a new core banking system for Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Bhd.

Microlink gets RM56.45 mil contract from Bank Islam Brunei

Malaysia is poised to be the next home of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd’s (Geely) methanol-powered vehicles, after China and the European market.&nbsp;

Hong Kong and China stocks extended gains on Friday, with the Hang Seng Index logging its best week since October 2011, as sentiment recovered further after strategists from global investment houses upgraded their views on Chinese shares.

Hong Kong stocks notch best week in more than 12 years; China attracts record inflow 

KUALA LUMPUR (April 26): China will firmly support Malaysia in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and support Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in promoting the principle of "Malaysia Madani" in governance.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi sa...

China backs Malaysia firmly in pursuing its development, role in global arena — Wang Yi

Huawei Technologies Co’s latest smartphones carry a version of the advanced made-in-China processor it revealed last year, independent analysis revealed, underscoring the Chinese company’s ability to sustain production of the controversial chip.

Huawei’s new phone runs latest version of made-in-China chip

Homeritz Corporation Bhd’s net profit surged by 65.9% in the second quarter ended Feb 29, 2024 (2QFY2024) to RM9.24 million, due to increased sales volume and a stronger US dollar.

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