WASHINGTON (April 16): Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone strike on Israel is unlikely to prompt dramatic sanctions action on Iran’s oil exports from the Biden administration due to worries about boosting oil prices and angering top buyer China, said analysts.

Biden unlikely to cut Iran’s oil lifeline after Israel attack

Oil prices rose on Tuesday amid heightened tensions in the Middle East after Israel's military chief said his country would respond to Iran's weekend missile and drone attack amid calls for restraint by allies.

Oil prices rise on solid China growth, Middle East tensions

Oil prices drifted lower on Monday, with the market downplaying the risk of broader regional conflagration after Iran's weekend attack on Israel.

Brent LcOc1 futures for June delivery fell 81 cents, or about 0.9%, to US$89.64 a barrel by 1335 GMT while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) CLc1 futures for May delivery were down 69 cents, or about 0.8%, at US$84.97.

Oil slips as risk premium eases after Iran attack

KUALA LUMPUR (April 15): United Overseas Bank Ltd (UOB) cautioned that if tensions in the Middle East continue to rise and disrupt Iran’s oil production, crude oil prices could climb towards US$100 per barrel (bbl) or even higher.

UOB alerts of possible crude oil price surge to US$100/bbl amid Middle East tensions

(April 15): Oil futures were barely moved by Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, with traders attributing the lackluster price action to the notion that the strike was well-flagged beforehand, and expectations that the conflict will remain contained in the aftermath. As Israel weighs its response to the assault, here’s what market watchers are saying about the outlook:

What’s next for oil? Analysts weigh in after Iran’s attack

The International Energy Agency (IEA) trimmed its forecast for 2024 oil demand growth on Friday, citing lower than expected consumption in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and a slump in factory activity.

IEA trims oil demand forecast on weakness in wealthier countries

Oil-and-gas services firm Yinson Holdings Bhd has hired Nordic investment banks for a potential bond issue of up to US$500 million (RM2.37 billion).

YInson has mandated DNB Markets and Pareto Securities as joint bookrunners, and ABG Sundal Collier ASA as a joint lead manager to arrange a series of meeting with fixed-income investors since Thursday, the company said in an exchange filing on Friday. A new five-year senior secured issue may follow, it noted.

Yinson hires bankers for potential US$500m bond issue

Oil prices rose on Friday as heightened tensions in the Middle East raised the risk of supply disruptions from the oil-producing region, though prices are set for weekly losses amid expectations of fewer US interest rate cuts this year.

Oil rebounds as Mideast tensions persist, but set for weekly loss

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) on Thursday predicted robust fuel use in the summer months and stuck to its forecast for relatively strong growth in global oil demand in 2024, while saying there was a chance the world economy could do better than expected this year.

Opec sees robust summer oil demand, economic upside potential

Oil prices extended gains on Thursday, after rising a dollar a barrel in the prior session, as investors braced for a worsening of the Middle East crisis, potentially involving Iran, the third-largest oil producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec).

Oil extends gains on escalation in Middle East tensions

WASHINGTON: US energy company Chevron has quit the Yadana natural gas field in Myanmar, a spokesperson said on Monday (April 8), more than two years after it condemned violence and human rights abuses there and announced it would leave.

Chevron hands Myanmar gas field stake to junta, Thailand's PTTEP

BEIJING (April 9): Oil prices rose on Tuesday after hopes diminished that negotiations between Israel and Hamas would lead to a ceasefire in Gaza and ease tensions in the Middle East.

Oil prices turn higher as Middle East ceasefire hopes wane

Jamie Dimon said US delays of liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects were done for political reasons to pacify those who believe oil and gas (O&G) projects should simply be stopped — a position he calls “wrong” and “enormously naive”.

JPMorgan's Dimon calls push to stop all oil and gas enormously naive

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) said that amid the current buoyant oil price environment, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd stands out as a compelling investment opportunity, being a pure exploration and production player.

Buy Hibiscus shares on higher oil prices, says HLIB

WASHINGTON (April 16): US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday warned that the US intends to hit Iran with new sanctions in coming days over its unprecedented attack on Israel, and these actions could seek to reduce Iran’s capacity to export oil.

US to hit Iran with new sanctions in ‘coming days’, Yellen says

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): The Unity Secretariat meeting, held on Tuesday night, discussed preparations to strengthen machinery and the working mechanism of parties within the Unity Government, in preparation for next month’s Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

Saifuddin Nasution: Unity Secretariat discussed machinery preps for Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Tuesday:

MyEG, HeiTech Padu, Apex Healthcare, Globetronics Technology, Kossan Rubber, Tomei, GDEX, Serba Dinamik, Alpha IVF and Comfort Gloves

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): The 14-year-old daughter of Lahad Datu police chief ACP Dzulbaharin Ismail was found dead in a pool of blood, in a room at her home in Taman Tabanak, Lahad Datu on Tuesday.

Teen daughter of Lahad Datu police chief found dead in pool of blood

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) plays an instrumental investment facilitator role in removing obstacles for prospective investors, said Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

Zafrul: Mida a vital instrument to remove obstacles for prospective investors

NEW YORK/BENGALURU (April 16): The Dow Jones Industrial Average outshone its peers on Tuesday, following upbeat results from health insurer UnitedHealth, while higher Treasury yields and conflict in the Middle East kept investors on edge.

Dow up on UnitedHealth boost; higher bond yields, Mideast tensions cap gains

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Comfort Gloves Bhd said two subsidiaries of the group have commenced legal action over an additional tax demand totalling RM99.3 million by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

Comfort Gloves’ units go to court over RM99 mil additional tax demand

Tesla Inc shares extended their decline for 2024, pushing the electric-vehicle (EV) maker’s market valuation below US$500 billion (RM2.40 trillion), as a round of job cuts this week further soured sentiment around the company.

Tesla’s value declines below US$500b as risks pile up

Federal Reserve (Fed) vice chair Philip Jefferson said he expects inflation to continue to moderate, with interest rates at their current level, but persistent price pressures would warrant holding borrowing costs high for longer.

Fed’s vice chair sees steady rate helping to push down inflation

Analysts are positive on Malaysia’s pilot green power exports to Singapore using existing infrastructure in both countries, following establishment of the platform enabling cross-border trading of green electricity, the Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem).

Analysts positive on pilot green power exports to Singapore; name Tenaga, YTLP as top picks

Outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) player Globetronics Technology Bhd is in the final stages of discussion with two prospective clients interested in leveraging advanced packaging technology.

Globetronics in final talks with two potential customers for advanced packaging

The Ministry of Transport clarified on Tuesday that the higher contract value of RM190.01 million awarded to HeiTech Padu Bhd for Road Transport Department (JPJ) services was only due to a longer extended contract duration.

Loke: Higher contract value awarded to HeiTech Padu due to longer extended duration

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said his ministry has no objection to MMC Corp Bhd divesting a stake in MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd, including to foreign entities, as long as it does not contravene the government's policy that requires 51% ownership of major national assets to remain with local companies.

Loke says MMC Port free to sell stake to foreign firms, but govt has to be notified of shareholding changes

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is unleashing a barrage of trade restrictions against China as she seeks to follow through on a pledge to make the EU a more relevant political player on the global stage.

EU goes on China trade offensive after getting ‘played’ 

Practice Note 17 (PN17) company Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd said it had been granted an extension of time until May 15 by Bursa Malaysia to submit its regularisation plan.

Bursa grants Serba Dinamik second extension of time until May 15 to submit regularisation plan

ISKANDAR PUTERI (April 16): The Johor government wants to develop a multi-tiered Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system in Johor Bahru to address traffic congestion in the city.

MB: Multi-tiered Automated Rapid Transit system planned to overcome Johor Bahru congestion

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) will draw up a comprehensive semiconductor strategic plan to ensure that Malaysia continues to be the chosen investment destination for this strategic industry, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar: Miti to draw up comprehensive semiconductor strategic plan

HSBC Holdings plc has started a new round of job cuts at its Asia investment bank amid a slump in dealmaking across the region, according to people familiar with the matter.

The London-based lender cut around a dozen bankers across its investment banking division in Asia on Tuesday, one of the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter.&nbsp;

HSBC slashes a dozen investment bankers in Asia on deals slump

Workers in Singapore can now ask for four-day work weeks, more work-from-home days and staggered work timings starting from Dec 1, underscoring the global trend of governments and companies relaxing office arrangements in order to retain talent.

Singapore orders all employers to consider employees’ flexi-time requests

Bursa Malaysia ended lower for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, tracking the weak global sentiment due to the Middle East conflict, said an analyst. &nbsp;

Bursa closes lower, tracking weak global sentiment

Tesla's global job cuts include reducing staff in the US&nbsp;and China, the automakers' two biggest markets, across sales, tech, and engineering, five sources briefed on the matter said.

Chief executive officer Elon Musk on Monday told staff in an&nbsp;internal memo&nbsp;seen by Reuters that the company is laying off more than 10% of its global workforce, as it grapples with falling sales and an intensifying price war for electric vehicles.

Tesla's global job cuts include leading markets US, China

Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that made headlines today.

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Malaysian airlines will be hurt by higher fuel costs, even as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are not expected to dent ticket sales, analysts said.

Local airlines may feel heat from rising oil prices as Middle East tensions simmer — analysts

1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) on Tuesday failed to transfer its case concerning its US$6.59 billion (RM31.58 billion) suit against its former president Arul Kanda Kandasamy and former Treasury secretary general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah from the Civil High Court to the Commercial High Court.

1MDB fails to transfer suit against Arul Kanda and Irwan to another court

MIDF Research expects crude palm oil (CPO) prices to moderate in the second quarter of 2024 (2Q2024), yet predicts a month-on-month (m-o-m) increase of 4.6%&nbsp;to RM4,410.5 per tonne in April due to&nbsp;mild El&nbsp;Niño events.&nbsp;

MIDF sees CPO price moderation in 2Q

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has registered the proposed construction of a new highway alignment that will connect Tanjung Malim to Lumut.

Confirming the matter, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the construction of the highway is necessary&nbsp;to facilitate export logistics services through the Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC) when the High Technology Automotive Valley (AHTV) project in Tanjung Malim begins operation.

Perak proposes new highway between Tanjung Malim and Lumut

The Sarawak government has welcomed the appointment of Lawrence Wong as Singapore's next&nbsp;prime minister, while also expressing interest in studying further the republic's approach to assisting its low-income sector.

Abang Johari sees more Sarawak-Singapore collaborations under PM Wong

Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd has proposed a final dividend of two sen per share for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2023 (FY2023).

The final dividend will be paid on July 18, with June 20 as the ex-date and June 21 as the entitlement date, the glove maker said in a bourse filing on Tuesday.

Kossan proposes final dividend of two sen for FY2023

Tesla Inc&nbsp;shares extended their decline for 2024, pushing the electric-vehicle (EV) maker’s market valuation below US$500 billion (RM2.40 trillion), as a round of job cuts this week further soured sentiment around the company.&nbsp;

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