KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — Malaysia’s second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 2.9 per cent reflects a 'business cycle slowdown' rather than an impending recession, in line with global trends, economists said.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — The economy expanded by 2.9 per cent in the second quarter (Q2) this year, supported by the improving labour market and continued increase in domestic demand and tourism activities, said the Statistics Department (DOSM).

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — Bursa Malaysia opened higher today but retreated thereafter due to extended profit taking in selected heavyweights amid mostly weaker sentiment in regional bourses, said dealers.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — The ringgit retreated from yesterday's gains to end lower against the greenback on Thursday as the minutes from the United States’ Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) pointed to US interest rates staying higher for longer, an economist said.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 —The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry will hold two dialogue sessions on Budget 2024 with industry players soon.

PETALING JAYA, Aug 17 — Property developers maintained a ‘neutral’ outlook for the second half of 2023 (2H 2023), but are optimistic for the first half of 2024 (1H 2024), said Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) president Datuk NK Tong.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd (HLIB) has maintained its ‘neutral’ stance on the plantation sector as planters are expected to report a mixed set of performance for the second quarter of 2023.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — The ringgit traded lower against the US dollar at the opening today as the US Dollar Index strengthened by 0.20 per cent to 103.419 points.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — The ringgit rebounded to close higher against the US dollar today in cautious mode ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes due to be released later today, an economist said.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — The retail prices of RON97, RON95, and diesel will remain unchanged for the August 17 to August 23 period.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) has cumulatively mobilised close to RM40 billion in sustainable finance and has improved nearly 970,000 households across Asean since 2020.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — Eversendai Group announced that its subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia and India have secured new projects worth RM188 million for structural steel works.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16  — More than 470 international buyers from 40 countries will be participating in the flagship International Sourcing Programme (INSP) at the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2023.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — The surge of investment commitments in the digital economy sector is a clear signal of investor confidence and strong digital economic prospects in the near term, an economist said.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — The ringgit extended its downward trend against the US dollar this morning as the greenback strengthened amidst higher-than-expected United States (US) Retail Sales data on Tuesday, analysts said.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 — The way forward for the Islamic capital market (ICM) in Malaysia is to consider introducing an Islamic social exchange in the near future to strengthen environmental, social and governance (ESG) programmes, especially to support the poor and the needy, said Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) chairman Datuk Seri Awang Adek Hussin.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug  15 — The Securities Commission of Malaysia (SC) has been urged to speed up its investigations on fraud cases involving several companies with losses of almost RM1 billion as there has yet to be any action after complaints were lodged since April.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 —The ringgit ended lower against the US dollar today following China’s unexpected rate cut today.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 — Fitch Ratings believes the government will advance subsidy rationalisation, likely to initially focus on electricity and diesel, in Budget 2024 to be tabled in Parliament on October 13.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 — The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) will likely deliver a higher dividend rate for 2023 should market conditions persist or improve in the second half (H2), said economists.