Malaysia To 'Seriously' Look Into Expanding Settling Foreign Trade Payments In Local Currencies -- Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will “seriously” explore using local currencies with trading partners to mitigate volatile foreign exchange risks, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

AI Boom Opens Growth Avenues For Penang SMEs - MSIA

GEORGE TOWN, June 18 (Bernama) -- The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is opening significant growth opportunities for Penang’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly those supporting the semiconductor value chain, according to the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA).

Countries Seeking To Develop AI Capabilities Need To Navigate Trusted Partner Networks, Says Expert

By Siti Radziah Hamzah

TASHKENT, June 18 (Bernama) -- Countries seeking to develop artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities will need to navigate new alliances, controls and trusted partner networks as the technology increasingly becomes a geopolitical issue, said an expert today.

Buying In Consumer Stocks Helps Bursa Malaysia Close Slightly Higher

By Siti Noor Afera Abu

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s key index finished marginally higher, supported by strong buying interest in consumer-related counters, amid mixed performance across regional markets.

Capital Market Can Bridge SME Financing Gap For R&D, Expansion -- Bursa Malaysia

GEORGE TOWN, June 18 (Bernama) -- Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should consider tapping the capital market to finance research and development (R&D) and business expansion that may not be fully supported through conventional bank financing, said Bursa Malaysia Bhd.

Extreme Weather, Natural Disasters Top Construction Risks Over Next Five Years -- Zurich

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- Zurich Insurance Group has identified extreme weather and natural disasters as the most severe risks facing the construction sector over the next five years, assigning a score of 6.2 out of seven on its risk severity scale.

Daicel POM Powder Enables Stick Lubricant Innovation

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- Daicel Corporation’s High Performance Polymers Strategic Business Unit (formerly Polyplastics Co Ltd) has announced its DURAST POM fine powder has been adopted in a new stick-form lubricant developed by Japan-based Maia Co Ltd, marking a novel application for the engineering plastic material in maintenance operations.

Uzbekistan Keen To Deepen Investment, Business Links With Malaysia, ASEAN

TASHKENT, June 16 (Bernama) -- Uzbekistan is keen to strengthen investment and business ties with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries, particularly in high-value-added industries, manufacturing and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Interest Rate Normalisation In Japan Seen As Having Greater Impact On Asia Than Europe

By Nurunnasihah Ahmad Rashid

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Bernama) -- The Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) ongoing policy normalisation is likely to have a greater impact on Asian financial markets than the European Central Bank’s (ECB) higher-for-longer interest rate stance.

Oil Prices To Retain US$5-US$10 Risk Premium Per Barrel Despite US-Iran MoU -- Rystad Energy

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- Crude oil prices are expected to retain a residual geopolitical risk premium of between US$5 and US$10 per barrel despite the virtual signing of the United States (US)-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU), said Rystad Energy.

Gold Futures Close Higher On Lower Oil Prices

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- Gold futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed higher on Tuesday amid lower oil prices, which eased inflation concerns and improved sentiment towards the precious metal.

Banks Must Build Specialised SME Lending Capabilities – EBRD

By Siti Radziah Hamzah

TASHKENT, June 16 (Bernama) --  Developing deeper capital markets and expanding financing access for underserved segments remain among the key challenges facing emerging Southeast Asian economies, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).