My Say: Singapore in 2026: Keep calm and carry on
The key thing to focus on is the long-term policy changes Singapore must make to respond to a world that is structurally less supportive of a small, open economy like Singapore. The first is managing near-term headwinds and the second is reinventing the Singapore economy to deal with a changed world economy. In the short term, Singapore has the wherewithal to keep the economy growing even if the global economy turns difficult. The bigger policy challenge is to address the structural degradation of world trade. ● Agrocorp International’s joint venture with Megmilk Snow Brand is developing a protein extraction facility in Johor using technology created in Singapore with the Singapore Institute of Technology.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 23, 2025 05:35 UTC
Opinion: Malaysian MSMEs are cracking the cross-border logistics code
(Dec 23): Malaysian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are increasingly making their mark on the global economy. Navigating barriers to international growthFrom conversations with MSMEs, the “3Cs” consistently emerge as barriers to cross-border expansion: cost, complexity and control. Cross border logistics: From cost centre to growth engineLogistics is no longer just a back-end cost centre, it is a strategic enabler of growth for MSMEs. Under 13MP, economic development funding targets transportation, trade, industry and logistics, including capacity-building, innovation support and talent development, critical for MSMEs competing in global e-commerce. As Malaysia’s e-commerce and export sectors grow, MSMEs that embrace strategic logistics solutions are best positioned to seize global opportunities.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 23, 2025 05:32 UTC
Japan's fiscal woes may cause more yen falls, yield rises
"The yen is weakening despite narrowing Japan-US interest rate differentials, which means it has little to do with BOJ policy," he said in an interview on Monday. "I think investors are starting to demand a higher premium for Japan's fiscal risk," which is also clear in recent rises in Japanese government bond (JGB) yields, he said. The BOJ's rate-hike cycle would increase the cost of funding Japan's huge public debt, which is seen growing further on the back of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's expansionary fiscal policy. "It's hard to erase market doubts over Japan's finances after Takaichi so powerfully branded her policies as proactive fiscal policy," he said. "Rising bond yields will be the biggest risk to Japan's economy next year."
Source:The Edge Markets
December 23, 2025 05:11 UTC
Southern Score’s Nova Pharma deal to immediately lift earnings over the next three years — analysts
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 23): Southern Score Builders Bhd's (KL:SSB8) proposed acquisition of Nova Pharma Solutions (NPS) is expected to lift group earnings, citing the deal’s attractive valuation and earnings accretion. Analysts estimate the acquisition could lift Southern Score’s profit attributable to shareholders in the next three and a half years, depending on the final shareholding following the mandatory takeover offer. Southern Score's financial year ends on June 30. Beyond the near-term uplift, the deal is seen as strategically positive, as Nova Pharma’s specialised pharmaceutical and biotechnology engineering capabilities would allow Southern Score to access higher-margin, regulated projects. Separately, Phillip Research said Southern Score’s outstanding order book stood at RM1.6 billion, equivalent to 7.2 times FY2025 revenue, supported by sustained momentum in data centre projects, which make up about 19% of the group’s order book.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 23, 2025 04:51 UTC
Billionaire Cheng family to seek sale of London Rosewood as pressures mount — Bloomberg
(Dec 23): The billionaire Cheng family have put a luxury London hotel up for sale as they grapple with liquidity challenges at debt-laden Hong Kong property group New World Development Co. The Cheng family has sought a partner to match a capital injection, and the company last month proposed a bond swap that would trim about US$1.2 billion (RM4.88 billion) from its debt pile. A spokesperson at Rosewood Hotel Group declined to comment on ownership matters, but said its brands are not up for sale and all its properties remain fully operational as usual. Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, the private investment arm of the Cheng family, didn’t respond to a request for comment. The Rosewood London, as the Holborn location is known, was the first hotel operated under the brand to open in the UK capital.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 23, 2025 03:26 UTC
Oil holds four-day gain with focus on US blockade of Venezuela
(Dec 23): Oil steadied after a four-day run of gains as the US continued its blockade of shipments of crude from Venezuela. Brent was near US$62 (RM252.40) a barrel after rising about 5% over the previous four sessions while West Texas Intermediate was close to US$58. Still, more than a dozen vessels have loaded oil off the coast of the South American nation since efforts to curb Caracas’ crude revenue were ramped up. Venezuelan exports represent less than 1% of global supply but the revenue provides a financial lifeline for Maduro’s government. Prices:Brent for February settlement was steady at US$62.05 a barrel as of 10.32am in Singapore (same time as Malaysia).
Source:The Edge Markets
December 23, 2025 03:11 UTC
Najib’s house arrest bid rejected
The judge found that the addendum order was not deliberated nor decided at the 61st Pardons Board meeting held on Jan 29, 2024. The addendum order was the pillar of Najib’s judicial review application to allow him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest. The addendum order was therefore not made in accordance with the procedure prescribed by Article 42 of the Federal Court,” she said. The terms of the addendum order did not suggest urgency of the kind associated with reprieve or respite. There was no reason why the house arrest could not have been similarly deliberated,” Justice Loke said.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 02:05 UTC
Electronic Arts shareholders approve US$55 Billion sale to Saudis
(Dec 23): Electronic Arts Inc shareholders approved the US$55 billion (RM223.9 billion) sale of the company, a leading video game publisher, in a deal led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Investors in the Redwood City, California-based gaming giant, the publisher of games such as EA SPORTS FC and Battlefield, approved the US$210-a-share takeover in a vote Monday (Dec 22). The buyout marks a turning point for the 40-year-old EA. Saudi Arabia’s PIF is making splashy investments in the interactive media sector to diversify away from oil. Taking EA private will allow developers to focus on making good games without pressure from public investors to meet quarterly targets.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 23, 2025 01:51 UTC
King arrives safely in Abu Dhabi for special visit to UAE
PETALING JAYA: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, safely arrived at Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday (Dec 22). The Royal aircraft landed at 11:45am UAE local time (3.45pm in Malaysia) and His Majesty was welcomed on arrival by Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also present was Malaysia's ambassador to the UAE Tengku Datuk Sirajuzzaman Tengku Mohamed Ariffin. The visit marks Sultan Ibrahim's first official trip to the UAE, undertaken at the invitation of the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Earlier, the Royal aircraft departed the Royal Hangar at Senai International Airport at 9am Malaysian time.
Source:The Star
December 23, 2025 01:40 UTC
Saks mulls bankruptcy year after raising billions for turnaround
Separately, some Saks lenders have held confidential talks in recent days to assess the company’s cash needs, according to other people familiar with the matter. Saks raised billions of dollars from bond investors late last year to finance a bold turnaround plan centred on the acquisition of Neiman Marcus, betting that scale would revive the struggling luxury retailer. Instead, the deal deepened the company’s debt burden and failed to resolve long-running issues with vendors, many of whom halted shipments amid missed payments, accelerating losses. Even those securities have since plunged, underscoring concern among investors that the turnaround effort is running out of time. Saks faces interest payments of more than US$100 million due Dec 30, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 23, 2025 01:26 UTC
No new foreign drones to be allowed in US under FCC rules
The rules will only apply to future drone imports and sales, not those that have already been sold or are in use. Banning at least one Chinese drone maker, DJI, has been a years-long priority for Carr, who pushed for the move in 2021. Congress passed a law last year that said DJI would be added to the FCC’s covered entity list by Dec. 23, 2025, barring intervention from national security officials. DJI said in a statement that it is “disappointed” in the FCC’s decision to block new drone sales. The company and its peers “are ready to meet the call for service to rebuild the American drone industry”, Brinc said in an emailed statement.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 23, 2025 00:46 UTC
Stock surge, currency gains fuel 2026 investor optimism for Asia
The region’s stock markets have beaten the US and Europe this year, credit markets are strong, currencies are strengthening, and investors expect the momentum to carry into 2026. In dollar terms, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index of the region’s equities is up 27% this year including dividends. It’s also the first time since 2020 that Asian shares have outpaced both US and European benchmarks in the same year. The resurgence reflects Asia’s expanding appeal to investors seeking faster growth as the US and Europe slow. In China, stocks are heading for their strongest year since 2020, driven by the excitement around artificial intelligence.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 22, 2025 23:26 UTC
Asian stocks poised to extend record global rally
(Dec 23) : Stocks in Asia were primed for a mainly positive open after bullish momentum lifted shares on Wall Street. Equity index futures for Australia, Hong Kong and mainland China rose in early Tuesday trading, while those for Japan edged lower. An index of global stocks rose for a third session Monday to set a fresh closing record. “If a Santa Claus rally does kick in this year, St. Nick’s gift bag will likely need to be full of positive tech sentiment,” he noted. It’s been a strong year for stocks and the big question is whether investors will carry that positive mood into 2026.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 22, 2025 23:21 UTC
European investment banks fail to capitalise on Trump Tariff turmoil
LONDON (Dec 22): Wall Street banks strengthened their lead in European investment banking in 2025, as clients stayed loyal despite global market turmoil and President Donald Trump's trade tariffs. Some bank bosses had anticipated European Union governments and companies would sideline American investment banks in favour of their home lenders when Trump on April 2 announced his "liberation day" tariffs. In some products, such as equity offerings, they even ceded market share in Europe. U.S. banks have claimed a 37% market share in investment banking fees in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region so far this year. The one area where European banks outshone was in share price performance, although that in part reflects how badly European lender stocks have fared since the financial crisis.
Source:The Edge Markets
December 22, 2025 17:10 UTC
QuickCheck: Was there an attempted highway robbery in Kota Tinggi?
The driver recording the video, who was travelling home to Kota Tinggi via the old Kota Tinggi-Kluang road, clearly felt uncomfortable with the situation unfolding ahead. Verdict:FALSEPolice have confirmed that the alleged attempted robbery involving two vehicles on Jalan Bandar Tenggara in Kota Tinggi, as went viral on social media, is not true. Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Yusof Othman said that based on the viral video, the incident was believed to have occurred at 8pm on Nov 14. "The claim of attempted robbery that was spread is not accurate. "Kota Tinggi police are committed and will take stern action against any individual or group involved in criminal activities or acts that violate the law," he said.
Source:The Star
December 22, 2025 16:10 UTC