Initiatives involving ringgit stablecoins, tokenised deposits unveiled
KUALA LUMPUR: The Digital Asset Innovation Hub (DAIH) has onboarded three initiatives to test real-world applications involving ringgit stablecoins and tokenised deposits in 2026, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). In a statement, the central bank said the three initiatives would focus on wholesale payment use cases across both domestic and cross-border transactions, including to enable the settlement of tokenised assets. “These initiatives will be conducted in a controlled environment and involve collaboration with ecosystem partners, including corporate clients of financial institutions and other regulators. BNM also intended to provide greater clarity on the use of ringgit stablecoins and tokenised deposits by end-2026. BNM will continue advancing responsible innovation in digital assets through DAIH, which will continue to engage with prospective applicants while placing immediate focus on supporting initiatives already onboarded.
Source:The Star
February 12, 2026 06:03 UTC
My Say: Malaysia’s Climate Change Bill is about staying competitive, not compliant
This framing misses out on the more important objective of recognising and responding to a deeper shift in how business value and risks will be redefined in Malaysia’s economy landscape and competitiveness. We are entering a period where climate risks and impacts are increasingly shaping real economic outcomes. This is where the role of professional accountants in Malaysia must evolve. Those that integrate climate risk and opportunity into core business strategy and decision making will be better positioned to protect value, attract capital and sustain competitiveness. Professional accountants who lead with insight, integrity and a value-based mindset will help shape more resilient businesses and a stronger Malaysian economy.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 12, 2026 05:35 UTC
Trump’s energy chief says US aims to ‘set free’ Venezuelan economy
(Feb 12): US President Donald Trump’s energy chief said that the US can help Venezuela drive a “dramatic increase” in oil, natural gas and electricity output this year, as Washington works to issue new licences aimed at “setting free” the country’s economy. Energy Secretary Chris Wright spoke to reporters after meeting with acting President Delcy Rodríguez and other top Venezuelan officials at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, as the US pushes to revive Venezuela’s beleaguered oil sector. “We want to set Venezuela’s people and the economy free,” he added. Wright is the most senior US official to make a public visit to Venezuela since the Trump administration captured former president Nicolás Maduro in early January. While US oil executives and industry leaders have stressed that companies need political reforms, security guarantees and other assurances before investing in Venezuela, Wright has said there has been “absolutely overwhelming” interest.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 12, 2026 03:59 UTC
Trump privately weighed quitting trade pact he signed with Canada, Mexico — Bloomberg
(Feb 12): US President Donald Trump is privately musing about exiting the North American trade pact, people familiar with the matter said, injecting further uncertainty about the deal’s future into pivotal renegotiations involving the US, Canada and Mexico. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity and declined to directly address whether Trump was musing about an exit from the trade pact. Greer said on Tuesday that the administration would hold separate talks with Mexico and Canada, arguing that trade ties with Canada are more strained. Even though he negotiated the current system, Trump has soured on the North American trading relationship. Both countries are the US’ two largest trading partners and the top buyers of American goods, according to 2024 trade data.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 12, 2026 03:33 UTC
TNB: Commercial viability, committed offtakers vital for Asean’s green energy ambition
The APG aims to establish a sustainable, integrated energy network by 2045, with eight of the ten Asean members having set net-zero targets. He added that regulatory frameworks across member countries are also critical in enabling reliable and secure cross-border power flows. Looking ahead, he said TNB remains focused on strengthening grid capabilities to support the region’s move towards a cleaner, more connected, and resilient energy future. TNB has been actively contributing to the APG, as evidenced by cross-border connectivity projects such as the Vietnam-Malaysia-Singapore, Malaysia-Indonesia, and Malaysia-Sarawak interconnections. Renewable energy transmission to Singapore from Laos via Thailand and Malaysia three years ago marked a milestone in the region’s cross-border electricity trade.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 12, 2026 03:29 UTC
Activist Ancora urges Warner board to reject Netflix, reconsider Paramount's bid
Warner Bros was valued at about US$69 billion as of Tuesday, indicating Ancora’s stake in the company is less than 1%. Paramount sweetened the terms of its offer for Warner Bros on Tuesday by agreeing to pay the US$2.8 billion termination fee Warner Bros would owe Netflix if the deal falls apart. It will also backstop a Warner Bros debt refinancing and pay US$1.5 billion in fees associated with that, if necessary. If the Warner Bros board refuses to do this, “Ancora will vote ‘no’ on the inferior Netflix deal and seek to hold the Warner Bros board accountable at the 2026 annual meeting.”Warner Bros has said it plans to ask shareholders to vote on the Netflix deal by April. Warner Bros’ “experienced and independent board and management team have a proven track record of acting in the best interests of the company and shareholders”, Warner Bros said in a statement.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 12, 2026 03:03 UTC
Bangladesh votes in landmark election after Gen Z revolution
It is the world's first election after a revolution led by under-30s, or Gen Z, to be followed by Nepal next month. The contest pits two coalitions led by former allies, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat‑e‑Islami, with opinion polls giving an edge to the BNP. "I am feeling excited because we are voting in a free manner after 17 years," Hossain said as he waited in line. Unlike previous elections marred by opposition boycotts and intimidation, more than 2,000 candidates, including many independents, are vying for 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation. "This election is not just another routine vote,” Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, head of an interim government installed after Hasina’s ouster, said this week.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 12, 2026 02:58 UTC
Instagram boss grilled at trial over profit versus youth safety
(Feb 12): Instagram boss Adam Mosseri came under fire at a landmark trial over social media addiction for maintaining features on the photo-sharing app that researchers had flagged as harmful to teens. Phyllis Jones, an attorney for Meta, asked Mosseri to respond directly to claims raised in the case that Instagram put profit over the safety of young users. Under questioning from Lanier, Mosseri acknowledged that “problematic use” of Instagram and other online platforms is real, but asserted that social media was not “clinically addictive”. Under Mosseri, Instagram also announced plans in 2021 for a kids-version of the app called Instagram Youth, which was ultimately scrapped after strong backlash from politicians and parenting groups. Instagram rolled out so-called teen accounts in late 2024 that limit who users can interact with and what content they see.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 12, 2026 02:53 UTC
Dividend upside more likely in large banks as capital management becomes key driver — MBSB Research
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 12): Dividend upsides will likely come from larger-to-mid-sized banks, as smaller banks are constrained by their aggressive business development, according to MBSB Research. It said smaller banks’ need to retain more capital to support growth, and is likely to limit their ability to raise dividends. At the same time, loan growth has been weaker than expected, largely dragged by weakness in business loans. Even with slower loan growth, MBSB Research remains positive on the sector, saying how banks manage their capital is becoming the main driver of share price gains. MBSB Research views this structure as a more effective and regulator-friendly mechanism for capital distribution compared with dividend reinvestment plans.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 12, 2026 02:28 UTC
BAM call for BWF to rethink hosting burden
“For me, I think that for us (BAM) to bid for all these major tournaments, there needs to be a fair business model. “Secondly, we need to ask why many major badminton nations are not submitting bids to host major tournaments. That is one of the questions BWF need to ask themselves.”Kenny’s concerns are valid, as the BWF have yet to announce a host for the 2027 Sudirman Cup. Therefore, Kenny has urged BWF to review their current business model and compare it with the one used in the past. What is the difference between the business model BWF are using now and the one they followed in the past?” he added.
Source:The Star
February 12, 2026 00:45 UTC
Oil prices up 1% on escalating US-Iran tensions
NEW YORK: Oil prices gained about 1% on Wednesday, as investors worried about escalating tensions between Iran and the US, which were preparing to resume negotiations, while a weekly report showing a large build in US crude inventories limited gains. Brent crude oil futures settled 60 cents, or 0.87%, higher at US$69.40 a barrel. The date and venue of the next round of US-Iran talks have yet to be announced. Also supporting oil prices, US job growth unexpectedly accelerated in January and the unemployment rate fell to 4.3%, the Labor Department said, signaling a healthy economy. Russian oil production edged down around 0.6% in January from December, per the report.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 23:39 UTC
Wall Street ends muted on strong jobs data
The Philadelphia semiconductor index rallied 2.3%, while the S&P 500 software index finished down 2.6%. The rate-sensitive S&P 500 bank index finished down 2.6%. Robinhood shares tumbled 8.9%, leading declines in the financial services index, after the retail brokerage missed fourth-quarter revenue expectations. Humana shares fell 3.3% after the health insurer forecast 2026 profit below Wall Street estimates. The S&P 500 posted 99 new 52-week highs and 24 new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 123 new highs and 232 new lows.
Source:The Star
February 11, 2026 23:34 UTC
Airbus wins major order for A350 widebody jets from Air Canada
(Feb 12) : Air Canada will acquire eight Airbus SE A350-1000 models, with options to double the order, as the carrier seeks to modernize its fleet. The purchase agreement, if all rights are exercised, would be valued at about US$3 billion, based on current aircraft values from analytics firm Ishka Ltd. A first delivery is expected in the second half of 2030, Air Canada said. The A350-1000 is a twin-aisle widebody aircraft that can seat as many as 480 passengers and significantly reduce fuel consumption, according to Airbus’s website. “These aircraft will deliver improved operating economics, enhance our operational reliability, and ensure we remain competitive across our global network.,” Air Canada Chief Financial Officer John Di Bert said in a statement. Air Canada said the purchase will add to an order book of 30 Airbus A321XLRs, 23 Airbus A220s and 14 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 11, 2026 23:07 UTC
Waymo Co-CEO outlines path to one million weekly trips in 2026
(Bloomberg) : Waymo, Alphabet Inc.’s autonomous driving unit, will hit more than one million paid weekly robotaxi rides in the US by the end of this year, according to co-Chief Executive Officer Tekedra Mawakana. In some cases, Waymo can go from mapping a city to the start of paid rides in just a matter of months. Waymo began fully autonomous operations in Nashville earlier this week ahead of a planned commercial launch with Lyft Inc. later this year. Waymo is the top provider of paid autonomous vehicle services in the US, with a pack of well-funded others chasing the market. The company currently provides about 400,000 paid rides per week across the six cities.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 11, 2026 22:53 UTC
Real estate services stocks sink in latest ‘AI scare trade’
(Feb 12): Real estate services stocks sank on Wednesday as investors assessed the companies’ vulnerability to the newest crop of artificial intelligence (AI) applications and tools that threatens to disrupt several industries. Shares of CBRE Group Inc and Jones Lang LaSalle Inc plunged 12%, and Cushman & Wakefield Ltd dropped 14%. For CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield, the moves marked the biggest drop since 2020 in the midst of the Covid-driven market sell-off. The drop in the stocks seems “excessive given limited news flow today,” Barclays’ Brendan Lynch said. The analyst noted that some of the weakness stems from fears that AI will disrupt the job market and commercial real estate demand.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 11, 2026 22:37 UTC