Vietnam eases rule for foreign investors ahead of market upgrade
(Feb 4): Vietnam will allow foreign investors to trade through global brokerages directly instead of with local firms, a step aimed at improving market accessibility as the country prepares for an upgrade to emerging-market status from FTSE Russell. The Southeast Asian nation in October clinched a long-awaited upgrade from frontier status by FTSE Russell. The new regulation also stipulates that there are no limitations on the types of securities eligible for non-prefunding trading. Foreign securities investment fund management companies are also permitted to open two trading accounts, one for proprietary trading and another for client asset management, according to the statement. This clarification enhances transparency, improves risk segregation and supports more effective supervision of foreign asset managers operating in Vietnam.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 04, 2026 02:45 UTC
Singapore’s GIC, Temasek revamp how they deal with hedge funds
(Feb 4): Singapore’s two largest state-owned investors are making major changes to the way they work with hedge funds, in moves that could affect billions of dollars in allocations. Temasek Holdings Pte has been contacting a wider pool of hedge funds for potential investments, people familiar said. The unconnected moves could have major implications for the money available to the world’s biggest hedge funds. Temasek, meanwhile, is likely to increase the amount of money it places externally with hedge funds. These assets include private credit and hybrid solutions, private equity funds and other alternative or uncorrelated strategies such as multi‑strategy and macro hedge funds, he added.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 04, 2026 02:31 UTC
Renault to use Chinese parts for EV engine to be assembled in France
PARIS (Feb 3): Renault will build in France a new small electric vehicle engine using parts supplied by China's Shanghai e-drive, a spokesperson for the carmaker said on Tuesday, as it looks to reduce costs and protect margins in a sluggish European market. Renault already imports from China small electric engines made by Shanghai e-drive for its new Twingo, a car it developed in less than two years thanks to input from the Chinese supplier and engineers. Reuters reported in November that Renault had ended a project with France's Valeo to develop another more powerful EV motor without rare earths, and was considering a cheaper Chinese supplier instead. Confirmation of plans for the new small engine was first reported by French automotive media L'Argus. Renault will assemble the entry level engine at its factory in Cleon in Northern France, setting up a new production line from early 2027 to make up to 120,000 engines per year, the CGT union said in a statement published after a briefing by management of the Renault plant last week.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 04, 2026 02:26 UTC
Roy King takes heat off young Asia Team cast ahead of Myanmar tie
The Malaysian men’s team are taking Group D tie against Myanmar today seriously despite enjoying a clear advantage on paper. No pressure: Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King are among the highest-ranked players in the team. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The StarRoy King, who partners Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and is among the highest-ranked players in the team, said enjoying the matches would help settle nerves. “Pressure is always there because everyone wants to win,” said Roy King. “Let them enjoy the first two matches and see how it goes.”In line with Roy King, Arif also wants other teammates to give strong support to those competing on court.
Source:The Star
February 04, 2026 02:25 UTC
Safety concerns raised on Seri Kembangan carpark
Dialogue urged over construction, lack of parking at Jln SK10/4RESIDENTS are raising safety and environmental concerns over the construction of a three-storey building on a gazetted public parking space at the Seri Kembangan New Village in Selangor. “This poses a safety risk for pedestrians and vehicles,” said Seri Kembangan MCA service centre head Chuah Hooi Hoong who spoke on behalf of residents at a press conference. Puchong MCA chief Datuk Liew Yuen Keong, who was also present, raised concerns regarding boundary matters at the site. Last August, Seri Kembangan assemblyman Wong Siew Ki said the land was never gazetted for a carpark. Mohd Zulkurnain said that besides looking at redesigning the parking bays there, MBSJ’s Seri Kembangan multipurpose hall could be utilised for parking too.
Source:The Star
February 04, 2026 02:20 UTC
Yuan expected to rise in 2026, but Beijing has its reasons for saying not so fast
As the yuan exchange rate tiptoed toward and then passed the strong side of 7-per-dollar last year, foreign currency flows into Chinese banks hit a record $452 billion in December. Last month, central bank Deputy Governor Zou Lan said the yuan is expected to experience two-way fluctuations while maintaining flexibility. "This might suggest a higher two-way volatility in the exchange rate," he said, which he thinks is likely to fluctuate in a range around 7-per-dollar. Ding, a Shanghai-based electrical industry exporter who only provided his surname, said his firm was already converting more dollars to yuan more quickly because of recent exchange rate moves. "We expect the level of surplus to go beyond $1 trillion again in 2026," said Kelvin Lam, senior China+ economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, who expects the exchange rate to be at 6.85 at the end of the year.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 04, 2026 02:16 UTC
From exile to emptiness
They salvaged a few belongings but were not able to carry out all their savings, which would have carried them through the winter, Samiullah added. “Economic programmes take time and do not have an immediate impact on people’s lives.”The World Food Programme (WFP) says Iran and Pakistan have expelled more than 2.5 million Afghans in massive repatriation programmes. At the Qasaba Clinic in the capital, mothers soothed their children during the wait for medicine and supplements. After the Taliban takeover, she said, “My husband lost his (government) job, and gradually, our economic situation collapsed. As dusk gathers and the temperature falls, Samiullah brings in firewood, and Bibi lights a stove for warmth.
Source:The Star
February 04, 2026 02:05 UTC
Turning personal experience into life-saving deeds
IPOH: Seeing how his late father used to require frequent blood transfusion, Nazrin Navin Kumar was inspired to organise regular blood donation drives. The 47-year-old civil engineer has been organising blood donation drives in his hometown, Teluk Intan, for about 10 years. “My late father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and required frequent blood transfusion. “My late father also used to be a frequent blood donor,” he added. She said the general awareness of organ donation was still quite low.
Source:The Star
February 04, 2026 01:26 UTC
Man dies after fall from moving car near Taman Kirby
NILAI: A man in his 20s died after he was believed to have fallen out of a moving car along the Jalan Seremban-Nilai trunk road. Nilai OCPD Supt Johari Yahya said a woman who was driving the car lodged a report of the incident at about 11.40am on Tuesday (Feb 3). The incident happened at about 3pm on Feb 2 near Taman Kirby," he said in a statement. Supt Johari said the victim lost consciousness following the incident and was rushed to hospital but died at about 12.30pm on Tuesday (Feb 3). A post-mortem will be carried out at Rembau Hospital today (Feb 4) to establish the cause of death.
Source:The Star
February 04, 2026 01:25 UTC
The return of BTS on world stage
JANUARY 2026 is over and we are now into February. For many, the first month of the new year was actually an unseen battleground. The war was over tickets for concerts by a K-pop group. Yes, this is the world tour of South Korea’s most influential performers, BTS. The group comprising seven young men debuted in 2013 and 13 years later, they are still going strong.
Source:The Star
February 04, 2026 01:25 UTC
Court views video evidence in Zara’s inquest
KOTA KINABALU: Two video recordings and two photographs were presented as evidence at the Coroner’s Court during the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir yesterday. The visual evidence was related to the relationship between the deceased and ‘Student A’, who is one of five students charged with insulting the late Zara Qairina. Lawyer Shahlan Jufri submitted the evidence during the cross-examination of Student A’s mother, who then identified Student A and Zara Qairina among the individuals in the videos and photographs. Based on her observation of the footage played in court, the witness agreed that all the students in the videos appeared cheerful. “Student A told me she had made a TikTok video with the late Zara Qairina.
Source:The Star
February 04, 2026 01:14 UTC
AKPS scores huge success in 2025
PUTRAJAYA: As the country’s first line of defence against smuggling, corruption and cross-border crime, the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) scored huge success last year, making seizures worth over RM82mil in coordinated raids and enforcement operations. AKPS director-general Datuk Seri Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the seizures included RM20.2mil worth of drugs and RM59.9mil in agricultural and controlled products. He said the operations will begin in December this year, but AKPS personnel will be stationed at the RTS two months earlier. Shuhaily said AKPS officers were operating under immense pressure, facing manpower shortages, limited assets and heightened public expectations to balance border security with smooth traveller and trade facilitation. He said to date, 39 enforcement personnel had been arrested or subjected to disciplinary action following investigations into corruption-linked activities such as passport counter-setting and facilitation of illegal entry.
Source:The Star
February 04, 2026 01:05 UTC
AI, innovation driving growth of furnishing brand
Retailer opens Ampang flagship store, five more outlets in the pipelineA HOMEGROWN furniture retailer has teamed up with a US brand to provide customers more options via a new flagship store in Ampang, Selangor. The five-storey, 1,858sqm Fella Design & Ashley Furniture HomeStore Ampang opening coincided with the former’s ruby anniversary. “I’ve invested 40 years of my life in Fella Design and have had the privilege of watching this company grow,” said its director Jason Tan. “So you can imagine the feeling of pride in launching the Ampang showroom together with Ashley Furniture on our 40th anniversary. Fella Design group chief executive officer Yu Kong Cing said: “We have come up with more modern designs, which are not the usual line.
Source:The Star
February 04, 2026 01:05 UTC
Awards platform doubles as business ecosystem
Co-hosted by Great Wall Motor (GWM) and themed “Drive the future: Empowering enterprise with innovation and purpose”, the gathering focused on leadership and innovation in the business landscape. He said SOBA had earned the respect of the business community and helped companies gain both visibility and credibility. “You must love your business,” he said, adding that innovation remained key to any business. Kanika Sdn Bhd CEO Vinnie Ang said as a second-generation leader, she could relate to Goh. “The platform has value not just for networking, but also to hear ideas and explore new avenues.”SOBA 2025 was organised by SMG with Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd, PKT Logistics Sdn Bhd, RHB Bank Bhd and U Mobile Sdn Bhd as main sponsors and GWM Malaysia Sdn Bhd as co-sponsor.
Source:The Star
February 04, 2026 01:00 UTC
Gold holds gains after historic retreat lures back dip buyers
(Feb 4): Gold steadied after recovering some losses when dip buyers stepped in following an abrupt retreat from record highs. “Forced sales have likely run their course in precious metals,” Daniel Ghali, a senior commodity strategist at TD Securities, said in a note. “The intense volatility over the last week could certainly keep retail participants on the sidelines, removing an increasingly important cohort of buyers,” he said. Precious metals soared last month in a rally underpinned by speculative momentum, geopolitical upheaval and concerns about the US Federal Reserve’s independence. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, a gauge of the US currency, was flat after ending the previous session down 0.3%.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 04, 2026 00:51 UTC