Global Air Cargo Demand Rises 5.6 Pct In January -- IATA

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Total demand of global air cargo, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), rose by 5.6 per cent in January 2026, compared with January 2025 levels (7.2 per cent for international operations), according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Disruption Of Global Aviation Enters Third Day With Airport And Airspace Closures

By Kisho Kumari Sucedaram

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) – As the war in the Middle East enters its third day, global aviation continues to be disrupted with commercial flights across the region remaining at a standstill, as major airports continue to be closed and regional airspace restricted, resulting in a mind-boggling 2,000 flights being cancelled.

CPO Futures Close Higher On Stronger Crude Oil Prices Amid US-Iran Conflict

By K. Naveen Prabu

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Crude palm oil (CPO) futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed higher today, supported by a rally in crude oil prices amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict. 

Gold Futures End Higher On Safe-haven Demand

By Siti Noor Afera Abu

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Gold futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives settled higher on Monday, tracking gains in US COMEX gold futures, as conflict in the Middle East boosted safe-haven demand despite a firmer greenback.

Bursa Malaysia Ends Broadly Lower As Sentiment Dampened By Middle East Conflict

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended broadly lower on Monday as risk sentiment deteriorated sharply following renewed escalation in the Middle East conflict, triggering a widespread regional equity sell-off.

Rubber Market Ends Higher On Surging Oil Prices, Supply Concerns

By K. Naveen Prabu

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur rubber market ended higher today,  supported by a sharp jump in crude oil prices.

BNM Likely To Maintain OPR At 2.75 Pct -- Bank Muamalat

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is likely to keep the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75 per cent when the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets this Thursday, said Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid.

Middle East Conflict Threatens Asia's Commodity Importers - Moody's Analytics

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Asia’s high-income economies, which heavily rely on commodity imports, are particularly vulnerable to the direct economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East, according to Moody’s Analytics.

Stable Salary Growth, Improved Job Market To Support Tax Revenue - Liew

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) — Revenue from individual taxpayers is projected to increase by 9.4 per cent in 2026, driven partly by more stable wage growth, leading to a 13 per cent rise in registered individual taxpayers, according to the Finance Ministry.

India’s ICICI Lombard Outlooks Revised To Positive - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) and the long-term issuer credit rating (Long-Term ICR) of “bbb+” (Good) of India’s ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited (ICICI Lombard).

Bursa Malaysia Sees Red In Early Trade, CI Below 1,700 Points

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia opened in the red, with the benchmark index falling more than 1.0 per cent, in line with most regional markets, amid intensified risk-off sentiment as concerns over the Middle East conflict escalated.

Ringgit Opens Marginally Lower Vs Greenback After Middle East Strike

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- The ringgit opened marginally lower against the US dollar on the first trading day of March as risk-off sentiment intensified following a joint United States-Israel strike on Iran over the weekend.