KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB) is keeping its baseline forecast for the ringgit to continue to strengthen further against the US dollar, averaging in 2026 to around RM4.00 (2025: RM4.28).
KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s substantial Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports uniquely position the country to benefit from rising gas prices, with a US$5 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) increase estimated to add 1.23 per cent of gross domestic product to the current account.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- A temporary closure or restriction of the Strait of Hormuz could sharply tighten supply, pushing up global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Nasir said.
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.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- More than 88 per cent of 16.5 million eligible individuals, or close to 14.8 million, have benefited from the RM1.99 per litre RON95 price, according to Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- The value of the ringgit had increased by 4.31 per cent to RM3.89 against the US dollar as of March 1, 2026, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
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.
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).
KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s loan growth is expected to expand within 5.0 per cent to 5.5 per cent this year, up from 4.8 per cent in 2025, supported by a favourable base effect at end-2025 and steady domestic demand, said Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd (Kenanga IB).
KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) -- Early and coordinated policy intervention will be critical in determining whether the escalating United States-Iran conflict remains a temporary external shock or evolves into a more persistent economic challenge for Malaysia, an economist said.
By Harizah Hanim Mohamed & Muhammad Fawwaz Thaqif Nor Afandi
KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) -- Global markets turned cautious on Sunday following the latest United States military action against Iran, with economists warning that heightened geopolitical risks due to the situation in the Middle East could reinforce risk-off sentiment and affect oil prices, the ringgit, and trade flows, said analysts.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) dividend rate for 2026 is expected to remain competitive, driven by the fund’s strategy based on its Strategic Asset Allocation, according to Prof Dr Ahmed Razman of Universiti Putra Malaysia.
