AM Best Downgrades Petronas Captive Insurer ENERGAS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- AM Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating to “a-” (Excellent) from “a” (Excellent) of Malaysia’s Energas Insurance (L) Limited (ENERGAS).

Bursa Malaysia Opens Lower As Iran Keeps Hormuz Closed

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia opened lower on Friday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street after Iran’s new supreme leader signalled the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed.

Malaysian Companies Should Diversify Into 'Adjacent Sectors' Amid Economic Uncertainty -- PwC

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysian businesses should consider diversifying into “adjacent operations”, including equities and other activities closely related to their core businesses, so that they can leverage their current expertise while mitigating risks.

CPO Futures Extends Gains Into Another Day Following Oil Rally

By Danni Haizal Danial Donald

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Crude palm oil (CPO) futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended higher on Thursday, extending its gains for another day amid a rally in crude oil prices.

Ringgit Eases Versus US Dollar On Cautious Sentiment Amid Worries Over Oil Supply

By Fatin Umairah Abdul Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- The ringgit ended lower against the US dollar at the close on Thursday on concerns over oil supply disruptions amid the war in Iran.

Bursa Malaysia's Benchmark Index Ends At Intraday High On Late Buying

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index reversed earlier losses to end at its intraday high on Thursday, staging a late rebound during the final hour of trading.

Malaysia's Retail Sales Growth To Remain Resilient At 6.0 Pct In 2026 -- MBSB IB

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB) anticipates that Malaysia’s retail sales expansion will remain resilient at 6.0 per cent for the year 2026 as compared to 6.1 per cent in 2025.

First Meeting Of Fifth Session Of 15th Parliament Ends, West Asia Among Top Concerns

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- The Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara sessions for the First Meeting of 2026, which ended today, saw the focus given to boosting the country’s economic resilience, fiscal management, and the government’s efforts to monitor the impact of the West Asia conflicts on the national and global economy.

Strait Of Hormuz Closure Pushes Gulf Oil Inventories Towards Capacity, Pressuring Refiners

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the United States (US)-Iran military escalation is pushing Gulf countries’ oil inventories toward maximum capacity, posing serious operational challenges for refiners across the region.

Bursa Malaysia Remains Lower At Mid-afternoon

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia stayed lower at mid-afternoon, weighed by continuous selling in selected heavyweights led by financial services as well as telecommunications and media counters.

EIG’s MidOcean Energy Expands Gorgon LNG Stake Through JERA Acquisition

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- MidOcean Energy (MidOcean), a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company formed and managed by EIG, announced it has signed definitive agreements with JERA Co Inc (JERA) to acquire JERA Gorgon Pty Ltd, which holds a 0.417 per cent interest in the Gorgon LNG project.

Bursa Malaysia Remains Lower At Midday As Oil Price Surge Weighs

By Zufazlin Baharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia remained lower at midday, tracking the downbeat performance of regional peers amid dented sentiment from a surge in crude oil prices, with Brent crude hovering above US$100 per barrel at noon (US$1=RM3.91).