Oil Price Shocks, Inflation and the Fragility of the Global Economy

By Dr Phar Kim Beng

Few economic indicators shape global stability as decisively as the price of oil. 

Ringgit Eases On Oil Surge, Iran War

By Fatin Umairah Abdul Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) -- The ringgit eased against the US dollar and other major currencies on Monday as heightened geopolitical risks strengthened the greenback after Brent crude oil prices surged sharply, with the local currency continuing to be affected by the ongoing war in Iran.

Strong 2025 Growth Provides Tailwind For Malaysia To Bolster 1Q 2026 Performance - Amir Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's economic performance last year, which recorded 5.2 per cent growth, is expected to cushion the country against global economic uncertainties and bolster its performance in the first quarter (1Q) of this year, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.

RAM Ratings Projects Malaysian Loan Growth Of 4.0-5.0 Pct In 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- RAM Rating Services Bhd (RAM Ratings) projects Malaysia’s system loan growth to come in at 4.0 per cent to 5.0 per cent in 2026, broadly in line with its gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection of 4.0 per cent to 5.0 per cent. 

Gold Futures On BMD Decline Despite COMEX Gains, Weighed By Higher Bond Yields

By Siti Noor Afera Abu

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Gold futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives (BMD) declined on Wednesday despite the positive performance of COMEX gold futures, as the market closely monitored the conflict in the Middle East.

RM452 Mln Deferred Funds Held In Trust Until Dec 31, 2025 -- MoF

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- The total deferred funds held by AmanahRaya are RM452 million as of Dec 31, 2025.

MBSB IB To Keep Ringgit's Average Forecast Around 4.00 vs US Dollar In 2026

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). 

Ringgit Edges Higher Vs Greenback As Risk-off Mood Persists

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- The ringgit opened marginally higher against the US dollar on Tuesday, even as risk-off sentiment prevailed amid the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East.

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.

Brent Crude May Spike By US$15-US$20 Per Barrel Amid Us-Iran Conflict, Says Public IB

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- The United States-Iran conflict could result in Brent crude prices posting a “knee-jerk” move of US$15-US$20 per barrel (bbl) (US$1=RM3.89) from the latest close, potentially lifting it towards the US$90 bbl level, said Public Investment Bank Bhd (Public IB).

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 Likely To Trade Sideways At 1,710–1,740 Next Week

By Abdul Hamid A Rahman

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia is expected to trade sideways within the 1,710–1,740 range next week, said Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng.