Iran Action May Send Oil To US$120 A Barrel, Asia To Bear The Brunt -- Rystad Energy

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Oil prices could hit US$120 (US$1=RM3.93) per barrel if Iranian authorities act on their implied threat to strike on five facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, with Asia bearing the brunt given its dependence on Qatari volumes, according to an analyst.

BNM International Reserves At US$128.1 Bln As At March 13, 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- The Bank Negara Malaysia’s international reserves stood at US$128.1 billion as at March 13, 2026.

MBSB IB: High Oil Prices May Weigh On Property Sector

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s property sector could face a mild downturn if elevated oil prices persist, as higher fuel costs drive up transportation expenses, leading to increased construction costs for developers, said MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB).

New Hire-purchase Rules To Benefit Borrowers, Minimal Impact On Banks

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- The introduction of key amendments to hire-purchase financing practices under the Hire-Purchase (Amendment) Act 2026 (HPAA) marks a significant move in strengthening borrowers’ protection, particularly for those looking to sell vehicles before their financing contracts mature, an economist said.

Hire-Purchase (Amendment) Act 2026 Allow Providers To Offer Fixed Rate, Variable Rate Loans -- BNM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- The Hire-Purchase (Amendment) Act 2026 (HPAA) continues to allow hire-purchase providers to offer both fixed-rate and variable-rate loans, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

MyCIF Gets Additional RM20 Mln, Total Allocation Hits RM50 Mln In 2026 -- Amir Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- The government will allocate an additional RM20 million to the Malaysia Co-investment Fund (MyCIF), in addition to the RM30 million announced in Budget 2026, bringing the total allocation this year to RM50 million.

Prolonged US-Iran Conflict May Trigger 70 Pct Drop In West Asia Oil Output -- Rystad Energy

KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- A prolonged conflict between the United States (US) and Iran could slash West Asia crude oil output by as much as 70 per cent in a worst-case scenario, energy research firm Rystad Energy said.

Rakuten Trade Forecasts FBM KLCI At 1,800 In 2026 Amid Global Uncertainty

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- Rakuten Trade has revised its forecast for the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slightly lower at 1,800 for 2026 from 1,810 previously in view of the overhanging uncertainty.

BNPL Use Among Malaysian Youth Raises Concern As Under-30s Make Up 40 Pct - Liew

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Buy now, pay later (BNPL) use among Malaysian youth raises concern as those aged 30 and below make up about 40 per cent of BNPL transactions in the country, Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong said.

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.

Hong Leong Islamic Bank Rebrands As HLB Islamic, Eyes Strong Financing Growth

By Abdul Hamid A Rahman

KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) -- Hong Leong Islamic Bank Bhd is now known as HLB Islamic following a brand refresh, with the bank aiming to maintain financing growth above the industry average over the next three to five years.

Mobile Market Set For Modest Growth In 2026 Amid DNB Concerns -- HLIB

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Bernama) -- The mobile market is on track for low single-digit revenue growth in 2026, consistent with guidance from both CelcomDigi Bhd (CDB) and Maxis Bhd, as Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) is likely to remain as the focal point of investors’ concern in the near term.