Bursa Malaysia Opens Higher On Improved Regional Risk Appetite

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia opened higher on Wednesday, supported by improved risk appetite across regional markets despite a weaker overnight performance on Wall Street.

Bursa Malaysia Ends Lower As West Asia De-escalation Hopes Fade

By Durratul Ain Ahmad Fuad

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia gave up early gains to end lower today as risk appetite waned as fading hopes of de-escalation in the West Asia conflict weighed on sentiment.

AM Best Affirms PVI Insurance’s Top-Tier Ratings

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent), the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” (Excellent), and the Vietnam National Scale Rating of aaa.VN (Exceptional) for PVI Insurance Corporation (PVI Insurance), with a stable outlook.

Malaysia Must Emerge As A Credible Alternative As Investors Reassess Risk - Tengku Zafrul

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia must position itself as a credible and compelling alternative as global investors reassess risk amid the crisis in West Asia, said Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Dmitry Shubov: AI Lock-in Risk Rises For Southeast Asia Legal-Tech

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Southeast Asian legal-tech startups targeting United States (US) expansion face mounting compliance and commercial risks as governments and enterprise buyers increasingly favour region-specific artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, in line with projections from Gartner.

OSV Operators Set To Gain As Oil Firms Shift Focus From West Asia

By Nurunnasihah Ahmad Rashid

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) – The decision by oil companies to shift away from West Asia and support offshore crude oil exploration in Southeast Asia could potentially benefit offshore support vessel (OSV) operators.

Indonesia Projects Aidilfitri Homecoming To Boost 5.5-5.6 Pct Economic Growth

JAKARTA, March 23 (Bernama) -- Indonesia expects the Aidilfitri mudik or homecoming momentum to support its 2026 economic growth target of 5.5 to 5.6 per cent year-on-year, with public mobility and spending rising during the festive period.

Volatility Seen Continuing For Bursa Malaysia Next Week After Raya Break

By Durratul Ain Ahmad Fuad

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- Trading on Bursa Malaysia is expected to continue to be volatile next week after the Raya break, although the broader trend still points to a gradually rising momentum.

Indonesia To Boost Coal Output As Oil Prices Surge

JAKARTA, March 20 (Bernama) -- Indonesia plans to increase coal production in response to rising global oil prices, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said.

Social Media Sparks Rapid Growth In Malaysia’s “Durian Tourism”

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Bernama) — Malaysia has seen a growing “durian tourism” trend, with international visitors, particularly those from China, increasingly building short breaks and day trips around peak durian seasons and well-known producing areas, which appeal is both culinary and experiential.

IMF Warns Prolonged Energy Price Surge Could Lift Inflation

ISTANBUL, March 20 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Thursday that a sustained rise in energy prices stemming from the war in West Asia could push global inflation higher and weigh on economic output.

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.