Economic

Gold Falling Due To Market Misreading Monetary “Endgame” -- Analyst

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- Gold prices are currently under pressure due to market liquidation, rising real yields and temporarily delayed physical demand, rather than a breakdown in the long-term macroeconomic outlook, according to an analyst.

Iran's Khamenei Absent On Persian New Year As Speech Read Out On TV

TEHRAN, March 21 (Bernama-dpa) -- People in Iran eagerly awaited a first public appearance by the country's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Persian New Year, or Nowruz, on Friday - but a speech attributed to him was instead read out on state television.

Gold Prices See Biggest Weekly Drop Since 1983

ISTANBUL, March 21 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The price of gold saw the biggest weekly drop since 1983, decreasing more than 10 per cent to below US$4,500 threshold on Friday.

Maybank Extends S$65 Mln Loan For Singapore’s Fourth Egg Farm Project

SINGAPORE, March 20 (Bernama) -- Maybank has extended a term loan facility of up to S$65 million (S$1=RM3.08) to ISE Foods Holdings (IFH) as the sole bank financier to partially finance the development of Singapore’s fourth egg farm (SG4EF).

Malaysia’s Unsubsidised Fuel Price Increase Reflects Global Oil Trends -- Analyst

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Bernama) -- Recent increases in unsubsidised fuel prices in Malaysia reflect rising global oil prices, according to an analyst.

European Central Bank Leaves Rates Unchanged Amidst Heightened Geopolitical Tensions

FRANKFURT, March 20 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday kept key interest rates unchanged as heightened geopolitical tensions weigh on the outlook of inflation and economy in the euro area, reported Xinhua.

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.

MPOB Launches Used Cooking Oil Price Portal To Boost Circular Economy

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) is encouraging industry players and the public to participate actively in the trading of used cooking oil (UCO) as part of efforts to support the nation’s circular economy.

Attack On Qatar's LNG Facility Raises Risk Of Wider Supply Disruptions In Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Bernama) — Asia-Pacific economies now face rising risks of physical shortages, not only of energy, following the latest Iranian attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facilities, including oil and gas but also of fertilisers and, by extension, potentially food later in the year.

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.

European Energy Prices Rise Amid West Asia Tensions

LONDON, March 19 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- European gas and oil prices rose sharply in early trading on Thursday as escalating tensions in West Asia and attacks on energy infrastructure in Qatar and Iran have heightened concerns over supply disruptions, reported Xinhua.