Macro Solvency Stress Test Reaffirms Banks’ Resilience In Face Of Severe Shocks

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Solvency and liquidity stress test exercises have re-affirmed that banks in the country remain highly resilient even in the face of severe macroeconomic, financial, and liquidity shocks.

Risks From BNPL Debt Contained -- BNM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Buy now, Pay Later (BNPL) activity has grown rapidly, although the total outstanding BNPL debt remained a small proportion of overall household debt at RM2.8 billion or 0.2 per cent as of December 2024.

Deepseek AI Model Seen As Credit Neutral For China’s Insurance Sector - AM Best 

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- The adoption of the artificial intelligence (AI) model DeepSeek among mainland China’s insurance companies could help small to medium-sized insurers enhance their operational efficiency, according to global credit rating agency AM Best.

Economy To Grow 4.5 - 5.5 Percent In 2025 Anchored By Domestic Demand, Exports To Moderate - BNM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) — Malaysia's economy is expected to expand by 4.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent in 2025, primarily driven by strong domestic demand and a robust investment landscape with exports expected to moderate amid heightened external uncertainties, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said.

Alliance Bank On Right Track Scaling Up Operations

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd (ABMB) is on the right track to scale up operations following its proposal to undertake a rights issue to raise RM600 million to boost its diminishing common equity tier-1 (CET-1) of 12.4 per cent by +1.1 percentage points (ppts), CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd.

AM Best Affirms Excellent Ratings For Sun Hung Kai Properties Insurance

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed Hong Kong’s Sun Hung Kai Properties Insurance Limited (SHKPI) financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a” (Excellent), with a stable outlook.

Gold Is On Fire; Will The Price Hit US$5,000 By Year-end?

By Nurunnasihah Ahmad Rashid

KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 (Bernama) -- Gold price is on fire! The precious metal continues to defy expectations, repeatedly smashing record highs as investors seek refuge from global economic turbulence.

BNPL And Debt: Between Convenience And Concern

PUTRAJAYA, March 23 (Bernama) -- Consumers’ ability to repay debt from 'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL) facilities is increasingly a concern, especially with the significant growth in BNPL transactions in Malaysia, thus raising concerns about the risks of high indebtedness and the importance of financial literacy.

Bursa Malaysia Likely To Continue Range-Bound Trading Next Week

By Siti Radziah Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia is expected to continue range-bound trading next week with a slight upward bias in the lead-up to Hari Raya holiday, said an analyst. 

Ringgit To Trade Within 4.42-4.45 Range Against Greenback Next Week

By Karina Imran

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- The ringgit is anticipated to trade within the 4.42–4.45 range against the US dollar next week, with short-term volatility contingent upon broader market dynamics.

CCOB Aims To Have Consumer Credit Bill 2025 Gazetted By Year-end

By Zairina Zainudin

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- The Consumer Credit Oversight Board (CCOB) task force aims to have the Consumer Credit Bill 2025 gazetted by the end of this year, said Bank Negara Malaysia Assistant Governor Abu Hassan Alshari Yahaya.

AM Best Affirms Australia’s Pacific International Insurance Ratings 

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- AM Best, a global credit rating agency, has affirmed Australia’s Pacific International Insurance Pty Limited (Pacific) financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “bbb” (Good), with a stable outlook.