Asian Shares Plunge As Iran Conflict Worsens

BEIJING, March 19 (Bernama-dpa-AFX) -- Asian stocks nosedived on Thursday as rising oil prices following attacks on key energy infrastructure in West Asia rekindled concerns about inflation, interest rates, and the regional growth outlook, reported dpa-AFX.

Malaysia’s Macro Position Is Stronger To Weather Shock Compared To Pandemic Era, Says World Bank's Apurva

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s stronger ringgit is helping to ease the impact of rising global import prices, although the country’s import cover has declined, compared with pre-COVID 19 pandemic levels, said the World Bank's lead economist for Malaysia, Dr Apurva Sanghi.

Ringgit Extends Gains Against Greenback Amid Softer Oil Prices

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- The ringgit made further gains today, closing slightly higher against the US dollar amid softer crude oil prices following strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) releases.

Malaysia's Targeted Subsidies Expected To Moderate Inflation Pressure Amid West Asia Conflict, Says MARC

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s headline inflation is expected to remain manageable, supported by the government’s targeted subsidies, amid the West Asia conflict, according to the Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd (MARC).

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).

OCBC Revises Brent Forecast Higher, Expects Prices Around US$100 Through Mid-year

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- OCBC Group Research has revised its Brent crude oil forecast higher, expecting prices to remain elevated at around US$100 per barrel through mid-year before easing towards US$70 per barrel by early 2027 amid ongoing supply disruptions.

Bursa Malaysia Rebounds On Bargain Hunting, In Sync With Positive Regional Markets

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia rebounded after two days of losses to close higher on Tuesday, driven by bargain-hunting activities and in line with the upbeat regional market performance. 

Manufacturing Sector Stabilised In 2H 2025, Improvement Expected In 1H 2026 - FMM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s manufacturing sector stabilised in the second half of 2025 (2H 2025) following earlier weakness, with gradual improvement expected in the first half of 2026 (1H 2026), according to the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM).

Funds May Favour Commodity Exporters Like Malaysia Amid West Asia Uncertainties - Economist

By Nurunnasihah Ahmad Rashid

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- Heightened geopolitical uncertainty surrounding developments in the Strait of Hormuz could influence global capital flows, with commodity-exporting economies such as Malaysia potentially better positioned amid rising energy prices.

Rubber Market Ends Mixed Amid Differing US, China Economic Data

By Muhammad Fawwaz Thaqif Nor Afandi

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur rubber market ended mixed on Monday in tandem with regional rubber futures markets that tracked the economic performance of rubber consuming regions such as the United States and China, a dealer said.

Foreign Investors Record US$16.8 Bln Outflow Across Eight Asian Markets Last Week

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 16 (Bernama) -- Foreign investors extended a four-week streak of net selling across eight Asian markets, with net outflows totalling US$16.8 billion, according to MBSB Investment Bank Bhd.

Gold Futures Extend Losses As Safe-haven Appeal Eases

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- Gold futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended lower at Friday’s close as traders and investors are no longer viewing gold purely through a geopolitical safe-haven lens.