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.

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.

Prolonged West Asia Conflict Could Disrupt Malaysia’s Fertiliser Market -- FIAM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- The ongoing conflict in West Asia, if prolonged, could lead to severe structural disruptions in the Malaysian fertiliser market, says the Fertiliser Industry Association of Malaysia (FIAM).

Malaysia’s Inflation Modestly Up 1.4 Pct In Feb 2026 -- DOSM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s inflation rose modestly to 1.4 per cent in February 2026, with the consumer price index (CPI) climbing to 136.0 from 134.1 a year earlier, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said.

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.

ECB To Announce Interest Rate Decision Amid Iran Conflict, Oil Price Surge

FRANKFURT, March 19 (Bernama-dpa) -- The European Central Bank (ECB) is set to announce its latest decision on interest rates on Wednesday against the backdrop of surging oil prices due to the conflict in West Asia, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

Oil May Rise On Conflict, Fall To US$80-US$90 If War Ends By Mid-April

By Rosemarie Khoo Mohd Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- Crude oil prices can go even higher than current levels of US$100-US$103 per barrel if the war in West Asia continues affecting passageway in the Strait of Hormuz and supply tightness becomes more acute, Kpler senior crude oil analyst Muyu Xu said today.

Bursa Malaysia Ends Higher Tracking Regional Gains, CI Up 1.10 Pct

By Durratul Ain Ahmad Fuad

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended higher today, in line with upbeat regional market performance and supported by the strong debut of Sunway Healthcare.

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).

Maybank Research Trims Singapore 2026 GDP Growth Forecast To 3.4 Pct

SINGAPORE, March 18 (Bernama) -- Maybank Research Pte Ltd (MRPL) has revised Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 3.4 per cent in 2026, down from its earlier projection of 3.6 per cent, amid ongoing West Asia conflicts. 

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).

Ringgit Firms Against US Dollar, May See Further Gains

By Nurunnasihah Ahmad Rashid

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- The ringgit traded firmer against the US dollar this morning amid cautious investor positioning ahead of the United States (US) Federal Reserve’s (Fed) policy decision and improving risk appetite.