US Tariffs Dominate ASEAN Talks As Leaders Rally Around Trade Unity

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- As global trade tensions continue to rise, the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings wrapped up its four days of talks in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, July 11, with the United States’ (US) sweeping tariff hikes becoming a major talking point among regional leaders.

Econpile Secures RM98.2 Mln Construction Project In Klang

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- Econpile Holdings Bhd’s (Econpile Holdings) wholly-owned subsidiary, Econpile (M) Sdn Bhd, has secured a RM98.2 million construction contract from Eastmont Sdn Bhd for a proposed industrial development in Klang, Selangor.

FBM KLCI Futures End Lower

By Danni Haizal Danial Donald

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended lower on Friday.

FBM KLCI Ends Slightly Lower Amid Lack Of Fresh Catalyst

By Siti Noor Afera Abu and Danni Haizal Danial Donald

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) ended the week slightly lower on Friday, as investors await fresh catalysts, mainly the ongoing trade negotiations between Malaysia and the United States (US).

AmBank To Lower Standardised Base, Lending Rates, Effective July 14

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- AMMB Holdings Bhd (AmBank) will lower its Standardised Base Rate (SBR), Base Lending Rate/Base Financing Rate (BLR/BFR) and Base Rate (BR) effective July 14, 2025. 

Analysts Neutral On Palm Oil Sector, Expects CPO Price To Average RM4,100-RM4,200 A Tonne In 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd has maintained its “Neutral” call for the palm oil sector with an average crude palm oil (CPO) target price of RM4,100 per tonne for 2025. 

FBM KLCI Opens Slightly Higher, Retreats Thereafter

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) opened slightly higher but retreated thereafter on Friday, amid a mixed regional market trend coupled with a lack of fresh catalysts, said an analyst.

Manulife Sees Possible Further OPR Cuts For Malaysia In 2H2025

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Manulife Investment Management (Manulife IM) expects Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to reduce its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) further in the second half of 2025 (2H2025) amid shifting global and domestic dynamics, supported by ongoing investor interest in the country’s bonds and currency market. 

Malaysia Should Strengthen ASEAN Ties, Engage In Multilateral Cooperation To Counter Trade Pressures -- Experts

By Harizah Hanim Mohamed

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia should continue to strengthen its intra-ASEAN trade relations and engage in multilateral partnerships, as this approach will reduce dependence on any single country and benefit all parties by minimising both trade and non-trade barriers, including tariffs and the movement of goods across borders.

BNM Expected To Hold Rates Steady Through 2025 After OPR Cut – Investment Banks

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Public Investment Bank Bhd (Public IB) expects Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to hold interest rates steady for the remainder of 2025, following the recent overnight policy rate (OPR) cut.

Bank Shares Mixed In Early Trade Following BNM OPR Cut

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Bank shares were mixed in early trade today as Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) interest rate cut exerted immediate pressure on banks’ net interest margins (NIM).

July’s OPR Cut Unlikely To Signal Start Of Near-term Rate-cutting Cycle -- MIDF Amanah

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- MIDF Amanah Investment Bank does not view Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) 25-basis point (bps) reduction in the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) to 2.75 per cent as signalling the start of a rate-cutting cycle in the near term.