Apple dipped 1.4%, weighing more than any other stock on the S&P 500. The S&P 500 declined 0.28% to end the session at 6,861.89 points. Minutes from the US Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting released on Wednesday showed policymakers remained split about the policy path later this year. Declining stocks outnumbered rising ones within the S&P 500 by a 1.5-to-one ratio. The S&P 500 posted 27 new highs and 6 new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 62 new highs and 146 new lows.

THE premium currently built into the crude oil price over tensions between the United States and Iran fluctuates according to the daily headlines, but there is an underlying assumption that everything will turn out fine. There is some debate as to the dollar number of the current risk premium, but the consensus range is around US$7 to US$10 a barrel. ScenariosThe crude market is therefore currently priced for one of two scenarios. The second is that there is no deal and Trump decides to use the forces currently being built up in the Middle East to attack Iran. While still the least likely outcome of the current tensions, the possibility of a severe escalation and sustained disruptions to crude supply is probably higher than the oil market believes.

— ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The StarIt was previously reported that the Portuguese man-of-war, locally known as ubur-ubur api, had washed ashore at several beaches in Terengganu, including Pantai Pandak in Cendering and Pantai Paka in Dungun. Prof Mazlan warned that jellyfish washed ashore remain dangerous even when they appear dead. Their tentacles contain microscopic stinging cells, known as nematocysts, which can continue injecting venom after the animal is detached or dead. Vinegar may help with box jellyfish stings, but it can worsen stings from other species. Beach visitors are urged to wear footwear, avoid handling stranded jellyfish and seek prompt medical attention if they are stung.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow provided these real-life examples to explain why many landowners are seeing their land tax rise by “a thousandfold” this year. “The fact is, those new land tax rates are what all landowners pay for industrial, residential, commercial and agricultural land. First Grade land in Penang is a premier, freehold and legally flexible land title restricted to Penang and Melaka under the National Land Code (Penang and Malacca Titles) Act 1963. The advantage of First Grade land, Chow explained, was that owners were free to use the land for various purposes without restrictions stated on the title. The state, he explained, had adopted a “current use” policy in determining land tax rates.

THE roads were slick with ice, the ground was caked with hardened snow, and the stiff winds made an already brutally cold day in the Virginia suburbs feel below zero. Yet people came out by the hundreds. A group of Buddhist monks who had walked all the way from Texas stopped at a Ramada Inn in Triangle, Virginia, about 60km from Washington, their final destination. They were swarmed by crowds, just as they had been at nearly every stop along their journey.

FOR months, a relentless shroud of toxic smog weighed on Lahore, a seemingly endless grey that reduced it to one of the world’s most polluted cities. But as winter gave way to sunnier days, the skies over the city in eastern Pakistan turned cloudless over the weekend and morphed into a glittering tapestry of kites.

PETALING JAYA: The 100 year-old Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is still the world’s only defence against one of its deadliest infectious diseases – tuberculosis. “The BCG vaccine does not give lifetime protection. “TB Vaccines are generally not recommended for adults. “For children, BCG protection wanes over time, typically within five to 15 years. “Currently, there is no recommendation for routine TB vaccination in adults in Malaysia.

He said that between 85% and 90% of the almost 16.8 million registered motorcycles in the country are kapchai, or small-­capacity, models. ALSO READ : Road safety experts: Smart lanes a double-edged swordDespite it being a “lightweight”, he said the kapchai is often capable of speeds beyond 110kmph. “Road safety interventions, which focus on commercial and passenger vehicles, should no longer continue ignoring the elephant in the room. Suret said statistics show that 34% of fatalities involving smaller bikes occur on federal roads, 32% on state roads, 22% on municipal roads and 12% on expressways. Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Law Teik Hua noted that many Malaysians perceive the use of rear seat belts as “optional”.

PETALING JAYA: With traffic snarls along highways worsening, local highway concessionaires have introduced “smart lanes” as a quick fix to ease flow. However, experts say the move should not come at the expense of road safety. These international examples, he said, showed that smart lanes can work in Malaysia but only if robust safeguards are in place. Smart lanes should operate strictly during ­genuine peak-hour congestion and must be closed once traffic eases. Road Safety Council of Malaysia executive council member Datuk Suret Singh said smart lanes should not displace emergency lanes, which were in place to facilitate the efficient deployment of rescue vehicles for major road incidents and disasters such as landslides.

“They are working during the festive period as well, catering to our needs while many of us are off from work. No one has complained,” she said, adding that she sells an additional 15 to 20 plates daily during the festive season. Ken Teh, 50, who sells chicken rice, has opted to maintain his regular prices, as he does not want his customers to incur extra expenses. “I know that many hawkers raise their prices, citing the increased cost of ingredients and their decision to work during the festive season, but I feel bad. He said he could increase prices, particularly because many of his customers are foreigners or from out of town and might not be familiar with the regular prices but he has opted not to do so.

(Feb 20): HSBC cut 10% of its US-based debt capital markets (DCM) team, continuing to cull costs after announcing a revamp of the business last October, according to people familiar with the matter. The employees included one managing director, two directors, two associates and one analyst, according to one of the people. HSBC also pulled back from M&A and equity capital markets in the UK, Europe and the US to focus on Asia and the Middle East. HSBC is set to report earnings on Wednesday after its US rivals posted strong results during the fourth quarter. The bank has been consistently among the top 10 underwriters for US corporate debt sales over the past three years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

“We’re either going to get a deal, or it’s going to be unfortunate for them,” Trump told reporters on Thursday aboard Air Force One. On a deadline, Trump said he thought 10 to 15 days was “pretty much” the “maximum” he would allow for negotiations to continue. The deployment is unlike anything the US has done since 2003, when it amassed forces before the invasion of Iraq. It dwarfs the military buildup that Trump ordered off the coast of Venezuela in the weeks before he ousted President Nicolas Maduro. “Maybe we’re going to make a deal,” Trump said in a speech on Thursday morning.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.5% and was on track for its fourth consecutive week of gains. The session will wrap up a volatile week for global assets, with investors grappling with a blend of geopolitical flashpoints, political risks and shifting economic signals. "Clearly, equity investors are getting used to the noisy geopolitical environment," said Mabrouk Chetouane, head of global market strategy at Natixis Investment Managers. For the week, the dollar is up about 1% on the euro EUR=, pushing the common currency to US$1.1767. Taken together, the news had investors shying away from risk, said Kenji Abe, chief strategist at Daiwa Securities in Tokyo.

DOHA: About a month into his tenure as Qatar Airways Group’s chief executive officer (CEO), Hamad Al-Khater made certain his first overseas trip took him to the French headquarters of planemaker Airbus SE. “They’ve demonstrated that commitment that they’ll be able to deliver on the promises.”The European manufacturer’s planes were among the first to fly for Qatar Airways, and they now comprise about half of its fleet. “We’re in a safe space as Qatar Airways.”The new CEO is the airline’s second in three years. Those will be phased out as Qatar Airways ramps up to nearly 400 jets by 2040. “At this stage in time, it’s a continuous evaluation of our fleet order,” Al-Khater said.

(Feb 20): Heightened geopolitical worries sent stocks lower while extending a surge in oil and keeping a lid on bonds amid perceived inflation risks. Walmart Inc slid on a conservative outlook, but the giant retailer’s comparable sales in the US beat expectations. Iran is a “hot spot” right now even as officials from both sides engage in “good talks”, Trump said. A potential war would put flows at risk from a region that pumps about a third of the world’s oil. “Crude oil prices are rising on the anticipation of possible military action in Iran,” said Louis Navellier at Navellier & Associates.