FBM KLCI slips on profit taking, PETRONAS-linked stocks weigh
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia slipped in early trade as profit taking emerged, while losses in PETRONAS-linked heavyweights added to the pressure following Wall Street’s overnight selloff. The benchmark FBM KLCI fell 5.26 points, or 0.31%, to 1,752.51 at 9.13 am, after opening 1.99 points lower at 1,755.99. Berjaya Research said the FBM KLCI is poised to consolidate going forward with a mild positive bias, underpinned by its recent streak of gains and improving market breadth. “Technically, the FBM KLCI has gapped up and formed another doji candlestick. “Meanwhile, the immediate support is envisaged at 1,734 points, followed by 1,720 points,” Berjaya Research said.
Source:The Star
February 24, 2026 13:55 UTC
Plug the leaks permanently to restore public trust, says social activist
He called for the expansion of open tender systems and the publication of detailed information on government contracts and project costs for public scrutiny. "Investigative agencies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must be empowered to act without fear or favour, and cases involving public funds must be fast-tracked in court," he added. The AG’s Report flagged RM183.11mil in unreturned research grant balances involving 7,904 projects across four ministries. The first series of the AG’s Report this year mentioned that the figure mostly consisted of 7,823 projects involving RM110.67mil of unreturned research grants from the Higher Education Ministry. The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM), meanwhile, has two projects involving unreturned research grants amounting to RM2.47mil.
Source:The Star
February 24, 2026 13:50 UTC
Chong Wei welcomes Zii Jia with open arms
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei has welcomed Lee Zii Jia with open arms, expressing relief over the independent shuttler’s willingness to strengthen Malaysia’s Thomas Cup campaign and waive his image rights fees. Chong Wei also urged all parties to rally behind not only Zii Jia but the entire Malaysian camp as they attempt to end the country’s 34-year-wait since last lifting the Thomas Cup in 1992 in Kuala Lumpur. “We now have a good team and everyone wants Malaysia to end the 34-year-wait to win the Thomas Cup. But my task now is to reduce the pressure on the players because this is a huge responsibility,” said Chong Wei when contacted. This year’s Thomas Cup will be held in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24-May 3.
Source:The Star
February 24, 2026 13:48 UTC
Trump eyes Pentagon AI program for trade block's minerals pricing, sources say
Those reference prices will be set by the US Department of Defense's Open Price Exploration for National Security (Open) AI metals program, according to the sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly. An antimony price set by the AI program and backed by the trade block could boost profits for companies developing U.S. antimony projects, for example. The plan to create a minerals reference price and support it with tariffs has sparked questions about whether the tariff would apply to all products containing critical minerals. The Open program comes amid private industry efforts to boost transparency. "I would want to make sure any reference price is above that."
Source:The Edge Markets
February 24, 2026 13:41 UTC
Malaysian Learning Matrix for Year Four starts in October
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Learning Matrix (MPM) for Year Four pupils is set to begin this October, with Form Three students following suit next year, says Fadhlina Sidek. She said the ministry is focused on integrity and intervention goals, in line with the School-Based Assessment domain under the National Education Assessment System. “The Learning Matrix is focused not on school rankings or unhealthy competition, but on identifying students’ mastery levels to provide support and early intervention,” she said, Bernama reported. Fadhlina also said teachers would not have to prepare any instruments for the learning matrix or for Ujian Akhir Sesi Akademik (UASA) as it will be done by the Examinations Board. She said the assessment results will help boost students’ literacy, numeracy and science skills while ensuring a holistic evaluation.
Source:The Star
February 24, 2026 13:36 UTC
Wealthy UAE to exit JPMorgan’s emerging-market bond indices
The UAE, which accounts for 4.1% of JPMorgan’s global diversified EM bond universe, will make its exit in four equal decrements beginning March 31, the New York-based bank said in a statement. The country will also fully leave the euro-denominated bond grouping — where it has a 1% weight — on March 31. The growing riches of Middle Eastern countries have contrasted with their developing-market status in recent years, pushing JPMorgan to remove Kuwait and Qatar from its EM bond indices last year. That spread, which represents the extra yield investors demand to own EM bonds rather than US Treasuries, stood at 247 basis points on Monday. The spread on UAE bonds is currently about 65 basis points.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 24, 2026 13:26 UTC
Taiwan rattled by 5.6 magnitude quake, no reports of damage
TAIPEI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck just off the coast of Taiwan's northeastern county of Yilan on Tuesday, the island's weather administration said, with no reports of damage. The quake briefly shook buildings in the capital, Taipei. The quake had a depth of 66.8 km (41.5 miles), the weather administration said. The fire department said the quake's epicentre was 16.9 km (10.5 miles) from the county government seat and in coastal waters. More than 100 people were killed in a quake in southern Taiwan in 2016, while a 7.3 magnitude quake killed more than 2,000 people in 1999.
Source:The Star
February 24, 2026 13:03 UTC
Meta to spend billions of dollars on AMD gear, buy stock
As part of the arrangement, Meta will receive warrants to buy 160 million AMD shares in stages, the two companies said. The shares will vest when the project and AMD’s stock price reach certain milestones, turning Meta into a major holder. That ability to define more closely what it needs was part of the reason for committing to AMD, Janardhan said. After AMD shares surged 77% in 2025, they are down 8.2% so far this year. The Meta tie-up assumes that AMD shares are just at the start of a longer rally.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 24, 2026 12:36 UTC
Leong Hup seeks judicial review, stay on MyCC's RM157.5m price-fixing fine
Its chicken feed subsidiary Leong Hup Feedmill Malaysia Sdn Bhd (LFM) is seeking permission to commence a judicial review of the tribunal's decision. The move comes after the tribunal on Feb 11 dismissed appeals from four major feed millers, including Leong Hup, against a landmark ruling made by the MyCC. The four of them who appealed the ruling — LFM, Dindings Poultry Development Centre, FFM Bhd, and Gold Coin Feedmills (M) Sdn Bhd — faced a combined fine of RM367 million. Of the four, Leong Hup bears the largest share of the penalty, at RM157.5 million. Leong Hup has maintained that the allegations are without merit.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 24, 2026 12:06 UTC
Dimon sees pre-crisis parallels as rivals do ‘dumb things’
“There’s always a surprise in a credit cycle,” Dimon said, adding that the surprise has often been which industry. Private creditDimon’s lender largely stayed on the sidelines early in the private credit cycle. The cockroach quip sparked a war of words over whether banks or private credit firms are better positioned to weather a broader downturn. The financial industry, like many others, has also suffered stock declines in recent weeks because of AI concerns. In the wide-ranging question-and-answer session at what the bank called a “company update” for investors, Dimon inevitably got asked about succession.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 24, 2026 11:56 UTC
Yen slips after report on Japanese PM Takaichi's rate-hike reservations hits sentiment
The Japanese currency fell 0.83% to 155.93 per dollar , hitting its lowest in nearly two weeks, as the report from The Mainichi Daily also sent Japanese government bond yields lower. "If the government is lobbying the central bank, doubts again re-emerge over the independence of the central bank." ASSESSING UNCERTAIN TRADE ENVIRONMENTInvestors are also digesting an uncertain trade environment. He also warned countries against retreating from recent trade deals after the Supreme Court struck down his emergency tariffs. "Now we're back in a very uncertain environment," Ray Attrill, head of currency strategy at National Australia Bank, said on a NAB podcast.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 24, 2026 11:41 UTC
Old memories, new mission for Soon Huat-Shevon at German Open
PETALING JAYA: The German Open will always hold a special place in the hearts of mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie. “I can still remember the joy of winning our first Super 300 title together,” said Soon Huat, now 36. It was only their third career title after the Malaysian International Challenge and Scottish Open in 2016, barely a month after they were paired up. Since then, they have added three more titles to their resume – the higher-ranked Singapore Open in 2018 and the Swiss Open, Malaysian Masters in 2024. “Even eight years after winning the German Open, we are still fighting to keep our career going.
Source:The Star
February 24, 2026 10:44 UTC
Romantic tryst led to Mexican cartel leader's capture, death
MEXICO CITY, Feb 23 (Reuters) - A tip about drug lord Nemesio Oseguera's romantic liaisons led Mexican authorities to the cartel leader's hideout in a small town of Jalisco state where he was killed, Mexican authorities said on Monday in the first account of the ambush that spawned violence across much of Mexico. The U.S. provided intelligence to help pinpoint the exact location of the compound in the town of Tapalpa where Mexican authorities found the cartel boss, but Mexican officials underscored that they spearheaded the operation. Throughout Sunday, suspected cartel members set fire to vehicles and businesses, blocking roads and disrupting travel, in protest of Oseguera's killing. The cartel operative offered a 20,000 peso ($1,160) reward for the deaths of military personnel, according to Trevilla. Garcia added that authorities were closely monitoring for a reaction or restructuring within the cartel that could unleash further violence.
Source:The Star
February 24, 2026 10:01 UTC
JPJ supports MACC'S crackdown on middlemen
PUTRAJAYA (Feb 24): The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has become the first enforcement agency to support firm action by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in aggressively pursuing individuals suspected of acting as middlemen who bribe government and enforcement agencies. “This strategic cooperation with JPJ will be strengthened from time to time, including through joint operations, information sharing and preventive programmes to curb the continued activities of agents and middlemen,” he said in a statement on Tuesday. JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli paid a courtesy call on Monday on Ahmad Khusairi at the MACC headquarters here. Meanwhile, Aedy Fadly gave the department’s full commitment to continue working closely with the MACC, including sharing intelligence, strengthening internal monitoring mechanisms and taking firm action against any officers found colluding with syndicates. During the meeting, both parties also held discussions to ensure that enforcement actions can be implemented more effectively, comprehensively and with integrity.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 24, 2026 09:46 UTC
PM to consider release of Malaysian Armed Forces procurement funds, says defence minister
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 24): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has agreed to consider allowing the release of procurement funds for the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) to cover the force’s operational expenditures. “He agreed that such matters can be considered and exempted,” the defence minister told a press conference after the meeting, held in conjunction with the Ihya’ Ramadan Programme. At the same time, Mohamed Khaled said that the prime minister also stressed that all procurement processes must be carried out transparently, and expressed support for Mindef’s efforts to strengthen governance, particularly in the area of procurement. “The prime minister also emphasised that MAF readiness is an absolute necessity in the light of current geopolitical developments, both regionally and globally,” Mohamed Khaled said. He added that, during the meeting, Anwar also highlighted the importance of safeguarding the welfare and well-being of military personnel, including the provision of more comfortable housing.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 24, 2026 09:26 UTC