ANZ says Australia likely to avoid recession; flags prolonged impact of Middle East war
ANZ Group CEO Nuno Matos on Friday said Australia is likely to avoid recession but the economic consequences of war in the Middle East will be evident for the foreseeable future as tighter oil supply could accelerate inflation.
HSBC expects Bank Negara to hold OPR at 2.75% in May
KUALA LUMPUR: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC) has forecast that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) would hold its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) steady at 2.75 per cent in May as Malaysia's economic data remains resilient.
Czech banker says bitcoin may bolster reserves
Czech Republic's top central banker Ales Michl says that adding bitcoin to the bank's official reserves could improve the performance of the portfolio, the latest comment that suggests the institution continues to seriously consider diversifying into digital assets.
CIMB Niaga posts 1Q profit before tax of 2.3 trillion rupiah
KUALA LUMPUR: PT Bank CIMB Niaga Tbk, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd's Indonesian subsidiary, has reported a profit before tax of 2.3 trillion rupiah, translated into earnings per share of 70.20 rupiah in the first quarter of 2026.
Malaysia inflation edges up in March as fuel costs rise, trade growth moderates
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's inflation ticked higher in March 2026, driven largely by rising fuel prices, while wholesale and retail trade growth moderated amid weaker vehicle sales, according to the monthly highlights from Bank Negara.
Malaysia’s official reserve assets at US$126.61bil at end-March 2026
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's official reserve assets amounted to US$126.61 billion at the end of March 2026, compared with US$128.29 billion at end-February 2026.
StanChart profit jumps 17%, books US$190mil charge on Iran war
HONG KONG/LONDON: Standard Chartered said on Thursday that first-quarter pretax profit climbed a better-than-expected 17% on growth in its capital markets and wealth businesses, but it did log a $190 million charge on expected losses from the impact of the Iran conflict.
Maybank expands social reach with RM29bil in FY25
Malayan Banking Bhd's (Maybank) social impact uplifted 1.49 million lives in its financial year 2025 ended Dec 31, 2025 (FY25), mobilising RM29.41bil in social investments.
Banking industry urges MSMEs affected by Middle East conflict to engage for support
KUALA LUMPUR: The banking industry is encouraging micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the ongoing West Asia conflict to engage with their respective banks at an early stage to explore suitable solutions, including repayment assistance, restructuring, and working capital support.
Zurich units hit with RM1.04mil, RM520,000 penalties over sanctions failures
KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has imposed administrative monetary penalties of RM1.04 million on Zurich General Insurance Malaysia Bhd (ZGIMB) and RM520,000 on Zurich General Takaful Malaysia Bhd (ZGTMB) for non-compliance with targeted financial sanction (TFS) requirements on Jan 19.
