Stocks in Asia edged higher in a shaky start on Friday as anxious traders awaited a speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the annual Jackson Hole symposium.
The pace of Japan’s consumer inflation stayed well above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target even as price growth moderated, supporting market speculation that the central bank will hike its benchmark interest rate again this year.
Malaysia recorded RM190.3 billion in approved investments for the first half of 2025 (1H2025), up 18.7% from RM160 billion in the same period a year earlier, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) data on Friday.
Oil prices were little changed on Friday but were on track to snap a two-week losing streak as hope for immediate peace between Russia and Ukraine dimmed, increasing the risk premium demanded by oil sellers.
The latest trade data released on Tuesday point to challenging times ahead – not just for the country’s exporters but also the domestic economy.
Even as vehicle sales are expected to fall this year, automotive players in Malaysia also face price competition from China brands that will weigh on margins, analysts say.