Section
Economy
How global conflict reaches Bangladeshi households
Global conflicts in the Middle East and ongoing disruptions in key maritime routes have driven up shipping and energy costs, causing significant increases in prices…
Energy, climate and debt crises threaten developing nations, UN warns
A UNDP report warns that developing countries are simultaneously grappling with rising energy costs, an impending severe El Niño, and increasing debt burdens, threatening economic…
China’s debt pile poses hurdle for stimulus
China’s growing debt obligations, with interest payments expected to consume nearly 20% of the central government’s budget by 2026, are restricting its ability to implement…
Germany’s state spending set to spur fastest growth in four years
Germany’s economy is expected to grow by 1.3 percent in 2026, driven mainly by stronger exports and increased government investment under a €1 trillion infrastructure…
World Bank lifts Malaysia’s 2026 growth forecast to 5.1% on AI-related activities
The World Bank has raised Malaysia’s economic growth forecast for 2026 to 5.1 percent, driven by strong performance in manufacturing, exports, and AI-related sectors. This…
Thailand’s headline inflation up 2.82% in September
Thailand’s inflation rate increased to 2.82 percent in September, driven by rising fuel and food prices amid Middle East tensions. This marks the highest inflation…
Power prices deter investors
Offshore investors in New Zealand are increasingly concerned about rising energy costs, with 30% citing them as a significant barrier to investment amid electricity and…
My mortgage is a problem for the Fed, and for America
Many U.S. homeowners remain locked into low fixed-rate mortgages secured before recent rate hikes, limiting their willingness to sell and thereby restricting housing supply. This…
EU rejects Trump’s call for diesel export ban
The European Union rejected U.S. proposals to restrict diesel exports, warning that such actions could exacerbate global fuel market instability and damage transatlantic trust. Instead,…
Eurozone inflation jumps to 3.8% on energy costs
Inflation in the Eurozone unexpectedly increased to 3.8% in September, driven mainly by a sharp rise in energy prices. This surge complicates the European Central…
BNM considers greater risk-taking in energy shift
Bank Negara Malaysia is considering changes to its regulatory framework to enable financial institutions to take on higher risks in funding the country’s energy transition,…
Brit Awards give £5m boost to Manchester
The Brit Awards were held in Manchester for the first time in 2026, generating an estimated £5 million for the city and surrounding region. This…
Household spending seen resilient into year-end
Consumer spending in Malaysia is projected to remain strong through the last quarter of 2026, supported by government cash assistance, stable inflation, and a likely…
S&P affirms sovereign ratings, stable outlook
S&P Global Ratings has reaffirmed Malaysia’s sovereign credit ratings with a stable outlook, citing strong economic growth, fiscal improvements, and a flexible monetary policy. The…
Post-Covid inactivity was much lower than thought, ONS says
The UK’s Office for National Statistics has found that the post-Covid drop in workforce participation, especially among older workers, was less severe than previously reported…
PPI growth accelerates to 10.7% in August
Malaysia's Producer Price Index increased by 10.7% year-on-year in August, driven largely by a 41.2% surge in the mining sector, particularly crude petroleum extraction. This…
Fuel Price Hike Comes Amid Persistent Inflation and Economic Challenges
Bangladesh has raised fuel prices by an additional 20 taka per litre, marking the largest increase in recent months amid ongoing inflation and regional geopolitical…
OECD ups inflation outlook for G20 to 3.6% in 2027
The OECD has raised its inflation forecast for G20 countries to 3.6 percent in 2027, up 0.5 percentage points due to sustained higher energy prices.…
European development bank cuts growth outlook amid Middle East war
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has downgraded its growth forecast for 2026 to 2.5%, mainly due to a sharp contraction expected in Iraq’s…
A Harsh Winter Could Send a Jolt Through Europe’s Economy
Europe is entering winter with natural gas reserves at their lowest levels since 2011 and prices at a 2023 high due to geopolitical tensions and…
Economy resilient amid emerging vulnerabilities, say experts
Malaysia’s economy grew by 6% in Q2 2026, exceeding expectations and driving a 5.7% expansion in the first half of the year despite softer private…
Rate rise ‘increasingly likely’, warns Bank of England official
Bank of England Deputy Governor Clare Lombardelli indicated that interest rate hikes are becoming more likely if high energy prices persist, due to their potential…
AI boom to lift 2026 growth despite slower Asia outlook
Malaysia is expected to see stronger economic growth in 2026 driven by its deep involvement in the artificial intelligence supply chain, according to Moody’s Analytics.…
Budget 2027 expected to nudge equities higher
Malaysia’s Budget 2027 includes targeted fiscal measures aimed at supporting household spending and select sectors such as construction, retail, and utilities, with potential benefits from…
A Fed Official Says Rates May Need to Rise Faster
Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, stated that rising inflation in the U.S. is increasingly fueled by strong demand rather than…
Higher food and energy prices advance inflation
Malaysia's inflation rose slightly to 1.9% year-on-year in August 2026, driven by higher costs in food, energy, and transportation sectors amid rising global oil and…
Australia warns of risks from ageing population
Australia is expected to see deaths outnumber births by the 2060s, marking a pivotal demographic shift amid declining fertility and immigration rates. This change will…
Wage growth points to improving labour market
Malaysia’s median monthly wages grew by 5.3% in 2025 to RM2,940, marking the fastest rise in years and indicating broader income gains across the workforce.…
Upside risk for inflation outlook
Malaysia’s inflation is expected to remain elevated due to sustained high energy and commodity prices, geopolitical tensions, and possible weather disruptions such as a Super…
Economies Worldwide See Risks Multiplying
Escalating conflicts in the Middle East have sharply disrupted global energy supplies, leading to Saudi Arabia shutting down a major oil pipeline and the Houthi…