AGN Afternoon Update | 27 March 2025
Malaysia Business & Economy:
- Ekuinas will be consolidated under Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) in a move to streamline bumiputera investment institutions. The restructuring is expected to boost strategic investment alignment.
- MyNews kicked off its financial year with a 206% profit surge in Q1, driven by rapid store expansion and increased in-store sales.
- Nestcon has secured a RM228 million contract to develop condominiums in Jalan Ampang Hilir, Kuala Lumpur.
- LSH Capital has signed a 20-year lease agreement to rejuvenate the iconic KL Tower precinct, with plans to turn it into a tourism, lifestyle, and cultural hub.
- Focus Point Holdings is positioned to benefit from a government ban on online optical product sales — a regulation expected to boost footfall at brick-and-mortar stores.
International & Trade:
- US President Donald Trump is pushing to implement copper import tariffs much sooner than expected, possibly within weeks instead of the 270-day standard review timeline.
- In the UK, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced £14 billion in spending cuts after GDP growth projections were downgraded to just 1%.
- US business investment is slowing, with a decline in equipment orders signaling increased caution amid trade tensions.
Asia Technology & Trade:
- China is set to remain the global leader in chipmaking equipment investment in 2025, according to SEMI’s updated forecast.
- BYD is planning to export 800,000 vehicles this year, more than double its 2024 figure, with a strategic focus on Asia, South America, and Europe — excluding the US and Canadian markets due to geopolitical risks.
