Economy

Strong job market to underpin retail in 2026

SINGAPORE: Consumer spending in Singapore is likely to remain robust next year, supported by improving job prospects and steady investment returns, economists say.

Corporate News

F&N well placed to weather risks

PETALING JAYA: Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&N) believes its strong financial position, healthy cash flow from core operations, and disciplined cost management and asset optimisation place it in a solid position to navigate geopolitical uncertainties and macroeconomic headwinds.

Corporate News

TNB-related projects expected to lift MN Holdings profit after tax

PETALING JAYA: MN Holdings Bhd can expect a RM1.2mil boost to its profit after tax (PAT) over financial year 2026 (FY26) and FY27 after its recent contract win.

Economy

Unlocking billion-dollar potential for coconuts

HANOI: As plant-based products surge worldwide, a coconut powerhouse is taking shape in Vietnam's Mekong Delta.

Corporate News

IOIPG cautiously optimistic on prospects

PETALING JAYA: IOI Properties Group Bhd (IOIPG) remains cautiously optimistic about its prospects ahead, supported by a strategic launch pipeline across Malaysia and Singapore.

Commodities

If I were an oil palm fruit bunch

I HAVE long harboured a quiet ambition – not the trumpet-blowing kind of social media, but a stubborn wish to explain palm oil without frightening flow charts or reviving science trauma.

Property

Building momentum across sectors

PETALING JAYA: While real estate experts remain largely optimistic about the outlook of the property market in 2026, they expect the year to see its fair share of outperformers and strugglers.

Corporate News

Builders expected to gain from mega projects

PETALING JAYA: Construction companies will be heading into 2026 by focusing on enhancing efficiency and resilience, while cautiously exploring strategic ventures and new opportunities that offer sustainable returns.

Auto

Auto sector outlook brightens amid stronger 4Q momentum

PETALING JAYA: RHB Research has lifted its total industry volume (TIV) forecast for 2025 after the earnings of automotive companies for the third quarter ended September (3Q25) were deemed "overall in-line" with expectations.

Star Biz7

Bold targets, but can VM2026 deliver?

Malaysia is once again positioning itself on the global travel map, inviting both first-time and returning visitors to experience the breadth of what the country offers.

Corporate News

KLK-Mah Sing tie-up a positive

PETALING JAYA: Analysts are mostly positive about Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd's (KLK) strategic joint venture (JV) with Mah Sing Group Bhd to develop an industrial park in Kulai, Johor.

Star Biz7

Crest Builder builds on RM1.8bil orderbook

Crest Builder Holdings Bhd has historically been a profitable group since going public through a reverse takeover of MGR Corp Bhd in 2003.

Star Biz7

Medical tourism injects more growth

Medical tourism continues to thrive in Malaysia notwithstanding recent reports that rising healthcare costs continue to be of concern albeit limited to the local populace.

Star Biz7

More room for property boom

The property market is expected to continue growing in 2026, with the industrial sub-sector remaining a key segment, anchored by the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

Star Biz7

The long game behind Malaysia’s 5G network

AT first glance, the government's exit from Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) looks like a quiet admission that Malaysia's 5G experiment has gone wrong.

Economy

Vietnam launches pilot agriculture traceability system

HANOI: The Agriculture and Environment Ministry is launching Vietnam's Agriculture Traceability System, marking an important step in promoting agricultural digital transformation, improving information transparency, and enhancing the value of Vietnamese agricultural products in both domestic and international markets.

Economy

Empowering Sabah's talent

KUALA LUMPUR: In line with its mandate to identify, nurture and develop Bumiputera talent to compete on a global scale, Yayasan Peneraju (YP) recently completed its Bah, Upgrade Kita Bersama YP programme, an initiative aimed at broadening access to Bumiputera talent development opportunities and strengthening YP's presence across Sabah's diverse communities.

Forex

Ringgit to trade in narrow range against US dollar in holiday-shortened week ahead

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit is expected to trade in a narrow range next week, hovering between 4.03 and 4.05 against the US dollar amid a holiday-shortened week.

Star Biz7

Navigating Sarawak’s condominium market

The Sarawak property landscape has been undergoing a significant structural transformation. Traditionally dominated by landed residential developments, Sarawak – particularly its capital, Kuching – is witnessing a dramatic pivot toward high-rise living.

Star Biz7

China underground: Affordable and sustainable homes

In parts of China's Loess Plateau, the landscape appears to be nothing more than rolling hills and quiet farmland. Yet beneath the surface, a hidden community thrives, literally breathing within the earth.