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The battle for relevance

A shopping mall's prime address used to be enough. If the location was right, the tenants would follow and the crowds would usually come with them.

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Johor election won’t hurt property market

The announcement of the upcoming Johor state election, scheduled for July 11, 2026, has naturally drawn the attention of macroeconomic analysts, property developers and investors across the region.

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Decoupling AI from automation in real estate

Malaysia's corporate landscape is entering a transformative phase in its digital agenda.

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Looking beyond Europe’s chipmakers

Rather than chasing Europe's increasingly expensive artificial intelligence (AI) chipmakers, investors are widening their search for companies that could profit from the AI boom in less obvious ways, according to a Bloomberg report.

Short Position

The jury is still out

Global index provider MSCI's decision to keep Indonesia in its Emerging Markets (EM) Index provides some near-term relief for investors and markets across the region, including Malaysia.

Short Position

Too much of a good thing 

For years, durian was seen as a "golden crop", especially due to strong demand from China for premium varieties like Musang King. Prices were high, and thousands of acres of oil palm were cleared to make way for durian orchards, with many individuals also venturing into the space.

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Pure passive investing era ends

For much of the past four decades, investing in equities seemed pretty simple. Interest rates trended lower, corporate taxes declined and globalisation expanded.

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Travel made easy

Picture this: a long five-hour flight, queues at immigration, and waiting for your e-hailing ride, only to end up stuck in city traffic.

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The rise of Hyrox

When Scarlet Wan crossed the finish line at Hyrox Shanghai alongside her Team FoYes relay teammates in May, the victory was about more than another gold medal. Their winning time of 53 minutes and 12 seconds shattered China's national record and secured an unprecedented sixth consecutive championship.

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Sports apparel on the up and up

Demand for premium athletic apparel, footwear and equipment is boosting the growth of sportswear and sporting goods multinational corporations in China.

Insight

Are low-fee ETFs really better?

NOT long ago, a reader of this column emailed me after watching several YouTube videos on exchange-traded funds or ETFs.

Insight

The case for diversifying across time

No prudent investor would build a portfolio around a single stock. But what about a single time frame?

Insight

A codification, not a crackdown

ON June 1, Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed State Council Decree No 837, formally promulgating the Regulation on Outbound Investment, effective on July 1, 2026.

Insight

Can AI level the playing field for SMEs?

Malaysia is home to over 1.07 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the backbone of our economy, driving employment and national output.

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Malaysia’s geopolitical sweet spot

According to the Statistics Department, Malaysia saw net foreign direct investments (FDIs) of RM65.9bil in 2025, the second-highest level in the past decade and a staggering 41.2% jump year-on-year (y-o-y).

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Singapore banks a steady dividend play

Singapore banks are set to lean on wealth-driven earnings strength, resilient asset quality and stable capital returns as regional macro conditions remain supportive and rate dynamics gradually stabilise.

Insight

Pension breaking point

Realisation that Malaysia's pension liabilities have become a growing fiscal burden has forced the government to look at reforming the country's costly and rapidly expanding pension scheme.

Short Position

AI’s power dilemma

For years, Malaysia's challenge was attracting high-value investments.

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Bumpy ride to gains

Malaysia's stock market heads into the second half of 2026 (2H26) with hopes of stronger company earnings, steady spending and more investments. But it is not all smooth sailing, as investors still have to keep one eye on global conflicts, US interest rates and local politics.

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Backing the little businesses

Malaysia's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) face a host of challenges today, from rising operational costs to talent shortages and digital transformation gaps.