Capital markets news | Wed 22 Jul 2026
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AI selloff
AI infrastructure capex has surged to unusually high levels. Hyperscalers likely raised AI spending ~67% to ~USD650 billion, and total AI investment could hit USD7 trillion from 2026-2031. Current earnings are small compared with that spending, while price competition among model providers is squeezing unit economics as financing costs rise. The market selloff is being framed as a “capex bubble.” Investors question whether massive, front‑loaded builds of data centres, chips, and power are far ahead of sustainable cash flows, echoing early dot‑com-era telecom overbuild concerns.
Equity
- Stratus Global more than doubles on Main Market listing day Edge NST
- Pioneer Heat’s ACE Market IPO underwritten by Malacca Securities Edge NST Star
- Farm Price gets SC approval for transfer to Main Market Edge NST Star
- Bursa fines Computer Forms directors RM2m for misleading disclosures Edge Star
- Singapore: Understanding comparable analysis, Part 1 Edge
- Quant hedge fund ‘free fall’ spooks wealthy investors in China Edge
- Ant International raises USD1.2b for global expansion Edge Star
- BlackRock, Hillhouse, Temasek said set to back Innolight listing in Hong Kong Edge
- South Korea’s Lee says leveraged products criticised for amplifying stock volatility Edge
- Australia’s stock market emerges as haven from volatile AI trade Star
- Biotech IPO gains crush AI listings with standout 55% return Edge
- Morgan Stanley says software selloff has gone too far, names 8 winners Yahoo
- Jamie Dimon warns on market risks, avoids stocks and bonds Yahoo
- Augustus raises USD180m to build a clearing bank for the AI and stablecoin era Coindesk
- London Stock Exchange to launch round-the-clock trading next year Edge Star
Debt
- Affin Group’s AA3 financial institution ratings affirmed RAM
- NCT Century’s RM20m investment note assigned R4 rating RAM
- Foreign buying returns to Malaysian bond market in Jun RAM
- Smart manufacturing fund to unlock SME growth NST Star
- Singapore mandates 5 banks for USD1.63b 20-year green bond Edge
- Moody’s flags rising risks in Indonesia on policy uncertainty Edge
- Indonesia markets first panda bonds as it broadens funding Edge
- Danantara Investment hiring banks for possible US dollar bond sale, sheet shows Edge
- Japan bond jitters overshadow Takaichi’s first economic policy roadmap Edge
- JPMorgan, other US banks set to help finance Japan’s USD550b US investment plan Edge
- BlackRock taps new private markets muscle Star
- Banks pay backhanded compliments to private credit Yahoo
- Eurozone banks further tighten companies’ credit standards Edge
- IMF approves USD690m for Ukraine after review Edge
Commodities
- Adnoc approves USD6.2b project to boost gas production Edge
- Houthis warn all ships against calling at Saudi Arabia’s ports Edge
- Saudi crude tankers turn back as Houthis open new front in US-Iran war Edge
- Trump plays down prospects for Iran talks amid Red Sea threat Yahoo
- Oil prices rise over 2% on fresh attacks by US and Iran Edge Star
- Goldman says Brent could top USD120 if Hormuz disruptions persist Edge Yahoo
- IEA says substantial emergency oil stocks remain after record release Edge
Digital assets
- Malaysia blockchain scene in spotlight as Malaysia Blockchain Week returns Edge
- Pakistan steps up crypto enforcement with dedicated federal unit Cointelegraph
- BIS warns stablecoins could weaken capital controls in emerging markets Cointelegraph
- Galaxy sets up USD5m fund to shield bitcoin against quantum computing Coindesk
- Movement Labs files for bankruptcy months after token scandal Coindesk Cointelegraph
- Crypto lobby group Digital Chamber sues Illinois to block digital asset tax Coindesk
- UK Parliament begins inquiry into banking chokepoint for crypto businesses Coindesk
- More MiCA-licensed crypto firms may exit EU market Cointelegraph
- Russia’s parliament passes crypto market law with annual cap for retail investors Coindesk
M&A
- Ajinomoto to table RM20-per-share proposal for shareholders’ approval Edge NST Star
- Wong Engineering to partly liquidate stake in associate Star
- WEC to sell 10% in BLSB for RM6m Star
- AE Multi exits Sinaran Advance stake Star
- OGX Group acquires new headquarters for RM19m Star
- Pegasus buys freehold land in Port Dickson to expand landbank Star
- Johan Holdings to acquire Lumut Park Resort for RM3.25m Star
- Ben Affleck’s AI company is sold for more than USD500m Yahoo
- Paramount-Warner deal at risk of delays costing billions Edge
- LA’s USD1.2b Graffiti Towers cleared to exit bankruptcy Star
- Liverpool FC owners consider selling stake to Bhatia-led group Edge
Malaysia
- BNM to continue promoting 2-way flows in onshore financial market Edge NST Star
- JP Morgan lifts GDP forecast to 5.3%, expects BNM to raise OPR in 4Q NST
- E-Invoicing nets additional RM1b, tightens grip on shadow economy NST
- Economists: Trade surge reflects real demand, not just base effect NST
- Slowdown ahead for exports after robust start Star
- ECRL set to contribute up to RM90b to GDP by 2047 Edge Star
Other markets
- Singapore leads record foreign investments in Southeast Asia Edge
- Indonesia’s Parliament passes bill to set up international financial centres Edge NST
- Danantara unit says ‘soft launch’ of commodity export system to begin in Sep Edge
- Investors rethink asset management as focus shifts to long-term planning Star
- China vows to achieve annual growth target after economy weakens Edge
- China at risk of 20% youth joblessness as labour distress spreads Edge
- Japan releases economic plan without answer on sales tax issue Edge
- South Korea’s exports jump 52% in first 20 days of Jul NST
- Scam losses in Asian regions up to USD114b in 2025, says UN Edge
- Revolut gets Australian bank licence as firm deepens growth push Edge
- New Zealand 2Q inflation at 4.1%, at more than 2-year high Edge Star
- Bank of America CEO warns inflation will back Fed into a corner Yahoo
- Wall Street talks up carry trade as returns soar most in decades Edge
- BlackRock and Goldman just made the same massive call on US economy Yahoo
- US readies new tariffs as Trump’s 10% global levy to expire NST
- Trump slaps 100% tariff on imported generic drugs from 2028 NST Yahoo
- Dimon renews criticism of UK bank tax as Burnham takes charge Edge
- Heat morphs into major economic shock for unprepared Europe Edge
- Germany’s investor outlook reaches five-month high after reforms Edge