Capital markets news | Mon 18 Aug 2025
Do you know?
- Self-improving AI pipelines. Some AI systems can now automatically retrain themselves with fresh data, adjusting architectures and hyperparameters without human engineers.
Equity
- LAC Med gets SC nod for IPO, Main Market listing on Bursa Edge NST Star
- Vantris’ RM1.1b rescue from MOF hinges on restructuring by Mar 2026 Edge
- CelcomDigi, Maxis, YTL Power inject RM116.7m each into DNB Edge Mail NST Star
- Malaysia’s palm oil giant FGV heads for delisting after 70% stock slide Edge
- Appealing REIT take-up rate Star
- Great Eastern to resume trading at 9am on 21 Aug subject to SGX approval Edge
- China’s USD11t stock market is a headache for both Xi and Trump Edge Star
- Bridgewater exited all US-listed China stocks in 2Q Edge
- Mainland Chinese investors buy record amount of Hong Kong stocks Edge
- AI boom seen driving next decade of emerging markets performance Edge
- Australia’s Novonix, Lithium Energy abandon Axon Graphite IPO Yahoo
- SoftBank’s PayPay applies for US listing Edge
- Klook taps banks for US IPO Star Yahoo
- Gemini hires lead bookrunners for its IPO Coindesk
- IPO market surges in Aug with companies striking while the iron is hot Yahoo
- OpenAI CEO expects to spend trillions on infrastructure Edge
- OpenAI staffers to sell USD6b in stock to SoftBank, other investors Edge NST
- CoreWeave IPO investors sitting on big gains get chance to sell Edge
- BofA’s Hartnett sees profit-taking in stocks after Jackson Hole Edge
- The EU sees Sweden as a model as it looks to encourage investors Yahoo
Debt
- KIP REIT’s RM240m 2024-Issue 4 Class A MTN AAA rating affirmed RAM
- Johor Plantations’ AA1, P1 ratings affirmed RAM
- Johor Plantations issues RM200m sustainability sukuk Edge NST Star
- Axis REIT completes maiden RM300m senior sukuk issuance Edge NST Star
- Takaful Malaysia proposes RM1b Tier 2 subordinated sukuk programme Edge
- Master criteria for insurance and takaful companies updated RAM
- Bond market set to attract foreign money Star
- BNM says monitoring household debt levels very closely Edge Star
- Europe’s born-again bonds Star
Digital assets
- BNM to issue open finance draft soon, eyes policy rollout next year Mail Star
- Companies pile into bitcoin but can the bubble hold Mail
- Bitcoin mining profitability rose 2% in Jul amid price rally Coindesk
- Bitcoin steadies at USD118k over deeper pullback risks, altcoin rotation Coindesk
- Bitcoin risks new 2025 correction as price uptrend starts 7th week Cointelegraph
- Bitcoin has greater than 50% chance of USD150k before bear hits Cointelegraph
- US should fund bitcoin strategic reserve with tariff surplus Cointelegraph
- Czech police arrest donor in billion-dollar bitcoin scandal Coindesk
- Crypto hackers capitalise on ETH surge, offloading USD72m this week Coindesk
- US Fed scraps specialist group overseeing crypto issues Coindesk
- Crypto chases hype while missing foundational fortune Cointelegraph
- Circle and Stripe are building their proprietary blockchains Coindesk
- Basel Bank capital rules create chokepoint for crypto Cointelegraph
M&A
- Felda secures near 95% stake in FGV as offer period closes Edge
- Genting Malaysia’s Empire Resorts to sell RM2.2b assets Edge NST Star
- Pantech Global to acquire Klang land for RM29m Edge NST
- SDS buys Mamee’s factories in Johor for RM28m Edge Star
- ECM Libra to sell Penang hotel for RM51.89m Edge Star
- Turiya Properties to buy vacant Wisma Sentral Inai for RM135m Edge Star
- Y&G to acquire RM477m landbank from major shareholder’s family Edge
- China’s Ant Group says Bright Smart deal on track following report of delay Edge
- Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison rules out ports deal being completed this year Edge
- BlackRock’s GIP leads USD11b deal for Saudi gas assets Edge
- Accenture to buy Australian cyber security firm CyberCX for USD650m Edge
- a2 Milk to buy NZ formula plant for China growth Yahoo
Malaysian
- Inflation to remain moderate till year-end NST
- The risk-return trade-off Star
- Singapore’s iFAST gets provisional approval for electronic money business Edge
- FIMM reprimands 5 consultants for misconduct Edge Star
- Economy expands steadily in 2Q as main growth engine stays robust Edge NST
- BNM holds growth forecast, says tariff cut eases uncertainty NST Star
- Economists see 2H growth easing as export headwinds mount Edge Star
- Smallest current account surplus in 26 years Edge Mail Star
- Heat rises on LSS5 projects Star
Other markets
- Singapore home sales jump to 5-month high despite new curbs Edge
- Indonesia unveils 2026 budget with lower deficit, fiscal balance in 3 years Edge
- Thai lawmakers pass USD117b budget to revive economy Edge
- China’s factory output, retail sales growth slump in blow to economy Edge NST Star
- China’s job market remains stable in Jul Edge
- Hong Kong 2Q GDP expands 3.1%, full-year growth forecast maintained Star
- Taiwan raises 2025 GDP growth forecast to 4.45% on strong tech exports Edge
- Japan says US not pressuring BOJ for rate hikes, markets not so sure Edge
- Bessent says he’s not pushing Fed cuts, just touting models Edge
- Jul inflation data has economists on edge Yahoo
- Trump says semiconductor tariffs coming soon, could reach 300% Edge Mail
- US industrial output eases as factories grapple with weak demand Edge
- US retail sales climb in broad advance after upward revision Edge
- US consumer sentiment falls as inflation expectations climb Edge
- Despite tariffs, factories, wholesalers in Canada saw gains in Jun Edge