Business

Malaysia's economic outlook shows signs of improvement, with the Statistics department noting positive March indicators despite ongoing pandemic challenges. The leading index rose, driven by growth in approved housing units, metal imports, and new company registrations, suggesting potential economic resilience.

Amazon is set to include Pakistani sellers on its global platform, marking a significant milestone for Pakistan's online trade. This move will provide local entrepreneurs with access to international markets, potentially creating job opportunities and generating revenue through e-commerce.

Singapore's economy showed unexpected strength in the first quarter, with MTI revising growth estimates to 1.3%. While the full-year GDP forecast remains unchanged, analysts anticipate potential economic shifts as global pandemic conditions evolve.

Malaysian banks benefit from a diversified economy, strong institutional frameworks, and promising growth prospects. Despite the 2020 recession, the country's GDP is expected to rise above 5% in the coming year, supported by robust infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.

Malaysia's Petronas, a leading global petroleum corporation, has pioneered a landmark LNG transaction using Canadian pricing indicators. The state-owned company signed its first spot cargo deal for August shipments to a Far East buyer, leveraging the Canada Alberta Energy Company (EECO) pricing framework.

Tesla Inc. has secured a secured term loan facility of 9 billion yuan ($1.29 billion) from Chinese lenders to support its Shanghai Gigafactory. The electric car maker also agreed to an additional unsecured revolving loan facility of 2.25 billion yuan, further strengthening its manufacturing presence in China.

Singapore's non-oil domestic exports (NODX) increased 6% in April, slower than March's 11.9% growth. Electronic and hardware exports showed strong performance, with semiconductor demand and petrochemical shipments contributing to the expansion.

Axiata Group Bhd is confident in raising its dividend payout to 20 sen per share by 2024, representing a RM1.8 billion distribution. CEO Datuk Izzaddin Idris highlights the company's transformation into a high-profit organization, focusing on strategic growth and long-term value creation for shareholders.

The coronavirus pandemic has triggered massive economic disruptions, causing widespread product shortages, panic buying, and significant supply chain challenges that impact countries worldwide.

Chinese manufacturers flooding global markets with substandard personal protective equipment, prompting government crackdown. Authorities have confiscated millions of fake masks and arrested over 1,500 suspects involved in fraudulent PPE sales during COVID-19 pandemic.