China, Hong Kong stocks fall as Israeli strikes on Iran weigh on risk assets
Israel said it targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders on Friday at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
At the midday break, the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.72 per cent at 3,378.01 points, while the blue-chip CSI300 index was down 0.76 per cent at 3,862.75 points.
The smaller Shenzhen index dropped 1.27 per cent, the start-up board ChiNext Composite index was weaker by 1.14 per cent and Shanghai's tech-focused STAR50 index dropped nearly 1 per cent.
In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index was down 0.7 per cent at 23,866.86 points, while the Chinese H-share index, the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 0.89 per cent to 8,651.84 points.
However, the risk-off sentiment lifted gold and miners shares, with key performers including Western Region Gold Co , Shandong Gold Mining Co Zhongjin Gold Corp all gaining more than 2 per cent in morning trades.
Another outperformer was oil and gas shares, with a sub-index jumping 2.05 per cent by midday.
Safe-haven demand for the US dollar also pressured the yuan, with the onshore spot price weakening 0.13 per cent to 7.1807 per dollar around midday.
Major Chinese stock indexes appeared poised for a weekly decline, despite the recent trade truce between Washington and Beijing easing the risk of further tariff escalation in the near term.
"While geopolitical tensions (between the United States and China) may have temporarily de-escalated, China's macroeconomic outlook remains fragile," BCA Research said in a note.
As a result, without a decisive policy boost, Chinese equities lack any catalyst to trend higher."
The SSEC is set to fall 0.22 per cent for the week, while the CSI300 index is due to lose 0.29 per cent.
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New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
KLIA poised for growth as MAHB eyes more foreign airlines in 2025
SEPANG: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is pushing ahead with its strategy to establish Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as a key hub in the Asia Pacific region by intensifying efforts to attract more international airlines. MAHB chief aviation and strategy officer Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin said the airport operator is targeting 12 foreign airlines to fly to Malaysia this year, a goal similar to what it successfully achieved in 2024. "We have eight new airlines confirmed so far this year, five of which are operating at KLIA. They include long-haul operators such as British Airways and FitsAir from Colombo, as well as Chinese carriers including Lucky Air from Yunnan, Hainan Airlines from Haikou, and Juneyao Airlines from Shanghai," he told Business Times. Megat Ardian said MAHB has been actively engaging with global carriers over the last two years through airline networking events such as Routes World and Routes Asia, as well as direct visits to airline headquarters. "Our aim is to build direct connectivity to KLIA. Every new airline brings new routes and new passenger flows, which either terminate here (Kuala Lumpur) or continue on to other destinations," he said. He said the strategy is similar to a mix of 'hunting and farming' – hunting for new airlines to introduce new routes and farming through sustained engagement with existing foreign and local carriers to increase frequencies and up-gauge aircraft types from narrowbody to widebody, for example. "We work closely with our local carriers and foreign ones that are already operating here to explore capacity increases either by using larger aircraft or operating more flights," Megat Ardian added. MAHB also collaborates closely with Tourism Malaysia by participating in joint sales missions to key markets such as China, the Middle East, and Europe, where the airport operator also engages directly with airlines. Megat Ardian said MAHB supports airlines' planning by sharing extensive traffic data to highlight connectivity opportunities and potential feeder traffic via local partners such as Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Batik Air Malaysia. "Some airlines want to know where their passengers go beyond KLIA. We analyse the behind, direct and beyond traffic to demonstrate how they can connect with the partners here to fill up their aircraft, especially for new routes," he said, adding that MAHB's strategy is heavily data-driven. Megat Ardian also said MAHB now takes a more holistic approach with the input from its new shareholders by looking at both airline and passenger behaviours, including loyalty usage and passenger segmentation. "We analyse which carriers are already operating in Bangkok or Singapore but not yet in Kuala Lumpur. With many of them getting new aircraft soon, we want them to consider putting those aircraft here," he said. He added that the team is currently in talks with several European national carriers that do not yet serve KLIA, while also maintaining engagements with airlines in China and the Middle East. Speaking of the China market, Megat Ardian said the travel demand is rebounding, especially with the extension of visa-free stays to 90 days in Malaysia. "It's been a key market for us since 2018, and we're seeing traffic steadily returning to pre-pandemic levels," he said. India and the Middle East are also fast-growing markets, with the transfer traffic from Indian secondary cities into Australia and the South Pacific via KLIA picking up, aided by strong connectivity provided by local carriers. KLIA recorded 30 million passengers in the first half of 2025, a nearly 10 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024, with average load factors hovering around 78 per cent. Megat Ardian said MAHB also maintains ongoing discussions with North American carriers, including U.S. and Canadian airlines, though these airlines are highly focused on ensuring point-to-point and feeder connectivity before committing to a new route. "In our discussions, they always ask, 'Can I fill half my plane with direct passengers and rely on feeder partners for the rest?' That's where we come in by identifying and connecting them with local airlines to support their networks," he said. Speaking on KLIA infrastructure, Megat Ardian said the need for a third terminal at KLIA remains part of the long-term masterplan, which is currently being reviewed in line with projected passenger growth. "For now, the focus is on enhancing services, efficiency, and unlocking optimisation at KLIA (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2)," he said. One of the key initiatives under study is the inter-terminal airside transfer between KLIA Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2) that will allow seamless passenger and baggage transfer, a crucial requirement to support hub operations. "We've completed time-motion studies for both passengers and bags. "What's next is working with airlines and ground handlers to finalise operational processes," he said. Beyond passengers, KLIA's aviation strategy is also fuelling growth in air cargo. The airport hosts five major cargo terminal operators, which include MASkargo Sdn Bhd, Ground Team Red Sdn Bhd (GTR), Raya Airways Sdn Bhd, FedEx and DHL. KLIA has seen rising air cargo volumes in 2024 up to today. "Increased flight frequencies and new routes mean more (aircraft) belly cargo capacity. We're seeing growth in small parcels, perishables, semiconductors, batteries, and tech-related shipments," Megat Ardian said. While KLIA remains MAHB's central focus, Megat Ardian said other local international airports such as Penang International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Langkawi International Airport and Kuching International Airport are also playing supporting roles. "KLIA is the gateway and hub for international connectivity, but the regional airports are evolving and feeding into the ecosystem. Each has its own development plan under Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd (MASB)," he added. He also said that MAHB remains confident that enhanced connectivity, ongoing infrastructure optimisation and strong airline partnerships will propel KLIA closer to becoming a premier airport hub in the region.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Young wife accused of stealing from older artist hubby
Compiled by JUNAID IBRAHIM, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN AN 87-year-old calligraphy master in China is said to have lost antiques and paintings worth two billion yuan (RM1.2bil), allegedly stolen by his wife who is 50 years younger than him, China Press reported. Fan Zeng married radio presenter Xu Meng, 37, last year. It is believed that he got to know her through his son. Their union was a talking point among netizens due to the wide age gap. Apparently, Xu had been spotted meeting with a younger man at private clubs. The mysterious man was said to have close ties with an art investment company that had sold several of Fan's works at below market prices. Sources claimed that Xu took advantage of her position as the lady of the house to empty Fan's collection of calligraphy and paintings. Fan's students, relatives, friends and dealers claimed to have lost contact with the master. Xu has also reportedly disappeared. The news sparked heated online discussion, with many saying they suspected Xu of harbouring ill intentions when the couple married. > The daily also reported that Pulau Pangkor saw a three-fold increase in its anchovies harvest over the last five years, making it the largest anchovy-producing location in Perak. Statistics from the Fisheries Department showed that the island produced only 879.93 tonnes of anchovies worth RM8.87mil in 2020. Last year, it recorded 2,844 tonnes worth RM42.67mil. As a result, Perak is now one of the largest anchovy-producing states in Malaysia, second only to Sabah. According to Fisheries Malaysia director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain, Pangkor is an important location for the country's fisheries industry as it is a production hub for high-quality anchovies that sets the industry benchmark. The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a, it denotes a separate news item.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Foreigners feeling right at home in Malaysia
PETALING JAYA: Shaden Hsing (pic), a 51-year-old Taiwanese business consultant, has made himself quite at home in Malaysia. Since arriving in the country three years ago, he has established a company and bought a house in Cyberjaya, residing there on a work visa. As someone who has travelled extensively, he found that Malaysia stands out for its convenience and cultural inclusivity. 'Last year, I took 91 international trips where I provided advice and conducted training around the world. From South-East Asia to the Americas and the Middle East, I've never found a place with this level of accessibility and connectivity,' he said. Living in Cyberjaya, Hsing likes Malaysia's road networks. 'As soon as you step outside, you're quickly linked to highways. While Malaysia doesn't have an underground metro system like Taiwan, its expressway connections are better than some of our neighbouring countries,' he said. Hsing also praised Malaysia's cultural and linguistic diversity. During a visit to KLCC, he heard at least eight different languages being spoken. 'Malaysia's natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and peaceful coexistence of different ethnic and religious communities are hard to find elsewhere in Asia, except perhaps in Singapore,' he said. Hsing was also impressed with the independent schools and the environment that encourages multilingual learning. 'Malaysia offers a more inclusive atmosphere for raising children,' said Hsing, who also works as an education consultant. Food is another major attraction for him. 'It's so easy to find authentic cuisine from different countries here – Malay, Chinese, Indian and even Middle Eastern food. 'Experiencing Ramadan was something totally new for me. 'Food in Malaysia is a celebration of its multicultural identity,' he said. 'I've truly immersed myself in the local culture. When I reach retirement age, I plan to apply for the relevant visa to settle here permanently,' he added. Hsing is among the foreigners who have found the country as a desirable place to retire. Malaysia is regularly named in lists of favourable places to retire. Just last month, Forbes named Malaysia as one of the top retirement destinations for 2025, citing its affordable living costs, cultural richness and English-speaking environment. It based its verdict on the costs, amenities, healthcare, language, crime rates and climate risk. In singling out George Town, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Melaka, the report said: 'Malaysia draws United States retirees to its steamy South-East Asia climate for its low cost of living, outdoor vistas and exotic mix of cultures.' It pointed out that English is widely spoken but acknowledged that 'crime can be a problem, and flooding is a natural hazard risk'. International Living Magazine, which billed itself as the world's number one resource for global lifestyle since 1979, listed Malaysia in the seventh spot in its Top Ten list of 'Best Places to Retire in 2025'. It is one of only two Asian countries in the list, besides Thailand. (Panama was named in the top spot.) The report singled out Malaysia's affordability, vibrant food scene and 'excellent connectivity, making it easy for retirees to travel both within the country and internationally'. It pointed out that in Kuala Lumpur, one-bedroom apartments rent for between RM1,400 and RM2,300 monthly, with utilities averaging RM190 to RM280, while local meals are priced as low as RM9 to RM14. Another foreigner, who only wanted to be named as Herbert, is a Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) visa holder who now resides in Kuala Lumpur and owns property there. For over a decade, Malaysia has been home to him and his partner who is also a MM2H visa holder. 'I can drive out easily to get my groceries, the cost of living is affordable and the variety of restaurants is impressive,' he said. For Herbert, the weather and absence of major natural disasters were among the key reasons for choosing Malaysia for his retirement. 'I have health insurance, so access to doctors and medical treatment here isn't a problem. 'In recent years, I've noticed encouraging developments in elder care, including better quality retirement homes,' he said. 'When the time comes and I'm no longer mobile, I may consider moving into one of these facilities.'
