Latest news with #NurAthirahMohdShaharuddin
Barnama
31-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Rubber Market Closes Lower On Regional Futures, Crude Oil Price Losses
Rubber Market Closes Lower On Regional Futures, Crude Oil Price Losses By Nur Athirah Mohd Shaharuddin KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian rubber market has continued to end lower today, tracking losses in regional rubber futures markets and crude oil prices, a dealer said. She said the market sentiment was also affected by steady United States (US) interest rates ahead of the tariff deadline on Aug 1, 2025. 'Nevertheless, further losses were capped by a weaker ringgit against the US dollar amid moderate natural rubber demand anticipated by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) for this year,' she told Bernama. The dealer said Japanese rubber futures declined across all exchanges on Thursday, as renewed US tariffs on South Korean automobiles and sluggish manufacturing activity in China weighed on prices. She noted that oil prices also fell on Thursday as investors responded to weak economic data from China and concerns over demand, despite tighter supplies due to US sanctions on Russia and US President Donald Trump's push for a swift resolution to the war in Ukraine through additional tariffs. At 6.05 pm, Brent crude oil dropped by 0.87 per cent to US$72.69 per barrel. At 3 pm, the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) reported that the price of Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) dropped 6.5 sen to 720.50 sen per kilogramme (kg), while latex in bulk fell two sen to 571.50 sen per kg. -- BERNAMA
Barnama
29-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
CPO Futures Close Higher On Stronger Soybean Oil Prices
By Nur Athirah Mohd Shaharuddin KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed higher on Tuesday on the back of stronger soybean oil prices, according to palm oil trader David Ng. However, he noted that expectations of rising production and subdued demand are limiting further price gains. "We see CPO prices supported above RM4,250 and resistance at RM4,400 a tonne," he told Bernama. At the close, the spot-month August contract gained RM38 to RM4,188 per tonne, September 2025 added RM8 to RM4,231 per tonne, and October 2025 edged up RM12 to RM4,254 per tonne. The November 2025 contract increased RM16 to RM4,269 per tonne, December 2025 climbed RM19 to RM4,279 per tonne, and January 2026 put on RM21 to RM4,284 per tonne. Trading volume jumped to 61,890 lots from 48,430 lots on Monday, while open interest slipped to 224,301 contracts from 226,093 contracts previously. The physical CPO price for July South rose RM10 to RM4,210 per tonne. -- BERNAMA
Barnama
29-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Semiconductor Sector To Benefit From Supply Chain Focus In 13MP
BUSINESS By Anas Abu Hassan & Nur Athirah Mohd Shaharuddin KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) – Malaysia's semiconductor industry is poised to benefit from the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), as the government seeks to strengthen the country's role in the global supply chain. UniKL Business School economic analyst Associate Professor Dr Aimi Zulhazmi Abdul Rashid said the five-year plan comes at a pivotal time, amid shifting global trade patterns driven by geopolitical tensions and protectionist measures such as the United States' tariff policies. 'The semiconductor industry, which is the largest contributor within the manufacturing sector, is expected to spearhead Malaysia's climb up the global value chain. 'In light of current US tariff headwinds, it is critical to position Malaysian manufacturers as key global players,' he told Bernama in an exclusive interview. Aimi Zulhazmi said the 13MP should also outline clear strategies to advance Malaysia as a producer of high-end chips for artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced electronics. He added that the plan must align with the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, which targets a six per cent growth in manufacturing's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), particularly through exports. Boosting National Competitiveness
Barnama
29-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Set Up New Ministry Or Central Body To Implement 13th Malaysia Plan Effectively
BUSINESS By Anas Abu Hassan & Nur Athirah Mohd Shaharuddin KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- An economist has called for the setting up of a new ministry or central agency to specifically monitor and coordinate the effective implementation of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and to develop measurable milestones to ensure the plan's long-term sustainability. Making the call, Malaysia Institute of Transport (MiTRANS) director and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) associate professor Dr Wan Mazlina Wan Mohamed said such a body would serve as a central coordinating agency to drive long-term, whole-of-government reforms effectively. She emphasised that annual progress reports should be published to promote transparency and track outcomes. "Plans should not be implemented without proper oversight," she said. To address these issues, Wan Mazlina said that the proposed ministry or central agency would be able to consistently monitor policy implementation progress over the next decade. 'This particularly includes developing measurable milestones and conducting periodic reviews to ensure the sustainability of the policy,' she told Bernama. She cautioned that without such a coordinating body, the implementation of development programmes under the 13MP would continue to suffer from fragmented execution, with different agencies and ministries working in silos and lacking coordination. The absence of measurable outcomes, she added, also makes it difficult to assess a policy's effectiveness.
Barnama
28-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Rubber Market Closes Lower On Profit-taking
WORLD By Nur Athirah Mohd Shaharuddin KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian rubber market closed lower on Monday, in tandem with regional rubber futures markets, amid profit-taking that triggered a short-term pullback, a dealer said. The dealer said that market sentiment was further dampened by weaker economic data from China. 'Nevertheless, further losses were capped by gains in crude oil prices and a shortage of natural rubber due to persistent rain in major producing countries,' she told Bernama. At 4.47 pm, Brent crude oil gained by 0.48 per cent to US$68.75 per barrel. The dealer also noted that market players were cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting and the outcome of the renewed United States (US)-China trade negotiations. 'The US and China are expected to extend their tariff truce by an additional 90 days during trade talks starting Monday in Stockholm. 'Meanwhile, the temporary suspension of most tariffs, agreed in May, is due to expire on Aug 15, 2025,' she added. Additionally, the dealer noted that the US has paused restrictions on technology exports to China in an effort to advance trade agreements with the country.
