Latest news with #YCC

Communication camp in Sematan sets out to equip youths with leadership skills

Borneo Post

12-08-2025

Entertainment
Borneo Post

Communication camp in Sematan sets out to equip youths with leadership skills

The facilitators and KTMC members gather for a group photo, taken after the meeting. KUCHING (Aug 12): The 13th Youth Communication Camp (YCC) will be held at Kem Putra Sentosa, Sematan this Aug 30 to Sept 1, bringing together secondary school students from across southern Sarawak for an intensive programme focused on public speaking, team-building, and leadership development. Organised by the Kuching Toastmasters Club (KTMC), the camp is now open for registration at a subsidised fee of RM120 per student – a fraction of the actual cost of over RM700 per participant. KTMC president Wee Pei Chai said the reduced fee was made possible through financial grants from Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, also a YCC patron, alongside sponsorships from various government agencies and corporate bodies. Wee, who recently led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on Abdul Karim at the ministry's office, said the minister commended YCC for uniting youths from diverse backgrounds in the true Sarawakian spirit of harmony and cooperation. During the visit, he said Abdul Karim lauded YCC for engaging young adults from various backgrounds and having them work together in unity, 'in a true Sarawakian spirit'. 'Since its inception, YCC has impacted the lives of almost 2,200 campers from over 40 schools in Kuching, Samarahan, Bau, Mukah, Lundu, Sematan and Serian. 'It is the only camp in East Malaysia that focuses primarily on public speaking for secondary school students, inspired by the Toastmasters International movement,' said Wee in a statement yesterday. The camp's motto 'Get A Life, Live The Dream' reflects its mission of empowering young people with essential life skills. A highlight of the camp is the 'Lend Me Your Ears' speech competition, where 10 selected speakers will undergo comprehensive training from experienced facilitators before competing. Around 70 facilitators, comprising KTMC members and Toastmasters from across the region, will be involved in running the programme. For more information, contact Wee on 019-330 0503, organising chairman Sahil Dev on 012-889 1004, or committee member Syed Muhd Farhan Shahab on 014-506 7595. lead leadership public speaking Youth Communication Camp youths

Communication camp sets out to equip youths with leadership skills

Borneo Post

11-08-2025

Entertainment
Borneo Post

Communication camp sets out to equip youths with leadership skills

Central banks' decisions loom amidst global uncertainty, Octa Broker offers its view

Arabian Post

19-06-2025

Business
Arabian Post

Central banks' decisions loom amidst global uncertainty, Octa Broker offers its view

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 June 2025 – This week is set to be a pivotal one for financial markets in general and Forex market in particular as four major central banks—the Bank of Japan (BoJ), the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), the Swiss National Bank (SNB), and the Bank of England (BoE)—are scheduled to announce their latest decisions on interest rates. Their policy statements, spread across Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, will be under intense scrutiny from traders and investors alike. The reason for this heightened attention is simple: relative monetary policy is a primary driver of currency exchange rates, and any shift in a central bank's stance can trigger significant market movements. However, this week's announcements arrive amidst a backdrop of considerable global uncertainty, stemming from the flared-up conflict between Israel and Iran. This geopolitical tension in the Middle East has already exerted an upward pressure on oil prices, leading to increased concerns about inflation and raising the probability of a global economic recession. Consequently, investors might be surprised by the tone and content of the upcoming policy statements. While the prevailing market assumption is that most central banks (with the notable exception of the SNB) will maintain their current interest rates, the escalating inflation risks could prompt some central banks to adopt a more hawkish stance than anticipated, potentially leading to unexpected shifts in their monetary policy outlooks. This makes it more crucial than ever for market participants to closely monitor all announcements, accompanying policy reports, and subsequent press conferences for any clues regarding future policy trajectories. Bank of Japan BOJ's decision will hit the wires in the early hours during the Asian trading session on 17 June. Unlike other major banks, BoJ has embarked on a path toward monetary tightening. Last year, it concluded its yield curve control (YCC) policy and initiated a gradual reduction of its substantial bond purchases. These actions were part of an ongoing effort to transition the Japanese economy away from a decade of significant stimulus. Furthermore, the BOJ increased short-term interest rates to 0.5% in January, based on the assessment that Japan was progressing towards sustainably achieving its 2% inflation target. ADVERTISEMENT However, potential risks to Japan's export-dependent economy stemming from U.S. tariffs have led to a revision in market expectations regarding the timing of the BOJ's next rate hike. In addition, the Japanese bond market has been under severe stress lately, as long-term yields reached record high. Specifically, in Japan's 20-year government bond auction on 20 May, the demand was very weak and the bid-to-cover ratio fell to just 2.50, its lowest point since 2012. Consequently, market attention is currently focused on whether the BOJ will maintain or reduce the pace of its current bond tapering. Investors are also keenly awaiting any signals from BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda concerning the potential resumption of rate increases. The general expectation is that the BOJ will largely stick to its current tapering plan for now, but it may consider a slower pace of reduction starting from the next fiscal year. 'I believe the BOJ may not be able to delay rate hikes for an extended period due to inflationary pressures from elevated food costs, particularly for staple rice, so I think Governor Ueda may deliver a more hawkish tone that the market currently expects', says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa broker. Indeed, Japan's core inflation has exceeded the BOJ's 2% target for over three years, reaching a more than two-year high of 3.5% in April, largely driven by a 7% surge in food prices. Moreover, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East poses a risk of further increasing Japan's import costs. Kazuo Ueda is expected to hold a news conference at 6:30 a.m. UTC on 17 June to explain the BOJ's policy decision. Federal Reserve The Fed will issue its monetary policy updates at 6:00 p.m. UTC and hold a press conference at 6:30 p.m. UTC. The decision—especially the accompanying Statement—and the latest Economic Projections by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) may potentially surprise the market, resulting in above-normal volatility. ADVERTISEMENT Traders expect the Fed to leave its policy rate unchanged in the range of 4.25–4.50%. However, the market usually moves not because of the decision itself, but rather the new details revealed in the FOMC Statement as well as during the press conference. In addition, traders will be paying close attention to the Fed's economic outlook and the so-called 'dot plot', seeking to understand the central bank's policy trajectory. The FOMC dot plot is a chart that visually represents the projections of each FOMC member for the target range of the federal funds rate. It is updated on a quarterly basis and tends to have a major impact on financial markets, serving as a critical piece of forward guidance that can significantly influence bond yields, equity prices, and currency valuations as investors recalibrate their expectations for future interest rate movements and the overall trajectory of monetary policy. 'It is not going to be an easy decision for the Fed', says Kar Yong Ang. 'They are balancing between a weakening labour market, still elevated inflation, uncertainty regarding trade tariffs—and now the Middle East crisis and the oil price shock. Overall, the market is positioned for a relatively dovish Fed, so traders will be waiting for hints about whether the Fed might be poised to lower rates in the coming months. And this is where the market may be disappointed'. In other words, there's a significant risk that Jerome Powell, the Fed Chairman, could adopt a more hawkish stance than the market anticipates. This would likely lead to considerable downward pressure on equity prices and present substantial upside risks for the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY). At the same time, even if the Fed does deliver a hawkish message, gold (XAUUSD) is unlikely to see a significant downturn, as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran will almost certainly sustain strong safe-haven demand, counteracting any typical negative pressure from a hawkish Fed. Swiss National Bank SNB is due to make its policy decision on 19 June. It is the only central bank whose rate cut is almost 100% guaranteed. The debate is not whether the SNB will cut the rates, but to what extent. Recent disinflationary pressures within the Swiss economy have led markets to anticipate a larger-than-usual 50-basis point (bps) reduction in rates. 'Despite the Swiss headline CPI [Consumer Price Index] recently turning negative, I think the SNB will still opt for a smaller, 25-bp cut. Inflation shock coming from the Mideast conflict and policymarkers' recent rhetoric suggest that the SNB will be careful not to overshoot with policy easing', says Kar Yong Ang. Indeed, SNB board member Petra Tschudin recently highlighted that achieving medium-term price stability is more critical to their policy choices and that a single data point (i.e., latest inflation report) is not substantial enough to alter the current policy outlook. Moreover, with the SNB's policy options being quite narrow now (the deposit rate bottomed out at -0.75% during the previous rate-cutting cycle), a 25-basis point rate cut looks like the most sensible choice for now. On balance, the most probable outcome remains a 25bp rate cut. While the Swiss franc (CHF) might experience an initial sharp rise as the market corrects its 50bp cut predictions, this reaction would likely be fleeting. The central bank's accompanying dovish commentary would likely ensure that any strengthening of the franc is quickly reversed. Bank of England BoE will announce its monetary policy decision on 19 June, a few hours after the SNB. At its previous meeting in March, the BoE kept its key rate at 4.50% with only one Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member calling for a rate cut. In its guidance, the BoE stressed that it was taking a 'gradual and careful approach' to rate cuts due to a lack of visibility about the inflation outlook because of the rise in trade tensions. Since then, however, the U.S. and the U.K. agreed to a new trade deal, but the U.K. CPI continued to rise, while GBP/USD reached a fresh three-year high. 'The latest U.K. CPI figures will be released on Wednesday, before the BoE decision, and I actually think that they will have a much bigger impact on the market than BoE's verdict itself', says Kar Yong Ang, adding that if the CPI report indicates a slowdown in inflation, the optimal strategy would be to go long EUR/GBP. Overall, the BoE is expected to keep interest rates unchanged, especially considering that ongoing hostilities in the Middle East have introduced new long-term inflation risks. Indeed, according to the latest interest rate swaps market data, investors are pricing in only a 10% chance of a 25-bp rate cut by the BoE this Thursday. However, traders are advised to monitor any shift in BoE's MPC rate voting. Previously, eight members voted to hold the rates unchanged, but this week's decision may feature more doves than hawks. ___ Disclaimer: This press release does not contain or constitute investment advice or recommendations and does not consider your investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. Any actions taken based on this content are at your sole discretion and risk—Octa does not accept any liability for any resulting losses or consequences. Hashtag: #Octa The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Octa Octa is an international CFD broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools. The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including improving educational infrastructure and funding short-notice relief projects to support local communities. In Southeast Asia, Octa received the 'Best Trading Platform Malaysia 2024' and the 'Most Reliable Broker Asia 2023' awards from Brands and Business Magazine and International Global Forex Awards, respectively.

The Sun

17-06-2025

Business
The Sun

Central banks' decisions loom amidst global uncertainty, Octa Broker offers its view

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 16 June 2025 - This week is set to be a pivotal one for financial markets in general and Forex market in particular as four major central banks—the Bank of Japan (BoJ), the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), the Swiss National Bank (SNB), and the Bank of England (BoE)—are scheduled to announce their latest decisions on interest rates. Their policy statements, spread across Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, will be under intense scrutiny from traders and investors alike. The reason for this heightened attention is simple: relative monetary policy is a primary driver of currency exchange rates, and any shift in a central bank's stance can trigger significant market movements. However, this week's announcements arrive amidst a backdrop of considerable global uncertainty, stemming from the flared-up conflict between Israel and Iran. This geopolitical tension in the Middle East has already exerted an upward pressure on oil prices, leading to increased concerns about inflation and raising the probability of a global economic recession. Consequently, investors might be surprised by the tone and content of the upcoming policy statements. While the prevailing market assumption is that most central banks (with the notable exception of the SNB) will maintain their current interest rates, the escalating inflation risks could prompt some central banks to adopt a more hawkish stance than anticipated, potentially leading to unexpected shifts in their monetary policy outlooks. This makes it more crucial than ever for market participants to closely monitor all announcements, accompanying policy reports, and subsequent press conferences for any clues regarding future policy trajectories. Bank of Japan BOJ's decision will hit the wires in the early hours during the Asian trading session on 17 June. Unlike other major banks, BoJ has embarked on a path toward monetary tightening. Last year, it concluded its yield curve control (YCC) policy and initiated a gradual reduction of its substantial bond purchases. These actions were part of an ongoing effort to transition the Japanese economy away from a decade of significant stimulus. Furthermore, the BOJ increased short-term interest rates to 0.5% in January, based on the assessment that Japan was progressing towards sustainably achieving its 2% inflation target. However, potential risks to Japan's export-dependent economy stemming from U.S. tariffs have led to a revision in market expectations regarding the timing of the BOJ's next rate hike. In addition, the Japanese bond market has been under severe stress lately, as long-term yields reached record high. Specifically, in Japan's 20-year government bond auction on 20 May, the demand was very weak and the bid-to-cover ratio fell to just 2.50, its lowest point since 2012. Consequently, market attention is currently focused on whether the BOJ will maintain or reduce the pace of its current bond tapering. Investors are also keenly awaiting any signals from BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda concerning the potential resumption of rate increases. The general expectation is that the BOJ will largely stick to its current tapering plan for now, but it may consider a slower pace of reduction starting from the next fiscal year. 'I believe the BOJ may not be able to delay rate hikes for an extended period due to inflationary pressures from elevated food costs, particularly for staple rice, so I think Governor Ueda may deliver a more hawkish tone that the market currently expects', says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa broker. Indeed, Japan's core inflation has exceeded the BOJ's 2% target for over three years, reaching a more than two-year high of 3.5% in April, largely driven by a 7% surge in food prices. Moreover, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East poses a risk of further increasing Japan's import costs. Kazuo Ueda is expected to hold a news conference at 6:30 a.m. UTC on 17 June to explain the BOJ's policy decision. Federal Reserve The Fed will issue its monetary policy updates at 6:00 p.m. UTC and hold a press conference at 6:30 p.m. UTC. The decision—especially the accompanying Statement—and the latest Economic Projections by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) may potentially surprise the market, resulting in above-normal volatility. Traders expect the Fed to leave its policy rate unchanged in the range of 4.25–4.50%. However, the market usually moves not because of the decision itself, but rather the new details revealed in the FOMC Statement as well as during the press conference. In addition, traders will be paying close attention to the Fed's economic outlook and the so-called 'dot plot', seeking to understand the central bank's policy trajectory. The FOMC dot plot is a chart that visually represents the projections of each FOMC member for the target range of the federal funds rate. It is updated on a quarterly basis and tends to have a major impact on financial markets, serving as a critical piece of forward guidance that can significantly influence bond yields, equity prices, and currency valuations as investors recalibrate their expectations for future interest rate movements and the overall trajectory of monetary policy. 'It is not going to be an easy decision for the Fed', says Kar Yong Ang. 'They are balancing between a weakening labour market, still elevated inflation, uncertainty regarding trade tariffs—and now the Middle East crisis and the oil price shock. Overall, the market is positioned for a relatively dovish Fed, so traders will be waiting for hints about whether the Fed might be poised to lower rates in the coming months. And this is where the market may be disappointed'. In other words, there's a significant risk that Jerome Powell, the Fed Chairman, could adopt a more hawkish stance than the market anticipates. This would likely lead to considerable downward pressure on equity prices and present substantial upside risks for the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY). At the same time, even if the Fed does deliver a hawkish message, gold (XAUUSD) is unlikely to see a significant downturn, as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran will almost certainly sustain strong safe-haven demand, counteracting any typical negative pressure from a hawkish Fed. Swiss National Bank SNB is due to make its policy decision on 19 June. It is the only central bank whose rate cut is almost 100% guaranteed. The debate is not whether the SNB will cut the rates, but to what extent. Recent disinflationary pressures within the Swiss economy have led markets to anticipate a larger-than-usual 50-basis point (bps) reduction in rates. 'Despite the Swiss headline CPI [Consumer Price Index] recently turning negative, I think the SNB will still opt for a smaller, 25-bp cut. Inflation shock coming from the Mideast conflict and policymarkers' recent rhetoric suggest that the SNB will be careful not to overshoot with policy easing', says Kar Yong Ang. Indeed, SNB board member Petra Tschudin recently highlighted that achieving medium-term price stability is more critical to their policy choices and that a single data point (i.e., latest inflation report) is not substantial enough to alter the current policy outlook. Moreover, with the SNB's policy options being quite narrow now (the deposit rate bottomed out at -0.75% during the previous rate-cutting cycle), a 25-basis point rate cut looks like the most sensible choice for now. On balance, the most probable outcome remains a 25bp rate cut. While the Swiss franc (CHF) might experience an initial sharp rise as the market corrects its 50bp cut predictions, this reaction would likely be fleeting. The central bank's accompanying dovish commentary would likely ensure that any strengthening of the franc is quickly reversed. Bank of England BoE will announce its monetary policy decision on 19 June, a few hours after the SNB. At its previous meeting in March, the BoE kept its key rate at 4.50% with only one Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member calling for a rate cut. In its guidance, the BoE stressed that it was taking a 'gradual and careful approach' to rate cuts due to a lack of visibility about the inflation outlook because of the rise in trade tensions. Since then, however, the U.S. and the U.K. agreed to a new trade deal, but the U.K. CPI continued to rise, while GBP/USD reached a fresh three-year high. ' The latest U.K. CPI figures will be released on Wednesday, before the BoE decision, and I actually think that they will have a much bigger impact on the market than BoE's verdict itself ', says Kar Yong Ang, adding that if the CPI report indicates a slowdown in inflation, the optimal strategy would be to go long EUR/GBP. Overall, the BoE is expected to keep interest rates unchanged, especially considering that ongoing hostilities in the Middle East have introduced new long-term inflation risks. Indeed, according to the latest interest rate swaps market data, investors are pricing in only a 10% chance of a 25-bp rate cut by the BoE this Thursday. However, traders are advised to monitor any shift in BoE's MPC rate voting. Previously, eight members voted to hold the rates unchanged, but this week's decision may feature more doves than hawks. ___ Disclaimer: This press release does not contain or constitute investment advice or recommendations and does not consider your investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. Any actions taken based on this content are at your sole discretion and risk—Octa does not accept any liability for any resulting losses or consequences.

Bank of Japan to weigh slowdown in bond buying cuts after volatility rises

Business Times

16-06-2025

Business
Business Times

Bank of Japan to weigh slowdown in bond buying cuts after volatility rises

[TOKYO] The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is set to consider whether to taper its bond purchases at a slower pace while also leaving its benchmark interest rate unchanged, in a decision that will be closely scrutinised by the bond market. All 53 BOJ watchers surveyed expect no change in the BOJ's 0.5 per cent interest rate at the two-day gathering concluding on Tuesday (Jun 17). The spotlight will instead fall on the BOJ's updated plan to curtail its purchases of government bonds as it seeks to shrink its footprint in the market. About two-thirds of respondents expect the cutbacks will be smaller from April compared with the current pace. The meeting will carry implications for the global bond market, with governor Kazuo Ueda's board signalling its views on recent yield volatility when it extends its quantitative tightening plan into the next fiscal year for the first time. Japan was seen as a source of global debt market jitters when yields on super long JGBs hit a record high last month. The central bank began tapering bond buying last summer after scrapping its negative interest rate and yield curve control (YCC) programme in March of that year. The BOJ's holdings of government bonds decreased by a record 6.2 trillion yen (S$55 billion) in the first quarter as purchases slowed and debt matured, according to central bank data. Even so, after more than a decade of conducting a massive monetary easing campaign, the BOJ still holds roughly half of all outstanding government bonds, compelling traders to scour every action it takes. Since last August, the BOJ has reduced its bond purchases by 400 billion yen every quarter. Under that plan, monthly purchases would be almost halved by the first quarter of 2026 compared with the roughly six trillion yen before QT began. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up A key focus of the June meeting will be the tempo beyond March. BOJ officials are likely to consider slowing the pullback to about half the previous pace, meaning a 200 billion yen reduction in buying each quarter, as among their options, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg earlier this month. 'The destabilisation of the bond market isn't desirable for the conduct of monetary policy,' said Ryutaro Kono, chief Japan economist at BNP Paribas. 'To carefully determine the appropriate pace of shrinking its balance sheet, the BOJ is likely to ease the pace in the reduction of bond purchases from next spring.' Around 40 per cent of analysts expect the new pace of cutbacks to be about 200 billion yen, while a quarter of them puts the figure at 300 billion yen and another fifth forecasts the pace will be kept at around 400 billion yen, according to a Bloomberg poll. Ueda has indicated there's a high hurdle for the central bank to consider intervening in the bond market as it tries to restore the functioning of the market that was damaged by its past quantitative easing and YCC programmes. At the same time, the Ministry of Finance has signalled it might consider cutting back the issuance of super long bonds this fiscal year ahead of a meeting with market participants later this week. Japan's 30-year bond yields touched a record high of 3.185 per cent, while that of 40-year debt hit 3.675 per cent, also a high, in a reflection of mismatched supply and demand in the market. A measure of demand for a 20-year bond sale registered the weakest since 1987. Once the BOJ reveals its bond buying plan together with a policy statement around noon, the focus will turn to Ueda's press conference as investors seek hints on the likely timing for the next rate hike. That event typically starts at 3.30 pm in Tokyo. The governor has stressed the need to monitor trade talk developments around the world as well as their economic implications as he sees 'extremely' high uncertainties ahead. His hint of caution has helped push back expectations for a near-term rate hike among BOJ watchers. In a Bloomberg survey, January is now seen as the most likely timing for the next increase, with around one-third of economists predicting it. Expectations for July plunged to 8 per cent, while for those saying October held up at around 30 per cent. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to meet President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit currently underway in the Canadian Rockies, with traders watching for a trade deal – or progress towards a deal – that would reduce the degree of uncertainty over Japan's economic outlook. Ishiba is trying to shore up his support ratings by lowering the cost of living ahead of an upper house election likely to be held next month. Consumer inflation in Japan has stayed at the highest pace among G7 countries as the BOJ's policy rate remains much lower than the benchmark rates of its peers. The US Treasury Department made a rare statement related to BOJ policy in its semi-annual currency report this month, saying the bank should continue with policy tightening as a means to correct the weak yen and rebalance bilateral trade. 'It's important for the BOJ to keep its stance to respond to a rise in underlying inflation not only for public discontent over the cost of living but also for trade talks with the US,' said Tetsuya Inoue, a former BOJ official who was once a secretary of Ueda's when he was a board member. BLOOMBERG

Latest news with #YCC

Communication camp in Sematan sets out to equip youths with leadership skills

Communication camp sets out to equip youths with leadership skills

Central banks' decisions loom amidst global uncertainty, Octa Broker offers its view

Central banks' decisions loom amidst global uncertainty, Octa Broker offers its view

Bank of Japan to weigh slowdown in bond buying cuts after volatility rises

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