Malaysia Money Matters Daily News Digest 24th Sept 2025

In today’s deep dive, we unpack a surge in IPO excitement, a complex new fuel subsidy rollout, rising financial pressures, and escalating global trade tensions. From Bursa to Beijing — here’s what’s moving markets and shaping Malaysia’s economic landscape.🏢 Malaysian Corporate & Market Highlights🏆 United Plantations Named Company of the YearAt the Edge Billion Ringgit Club Awards, United Plantations clinched the top honour.🚢 MMC Port Holdings Clears Path to Main MarketThe port operator gets the green light for a Main Market listing — expected to fund port expansion and digitalisation.☀️ JS Solar Holdings Jumps 29% on ACE Debut📉 Apollo Food Q1 Profit Falls 34% Lower exports, higher costs💸 Kuchai Development Announces Special Dividend + Bursa Exit* RM0.448 per share special dividend* Voluntary delisting after asset disposals⚖️ Prasarana Loses RM30M Claim vs Penang Port* Judge: Prasarana exited ferry ops too early🏛️ Policy, Infrastructure & Inflation⛽ Budi95 Fuel Subsidy Begins Sept 30* RM1B allocated* RM1.99/L for eligible Malaysians (300L/month)* New tiers:* RM2.05 for select commercial vehicles* Market rate (~RM2.60) for non-citizens🛠️ Managed via TNG Digital’s backend system📈 Insurance Inflation Alert* Financial services inflation: +5.6% (Aug)* Hospital benefit premiums: +14.7%⏳ Basic health insurance initiative still in development🔐 Telcos Team Up Against Identity FraudCelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, TM & YTL Communications launch a mobile-based ID verification API📲 Designed for banks & retailers to counter phishing and SIM swap fraud💡 More secure than SMS OTPs🌏 Global Trade, Markets & Cooperation🚨 OECD Warns: Full Impact of US Tariffs Still Incoming* Effective import tariff rate now 19.5%Suggests pressure on global trade flows will intensify📦 China’s Export Surplus Sparks Alarm* Projected US$1.2T trade surplus* Oversupply of cheap goods could provoke retaliatory trade policies🥇 Gold Hits Record High: US$3,784/ozDriven by:* Fed rate cut bets* Weakening US labor data* Classic flight to safety🤝 ASEAN Signs Regional Competition AgreementSignals push for fairer regional markets amid global turbulence🧠 Final ThoughtAs China floods the global market with exports and the US tightens trade, the rest of the world faces a critical choice: respond in kind, or ride it out? The answers will ripple through global supply chains — and into your portfolio.Investors should watch for retaliatory trade measures, shifting subsidy dynamics, and how corporate Malaysia continues adapting to both global headwinds and local reform.🎧 Listen Now for a deep dive into Malaysia’s financial gems and global trends shaping 2025!🔗 Subscribe & Share the Malaysia Money Matters podcast on Substack, Spotify, or Apple PodcastsMalaysia Money Matters is a one-person passion project. Subscribe for free or support me as a paid subscriber—it means the world to me! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mmoneymatters.substack.com