Malaysia Money Matters Daily News Digest 31st Oct 2025

In today’s episode, we cut through an event‑packed week — from earnings shocks and restructuring plays to a U.S.–China trade breakthrough and Malaysia’s tightening governance agenda.It’s all about connecting the dots between global volatility and Malaysia’s domestic response.Corporate & Market Updates📉 Bursa Malaysia Cuts 2025 Profit Target* Forecast trimmed from RM369–408 M → RM314–347 M PBT.* Q3 net profit down 25%+ — subdued trading sentiment drives caution.🚬 British American Tobacco (BAT) Plunges 90% YoY* Q3 profit hits record low on display bans & pictorial warnings.Sales volume for combustibles nearly halved — a direct regulatory hit.📊 CTOS Digital: Revenue +4%, profit –10.4% — higher costs & lower associate income.🏢 Pavilion REIT: NPI +10% on new assets (Banyan Tree KL & Pavilion Bukit Jalil).🌴 Chin Teck Plantations: 5× profit boost from one‑off land sale; warns FY 2026 to normalize.Restructuring & Corporate Strategy✈️ Capital A Targets PN17 Exit by December* Airline consolidation on track; pivoting to AirAsia Next Digital Services (NASDAQ).🏢 EWI Capital Shifts to Investment Holding* Investing RM276.5 M in Australian office fund ( >10% target returns ).🚚 Pharmaniaga Buys RM30.5 M Warehouses* Facilities inn Terengganu & Sarawak to bolster distribution; PN17 exit planned  Q1 2026.🧰 AWC Secures RM99 M Facilities Management Deal* 5‑year contract with TM Technology Services adds visibility to earnings.🐠 Aquawalk Group Plans ACE Market IPO* Operator of Aquaria KLCC to fund upgrades & new oceanariums in Kota Kinabalu and Java.🛫 Ascend Airways Malaysia Cleared for Operations* Launching cargo flights in November.📈 Perak Corp Hits 6‑Year High* Company  “cannot explain” rally; exploring ventures⚖️ KNM Group Shareholders Adjourn EGM * on German unit sale to post‑delisting.🏦 CIMB Niaga (+3%) 9‑Month Profit Rise * Resilient loan growth in Indonesia.Policy, Politics & Reforms🏠 Five Housing Reforms Coming in Nov* Goal: Eliminate abandoned projects by 2030.* Push for 10:90 build‑then‑sell model to protect homebuyers.🧱 SG4 States Push for Fair Rare Earth Revenue* Opposition‑led states demand equitable profit sharing; warn Putrajaya against repeating oil royalty disputes.🤝 Malaysia‑US Reciprocal Trade Deal Signed* Focus: data centers & AI investments.* Contains exit clause to preserve sovereignty amid foreign investment push.🩺 Lindung 24/7 Social Security Scheme Under Review* Employers call for sustainable contribution rates; actuarial reform pending.🛂 Advanced Passenger Screening System (APSS) Launched* Real‑time border control upgrade to combat illegal entries & fraud.🚨 Online Fraud Crackdown: * > 2,000 arrests for mule accounts.📑 MyCC Fines 26 Companies RM97.3 M * for bid‑rigging cartels.⚖️ Legal Front* 1MDB Tanore Trial: Prosecution calls Najib “orchestrator,” not victim.* Lim Guan Eng Case: Defense challenges MACC bias claims.* Telegram Ordered to Shut Down Edisi Siasat & Edisi Khas channels over harmful content.Global Markets & Geopolitics🇺🇸🇨🇳 Trump & Xi Trade Deal* U.S. cuts some tariffs (fentanyl goods → 10%).* China pauses rare earth export controls for a year.💰 U.S. Fed Cuts Rates by 25 bps* Chair Powell signals likely pause for 2025 — policy uncertainty remains.🚗 Global Auto Output Threatened by Chip Shortages* Vehicle control chip exports stalled amid trade dispute.⚔️ U.S. Defense Shift* Trump orders nuclear  weapons testing to resume; approves South Korean nuclear sub build.🎧 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