Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
Oil Prices Drop as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Recovers 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Malaysia’s economy expanded by 4.4% year-on-year in Q1 2025, according to official advance estimates released Friday. While slower than the 5% growth recorded in Q4 2024, the economy remained resilient amid global headwinds, supported by strong domestic demand and retail activity.
Chief Statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin noted that solid performance in the retail and wholesale trade sectors, a stable labor market, and increased demand for key exports were crucial in sustaining growth. Final Q1 GDP figures will be released on May 16.
March trade data showed a 6.8% year-on-year increase in exports, outperforming expectations. Notably, shipments to the United States surged by 50.8% to a record 22.66 billion ringgit ($5.14 billion), highlighting strong trade ties despite looming tariff risks.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new round of global import tariffs, many of which are delayed until July. Malaysia, facing a 24% tariff on select goods, plans to send a delegation next week for discussions with U.S. officials to address the issue.
Despite these developments, Malaysia’s central bank has kept its 2025 GDP growth forecast at 4.5% to 5.5%, with export growth expected at 5.2%. The Ministry of Trade emphasized that while recent data is encouraging, global trade uncertainties could impact future investment and domestic demand.
“As a small, open trading nation, Malaysia remains vulnerable to external shocks and volatility in the global trade environment,” the ministry stated.
The robust export figures, especially to the U.S., offer a positive sign for Malaysia’s trade outlook, but policymakers remain vigilant as geopolitical and economic tensions rise.
