Malaysia’s data-centre story is entering a new phase as the focus shifts from building facilities to actually powering, cooling and connecting them. With electricity capacity emerging as a major constraint, alongside water availability and network connectivity, the investment opportunity could increasingly move from construction players towards utilities, renewable energy providers and connectivity operators. What will determine which projects successfully come online, and which Malaysian companies stand to benefit as the country’s data-centre industry matures?

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A surprisingly strong US jobs report has reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise rates again, putting even greater focus on this week’s inflation data. At the same time, global bonds are reeling from a sharp sell-off, US equities have lost some momentum and semiconductor stocks are showing fresh signs of life. With the Japanese yen also experiencing another volatile week, where should investors be looking for opportunities as markets adjust to the prospect of tighter monetary policy?

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US markets closed higher overnight, but the calm hides a lot of tension underneath. Oil has pushed to its highest level since July as the Middle East conflict intensifies, and August payrolls land tomorrow after July's big negative surprise, leaving the Fed staring at a possible stagflation problem. Volumes have been thin, Treasury yields are climbing, and the question is whether that's a strong economy or a market that's stopped believing in the AI trade. We speak to Tim Mulholland, President of TJM Limited, on what's actually moving markets right now and where the opportunities are.

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Malaysian corporate earnings for the June quarter came in stronger than almost anyone expected, with more positive surprises and fewer misses than the first quarter. For the first time since December 2020, not a single sector reported earnings that missed expectations overall, helped by strong commodity prices, our position as a net oil and gas exporter, and a resilient tech sector. But even with that showing, RHB is holding its year-end KLCI target at 1,750 points and staying Neutral on sectors like gaming, auto and rubber gloves. We speak to Alexander Chia, Head of Regional Equity Research at RHB Investment Bank, on what the results tell us about where the local bourse goes from here.

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The G20 has wrapped up against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, trade disputes and rising global bond yields, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arguing that economic growth is the best answer to America’s mounting debt burden. Meanwhile, markets are pricing in the possibility of another Federal Reserve rate hike, while stronger consumer confidence is adding to expectations that the Bank of Japan could tighten policy again. Can growth really solve America’s debt problem, and are markets prepared for interest rates to remain higher for longer?

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Fresh US economic data, rising global bond yields and renewed Middle East tensions are giving investors plenty to contend with as September gets underway. Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh’s hawkish Jackson Hole message has kept another Federal Reserve rate hike firmly on the table. With Treasury yields testing uncomfortable levels and higher oil prices adding to inflation concerns, how much room do policymakers have to respond, and where should investors be positioning themselves in an increasingly uncertain market?

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Kevin Warsh has used his first Jackson Hole address as Fed Chair to put the fight against inflation firmly back at the centre of monetary policy, raising expectations that another rate hike could come as soon as September. Meanwhile, renewed US-Iran tensions are pushing energy prices higher, Treasury yields remain elevated and the Japanese yen is once again under pressure. With US equities coming off a strong August, can markets continue climbing as investors confront the prospect of higher-for-longer interest rates?

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Malaysia’s banking sector has just wrapped up its second-quarter 2026 earnings season, offering fresh insights into how the country’s largest lenders are navigating current operating conditions. Chin Jin Han, Research Analyst at Affin Hwang Investment Bank, joins BFM’s Market Watch to break down key earnings drivers, emerging operational pressures, and where the true risks lie for the remainder of the year.

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The ringgit has firmed against the US dollar in recent weeks, from around RM4.09 in mid-August to roughly RM4.03 — but how much of that is a Malaysia story, and how much is simply a softer greenback ahead of Jackson Hole? Against the yuan the picture reverses: the ringgit has slipped since May, with one ringgit now buying about 1.67 yuan, down from 1.73 — and China is still our largest trading partner. We look at what could carry this appreciation into September and what might reverse it quickly, how the ringgit is tracking against the Singapore and Australian dollars, and whether it has earned the label of Asian outperformer. We also touch on the yen after this month's joint US-Japan intervention, and which Asian currencies have the most upside from here. We speak to Stephen Chiu, Chief Emerging Markets FX Strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence.

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We look at what yesterday's jobless claims say about the US labour market, and what to listen for when Kevin Warsh delivers his first Jackson Hole keynote as Fed chair tonight. With Treasury yields easing and the dollar near its weakest since May, we ask whether the worst of the bond turmoil has passed, whether the Fed's next move could be a hike rather than a cut, and how investors should be hedging against a devaluing dollar. We speak to Laurent Lequeu, Independent Market Analyst and Writer of The Macro Butler Newsletter.

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