Morning Brief

China's economy grew 4.5% year-on-year in the third quarter, slightly ahead of expectations. Dig deeper and we see exports remaining a key growth driver, consumer spending is still subdued and the property downturn continues to weigh. Denise Cheok, Assistant Director and Economist at Moody's Analytics, examines China's economic outlook and the policy challenges facing Beijing.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What began as student protests over teacher shortages and deteriorating school facilities has escalated into nationwide unrest, fuelled by anger over the cost of living and public services, leading to rioting and looting. Dr Benjamin Barton, Head of the School of Politics, International Relations & Economics, University of Nottingham Malaysia, shares his insights.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tesla's long-awaited Roadster is finally available for reservation in Malaysia, with deposits reaching more than RM1 million despite production not being expected until 2028. Promising extraordinary acceleration and even the ability to briefly leave the ground, the electric supercar raises questions about Tesla's ability to deliver after years of delays. We examine the financial risks for Malaysian buyers, potential import duties, regulatory hurdles and whether the Roadster can compete in Malaysia's luxury car market while Tesla faces growing competition from more affordable EVs.

The Morning Brief is brought to you by CIMB Private Wealth. Move your wealth forward with personalised wealth advisory and priority access to investment opportunities.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia's tech stocks just had a rough week as a global AI sell-off spooked investors. The worry centres on how AI infrastructure is being financed, with CoreWeave's borrowing costs surging and questions mounting over whether debt-funded data centre spending can keep going. If that cycle slows, the question is how hard Malaysia's semiconductor supply chain gets hit, and how fast.

Peter Lim, Chief Research Officer at Trident Analytics, breaks down the one financing detail he says actually matters for judging how risky this debt really is, and why he still isn't expecting a broader slowdown despite the volatility.

He walks through which part of Malaysia's chip industry sits closest to the AI action, and which sits furthest from it.

Along the way: why he thinks local tech valuations look expensive on one measure and attractive on another, and what that tension means for investors deciding whether to buy the dip.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indonesia's stock market plunged over 11% following an MSCI proposal to downgrade the country to Standalone Market status, alongside markets like Palestine and Lebanon, raising fears of billions in foreign capital outflows ahead of a final decision in June 2027. Meanwhile, South Korea's KOSPI remains under pressure, falling around 11% over the past week despite record earnings from semiconductor heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

Terence Ng, Associate Director of Equities at AIIMAN Asset Management, examines the catalysts behind these regional moves.

He analyses the four macro forces pressuring the AI trade, explains why Samsung and SK Hynix's strong fundamentals failed to stem investor selling, and assesses whether Indonesia's MSCI review poses contagion risks for neighboring ASEAN markets.

Plus, an evaluation of TSMC's record third-quarter results and what data center power availability reveals about the longevity of the AI buildout.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The IMF is warning of mounting global debt, rising borrowing costs and slowing growth across Asia, with the region's expansion forecast to ease from 4.8% this year to 4.4% in 2027. Higher energy prices, tighter financial conditions and uncertainty surrounding the AI investment boom are adding to the risks. We speak to Vishrut Rana, Senior Economist for Asia-Pacific at S&P Global Ratings, about the key concerns emerging from the IMF and World Bank meetings, China's economic slowdown, Malaysia's fiscal resilience and what lies ahead for the region.

The Morning Brief is brought to you by CIMB Private Wealth. Move your wealth forward with personalised wealth advisory and priority access to investment opportunities.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia's economy grew by a stronger-than-expected 5.3% in July and August, marking its second consecutive quarter of beating forecasts. Felicia Ling, Chief Economist at Hong Leong Investment Bank, discusses the key growth drivers, sectoral challenges and the outlook for economic growth and interest rates, amid current economic challenges.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2027 trims Malaysia's fiscal deficit target to 3.3% of GDP from 3.6%, but credit rating agencies evaluate more than headline figures. With government debt projected near 74% of GDP in 2027, well above the 57% median for 'BBB'-rated sovereigns, The Morning Run speaks with Kathleen Chen, Associate Director in Fitch Ratings' Sovereigns team, to assess the budget.

She breaks down the fiscal levers Fitch is monitoring most closely and outlines what separates a credible, sustainable fiscal path from a fragile one.

The Morning Brief is brought to you by CIMB Private Wealth. Move your wealth forward with personalised wealth advisory and priority access to investment opportunities.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2027 extends the stamp duty waiver for first-time buyers of homes up to RM500,000, and widens it to cover purchases from abandoned housing projects. Developers have welcomed the incentives, but say rising construction costs, compliance charges and a higher minimum wage threaten to squeeze margins and push prices up. So will these measures actually make homes more affordable, or just cushion demand? We speak to Datuk Zaini Yusoff, President of the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (REHDA) Malaysia.

Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TSMC reported another record-breaking quarter driven by relentless demand for AI chips, with Q3 revenue surging 41% year-on-year to US$46.7 billion and net profit margins reaching an extraordinary 51%.

The Morning Run team breaks down TSMC’s latest earnings numbers.

The conversation examines the massive US$60 billion to US$64 billion capex budget, aggressive global expansion, and production bottlenecks, as well as what these developments mean for Malaysia's OSAT ecosystem. Plus, a look at the quiet cost behind TSMC's US expansion.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.