Morning Brief

Oil prices had a good run in 2022 but it has given up all of its gains and is flat YTD at under US$80 per barrel. Meanwhile, the Group of Seven nations, Australia and the 27 European Union states imposed a US$60 per barrel price cap on Russian seaborne crude oil this week. Will this price cap work and how will Russia retaliate? Also, what does this mean for oil prices especially with China looking to re-open its borders in 2023? For insights and stock picks, we speak to TJ Liaw, Regional oil and gas analyst at Maybank Investment Bank.

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The recent appointment of first time elected MP Fadhlina Sidek as the new Minister of Education certainly raised some eyebrows. Many wonder if the first time MP and minister is able to tackle many challenges afflicting the ministry, ranging from reading proficiency, learning poverty and effect of lockdowns on learning. For reactions and recommendations for the new minister, we speak to Shahnaz Al-Sadat, Chairperson of LeapEd Services.

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The recent appointment of first time elected MP Fadhlina Sidek as the new Minister of Education certainly raised some eyebrows. Many wonder if the first time MP and minister is able to tackle many challenges afflicting the ministry, ranging from reading proficiency, learning poverty and effect of lockdowns on learning. For reactions and recommendations for the new minister, we speak to Shahnaz Al-Sadat, Chairperson of LeapEd Services.

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Protesters in Iran have called for a three-day strike this week amid conflicting reports that the nation’s “morality police” had been shut down. The Iranian attorney-general reportedly made these comments on Sunday; however this has yet to be officially corroborated by state media. Street demonstrations have been ongoing in Iran since September, triggered by the death in custody of 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini. Is the government showing signs of taking a more conciliatory approach in the face of unrest, or are concessions too little, too late to quell the persistent discontent in the clerical authorities? We speak to Rodger Shanahan of Lowy Institute for perspectives.

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ESG considerations are driving many capital investment decisions and fueling a demand for green financing. How is AmBank Group rising to the challenge of aiding the ESG transition for customers? We speak to Eqhwan Mokhzanee, CEO of Ambank Islamic and AmBank Group's Sustainability Champion to find out.

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Malaysia will be launching the long-awaited Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Exchange on December 9 to drive the nation's environmental change and sustainable goals. How will the VCM be structured, how successful will it be and what will the take up be like?

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Much of the analysis post-GE15 has been focused on the changing support base of Malay-based parties. However the elections have also seen detrimental outcomes for two major Chinese-based parties, namely MCA and Gerakan. Gerakan, which had aligned itself with Perikatan Nasional, lost in all 20 seats it contested, while MCA fared slightly better, winning two out of 44 seats contested. What does this election outcome mean for the future of MCA and Gerakan moving forward? Political analyst Dr. Oh Ei Sun weighs in.

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Malaysia will be launching the long-awaited Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Exchange on December 9 to drive the nation's environmental change and sustainable goals. How will the VCM be structured, how successful will it be and what will the take up be like?

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A few weeks ago, Chinese authorities unveiled their most comprehensive rescue package to-date in a bid to salvage the ailing property sector. But the sector is still seeing a persistent slump in home sales as well as home prices. In November, the 100 biggest real estate developers witnessed a 26% y-o-y drop in new home sales, while new home prices fell 1.6% y-o-y, its biggest slump since 2015. What is the outlook for the property market in China and Hong Kong, and what could revive the embattled industry? For insights, we speak to Christine Li, Head of Research, Asia Pacific, Knight Frank.

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Since Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was appointed Malaysia’s 10th prime minister, a lot of attention has been drawn to the congratulatory gestures from dignitaries throughout the world. While these gestures are an encouraging sign towards the international recognition of Anwar’s leadership, how exactly does it impact the dynamics of Malaysia’s international relations and enhance bilateral negotiations? For insights, we speak to Izzah Ibrahim, Analyst, Foreign Policy and Security Studies programme, ISIS Malaysia.

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