Morning Brief

Nine days after the US‑Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Assembly of Experts in Iran has named his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as its new supreme leader. Can he secure the survival of the Iranian regime amid bombardment by US and Israel forces? We’ll discuss this with Mohd Amirul Asraf Othman, Research Scholar, Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, The Australian National University (ANU).

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The Securities Commission's Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030 was launched yesterday, a five-year roadmap to build a larger, more inclusive, sustainable and globally connected capital market, supporting the nation’s transition to a resilient high-income economy. Ng Zhu Hann from Tradeview Capital shares his take on what was unveiled.

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Brent crude oil futures have surged amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, almost hitting US$110 a barrel before easing on hopes of de-escalation. Dr Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, Chief Economist at Bank Muamalat Malaysia shares his insights into the impact of oil prices on Malaysia's fiscal position and Putrajaya's ability to continue providing subsidies.

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The defeat of the Prime Minister’s term-limit bill failed in Parliament last week has cast doubts on the Madani government’s commitment to pass much needed institutional reforms. What are the lessons learned from this debacle and what does this mean for other more controversial reform initiatives? We hear from Thomas Fann, co-founder of the civil society group Projek SAMA on why reform efforts must continue.

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All eyes were on the political elite of China as they convened for the annual Two Sessions meetings last week. The 2026 growth target was set at 4.5 to 5 percent and Beijing also underlined a renewed push into AI and strategic industries. What does this signal about the trajectory of China’s economy? We discuss the economic, political and geopolitical implications with Dr. Pradeep Taneja from the University of Melbourne.

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After reaping the rewards of a “higher for longer” interest rate environment over the past few years, the banking sector is facing new headwinds as lower benchmark rates and competitive pricing squeeze lending margins. How are the big three Singapore banks navigating this new landscape? We check in with Sarah Jane Mahmud, Senior Industry Analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence for the Singapore banking sector outlook in 2026.

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Philippine equities are among the stronger performers in ASEAN this year, but questions remain over whether the rebound signals a lasting recovery. Alfred Dy, Head of Philippines Research at CLSA, joins us to assess market valuations, slowing bank lending, and where investors may find opportunities and sectoral strength in the months ahead.

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Philippine equities are among the stronger performers in ASEAN this year, but questions remain over whether the rebound signals a lasting recovery. Alfred Dy, Head of Philippines Research at CLSA, joins us to assess market valuations, slowing bank lending, and where investors may find opportunities and sectoral strength in the months ahead.

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More than 19 million Nepalese voters went to the polls yesterday in the country’s first general election since the 2025 protests that toppled the government. How will this vote shape Nepal’s political future? We’ll discuss this with Dr. Amit Ranjan, Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore.

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Bank Negara Malaysia has kept the OPR unchanged at 2.75%, maintaining the level set after last year’s July rate cut as policymakers judge the current stance supportive of growth and price stability. But with fresh geopolitical risks emerging and global markets facing renewed volatility, what could this mean for Malaysia’s growth outlook, inflation and the path of interest rates? We discuss this with Woon Khai Jhek, Vice President and Senior Economist at RAM Ratings.

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