MONEY MASTER

2025 was a test of investors’ nerve. Between tariff-induced selloffs, AI valuations swinging, and rapid reversals on policy, even seasoned market pros found themselves recalibrating their playbooks. What stood out wasn’t just the headline risk — it was how portfolios responded over time. Here are the takeaways that matter most going into 2026: 1. Volatility Is Part of the Game From sharp drawdowns in early April to powerful rebounds later in the year, markets reminded us that short-term swings are normal — not aberrations. These episodes underscored the importance of  discipline and diversification , rather than trying to time every headline move.  2. Fundamentals Still Matter Most While politics and policy dominated headlines, the S&P 500 and other major indexes ultimately found support from  corporate earnings and economic resilience . A disciplined focus on fundamentals, like earnings growth and balance-sheet strength, helped long-term investors stay anchored. 3. E...

2025 was one of the most volatile years for global markets in recent memory. Investors faced multiple shocks — concerns over artificial intelligence valuations, rising geopolitical tensions, changes in US trade policy, and large swings in cryptocurrencies. Yet by year-end, major stock markets, including the S&P 500, had recovered and reached new highs. A consistent theme emerged:  investors who avoided panic selling and stayed focused on long-term fundamentals generally navigated the year better. Period What Happened Market Impact January DeepSeek AI release raised concerns over tech valuations Semiconductor stocks fell sharply, then recovered April US tariff announcements Global markets sold off, followed by strong rebound June Escalation of Middle East conflict Temporary pullback in risk assets October Crypto market decline Bitcoin and related stocks weakened Year-end Slowing labour market & Fed easing expectations Stocks recovered to new highs What Investors Can Learn • ...

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s key index recovered from intraday losses to close 0.23 per cent higher on Monday, edging closer to a 16-month peak amid steady institutional demand. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI rose 3.89 points to 1,680.99, from last Friday’s close of 1,677.10. The benchmark index previously reached a peak of 1,684.68 on August 29, 2024. The index opened 0.21 of-a-point higher at 1,677.31 but trended lower through the morning session, sliding to an intraday low of 1,668.48. It regained momentum in the final hour of trade to close at its session high. The broader market, however, was weaker, with decliners outpacing gainers 646 to 369, while 569 counters were unchanged, 1,149 untraded and 58 suspended.  Turnover rose to 2.03 billion units worth RM1.79 billion, from 1.59 billion units worth RM1.29 billion last Friday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s key index recovered much of its earlier losses to end the week slightly lower amid profit-taking, snapping a five-day winning streak. On Wednesday, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) touched a nearly 16-month high, closing at 1,678.31. At 5 pm, the barometer index fell 1.21 points, or 0.07 per cent, to 1,677.10, after opening 0.81 of-a-point weaker at 1,677.50. The benchmark index traded within a tight range between 1,670.83 and 1,678.29 throughout the day. The broader market was negative with decliners outpacing gainers 504 to 377, while 567 counters were unchanged, 1,326 untraded, and 60 suspended. Turnover declined to 1.59 billion units worth RM1.29 billion from 2.04 billion units worth RM1.70 billion on Wednesday. The market was closed yesterday in conjunction with Christmas Day.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s key index, the FBM KLCI, closed 1.15 per cent higher at 1,665.90 on Friday, climbing to an almost 15-month high and surpassing the 1,660.09 points recorded on Sept 27, 2024, supported by firmer regional markets amid the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) interest rate hike. IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said the BOJ’s policy move tempered discount-rate expectations and encouraged risk-taking across Asian markets. He noted that divergent monetary policies across developed markets helped ease liquidity concerns in global funding markets, thereby boosting demand for emerging-market exposure. “Divergent policies reduce fears of synchronised tightening, while yield differentials widen in selective regions, improving equity market relative carry attractiveness.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended today’s trading session on a firmer note, reversing earlier losses as gains in the benchmark index were driven by industrial and consumer stocks. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 5.46 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 1,646.90, from Wednesday’s close of 1,641.44. The index opened 1.21 points lower at 1,640.23, and moved between 1,636.61 and 1,647.80 throughout the trading session. The broader market was positive with gainers beating decliners 590 versus 477. A further 527 counters were unchanged, 1,182 untraded and 12 suspended. Turnover inched up to 2.47 billion units worth RM2.29 billion from 2.45 billion units worth RM2.27 billion on Wednesday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia snapped a four-day rally to end lower on Wednesday, as profit-taking emerged following the benchmark index’s move into positive year-to-date territory. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slipped 6.87 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 1,641.44, from Tuesday’s close of 1,648.31. The index opened 2.99 points lower at 1,645.32, and moved between 1,639.13 and 1,646.66 throughout the trading session. However, market breadth was positive with gainers beating decliners 575 versus 465. A further 543 counters were unchanged, 1,193 untraded and 12 suspended. Turnover fell to 2.45 billion units worth RM2.27 billion from 2.59 billion units worth RM2.27 billion on Tuesday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia extended its positive performance, closing higher for a fourth consecutive session, supported by improving local market sentiment underpinned by a firm domestic macroeconomic backdrop. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 4.59 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 1,648.31, from Monday’s close of 1,643.72. The index had opened 0.95 of a point lower at 1,642.77, and moved between 1,636.50  and 1,648.71 throughout the trading session However, on the broader market, decliners beat gainers 699 versus 408. A further 520 counters were unchanged, 1,149 untraded and 12 suspended. Turnover rose to 2.59 billion units worth RM2.27 billion from 2.50 billion units worth RM2.16 billion on Monday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s key index closed higher today on bargain hunting, in line with positive investor sentiment across regional markets, consolidating at its highest level in more than two months — a level last seen on Oct 2, 2025. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 12.42 points, or 0.76 per cent, to 1,637.81, compared with Thursday’s close of 1,625.39. The benchmark index opened 2.83 points lower at 1,622.56, thereafter edged down to an early low of 1,622.03, before staging an uptrend to an intraday high of 1,640.36 in late trading. Market breadth was positive, with gainers trouncing decliners at 743 versus 387. Another 530 counters were unchanged, 1,108 untraded, and 16 suspended. Turnover increased to 3.09 billion units worth RM2.46 billion from 2.99 billion units worth RM2.35 billion on Thursday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said the FBM KLCI ended higher on continued...

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s key index closed higher today, supported by bargain hunting following the United States Federal Reserve’s (Fed) 25-basis-point cut to its benchmark rate, despite a downturn in regional markets. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) advanced 14.39 points, or 0.89 per cent, to end at its intraday high of 1,625.39, compared with Wednesday’s close of 1,611.00. The benchmark index opened 1.86 points firmer at 1,612.86 before easing to a low of 1,609.96 in early trade. It later regained momentum and climbed steadily to finish at the day’s high. However, on the broader market, decliners led gainers 558 to 460. A total of 512 counters were unchanged, 1,228 were untraded and 16 suspended. Turnover decreased to 2.99 billion units worth RM2.35 billion from 3.86 billion units worth RM2.21 billion on Wednesday.

Singapore markets opened higher on Thursday, lifted by Wall Street’s overnight rally after the U.S. Federal Reserve delivered a  25bp rate cut . Here are the key highlights investors need to know. Singapore Market Snapshot STI:  4,532.07 (+0.45%) Volume / Value:  73.54M / S$91.20M Advancers / Decliners:  101 / 34 Wall Street Surges After Fed Cut The Fed cut its benchmark rate to  3.5%–3.75%  for the third time since September, sparking gains across major indexes: Dow Jones:  +1.1% S&P 500:  +0.7% (near all-time high) Nasdaq:  +0.3% Russell 2000:  +1.3% (new record) Tech stocks such as  SanDisk  and  Micron  rallied. Crypto was mixed:  Ethereum  (+1%) outperformed while  Bitcoin ,  Solana , and  XRP  slipped. Singapore Retail Sector Forecasts Slow 1% Growth in 2026 DBS Research expects Singapore’s retail sector to expand  just 1% in 2026  amid cautious consumer sentiment and ...

Singapore shoppers are kicking off their year-end spending earlier than before and shifting more purchases online, according to a new FedEx consumer study. Holiday Shopping Starts Earlier FedEx found that Singaporeans now begin festive shopping as early as  October : 34%  start in October 27%  in November 19%  in December Nearly  45%  expect to shop more online than last year, and  1 in 3  plan to conduct  at least half  of their purchases online. Fashion, Food and Luxury Lead Demand Most popular categories include: Fashion Food & gifts Luxury items Shoppers said  quality ,  brand reputation , and  uniqueness  influence buying decisions the most. Festive Sales Events Drive Purchasing Major sales festivals remain highly impactful: 79%  consider Double 11, Black Friday and Cyber Monday when shopping 95% of SMEs  view e-commerce festivals as essential to capture demand Logistics Play a Key Role Fast and rel...

 Intel, AMD and Texas Instruments are facing a series of lawsuits in Texas accusing them of  failing to prevent their chips from ending up in Russian weapons  used in attacks against Ukrainian civilians. A Berkshire Hathaway-owned distributor was also named in the filings. Ukrainian Civilians File Five Lawsuits The suits, brought by U.S. mass-tort lawyer  Mikal Watts  and law firm  Baker & Hostetler , claim the chipmakers showed  “willful ignorance”  as restricted components were resold by third parties into Russia and Iran, violating U.S. sanctions. The lawsuits cite  five attacks between 2023 and 2025 , involving: Iranian-made drones containing components linked to  Intel  and  AMD Russian  KH-101 cruise missiles  and  Iskander ballistic missiles  containing U.S.-made chips “These companies know their chip technology is making its way into Russia,” Watts said at a press conference. Companies Say They C...

U.S. Treasuries strengthened on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve delivered its  third straight 25bps rate cut , easing concerns that policymakers were preparing to pause. Traders maintained expectations for  two additional cuts in 2026 , despite the Fed’s projections signalling only one. Short-End Leads Rally Yields fell across the curve: 2-year yield  dropped almost  8bps to 3.54%  — its biggest one-day drop in two months Longer-dated yields also retreated from multi-month highs Treasuries extended gains after Fed Chair  Jerome Powell  highlighted concerns over  weaker hiring . Bond managers described the move as a  relief rally , noting fears of a more hawkish message did not materialize. Fed Cuts, But Divisions Deepen The Fed lowered the benchmark rate to  3.50%–3.75% . The decision included  three dissents : Two  officials preferred no cut One  supported a larger  50bps  reduction Powell said the Fed is no...

Singaporeans continued to dominate the luxury property market in the third quarter, with locals accounting for  76% of all luxury home purchases , according to a new report from OrangeTee. Local Buyers Drive the Market Out of  171 luxury transactions  in Q3: 130 were purchased by Singaporeans , up from 70.2% in Q2 , and 72.5% in Q3 2024 The rise reflects: Growing  local affluence Strong interest in  high-end real estate  as long-term investments A focus on  wealth preservation Luxury Sales Value in CCR Jumps Nearly 26% Properties in the  Core Central Region (CCR)  priced above  $5 million  saw a strong surge: Total sales value rose  25.7%  to  $1.73 billion  in Q3 (up from  $1.37 billion  in Q2) Average price per unit increased to  $10.09 million (from  $9.73 million  previously) Transactions Hit New Highs CCR luxury home sales (excluding bulk deals): 171 units  sold in Q3 Up from...

 Gold prices rose on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve delivered a  25bps rate cut , even as policymakers remained sharply divided on the path of future easing. Silver extended its powerful rally, touching another  record high . Gold Edges Higher After Fed Cut As of 0040 GMT: Spot gold  rose  0.3%  to  US$4,242.39/oz US gold futures (Feb)  gained  1.1%  to  US$4,271.30/oz Gold benefited from the lower-rate environment, as  non-yielding assets  typically perform better when borrowing costs decline. Fed Divided on Future Easing The Fed cut rates by 25bps but signaled a  higher bar for further reductions , citing: Inflation that “remains somewhat elevated” Need for clearer evidence of a softening job market In a rare split,  six Fed officials  indicated they did  not support even this cut  — highlighting unprecedented division within the central bank. Fed Chair  Jerome Powell  gave no ...

Meta Platforms, Broadcom and Oracle attracted the  largest bullish block option trades  among tech stocks on Wednesday, even as overall markets came under pressure while investors assessed the outlook for U.S. interest rates in 2026. Huge Meta Call Option Signals Strong Bullish Sentiment The biggest block trade saw an investor pay  US$22.7 million  in premium for call options giving the right to buy  300,000 Meta shares at US$600  within 72 days. Although Meta trades above that level (US$645.41), the total cost including premium (~US$675.65) signals confidence that the stock could move  higher . Sentiment toward Meta has improved as: The company tightens  cost controls Shifts from open-source to a  closed AI model Investors view the stock as  oversold , with  7 of 15  technical indicators flashing signals of a potential rebound Meta is also preparing to unveil a new AI model,  “Avocado,”  distilling techniques from Go...

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that  CNN should be sold or placed under new leadership , regardless of which company ultimately acquires Warner Bros. Discovery, putting the media company at the center of a growing political and corporate battle. Trump: “It’s imperative that CNN be sold” Speaking at the White House, Trump said any buyer of Warner should ensure CNN is either included in the deal or sold separately. “I think it’s imperative that CNN be sold,” he said. “I don’t think the people running that company right now should be allowed to continue.” Behind the scenes, Trump has been telling allies that CNN needs new ownership or leadership, even if Netflix’s offer for Warner is approved. Mega Bids Complicate CNN’s Future Two major bids are on the table: Netflix’s US$72 billion deal , covering Warner’s studios and HBO Max — but  NOT  CNN Paramount’s US$77.9 billion hostile bid , which includes all cable networks, including CNN Paramount CEO David Ellison repor...

American Express recorded a strong start to the U.S. holiday shopping season, with  retail consumer spending on its network rising 9%  during the Thanksgiving-to-Cyber Monday period, CEO  Stephen Squeri  said on Wednesday. Holiday Spending Picks Up Despite Economic Concerns For payments companies, the final weeks of the year typically bring a surge in  shopping, travel, and promotional spending . This year’s data eased worries of a softer season following the prolonged U.S. government shutdown and economic uncertainty. During the Goldman Sachs US Financial Services Conference, Squeri highlighted: 9% growth  in U.S. retail spending 13% growth  in U.S. Platinum cardholder retail spending Shares Rise as AmEx Outperforms Peers American Express shares closed  3.2% higher , extending year-to-date gains to  26.5% , outperforming  Visa ,  Mastercard , and the broader market. Spending Growth Beats Market Trend Holiday spending on AmEx’s netw...

 Gamuda Bhd’s share price slid to a  five-month low  on Thursday morning after the company reported a  muted first-quarter performance  for FY2026. Shares Down Nearly 6% As of 10:19am: The stock fell  30 sen (-5.9%)  to  RM4.83 Market value stood at  RM28.5 billion Trading volume hit  15.57 million shares Earnings: Profit Up, Revenue Down Gamuda posted a  5% increase in net profit  for the quarter ended Oct 31, 2025: Net profit:  RM215.13 million (vs RM205.39 million a year earlier) Revenue:  RM3.84 billion (down from RM4.14 billion, -7.2%) The profit growth was driven mainly by: Stronger domestic construction contributions Property development gains in Vietnam Dividend Maintained The group declared an  interim dividend of 5 sen per share , unchanged from the same period last year.

Asian markets were mixed on Thursday after  Oracle’s disappointing earnings  triggered a selloff in AI-related stocks, while the  US dollar weakened  and  bonds strengthened  following the Federal Reserve’s latest rate cut. Oracle Shock Pulls Down AI Stocks Oracle shares plunged  over 11%  after hours as its profit and revenue outlook missed expectations. Executives also warned of higher spending — raising concerns that  AI infrastructure costs are rising faster than profits . In Asia: SoftBank Group dropped 5% , weighing on Japan’s Nikkei Tokyo’s AI-linked stocks  were the biggest losers Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures fell  0.5%  and  0.3%  respectively Fed Cuts Rates, Dollar Slides The Fed lowered interest rates by  25bps to 3.5%–3.75% , but Chair  Jerome Powell  struck a balanced tone, reassuring markets that no official sees rate hikes as the base case. This pushed: S&P 500 up 0.7% Dollar lower ...

The US Federal Reserve delivered its  third straight interest rate cut , lowering the federal funds rate to  3.5%–3.75% , while signaling only  one cut expected in 2026 . The decision, however, revealed the deepest internal split among Fed officials in six years — a sign of rising uncertainty over inflation and labor market risks. Below is a simplified, SEO-friendly breakdown of the Fed’s latest move and its implications. Fed Cuts Rates but Signals Caution Ahead The Federal Open Market Committee voted  9–3  in favor of a quarter-point cut — the first time since 2019 that three officials dissented on a single decision. Two officials wanted no cut One official pushed for a bigger, half-point cut Fed Chair  Jerome Powell  said the central bank has likely done enough to ease pressure on the weakening labor market while still keeping monetary policy restrictive enough to cool inflation. “This further normalization should help stabilise the labour market whi...

Fed’s Goldilocks Rate Cut Sparks Asia Market Rally The US Federal Reserve’s latest rate cut delivered a  “Goldilocks” outcome  — easing conditions without turning overly dovish. For Asia, strategists say this is creating a  broad relief rally  across currencies, bonds, and selected equity sectors. Dollar Weakness Lifts Asian Currencies Analysts expect a  weaker US dollar  to support most Asian currencies. The  Korean won (KRW)  and  Indonesian rupiah (IDR)  are highlighted as potential outperformers due to attractive valuations and the Fed leaving room for more cuts in 2026. Short-Dated Bonds and High-Grade Credit Benefit Most With the Fed injecting liquidity and easing dollar funding pressure,  short-tenor Asian bonds  and  high-grade credit  are seen as the clearest winners. Lower front-end yields usually push these assets higher. Selective Equity Boost: Cyclicals and Exporters Lead A softer dollar and cheaper fundi...