MONEY MASTER

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) has reintroduced its  Merdeka Light Incentive for 2025 , offering commercial customers  special discounted electricity rates  from  Aug 1 to Sept 30 , in conjunction with Malaysia’s National Day celebrations. The programme, first launched in 2000, has drawn  1,027 applications as of Aug 15 , underscoring steady demand from businesses seeking both cost savings and participation in the Merdeka festivities. Last year, TNB received  1,863 applications . Tariff Discounts and Eligibility Under the new  electricity tariff restructuring effective July 1, 2025 , TNB has improved its offer: Low-voltage commercial customers:   28.91 sen/kWh  (≈57% discount) Medium-voltage commercial customers:   13.37 sen/kWh  (≈45% discount) Eligible customers  include skyscrapers, office buildings, shopping complexes, hotels, petrol stations, and other commercial entities. Requirements: Must be under  general tariff ...

Wall Street Hits Records: S&P 500 : 6,388.64 (+0.40%) Dow Jones : 44,901.92 (+0.47%) Nasdaq : 21,108.32 (+0.24%) U.S. markets rallied to fresh highs, driven by Tesla’s robotaxi news and easing trade tensions. Optimism rose as Trump hinted at progress with the EU ahead of the Aug 1 tariff deadline, though Canada talks remain uncertain. Bursa Malaysia Snapshot: FBM KLCI : 1,540.32 (+0.69%) Top Gainer:  PCHEM RM3.69 (+9.50%) Top Loser:  MAXIS RM3.50 (-1.13%) USD/MYR:  4.2170 (+0.04%) Bursa retreated as profit-taking set in, breaking a two-day rally. Analysts say a favorable U.S.-Malaysia trade deal could boost sentiment next week. Key Highlights: RM63B Semiconductor Investments:  Malaysia’s National Semiconductor Strategy has attracted RM58B in foreign and RM5B in domestic investments. PM Anwar Ibrahim points to major global projects and 13 potential Malaysian champions. Plans include more R&D funding and talent development to cement Malaysia’s global semiconduc...

Malaysia’s stock market, once driven by optimism around artificial intelligence (AI), is now facing a sharp reversal. The rally that pushed the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI higher last year has lost steam as global trade risks and U.S. policy shifts weigh heavily on investor sentiment. US Tariffs and AI Export Curbs Dampen Outlook The decline comes amid rising concerns over the U.S. government's plans to  restrict AI chip exports , a move that could jeopardize Malaysia’s fast-growing data centre industry. Adding to the pressure, U.S. President Donald Trump has  threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Malaysian goods , further darkening the market’s prospects. As a result, Malaysia's benchmark  KLCI index has fallen 7% year-to-date , ranking it as one of Southeast Asia’s worst performers, just ahead of Thailand. Analyst Downgrades and Outflows Major research houses have scaled back their forecasts: UOB Kay Hian  has cut its KLCI year-end target to  1,620 , down from an ...

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA)  just took a sharp hit after Malaysia’s highest court ruled against the national utility in a long-running RM1.25 billion tax dispute. The stock plunged over  5% to RM13.86  in early trade Thursday — its steepest one-day fall in months. What Happened? The  Federal Court sided with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) , saying Tenaga must pay additional taxes for 2018. The court rejected Tenaga’s claim that it qualifies as a manufacturing business, which would have entitled it to a more favorable tax allowance (Schedule 7A). Instead, it must use Schedule 7B — a less generous category for utilities. The Damage Share Price Drop : -5.07% to RM13.86 (lowest since March) Market Cap Lost : Nearly  RM3.4 billion  wiped out in hours Heavy Trading : Over  8.6 million shares  changed hands before 10am What’s at Stake? This isn’t just about 2018. TNB is contesting  RM6.8 billion in total additional tax assessments  for 2013...

The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry has announced that electricity tariffs in Peninsular Malaysia will remain unchanged for the first half of 2025 under the  Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT)  mechanism. Key points: Electricity subsidies : The government will finance RM2.388 billion in subsidies to shield domestic consumers from tariff hikes. Fourth Regulatory Period : The average basic tariff for Tenaga Nasional Bhd will be maintained under the  Incentive-Based Regulation framework  from  2025 to 2027 . Future tariff changes : A new  tariff schedule  reflecting actual supply costs will be implemented from  July 1, 2025 , involving a financial allocation of  RM3.57 billion  by the government. This approach ensures a balance in the  energy trilemma  of security, sustainability, and affordability, safeguarding domestic consumers while striving for competitive electricity pricing.