MONEY MASTER

Empire Premium Food Bhd , the operator of the  Empire Sushi chain , has launched its  Main Market IPO , aiming to raise  RM254 million  to fund aggressive expansion across Malaysia. IPO Details and Valuation The offering is  indicatively priced at 70 sen per share , implying a  market capitalisation of RM770 million  and a valuation of  20.3 times FY2025 earnings . RM152.6 million  will go to the company RM96.3 million  will be raised by existing shareholders (founders) Listing is scheduled for  April 17 , with pricing on  April 7 For FY2025, the group reported: Net profit:  RM37.9 million Revenue:  RM235.6 million Expansion Strategy Drives Growth Story A key IPO driver is Empire’s  aggressive outlet expansion plan . The group aims to open  56 new outlets over the next three years , focusing on  high-traffic locations  such as: Shopping malls Airports Transit hubs More than  51% of IPO proceed...

Quick Summary Coca-Cola  issued a  2026 sales outlook that slightly missed market expectations , sending shares lower despite continued strength in zero-sugar products. What Happened Coca-Cola guided for  organic sales growth of 4%–5% in 2026 Street expectation:  ~ 5.01% , putting the  lower end below estimates Shares fell  up to 4.1% in premarket trading Key Points to Watch 2026 sales outlook disappointed  on the lower end of guidance Zero-sugar products remain the growth engine , but not enough to fully lift sentiment Policy and regulatory pressure  is emerging as a new overhang Zero-Sugar Still the Bright Spot Coca-Cola continues to benefit from shifting consumer preferences: Coca-Cola Zero Sugar:   +14% growth in 2025 Diet Coke:  +2% in Q4, flat for the full year Demand for  full-sugar sodas continues to decline , while sugar-free, sports drinks, and water gain share This reinforces Coca-Cola’s long-term strategy to diversify be...

Based on Bloomberg reporting , Chinese snack retailer  Busy Ming Group Co  surged as much as  88%  in its Hong Kong trading debut after raising  HK$3.67bn (US$470m) , underscoring renewed risk appetite for  China consumer and growth listings  at the start of 2026. Shares jumped to  HK$445  from an offer price of  HK$236.60 , with retail investors subscribing nearly  1,900 times  — a level that signals more than just deal-specific enthusiasm. Why This IPO Matters for Investors This debut is being read by markets as a  sentiment signal  for Hong Kong equities: January IPO proceeds are on track for the  strongest first-month start on record Activity is being driven by  AI-linked names and scalable consumer brands Retail participation has returned aggressively after years of caution Business Model: Value Consumption at Scale Busy Ming’s appeal lies in its  deflation-resistant, mass-market positioning : Over...

 Global Market Highlights Wall Street Hits Fresh Records as AMD, Tesla Rally S&P 500 Index (.SPX.US)$ 6,753.72 (+0.58%) Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC.US)$ 23,043.38 (+1.12%) Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI.US)$ 46,601.78 (-0.00%) The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite reached new all-time highs, supported by strong performances from major tech names within the “Magnificent Seven.” Nvidia (NVDA.US) climbed 2.2% after confirming its investment in Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, which is raising up to US$20 billion. Market optimism was also driven by the Federal Reserve’s September meeting minutes, which signaled the potential for additional rate cuts later this year. Meanwhile, gold futures hit a record high of US$4,081 per ounce as investors sought safe havens amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. Bursa Malaysia Overview FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index (.KLSE.MY)$ 1,627.50 (-0.16%) Top Gainer: PPB (4065.MY)$ RM10.98 (+2.81%) Top Loser: HLBANK (5819.MY)$ RM20.50 (-2.66%) USD/MY...

Malaysia’s consumer stocks are poised for a rebound, supported by a stronger ringgit, according to Singular Asset Management , the country’s top-performing fund. Kok Lin Teoh, founder and chief investment officer, expects better margins for companies as the cost of importing raw materials becomes cheaper, boosting earnings growth in the next two to three years. Teoh, who manages about US$400 million (RM1.6 billion) across Asia-focused funds, is now shifting the focus of the Singular Value Fund towards domestic consumption-related stocks , including banks and consumer companies, to capitalize on local opportunities. “We are reducing our exposure to export-oriented industries because the ringgit has strengthened , and moving back into more domestic sectors,” he explained. After hitting a 26-year low , the ringgit has surged 14% in the three months leading up to September, outperforming other emerging market currencies. This, along with rising wages for civil servants and increased...