Editor’s Picks

Maybank Islamic ‘Islamic Bank of The Year 2017 For Asia-pacific And Malaysia’

London-based financial publication, The Banker, has named Maybank Islamic Bhd as the ‘The Islamic Bank of the Year 2017 for Asia-Pacific and Malaysia’. The Banker acknowledged Maybank Islamic’s leadership in Malaysia’s Islamic finance market, claiming top position among syariah-compliant financiers nationwide. It said that Maybank Islamic’s dominance has translated into a strong set of financial results by total assets, total financing and total funding, including deposits and investment accounts.

EU Will Resume FTA Talks With Malaysia This Year

The European Union (EU) said the stalled Malaysia-European Union (EU) Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) talks will be resumed within this year. EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Malaysia, Maria Castillo-Fernandez said the EU Member States Chief Negotiator would submit the re-launch of the negotiations proposal next month in Brussels, Belgium, to establish “the when and the how”. Castillo-Fernandez added that Malaysia and the EU had enough solid grounds to finalise the talks within a reasonable timeframe.

FSB Regional Consultative Group to Discuss Global Financial Stability

Members of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) Regional Consultative Group (RCG) for Asia have gathered in Thailand to discuss vulnerabilities in the global financial system and the impact on the continent. The discussion will also focus on the impact and possible policy responses to United States interest rates normalisation, global political developments and capital flows in Asia. The meeting will be co-chaired by Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Datuk Muhammad Ibrahim and Hong Kong Monetary Authority Chief Executive, Norman Chan Tak-Lam.

FED set to raise interest rates.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rate this week due to a tightening labor market and may also provide more detail on its plans to shrink the mammoth bond portfolio it amassed to nurse the economic recovery. The central bank is scheduled to release its decision) on Wednesday at the conclusion of its two-day policy meeting. Fed Chair Janet Yellen is due to hold a media conference after the meeting.