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Defying Trump, Powell ends term with rates on hold, keeps Fed board seat in break from tradition
WASHINGTON, April 30 — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell closed out eight years as head of the US central bank on Wednesday with interest rates on hold, rising concern about inflation, and an announcement that he would stay on as
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Asia markets rebound as focus shifts to Fed decision and tech earnings
SINGAPORE, April 29 — Markets found their footing in Asian trading on Wednesday as worries about the Iran conflict and health of the AI sector eased, optimism over corporate earnings grew, and attention turned to the Federal Reserve’s decision due
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Malaysia’s inflation eases to 1.4pc in 2025 as ringgit’s strength, BUDI95 help
KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — Malaysia’s inflation moderated to 1.4 per cent in 2025 as compared to 1.8 per cent in the previous year, supported by the firmer ringgit, sustained household spending and initiatives by the government. According to the
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Big Four firm KPMG quits US government auditing business, redeploys 450 staff
WASHINGTON, April 29 — Big Four firm KPMG is shutting its federal government audit business and will redeploy more than 450 US staff after losing a US$60 million-a-year contract with the Pentagon, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing sources.
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Powell’s last stand? US Fed chair prepares for possibly final press conference after surviving Trump
WASHINGTON, April 29 — The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold interest rates steady on Wednesday after a key policy meeting, likely the last chaired by central bank chief Jerome Powell, a frequent target of President Donald Trump’s
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Pernod Ricard ends talks to buy Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman
PARIS, April 29 — French drinks giant Pernod Ricard said Tuesday that talks to buy Brown-Forman, the US owner of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, had ended without a deal. The companies had confirmed in March they were holding talks. But “these
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Ringgit strengthens against US dollar as UAE shocks markets by quitting Opec
KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — The ringgit strengthened against the US dollar but was mixed against other currencies in early trade today, amid cautious sentiment over oil price volatility and developments in the Strait of Hormuz, an analyst said. At
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OpenAI soap opera plays out in court as Musk accuses ‘Scam Altman’ of ‘looting charities’
OAKLAND, April 29 — Billionaire Elon Musk took the stand Tuesday to accuse OpenAI and its boss Sam Altman of betraying the AI company’s altruistic origins, in a trial that could have far-reaching consequences for the industry and oblige the
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Oil surges past US$110, global markets shaken as Trump snubs latest Iran proposal
SINGAPORE, April 28 — Stocks held their ground and oil rose on Tuesday as investors weighed the stalemate in the Iran conflict, while the yen was steady after a hawkish split at the Bank of Japan underlined fears over the
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Malaysia ringgit still treading water against US dollar but gains on baht, yen
KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — The ringgit traded mostly higher against other major and Asian currencies in early trade today amid cautious sentiment in the currency market. The domestic unit, however, was little changed against the US dollar as investors
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