Malaysia Money Matters Daily News Digest 23rd Dec 2025
Description
From billion-ringgit gas deals in Mexico to precedent-setting rulings in KL, today’s developments spotlight a dual theme:📈 Deep investor confidence in long-term Malaysian assets⚖️ Firm constitutional boundaries that could shape governance for years
Corporate & Market Developments
🌊 Coastal Contracts Surges on RM4.6B Pemex Win
* Stock jumped nearly 20% after JV secured RM4.64B gas processing contract from Mexico’s Pemex
* Total order book now RM7.4B, with guaranteed revenue stretching to August 2035
* Key takeaway: Nearly a decade of visibility, but some single-client risk lingers
🏬 Valiram Acquires Lendlease’s Stake in Exchange TRX
* Buying mall and office tower stakes for RM1.1B
* Exchange TRX Mall posted RM2.64B in sales in its first year
* For Lendlease: capital recycling
* For Valiram: high-conviction bet on premium retail real estate in KL
🏗️ CapitaLand Buys RM220.8M in Johor Industrial Assets
* Purchase of 5 properties from AME Elite Consortium — all-cash
* Strategic play on Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone
* For AME: cash boost helps exceed sales target for FY25
🌬️ Yinson Locks in 15-Year Wind Energy Revenue
* Signed RM1.2B power purchase agreement with Genesis Energy (NZ)
* Covers output from Mt Cass Wind Farm until late 2043
* A pivotal step in Yinson’s green energy transition
💵 Bank Negara Reserves Hit 11-Year High
* US$124.3B in international reserves
* Enough to finance 4.8 months of imports
* Reflects strong financial buffers that enable long-term capital inflows
Policy, Legal & Governance Shifts
⚖️ High Court Rejects Najib’s House Arrest Bid
* Ruled the alleged royal addendum was unconstitutional and unenforceable
* Key point: King must act with the Pardons Board on clemency matters
* Sets a clear constitutional precedent for future pardon cases
Global Trends & Geopolitical Watch
📈 Gold & Silver Hit All-Time Highs
* Gold up nearly 70% YTD
* Driven by:
* Escalating geopolitical instability (e.g. shadow fleet strikes in Russia-Ukraine)
* Market bets on US Fed rate cuts in 2026
* Safe haven appeal remains strong amid global risk sentiment
💻 Nvidia to Resume AI Chip Sales to China — With Strings
* H200 chips to ship by mid-February 2026
* Conditional deal: Requires Beijing’s approval and 25% buyer fee
* Signals a shift in US tech control — via trade terms, not outright bans
🕊️ Thailand–Cambodia Ceasefire Talks Underway
* Negotiated through ASEAN ministers in Kuala Lumpur
* A positive signal of regional diplomacy at work
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