Principal launches ESG-focused Shariah-compliant investment fund

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Fund aims for companies that embrace sustainability values in business
Target fund is a qualified Sustainable and Responsible Investment fund Principal Malaysia has introduced the Principal Islamic Global Responsible Equity Fund, a Shariah-compliant investment fund that provides investors with an opportunity to invest across a diversified portfolio of equities while considering sustainability…Continue Reading

Huawei: good results in tough times

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Huawei’s financial results for 2022 show a slight increase in revenue, steep declines in operating and net profit but no red ink, and a sound balance sheet. Considering last year’s Covid lockdown, inflation and the need to work around US sanctions, the Chinese telecom company turned in an admirable performance. Huawei’s operating margin was 6.6%, […]Continue Reading

New World Bank chief in make or break role

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In: Asia, Business, Finance

Over the past two years, a drumbeat of calls for reforming the World Bank has pushed its way onto the front pages of major newspapers and the agenda of heads of state. Many low- and middle-income countries – the population the World Bank is tasked with helping – are falling deeper into debt and facing […]Continue Reading

Thai Insurtech Roojai Raises USmil In Series B round

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In 2022 Roojai’s premium income in Thailand grew by 25%
US$32mil from direct injection, US$10mil from secondary share transaction Roojai, a Thai-based online B2C insurtech, announced a US$42 million Series B funding round on 28 March, led by HDI International, the International Retail Insurance division of the German Talanx Group, with additional participation from existing investor,…Continue Reading

Capital Markets Malaysia launches first corporate venture capital programme to advance local ecosystems

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  Builds on existing ecosystem to link players across private & public markets
Partners MDEC to promote corporate venturing as innovation & growth strategy Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM), an affiliate of the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), launched on 21st March, the nation’s first Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) Programme to advance the domestic…Continue Reading

Alibaba breakup solves the Jack Ma riddle

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This week, Xi Jinping’s regulators signaled that the Jack Ma debacle of the last 28-plus months is finally over. And that China Inc is back in business. Beijing announced Tuesday (March 28) that Alibaba Group will divide its US$220 billion empire into six distinct business units, a move that will generate several initial public offerings […]Continue Reading

Qoala raises US.5 mil Series B+ round

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Funds will be channeled towards regional expansion
Claimed its customers have benefited from over US$30mil in claims Qoala has completed its Series B+ funding round, raising US$7.5 million (RM33 million). 
In a statement, the Indonesian based Southeast Asian insurtech said the round led by European investment firm, responsAbility Investments AG, with participation from Appworks…Continue Reading

Singapore’s Lee family feud takes a bitter turn

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Split screen image of Lee Hsien Loong (R) and his brother Lee Hsien Yang (L). Photo: AFP/Facebook

SINGAPORE – The 18th-century poet Percy Bysshe Shelley famously told of a ruined statue depicting a once powerful king, its fragments buried in desolate desert sands. The vivid poem “Ozymandias” is often interpreted as a warning against the hubris of building monuments to one’s own greatness, as even the mightiest empires wane and eventually crumble. […]Continue Reading