10/03/2025

BIZ & FINANCE MONDAY | MAR 10, 2025

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Need for closer Asean-Australia ties KUALA LUMPUR: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) must develop a parallel strategy by engaging major economies beyond the region, particularly Australia, to enhance production, productivity, and domestic consumption, Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF) founding chairman Nordin Abdullah said. o Malaysia Global Business Forum says this approach is crucial to protect against policy shifts in key markets such as US and EU survive but thrive despite ever-evolving crises across the waves. Australia became Asean’s first Dialogue Partner in 1974, a Comprehensive Strategic Partner in 2021, and implemented the Asean Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area in 2010. “Australia has gotten in early and in a meaningful way, with framework agreements that set the stage for future-facing collaborations,” Nordin said. Australia has to strengthen two-way trade and investment with Asean to create jobs and boost economic growth across the region. As co-chairman of the Asean Australia Special Summit, mainland Asia and Europe, the country is well-placed to support resilient supply chains. pledged

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced initiatives to implement key recommendations from Invested: Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 , a blueprint for Australia’s long-term economic engagement with the region. These include a A$2 billion (RM5.5 billion) Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility to catalyse Australian investment in critical sectors such as infrastructure and clean energy. Australia also extended its Partnerships for Infrastructure initiative to support regional infrastructure development and attract more diverse, high-quality financing, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening economic ties and fostering sustainable growth in Asean. – Bernama

He stressed that this approach is crucial for strengthening the region’s resilience against future shocks, including abrupt policy shifts in key markets such as the United States and the European Union. “A complementary strategy that considers the disruptive actions of major global powers means that smaller economies must not only

“Australia, as another middle power, is the right partner for this endeavour,” he told Bernama in an interview. Nordin highlighted Malaysia’s strategic position as a prime investment destination, particularly for companies looking to establish high-value production facilities. With access to the Pacific and Indian Oceans and overland connections to

Meanwhile, Nordin emphasised that Asean must prioritise poverty eradication in its economic agenda by aligning policies to ensure the region remains a viable investment destination, absorbs future shocks, and secures long-term growth. “Energy security coupled with food security are paramount areas to be addressed if this is to become a reality,” he said. During the Asean-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne in March last year, leaders adopted the Asean-Australia Joint Leaders’ Vision Statement and the Melbourne Declaration, outlining a 50-year partnership to foster an open, inclusive, and transparent region with Asean at its core.

diversity and inclusion have gained significant attention recently, but numerous organisations still recognise the benefits of fostering an environment where employees from different backgrounds can contribute effectively towards success. As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, it is a time to reflect on progress, address persistent challenges, and reaffirm commitments to fostering inclusivity. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, women make up nearly 40% of the country’s workforce, and leadership representation has been gradually increased across industries. This success can be attributed to government initiatives, corporate commitments, and evolving workplace policies contributing to a more inclusive employment landscape. One company at the forefront of these efforts is Novartis Malaysia, which prioritises diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a key pillar of its corporate culture. With nearly 600 associates across Novartis International and Novartis Corporate Centre (NOCC) Kuala Lumpur, the organisation actively integrates gender equity into its policies and practices. Novartis Malaysia country president Mohamed Elwakil underscores the importance of diversity in driving business success. “A diverse workforce brings varied perspectives, enhances problem solving, and enables us to deliver impactful healthcare solutions. “At Novartis Malaysia, we are committed to ensuring fair compensation, eliminating barriers to advancement, and fostering an inclusive leadership culture that supports all employees equally,“ he said. “This will be important for companies looking to ensure resilient supply chains for critical components or finished products,” he said. Nordin noted a decline in Australian foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia, which fell to 2.9% in 2022 from 6.3% in 2017, warning that this trend could weaken regional economic stability. “It is a matter of strategic interest as global competitors look to establish supply chains and profit centres in the region,” he added. Historically, Asean and Australia have built strong ties based on shared interests, trust, and diplomatic cooperation.

WARRANTS WATCH

Issues over M’sian stocks actively traded, KPJ Healthcare in limelight

LAST week, the total warrants turnover came in slightly higher than the previous week, up by nearly 1% week-on-week (w-o-w) to RM573.5mil as compared to RM568.8mil the week before. The average daily turnover came in at RM114.7mil last week. Trading in warrants was heavily supported by turnover from Hang Seng Index (HSI) warrants which comprised 82.1% of the overall turnover at RM470.8mil, followed by 15.1% of turnover from warrants over the Malaysia stocks. The HSI closed above the 24,000 level at 24,396.71 for the first time in three years on Thursday, whereby the index tracked positive overnight sentiment from Wall Street, and as China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) commenced its third session on Wednesday with Beijing announcing a 5% economic growth target for 2025 and pledged to pump billions of dollars into its ailing economy (BBC, March 5). However, the index inched 0.6% lower on Friday, closing the week at 24,231.30. Despite the pullback, the index still finished the week 5.6% higher, capping its best weekly performance in two months. With the moves last week, investors were seen actively trading the HSI put warrants; put warrants tend to increase in value as the underlying futures decline, and vice versa. The top traded puts throughout the week in terms of volume include HSI-PWDN, HSI-PWD2 and HSI-PWD5 at 746.5mil, 599mil and 263mil units, respectively. Investors also actively traded call warrant HSI-CWCD for 953mil units last week. Meanwhile, warrants over the Hang Seng TECH Index (HSTECH) continued to see increased trading activity, with call HSTECH-C18 and put HSTECH-H17

notching in a combined traded volume of 10.2mil units. Further, warrants over the Hong Kong stocks also picked up interest last week, namely warrants over Alibaba Group (9988.HK), Meituan (3690.HK) and Xiaomi (1810.HK). On the local scene, warrants over MY E.G. Services (MYEG), YTL Corporation (YTL), YTL Power (YTLP) and KPJ Healthcare (KPJ) were among the most actively traded warrants last week. Notably, the shares of KPJ rose 16.5% w-o-w, closing the week at RM2.76 after closing at an all-time high of RM2.79 on Thursday as the company reported a stellar performance for its financial year ended 2024 (Bernama, March 3). Macquarie’s call warrant over KPJ, KPJ-C16 (exercise price: RM2.72) notched a trading volume of 6.6mil units for the week, as this warrant’s bid price increased over 300% w-o-w, displaying the effective gearing effect of the call warrant as it rose in a larger percentage than the underlying share price increase. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us via our hotline at 03-2059 8840 or email us at info@malaysiawarrants.com.my. To view the full list of structured warrants available on Bursa Malaysia, kindly visit malaysiawarrants.com.my. Provided for Malaysian residents information only. This commentary has not been reviewed by the Securities Commission Malaysia. It is not an offer or recommendation to trade and is not research material. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. You should make your own assessment and seek professional advice. The warrants will not be offered to any US persons.

Novartis reaffirms commitment towards gender equity KUALA LUMPUR: Workplace

Mohamed

Heng

Teh

At Novartis Malaysia, 67% of employees are women; female professionals hold 55% of leadership positions. To ensure fair compensation, the company has eliminated historical salary data from job offers, conducted annual pay equity analyses, and upheld transparent remuneration policies. Its progressive 14-week paternity leave initiative further reinforces the importance of shared caregiving responsibilities and gender equality in the workplace and at home. Novartis Malaysia country head of people and organisation Anne Heng highlighted the company’s structured approach to gender equity. “We have implemented policies that promote equitable hiring, conduct regular pay equity analyses, and create leadership pathways that support diverse talent. “Our goal is to build a workplace where all employees feel valued and empowered to reach their full potential.” Novartis Malaysia’s corporate culture is guided by the principles of being Inspired, Curious, and Unbossed. These values empower employees to challenge norms and drive positive change.

In conjunction with International Women’s Day, the company reaffirms its dedication to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. By implementing progressive hiring policies, mentorship programs, and unconscious bias training, Novartis Malaysia continues to advocate for gender equity within the organisation and across the broader business and healthcare landscape. As part of its global commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Novartis was the first pharmaceutical company to join the United Nation’s Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) in September 2018. The firm has refreshed its EPIC Pledge in 2023 to reaffirm its dedication to ensuring DEI principles are deeply embedded throughout the organisation, reinforcing fair pay, equal opportunities and a culture of inclusivity. Novartis Corporate Centre Kuala Lumpur (NOCC KL) head Teh Inn Joo stresses the need for continuous efforts to sustain gender equity. “At NOCC KL, we ensure transparency in policies, advocate for equal opportunities, and reinforce our commitment to gender diversity through initiatives that create real impact,” she said.

Top KPJ warrants by volume traded: Warrant Volume Issuer Exercise

Expiry date

name

traded 20.0mil 6.6mil 3.2mil 0.6mil 0.6mil

price

KPJ-C17 KPJ-C16 KPJ-C14 KPJ-C15 KPJ-C19

RHB

RM2.66 RM2.72 RM2.30 RM2.00 RM2.35

28 Jul 2025 30 Jun 2025 26 May 2025 30 Apr 2025 29 Aug 2025

Macquarie

RHB CIMB CIMB