On Jan 17, Malaysia ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). On paper, RCEP seems big and impressive; it is the world’s largest free trade agreement (FTA) by economic size. Accounting for nearly 30% of global GDP, the agreement boasts some heavyweights in Asia-Pacific among its signatories, including Asean and its regional partners Australia, China, Japan and South Korea.
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 1): Technology-related stocks became the selling targets in the recent equity rout as investors started rejigging their portfolios to price in the likelihood of more than one interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve and other central banks in the next 12 months, mainly because inflation has reared its ugly head.