Malaysia continues to be China's top trading partner in Asean, with bilateral trade between both countries hitting US$33.88 billion (RM102.21 billion) in the first quarter of this year, up 23.9 per cent year-on-year.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April rose 1.7 per cent to 106.3 from 104.5 in the same month last year.

The Malaysian American Electronics Industry (MAEI) expects a three to four per cent increase in total Electrical and Electronics (E&E) exports by its members to RM49 billion in 2013.

Global prices for commodities, such as iron ore, need to come down a little bit so that China can continue its economic miracle, according to Australian Minister for Resources and Energy Gary Gray.

Myanmar's economy expanded 6.5 percent last year and is set for further modest acceleration, the IMF estimated Wednesday, as sweeping reforms herald hopes of a renaissance for the impoverished nation.

The Malaysian economy will pick up pace and grow further in the second half of this year following the moderate performance in the first quarter, says a leading banker.

China's human H7N9 bird flu outbreak has cost the country's poultry industry more than 400 billion yuan ($65 billion) as consumers shun chicken, government officials said according to state media Monday.

Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, recently appointed as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, will resign as President and Chief Executive Officer of Malayan Banking (Maybank) Bhd on June 4.

Bursa Malaysia is likely to trend higher next week with a mild rebound expected with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI).

The Sessions Court here fixed May 21 to decide whether to release the assets of a gold investment company, Genneva Sdn Bhd, to its three directors and one former director who were acquitted yesterday of illegal money laundering and illegal deposit-taking.