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.

Malaysian economy will grow stronger in the second half of this year, driven by the removal of the political uncertainty and the government's firm economic policy, says Credit Suisse Securities (M) Sdn Bhd Managing Director Stephen Hagger.

AmResearch maintained "buy" call on Petronas Gas Bhd with an unchanged target price of RM21.90 and maintained the company's 2013-2015 financial year earnings, pending further developments on the take-up gas volume for the Lekas regassification (RGT).

Japan's finance minister trumpeted bright economic news on Friday as figures showed firms were ramping up investment in a possible sign that government stimulus was working.