Analysis

UOB sees stablecoins, CBDCs, and tokenized deposits drive digital money evolution

The global push for tokenized money is entering a new, more mature phase. According to a recent UOB report, industry expectations are shifting from isolated pilots toward scalable operating models underpinned by five key drivers, captured in the acronym SCALE: Standards, Compliance, Access, Linked infrastructures, and Ecosystem.

Kenanga foresees heightened external risks for Malaysia’s technology sector

Kenanga Research has on Friday downgraded Malaysia’s technology sector rating to neutral from overweight as external risks have intensified, particularly from global memory tightness, supply-chain fragility and persistent cost pressure across the value chain.

Middle East tensions pose mixed risks for semiconductor supply chain, Malaysia partially insulated – Maybank

Malaysia’s semiconductor industry, concentrated on assembly, test, and packaging (ATP), is relatively insulated from immediate supply disruptions caused by rising tensions in the Middle East, Maybank Investment Bank said Thursday.

Grab’s Foodpanda Taiwan deal offers scale and new growth options – Maybank

The proposed $600 million acquisition of foodpanda Taiwan gives Grab entry into a structurally attractive on-demand market with meaningful food delivery scale and long-term optionality in adjacent verticals, Maybank Investment Bank said Tuesday.

Prolonged Iran conflict raises helium tail risk for Asia’s semiconductors – Fitch

Asia’s semiconductor supply chain faces rising tail risk from helium tightness as the Iran conflict drags on and Qatar’s natural gas disruption persists, Fitch Ratings said Tuesday.

Kenanga sees Malaysia’s logistics sector benefits from e-commerce boom, trade shifts

Malaysia's domestic logistics sector fared better amid Middle East tensions as the country is a beneficiary of booming e-commerce and trade diversion on US-China trade tensions, Kenanga Research said Thursday.

Fitch flags AI-driven credit risks in technology, media, and cloud sectors

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape corporate business models, but Fitch Ratings warned that credit risks linked to AI adoption remain concentrated in specific sectors, particularly technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT).

OCBC sees geopolitical tensions to accelerate clean energy transition

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are reshaping the global energy landscape and accelerating the shift toward clean energy, according to OCBC Group Research. The disruption of oil and gas markets and supply chains caused by the conflict underscores the vulnerability of energy-dependent economies and highlights the urgency for diversification and…

CIMB sees minimal direct impact on regional tech sector from Middle East war

CIMB Securities said Tuesday it believes the ongoing conflict in the Middle East will have minimal direct impact on the regional tech sector given the region’s limited semiconductor manufacturing footprint.

Datacom market boom to boost Malaysia’s tech space – Kenanga

Kenanga Research said Tuesday that the global datacom market boom will spur Malaysia's technology space.