by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | business, cars, commerce, community, sports
PETALONG JAYA: CARSOME has entered into a two-year agreement with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to serve as their official automotive partner.
The car e-commerce platform stated that this collaboration forms part of their initiative to assist FAM in bolstering both the male and female national squads.
“This collaboration marks an important step towards progressing Malaysian football and aiding FAM’s initiatives to boost the region’s profile of the sport by guaranteeing that the national squads have all the necessary resources to perform at their peak,” the statement read.
CARSOME also mentioned that this partnership forms part of their initiative to cultivate local talent and support the wider growth of sports in Malaysia.
The collaboration will entail CARSOME supplying FAM with 15 cars over the coming two years to guarantee that both male and female players as well as managerial staff can travel comfortably while efficiently handling all transportation needs during the match seasons.
“The supported lineup comprises Proton X90 and X70, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Serena, BMW 3 Series, Volvo XC40, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and the Toyota Alphard,” CARSOME mentioned.
The CARSOME CEO Eric Cheng reportedly stated that the company strongly supports Malaysians across various sectors including business, education, and sports.
This collaboration extends further than just transportation; it represents our commitment to propel champions ahead by guaranteeing that Malaysia’s national squads receive the backing and facilities needed to thrive.
“We trust this will motivate more Malaysians to support our national teams and cheer for their progress,” Cheng stated.
In the meantime, FAM President Joehari Ayub stated that this partnership underscores the dedication of all involved parties to elevate Malaysian football to new levels.
“By entering into this collaboration, our objective is to improve the football experience for participants, spectators, and all parties involved through programs designed to boost growth, availability, and assistance within the local football environment,” he stated.
Through this collaboration, the educational wing of CARSOME Group, known as CARSOME Academy, will provide special discounts and referral benefits exclusively to the national squad and FAM members for their range of TVET programs, soft skill courses, and additional offerings.
“This programme is designed to provide players and FAM staff with essential industry insights and hands-on abilities, offering them chances for career advancement outside of their sports journeys,” according to CARSOME.
The signing ceremony occurred at the Thistle Hotel in Johor Bahru before Malaysia’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium this evening.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | business, commerce, government regulations, international economics, international trade
US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that he will be announcing auto tariffs within the next few days, possibly including exceptions for specific nations regarding mutual trade levies. Additionally, he suggested that tariff decisions on items such as vehicles, timber, semiconductor chips, and medicines will be made shortly.
Last month, Trump declared his intention to enforce 25% duties on imported automobiles, medications, and semiconductors starting from 2nd April. Additionally, he issued an executive directive to scrutinize trade dealings with plans for implementing extensive retaliatory tariffs anticipated to commence on the mentioned date. Following this announcement, he provided a temporary reprieve of thirty days regarding car taxes within the framework of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), effective since 3rd March.
His remarks intensified the bewilderment surrounding the continuously inconsistent tariff policies, prompting other countries to hasten discussions with the White House aiming for exceptions. “I might grant many countries some leeway,” stated Trump.
U.S. stock markets experience a strong recovery as Tesla jumps 13%.
Trump’s remarks on potential tariff exemptions came at a time when investors were seeking bargains in the US stock markets after a four-week selloff. Dip-buys in big tech stocks buoyed Wall Street, with the Nasdaq jumping more than 2% on Monday. All the Magnificent Seven stocks finished higher, with Tesla leading gains, surging 12%. However, the electric vehicle maker’s shares are still down 31% year-to-date, as CEO Elon Musk’s political intervention continues to spark backlash.
The US dollar experienced a recovery for the fourth successive trading session after the previous week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) gathering. Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, minimized the effect of President Trump’s tariffs on the economy, stating that the upward push on inflation would likely be “temporary.” The anticipation of a less stringent approach from Trump regarding tariffs coupled with the Fed’s support has aided in boosting both US stock markets and the value of the dollar.
European shares and the euro decline
By contrast, the rally in the US stock markets may have caused profit-taking moments in European equities, with both the Euro Stoxx 600 index and the DAX declining for the third consecutive trading day. Notably, the record-setting rally in Germany’s stock markets lost steam after the European Union leaders failed to secure a €5 billion Ukraine funding package last week. Europe’s defence sector retreated sharply, leading to broad losses.
Furthermore, Trump’s tariff threats could result in countermeasures from the EU, scheduled to be implemented next month. On March 12th, the European Commission declared that they plan to impose tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. products starting in April. This escalation in the trade conflict might spark additional sell-offs within the local markets.
The euro continued to lose strength against the dollar for the fourth consecutive day, with the EUR/USD pairing dropping below 1.08 during Tuesday’s trading in Asia—the lowest level since early March. This downturn was fueled by differing trends in government bond yields between the U.S. and Europe. Specifically, the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield surged by 8 basis points amid enhanced optimism about economic expansion, whereas Germany’s equivalent yield increased just slightly by 1 basis point.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | business, commerce, retail, retailers, small and medium enterprises
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 — Unified commerce platform EasyStore has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alliance Bank, Ninja Van, and SUNMI to support more than 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. This partnership aims to enhance the customer journey across brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce sites, fostering advancement and expansion for Malaysian firms.
Expanding upon this collaboration, EasyStore is strengthening its dedication to the advancement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) via the ‘Supporting Businesses Through Mutual Aid’ program. This Memorandum of Understanding aims to establish a cohesive environment designed to provide local SMEs with all-encompassing solutions such as digital resources, logistics assistance, and innovative payment methods, catering to the changing demands of contemporary technology-aware consumers.
The updated ecosystem will provide companies an extensive suite of services to streamline their processes. This includes offerings from EasyStore along with Sunmi Technology’s intelligent Internet-of-Things gadgets, facilitating quicker and more secure payments within stores. In collaboration with Ninja Van, EasyStore aims to improve supply chain management through real-time monitoring and expedited shipping choices. Additionally, partnering with Alliance Bank, EasyStore intends to deliver smooth financial assistance aimed at fostering business expansion, offering digital funding opportunities, and providing adaptable options tailored specifically for local enterprises.
Partnership to enhance customer experience spanning both brick-and-mortar stores and digital platforms.
These strategic partnerships and customer-focused tools will enable numerous Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to tap into advanced trade solutions, thereby helping them tackle daily business hurdles and provide outstanding service to their customers.
It is anticipated that SMEs will experience an increase in revenue, shorter delivery periods, and a reduction of more than 25% in operating expenses, thereby enhancing total efficiency and fostering expansion.
Yien Yee Soh, who holds the position of Chief Relationship Officer at EasyStore, mentioned that this initiative allows enterprises to seamlessly handle client engagements spanning both digital and physical platforms.
“We’re developing a revolutionary environment specifically tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It’s not merely about providing tools; in Malaysia, these businesses encounter numerous hurdles as they navigate through the growing digitized world. With the boundaries between traditional retail and e-commerce becoming less distinct, countless companies struggle to keep up due to insufficient resources to merge both domains. This collaboration aims to bridge that gap,” she explained.
Yien Yee elaborated that as the local SME sector expands, companies must adjust to integrating digital and physical platforms. Implementing unified commerce will assist these enterprises in maintaining their edge, guaranteeing competitiveness.
Furthermore, EasyStore has introduced the
EasyStore Brand App
Designed to assist businesses in maintaining connections with their clientele. Given that more than 70% of consumers prefer buying from applications already present on their devices, this app helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) become part of their customers’ everyday habits.
Companies have the ability to completely customize the application using their own logos and brand names, providing clients with a user-friendly and engaging shopping environment that boosts customer retention as well as fosters lasting brand allegiance.
Raymond Chui, who holds the position of Group Chief Business & Transaction Banking Officer at Alliance Bank, highlighted the bank’s dedication to helping local enterprises access suitable financial resources to reach their maximum capability.
“Our acclaimed offerings are crafted to assist companies prosper in the rapidly changing digital marketplace. Partnering with EasyStore signifies our continued commitment to delivering efficient, cutting-edge financial assistance to small and medium enterprises—enabling them to concentrate on what truly counts: expanding their ventures,” he declared.
The updated ecosystem will enhance the efficiency of SMEs and strive to reduce costs by 25%.
Victor Tan, who serves as SUNMI’s country manager for Malaysia, highlighted that smart IoT solutions are transforming retail transactions. He noted that secure, smooth, and efficient payment processing will improve the overall customer experience and simplify business processes.
In the meantime, Fariz Maswan, who holds the position of Chief Sales Officer at Ninja Van Malaysia, highlighted the crucial part played by logistics in molding customer experiences. He emphasized that their partnership guarantees dependable deliveries coupled with real-time tracking, which boosts overall customer contentment and dedication.
Register today and join the digital ecosystem.
www.easystore.co/lp/let-business-help-business.
Don’t let this chance to revolutionize your business pass you by.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | business, consumer electronics, gadgets, smartwatches, technology
If you’ve been following the wearable technology sector for the past few weeks, you may have come across news about the comeback of the
Pebble
, or currently referred to as
Core smartwatches
.
In brief, Eric Migicovsky, who founded the Pebble smartwatch brand, introduced two new smartwatches.
Core 2 Duo
and
Core Time 2
— successfully reviving the formerly defunct e-paper-driven Pebble smartwatches.
But since
Google
Since he still owned the rights to the Pebble name, Migicovsky chose “Core” instead. At the behest of the Pebble founder, Google graciously released PebbleOS as open-source software. This move was primarily responsible for making these watches possible.
Although I am excited along with other Pebble enthusiasts about the comeback of the “Pebble” watches, we should take into account an important factor prior to spending between RM700 and RM1,100 on them—the warranty coverage offered with these timepieces.
Basic smartwatches offered with just a 30-day warranty period?
In the frequently asked questions section on the rePebble website, Core Devices, the firm responsible for the two new smartwatches, will offer a warranty solely for issues related to manufacturing defects.
30 days
once customers get their order.
Certainly, this offers a 30-day warranty. It isn’t for one year or even six months; rather, it lasts for just 30 days. However, considering Migicovsky’s position fairly, his group at Core Devices comprises merely four members. As previously noted, the duration of the warranty can be easily found on the rePebble website.
The FAQs also mentioned that should your watch turn out to be faulty, you can return it to Core Devices via shipping. Upon receiving the watch, the company will send you a new one free of charge. Additionally, no more specifics about the warranty were provided; however, the firm pledges to release a comprehensive legal warranty document sometime in the future.
In response to queries regarding the limited 30-day warranty, Migicovsky addressed the concerns via a detailed post on the r/Pebble subreddit. He clarified that as a smaller entity named Core Devices, they aim to manage customer expectations carefully without overpromising. The CEO further stated that although he anticipates minimal troubles, both he and his team are committed to taking all possible measures to prevent any issues from arising.
To venture or not to venture? That is your decision.
Furthermore, Migicovsky has openly mentioned that the Core smartwatches aren’t meant for everybody. In a blog post, he outlined groups of potential buyers who may find these devices less than ideal.
In addition to these, many individuals seek out a flawlessly refined smartwatch. The founder highlighted that the Core smartwatch initiative stems more from personal passion than an enterprise aiming to offload countless devices.
Purchasers should be aware that the items might have coarse edges, can potentially break easily, may experience delays, won’t endure as long as desired, and certain features might not be functional upon release.
In the end, the choice is yours whether you want to take such risks or not. Personally, I was one of those excited for the comeback of the “Pebble” smartwatch, as I had regretted missing its peak period ten years earlier. However, upon reconsidering my decision to buy, I ended up cancelling my preorder. Despite worrying that items like this could disappear forever without making another appearance.
At times, being pragmatic makes more sense than getting carried away by emotions.
Ultimately, shelling out more than RM1,100 for a smartwatch (including Core Time 2 and the delivery cost) definitely isn’t pocket money. Should anything go wrong with the timepiece beyond the 30-day guarantee window, I would likely end up with a defective watch and hardly any chance of getting it repaired.
However, if you’re more inclined towards being a hands-on DIY type of individual and are ready to find and install components like the actual buttons yourself, you may have stronger motivations than I do for making this purchase.
Nevertheless, this does not imply that my enthusiasm for straightforward, functional, and eccentric wearables such as these has diminished. Actually, I extend my best wishes to Migicovsky and hope his initial two offerings achieve success, providing him with sufficient resources and inspiration to create even more.
And should that occur, either now or sometime later, I would gleefully use my well-deserved money to buy the more advanced next-generation Core smartwatches. These watches will hopefully include a warranty lasting longer than just 30 days.
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by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | business, commerce, donald trump, government regulations, international economics
Canada
and
Mexico
might find some solace afterwards
Donald Trump
mentioned that the reciprocal tariffs set for April 2 might turn out less severe than what he initially pledged.
On Monday, earlier, Trump stated that a 25% tariff would be imposed on oil and gas imports from Venezuela.
put into effect on April 2, a date he had been mentioning
will be ‘DAY OF LIBERATION IN AMERICA.’
Nevertheless, during his address to the press in the Oval Office later that same day, he expressed willingness to show flexibility regarding certain other tariffs partly as a means to set an example for their neighbouring countries and allies.
“We might accept less than their asking price since they have overcharged us significantly; I doubt they can demand more,” Trump stated.
“In simpler terms, they have billed us an amount that makes me feel awkward about charging back what we were charged,” he mentioned, although he didn’t mention specific countries he might be looking into for reversals.
Trump
mentioned that some of his additional tariffs on automobiles, wood products, medicines, and chips might be delayed until further into the year.
He remains committed to declaring April 2 as ‘Freedom Day.’ He believes that by then, they will have generated sufficient income to reduce taxes and generate employment opportunities.
The U.S.
stock market
had been recovering on Monday as investors believe the tariffs will likely be more focused than initially anticipated.
The S&P 500 climbed by 1.8%, the Nasdaq Composite gained 2.3%, and Tesla
surged up 12%, continuing a bounce back that began last week, per the Wall Street Journal.
Nevertheless, the S&P 500 index has declined this year due to worries that a trade conflict might impede economic expansion and elevate inflationary stresses.
Canada and Mexico have responded with anger to the tariffs, whereas British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
has been attempting to reduce the tariffs
headed his way.
On April 2, Trump was
anticipated to impose full tariffs of 25% on goods from both Mexico and Canada, which are the biggest trading partners of the United States.
The presidential figure from the Republican party has further heightened the tariffs imposed in 2018 on steel and aluminium to 25% for every imported product. He has also pledged to introduce extra duties on vehicles, medicinal products, timber, semiconductor chips, and copper.
Recently, the United States and Canada have been at odds due to an escalating trade war and tariff disputes.
introduced by Trump, who has persistently criticized the country and its administration,
triggering demonstrations during sports competitions.
The newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, delivered a scathing critique of Trump regarding the continuing trade disagreement.
He charged Trump with ‘attempting to undermine our economy’ during his address to a boisterous gathering of Liberal party supporters.
‘As we are aware, Donald Trump imposed unwarranted tariffs
“What we construct, what we market, and how we earn our livelihood,” he stated.
He’s targeting Canadian workers, families, and businesses. We can’t allow him to win. And we won’t.
The harsh statements indicate that he plans to keep following the approach of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, engaging in public disagreements with the president.
Trump first began
suggesting Canada’s entry during Trudeau’s tenure, where he mocked him by calling him the ‘Governor of California’
‘.
He has implemented a 25 percent tax on all imports from Canada as part of an effort to ensure the country is held accountable for stopping illegal immigration and adhering to their commitments.
halting the influx of lethal fentanyl and other narcotics into our nation
“, stated a White House announcement.
Present polls indicate that there is minimal backing from Canadians regarding unification with the United States, as approximately 90 percent are against it.
Trump’s provocation similarly ignited numerous demonstrations against the United States among Canadian sports enthusiasts, who have
selected to show their discontent by jeering ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ prior to matches
.
Before MLS matches in Canada, as well as during WWE events in Toronto and particularly intense Four Nations Face-Off competitions between the two countries in February, Canadians have focused their efforts on the US national anthem.
Nevertheless, a loud minority from Canada’s petroleum-rich regions
inspired by Trump’s ‘Drill Baby Drill’ policy
have emerged and identified themselves as 51st-staters.
On Monday, though, Trump seemed to shift his focus onto Venezuela.
In a Truth Social posting, Trump stated that Venezuela has shown significant hostility towards the United States, and nations buying oil from it will face consequences.
pay the duty on all their commerce with the U.S.
starting April 2.
These duties would probably increase the taxation burden for China, which in 2023 purchased 68% of the oil exported from Venezuela, as per a 2024 report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The report indicates that Spain, India, Russia, Singapore, and Vietnam are some of the nations importing oil from Venezuela.
However, even the United States — notwithstanding its sanctions against Venezuela — purchases oil from that nation.
In January, the U.S. brought in 8.6 million barrels of oil from Venezuela, as reported by the Census Bureau, which makes up approximately 202 million barrels imported during that month.
On Monday, the Treasury Department extended the permission for U.S.-based Chevron Corp. to extract and ship Venezuelan oil until May 27th.
The extension, referred to as a general license, frees the nation from economic sanctions and permits it to keep producing oil.
In February, Trump declared the termination of the business ties between Chevron and Venezuela, which had served as a crucial financial support for the South American nation.
The Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro countered by blaming the United States for
breaching global commerce regulations through an ‘arbitrarily chosen, unlawful, and hasty action’ aimed at ‘hindering the progress’ of the South American country
.
The president contends that tariffs will revive manufacturing employment, instead of exacerbating inflationary concerns and impeding economic expansion as experts in economics have cautioned.
His most recent personal account emerged on Monday when Hyundai declared at the White House about their plan to construct a $5.8 billion steel mill in Louisiana.
Trump said Venezuela will face a “Secondary” tariff because it is the home to the gang Tren de Aragua . The Trump administration is deporting immigrants that it claims are members of that gang who illegally crossed into the United States.
Read more
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | business, europe, investing business news, investing company news, investors
The German technology behemoth SAP SE has climbed to the top as Europe’s largest publicly traded company, overtaking the market valuation of the Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk.
The global software firm headquartered in Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg, experienced an increase of over 1% in its stock price during early trading in Frankfurt. This boosted the company’s value, which had already surged by 40% in the last year, bringing its market capitalization close to approximately €312 billion.
“The present advancements in the stock market highlight the significant part played by tech firms in maintaining Europe’s competitiveness globally,” said an SAP representative to SANGGRALOKABusiness. “Our ongoing investments in cloud services, artificial intelligence, and innovation demonstrate SAP’s dedication to fostering digital transformation and sustainable expansion for enterprises across the world.”
At the same time, the drugmaker’s stock price in Copenhagen dropped over 2%, pushing the firm’s market capitalization slightly above 2.3 trillion Danish kroner (€309 billion). Despite announcing a 25% rise in revenues for 2024, the company’s share prices have plummeted nearly by half compared to last year’s levels.
Novo Nordisk gained prominence primarily because of its weight-loss medication, Wegovy, which drove the company’s stock prices upward until last summer when they reached approximately 1,000 Danish krone (€134). This was nearly twice their current value of 516 Danish krone.
However, the most recent updates regarding the findings of the company’s upcoming weight loss medication, CagriSema, seem discouraging since they did not demonstrate better outcomes than current treatments.
The doubt pulled down the stock price, which had already declined by approximately 16% this year.
In the meantime, the German technology firm won over its investors by adopting a strategy centered around subscription-based cloud services enhanced with advanced AI capabilities, projecting substantial increases in revenue.
JPMorgan recently stated that an “appealing buying chance has presented itself” regarding the SAP shares, noting that the investment firm’s analysts maintained their “Overweight” recommendation for the company’s stock along with setting a €300 price target.
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