From the business pages

Malaysia to boost chip-industry role The Jakarta Post

Malaysia’s leader has revealed plans to build a massive semiconductor design park, aiming to boost the South East Asian nation’s role in the global chip industry. A prominent player in the semiconductor industry for decades, Malaysia accounts for an estimated 13 per cent of global back-end manufacturing, according to the German firm Bosch.

Star Entertainment shares plummet The Sydney Morning Herald

Star Entertainment Group’s shares have hit their lowest level in the company’s history, as executive chair David Foster and ex-boss Robbie Cooke prepare to front an inquiry into the casino operator’s culture. share price has been in a tailspin since its New South Wales casino licence was suspended in 2022. It dropped to 41 cents yesterday, down 10 per cent in a week.

Hong Kong stocks surge over reforms The South China Morning Post

Hong Kong stocks rallied after China’s market regulator unveiled a series of market reforms aimed at enhancing the city’s status as a financial hub, with sentiment also boosted by the prospect of a bigger investor base following the changes. The Hang Seng Index rose 1.8 per cent yesterday to close at 16,511.69.

German industry faces difficult year Der Spiegel

Chancellor Olaf Scholz tried to spread optimism at the start of the Hannover Messe trade fair. But this has not yet caught on in the economy. German industry is expecting another difficult year. Production is expected to decline by 1.5 per cent compared with 2023, industry association BDI announced at the start of the fair. The BDI expects exports to stagnate in 2024, after falling by 1.5 per cent last year.