Domestic latex production still falls short of fulfilling the demands of the latex-based product industry, which represents 75% of the country’s rubber-based product exports.

Applications for US unemployment benefits edged lower last week, suggesting employers remain reluctant to lay off workers.

US wholesale inflation accelerated in July by the most in three years, boosted by a surge in margins that indicates companies are not absorbing higher import costs related to tariffs.

Japan’s economy expanded faster than expected last quarter, led by solid domestic demand, boosting the case for the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to raise its benchmark rate again this year, while giving embattled Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba some rare good news. 

China's factory output growth slumped to an eight-month low in July, while retail sales slowed sharply, raising pressure on policymakers to roll out more stimulus to revive domestic demand and ward off external shocks to the US$19 trillion (RM80.16 trillion) economy.

Malaysia eked out a tiny current-account surplus in the second quarter, the smallest in at least over 26 years, as excess in goods account narrowed sharply, official data showed.