Malaysia Budget 2027 & Investment Climate: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said political stability is key to keeping Malaysia a trusted investment destination, while Budget 2027 will be tabled Oct 9 and is framed around the MADANI Economy—growth, better well-being, and governance reform. SME Push via Digital Banking: Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said Malaysia’s digital economy is on track to reach 30% of GDP by 2030 and flagged Budget 2027 support to make AI affordable for SMEs, including through the Boost SME digital business banking platform. SME Risk Ahead: Affin Bank’s chief economist warned SMEs face lagged impacts from higher prices and supply-chain disruptions in 2027, urging stronger working capital buffers. TH Financial Scrutiny: Economists said a Royal Commission finding that part of Lembaga Tabung Haji’s property valuations relied on management estimates could weaken confidence in its realisable asset value. AI’s Earnings Reality Check: Goldman Sachs found only 2% of S&P 500 firms quantified AI’s impact on earnings so far, with most benefits not yet showing up in results. China Consumption Plan: China unveiled measures to boost county-level consumption via upgraded retail channels, better services, and income support. UK Labour Market Softness: UK job vacancies fell to a five-year low, with vacancies driven down mainly by smaller businesses. Markets & Oil: Stocks dipped as US-Iran ceasefire terms expired, lifting crude and weighing on sentiment. Colombia Quake Cost: Colombia’s president estimated Aug 10 earthquake losses at about $9.58bn, with thousands injured and homes destroyed. Paytm Stake Clarity: Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma said he won’t gain financially from a proposed stake sale, with economic value routed to Antfin. Durban Water Cuts: eThekwini scheduled another shutdown affecting businesses in Pinetown, Chatsworth and Umlazi. Energy Entrepreneurship: AWEaP’s Limpopo master class will train 60 entrepreneurs to turn the energy transition into business opportunities. US Utility Strike Costs: A report put annual US utility damage costs at $83.2bn, mostly from business outages and project delays.