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Malaysian Blue-Chip Index Ends Week in Red on Unchanged Jobless Rate, Softer Retail Sales Growth

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Malaysian shares closed slightly lower on Friday, with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI at 1,686.74 points, down 1.1% or by 18.78 points amid unchanged unemployment data and slower retail sales growth.

Malaysia's unemployment rate was at 3% in July, unchanged for the fourth straight month, according to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). The total number of unemployed persons edged up by 0.5% month over month to 520,300, while the number of employed persons grew by 0.1% to 17.37 million.

Malaysia's retail sales increased 6.4% year over year in July, the DOSM said. The growth pace marked the softest in three months, easing from the 6.6% expansion in June. It missed Trading Economics' forecast of 7% growth.

In corporate news, Malayan Banking (KLSE:MAYBANK) completed the acquisition of the remaining 30.95% stake in Maybank Ageas for 4.83 billion ringgit in cash.

HE Group (KLSE:HEGROUP) unit Hexatech Engineering accepted a purchase order worth about 25 million ringgit for power distribution system works

What else is happening in Asia?

Asia

Hearts and Minds Investments Posts Lower August Net Tangible Asset

Hearts and Minds Investments (ASX:HM1) reported post-tax net tangible asset of AU$3.34 per share as of Aug. 31, according to a Friday filing with the Australian bourse.The company recorded post-tax net tangible assets of AU$3.56 per share for August 2025, an earlier filing showed.Its portfolio was up 0.6% for the month of August and delivered an annualized pre-tax investment return of over 10% per year since inception.The portfolio offered a fully franked annualized dividend yield of about 6.5% as of Aug. 31, the filing said.The company's shares added nearly 1% in recent Friday trade.

ASX:HM1
Asia

Cape EMS Partners with Helios PV to Distribute Battery Systems in Europe

Cape EMS (KLSE:CEB) subsidiary, Cape Renewables, signed a distribution and strategic collaboration agreement with Helios PV (Asia Pacific), to commercialize and distribute residential battery energy storage systems across Europe and the Asia-Pacific.The electronics manufacturer's unit will handle sourcing, system integration, assembly and testing, according to a Thursday Bursa Malaysia filing.Meanwhile, Helios, which is a unit of Frankfurt-listed Helios Solar AG, will handle market development, importation and distribution.

KLSE:CEB
Asia

White Energy Company Confirms Acquisition of Essential Global Resources, Oceltip Coal 2 Completed; Shares Fall 5%

White Energy Company (ASX:WEC) confirmed the completion of the acquisition of Essential Global Resources and Oceltip Coal 2, which has acquired the Tin Hut Creek project and associated assets, according to a Friday Australian bourse filing.White Energy issued 83.3 million fully paid ordinary shares to the shareholders of Essential Global as consideration for the acquisition of the membership interests in Essential Global. In connection with the Oceltip Coal 2 acquisition, the purchase price was AU$4.5 million, as adjusted for debts and other liabilities at completion.It also completed a placement to institutional and professional investors to raise AU$15 million at an issue price of AU$0.06 per share.Nathan Tinkler was appointed as Managing Director and Executive Chair of White Energy, succeeding Brian Flannery as Chairman.Its shares fell 5% in recent trading on Friday.

ASX:WEC