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Lotus’s Malaysia, the Malaysian subsidiary of Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Group retail business, is set to acquire Village Grocer along with four other retail brands in a deal valued at RM1.66 billion, according to reports by Says.com. The acquisition marks a major expansion for Lotus’s in Malaysia, strengthening its footprint in the country’s growing retail sector. Village Grocer, known for its premium supermarket offerings, has built a loyal customer base, while the additional four brands further diversify Lotus’s portfolio, spanning mid-market and convenience store segments. Industry analysts say the move positions Lotus’s Malaysia to better compete with both local and international supermarket chains, as consumer spending and modern retail demand continue to grow. The acquisition also reflects a broader strategy by the Charoen Pokphand Group to consolidate its retail operations in Southeast Asia and capture synergies across multiple store formats. Lotus’s Malaysia has not yet disclosed details regarding the integration plan for the acquired brands, but reports suggest the company will maintain existing management teams to ensure operational continuity while aligning corporate strategy across the group. The RM1.66 billion deal is expected to significantly boost Lotus’s market share in Malaysia and provide access to new customer segments. It also underscores the growing appetite for consolidation in the Malaysian retail sector, where competition is intensifying and scale is increasingly crucial for profitability. Regulatory approvals for the acquisition are expected to be sought in the coming months, with completion anticipated later in the year, subject to compliance with Malaysian competition and corporate regulations.

Gold futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives are anticipated to trade within a broader range next week, as heightened volatility in the oil market begins to shape the wider macroeconomic outlook. Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, noted that persistent tensions in West Asia and a surge in crude oil prices could place additional pressure on gold prices. “If the West Asia crisis continues without signs of easing and crude oil approaches a worst-case scenario near US$120 per barrel, the correlation we have observed between oil, yields, and the dollar suggests that gold could face further downward pressure from higher interest rates and a firmer US dollar,” he said. Under typical conditions, gold is expected to trade within roughly US$50 per troy ounce week-to-week. However, Innes added that current energy market volatility makes such predictions less reliable. “For now, I am expecting a broader trading range of around US$5,025 to US$5,125 per troy ounce,” he said. On a week-on-week basis, Bursa Malaysia gold futures contracts saw modest declines. The March 2026 contract fell to US$5,103.8 per troy ounce from US$5,128.50 previously, while April 2026 decreased to US$5,122.6 per troy ounce from US$5,147.0. The May 2026 contract dropped to US$5,141.8 per troy ounce from US$5,166.10, and June and August 2026 contracts settled lower at US$5,175.7 per troy ounce, down from US$5,200.0 per troy ounce. Weekly trading activity also showed a decline. Trading volume narrowed to 48 lots, down from 73 lots a week earlier, while open interest eased to 78 contracts, compared with 100 contracts previously. In the physical market, gold was fixed at US$5,130.1 per troy ounce during the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) afternoon fix on March 12, 2026. Market analysts noted that while gold is traditionally seen as a safe-haven asset during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, its performance is increasingly linked to energy prices, interest rates, and the strength of the US dollar. Investors are expected to closely monitor developments in the Middle East and the oil market, as these factors are likely to influence gold’s short-term direction and trading range in the coming week.

Empire Premium Food Bhd, the owner of the popular Empire Sushi brand, has signed a retail underwriting agreement with Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (Maybank IB) for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO) and proposed listing on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia. From left: Empire Premium Food Bhd non-independent executive director and COO Jordan Tan, Empire Premium non-independent executive director and CEO Nicole Lim, Maybank Investment Bank Bhd chief executive officer Micheal Oh-Lau and Maybank Investment Bank managing director and regional head of equity capital market Raymond Chooi. The agreement marks a key step in Empire Premium Food’s plans to raise capital from public investors, enabling the company to fund expansion initiatives and strengthen its presence in Malaysia’s growing food and beverage sector. Under the underwriting arrangement, Maybank IB will manage the retail portion of the IPO, ensuring smooth subscription and allocation for investors. This also provides confidence to the market that the IPO process will be well-structured and professionally managed. Empire Premium Food, known for its premium sushi and Japanese cuisine outlets, has seen strong growth in recent years, driven by increasing consumer demand for high-quality dining experiences. The capital raised from the IPO is expected to support the company’s strategic growth plans, including new outlet openings, technology upgrades, and potential regional expansion. Management said the IPO is part of its broader strategy to create long-term shareholder value while enhancing brand visibility in Malaysia’s competitive food and beverage market. The listing on Bursa Malaysia’s Main Market will also allow public investors to participate in the growth of Empire Premium Food as it scales operations and strengthens its position in the F&B industry.

The Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT), Malaysia’s pension fund for armed forces personnel, is exploring opportunities to expand its investment portfolio into the technology sector, including the United States, as part of efforts to enhance long-term returns. According to sources familiar with the matter, LTAT is currently in discussions with relevant authorities to obtain approval for the proposed move. The plan, if greenlit, would see the fund diversify beyond traditional sectors such as property, infrastructure, and fixed income, tapping into high-growth industries that could generate stronger returns over time. The US technology sector, once a “hot” market for investors, has recently seen more cautious sentiment amid market volatility and geopolitical concerns. Despite this, LTAT believes selective exposure could provide attractive opportunities, particularly in companies with strong fundamentals and long-term growth potential. A spokesperson for LTAT said the fund is committed to ensuring that any new investment strategy aligns with its mandate to safeguard and grow the retirement savings of Malaysia’s armed forces personnel. “Our goal is to optimise returns for our members while managing risk prudently. Expanding into high-potential sectors such as technology is part of this strategy,” the spokesperson said. Industry analysts noted that Malaysian pension funds, including LTAT, are increasingly looking overseas and into growth sectors as domestic opportunities become limited or overvalued. By targeting areas such as US tech, LTAT aims to diversify currency exposure, tap into innovation-driven growth, and position the fund for long-term resilience. While details of the fund’s potential investment plan remain under review, market watchers will be closely monitoring LTAT’s moves, as any approval could signal a broader trend of Malaysian institutional investors seeking higher returns through selective exposure to global technology companies.

IJM Corp Bhd’s management is defending the company’s value and outlining plans to accelerate the unlocking of its assets, following Sunway Bhd’s conditional voluntary takeover offer of RM3.15 per share. In an independent advice circular (IAC) released on Friday, M&A Securities Sdn Bhd advised IJM shareholders that the offer is “not fair and not reasonable.” Following the advisory, IJM group chief executive officer Datuk Lee Chun Fai said the company is considering a restructuring plan that could see several of its business segments spun off into separate pure-play listed entities. The move is intended to better reflect the group’s underlying value and address the holding company discount currently applied to IJM’s share price. Lee said the existing conglomerate structure makes it difficult for individual business segments to be properly valued by the market. “When everything is put into one basket — highways, construction projects, profitable units and also operations that are not performing as strongly, such as our Indian business — the valuation tends to average out,” he said during an interview at IJM’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya. He noted that IJM’s construction division is performing strongly, supported by projects including data centres and the New Pantai Expressway (NPE2) extension. However, these strengths may not be fully reflected in the group’s overall valuation under its current structure. According to Lee, spinning off business segments into standalone listed entities may be the most effective way to unlock the company’s true value. However, the proposed restructuring would depend on the current board remaining in place. If major shareholders — including the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), and Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP) — choose to accept Sunway’s takeover offer, the restructuring plan may not proceed. M&A Securities noted that Sunway’s offer represents a 46.1% to 51.4% discount to the estimated value of IJM shares, which it placed between RM5.84 and RM6.48 per share. The decision now rests with shareholders, who must determine whether to accept the takeover offer or allow the current management team time to unlock the group’s asset value through restructuring.