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Pekat Group Bhd, an ACE Market-listed solar company, is planning to transfer its listing to Bursa Malaysia’s Main Market. In a filing on Thursday, the company said it has met the key requirements for the move, including a strong profit track record, solid financial position, and positive net cash from operating activities. Pekat said the proposed transfer is expected to strengthen its credibility, reputation, and visibility among investors, particularly institutional investors, while reflecting the group’s growth and profitability since its ACE Market listing. Under Bursa Malaysia requirements, companies seeking a Main Market transfer must record at least RM30 million in aggregate net profit over the past three financial years, including a minimum of RM15 million in the most recent year. Pekat reported an aggregate net profit of RM80.78 million for FY2023 to FY2025, with FY2025 net profit alone at RM45.05 million. The company also confirmed it has met the requirement for a healthy financial position, with no accumulated losses and retained earnings of RM153.91 million as at end-December 2025. It added that it has maintained positive operating cash flow over the past three years and sufficient working capital for at least 12 months. As at end-December 2025, Pekat held cash and bank balances of RM87.62 million, alongside unutilised banking facilities of up to RM172.77 million. The proposed transfer is subject to approval from the Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia, and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of the year. Public Investment Bank Bhd is acting as the principal adviser for the exercise. Pekat was listed on the ACE Market in June 2021. Shares in the company closed six sen or 3.66% lower at RM1.58 on Thursday, valuing the group at RM1.12 billion.

Apple has raised prices of its iPad and MacBook lineup, saying it can no longer absorb rapidly rising memory and storage chip costs driven by the artificial intelligence-driven expansion of data centres. The price changes do not affect the iPhone, Apple’s main revenue generator. However, the increase pushes the starting price of the MacBook Neo, its entry-level laptop designed to compete with affordable Windows and Chromebook devices, from US$599 to US$699 (RM2,464 to RM2,875) just months after its launch. The move underscores how even Apple, the world’s most valuable consumer electronics company with a highly efficient supply chain, is not insulated from the sharp surge in memory prices that is reshaping the outlook for smartphones and personal computers. Memory manufacturers such as Micron have recently prioritised orders from AI chipmakers like Nvidia, which has boosted their profits but constrained supply for consumer electronics firms. This imbalance has forced device makers to pass on higher costs to customers. “We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly,” Apple said in a statement. “We have shielded our customers from these increases so far, but we have now reached a point where we need to begin raising prices on a number of products, including today’s increases for iPad and Mac.” Under the new pricing, the MacBook Air with 512GB storage now costs US$1,299, up from US$1,099, while the MacBook Pro with 1TB storage has risen to US$1,999 from US$1,699. The iPad Air with 128GB storage has also increased from US$599 to US$749, among other adjustments. Apple has also raised prices for its HomePod smart speaker and Apple TV set-top box. The announcement weighed on investor sentiment, with Apple shares falling nearly 5%, while Dell declined more than 8%. Analysts said rival device makers may be forced to implement even steeper price increases, as Apple’s strong supplier relationships have helped cushion part of the impact. “The memory environment is tough and remains structurally tough for the foreseeable future,” said Ben Bajarin, CEO of technology consultancy Creative Strategies. Apple said in April that existing inventory had helped maintain gross margins above Wall Street expectations, but warned that rising memory costs would begin to weigh on profitability by the end of the month. “We expect significantly higher memory costs,” CEO Tim Cook said during an April earnings call, adding that the pressure would continue beyond the June quarter. Apple has not disclosed additional measures beyond price increases to offset rising costs. “We know this is not welcome news, and we are working tirelessly to find solutions,” the company said. Analysts expect further price adjustments, including potential increases for the iPhone in the coming months. Some also believe the latest hikes may encourage consumers to bring forward purchases ahead of future increases. “The iPhone isn’t spared, its hike is coming,” said Nabila Popal, senior research director at IDC. She added that Apple’s timing of the price adjustments ahead of its fall iPhone launch was strategic, allowing the company to shift focus toward product value rather than pricing concerns during the launch cycle. Prices for dynamic random access memory (DRAM), used in most electronic devices, have surged sharply due to AI-driven demand. Industry tracker TrendForce reported increases of up to 98% in the first quarter of 2026, with further gains of 58% to 63% expected in the current quarter. The surge, described by some analysts as “RAMageddon,” has been driven by aggressive expansion of AI data centres, with firms such as Nvidia locking in long-term supply deals. Micron recently disclosed US$22 billion in such agreements. The rising cost environment is expected to weigh on global device demand. IDC estimates the smartphone market could see its steepest annual decline of nearly 14% this year, while the PC market may fall 11.3%. One bright spot had been Apple’s MacBook Neo, launched in March, which supported stronger-than-expected sales forecasts for the June quarter. However, the latest price increase has eroded its pricing advantage over competitors, including Dell’s XPS 13, as well as entry-level Chromebooks from Lenovo and Asus.

Samsung Group is expected to announce plans to invest 1,000 trillion won (US$647.53 billion or RM2.7 trillion) in South Korea over the next decade, including a potential 300 trillion won commitment to build semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the country’s southwest region, according to a media report on Friday. The investment plan is set to be unveiled during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the presidential office on Monday, the Maeil Business Newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources. Senior executives from major technology companies, including Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and rival SK Hynix Inc, are expected to attend the meeting, where they will present investment initiatives aimed at promoting economic growth beyond Seoul and its surrounding metropolitan areas. The reported investment push comes as South Korea seeks to encourage large corporations to expand operations outside the capital region. Samsung and SK Hynix currently have the bulk of their semiconductor production facilities concentrated around Seoul, and have faced increasing calls to support regional development through new investments. A significant portion of Samsung’s proposed spending is expected to be directed towards the semiconductor sector, reinforcing the country’s ambitions to strengthen its position in the global chip industry amid rising competition and growing demand for advanced technologies. South Korea’s presidential office said on Thursday that it plans to hold a public briefing on “three mega-projects for South Korea’s great leap forward”, adding that further details on the meeting would be announced in due course. Samsung had not issued an official comment on the report as of Friday, as the announcement was made outside regular business hours. If confirmed, the proposed 1,000 trillion won investment programme would rank among the largest corporate investment commitments in South Korea’s history and underscore Samsung’s long-term confidence in the country’s technology and manufacturing ecosystem.

GuocoLand (Malaysia) Bhd has disposed of a 20% stake in GLM REIT Management Sdn Bhd, the manager of Tower Real Estate Investment Trust, according to filings on Bursa Malaysia on Tuesday. Tower REIT said the stake was acquired by HL Management Co Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Leong Company (Malaysia) Bhd. Hong Leong Company is also the ultimate holding company of Hong Leong Bank Bhd. Following the transaction, GuocoLand retains an 80% equity interest in GLM REIT Management. The filing did not disclose the rationale for the partial divestment. Tower REIT added that the Securities Commission Malaysia has approved the change in shareholding, clearing the regulatory requirement for the transaction to proceed. GuocoLand is a subsidiary of Guoco Group Ltd, the overseas investment arm of the Hong Leong Group, which is ultimately controlled by the Kwek family. GLM REIT Management Sdn Bhd serves as the manager of Tower REIT, overseeing its operations and strategic direction. The divestment represents a change in the ownership structure of the REIT’s management company but does not affect the listed REIT itself. Market reaction was muted, with Tower REIT closing unchanged at 30 sen on Tuesday, valuing the company at RM147.3 million. GuocoLand also ended the session flat at RM1.09, giving it a market capitalisation of RM763.5 million.