|

Malaysia: Government reallocates extra assistance – UOB

UOB Group’s Senior Economist Julia Goh and Economist Loke Siew Ting review the recent measure announced by the Malaysian government.

Key Quotes

“The government announced an assistance package (PERMAI) yesterday (18 Jan) worth MYR15bn. This follows recent tightening of measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The assistance package does not require new funding as it will be financed through reallocation of existing funds. We estimate about ~MYR4.0bn worth of government funds reallocated for this package.”

“The PERMAI assistance package improves on the existing initiatives and accelerates the implementation of related initiatives. The package is anchored on three key objectives – 1) combating the COVID-19 outbreak, 2) safeguarding the welfare of the people, and 3) supporting business continuity.”

“The latest package reaffirms that fiscal support is ongoing to sustain the economic recovery despite the current challenges… We pencilled in a 25bps OPR cut to a new low of 1.50% in 1Q 2021. However, the pressure to ease may be lesser with the latest assistance measures and government’s assessment that the economic impact from current MCO is more manageable.”

Author

Pablo Piovano

Born and bred in Argentina, Pablo has been carrying on with his passion for FX markets and trading since his first college years.

More from Pablo Piovano
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD moves sideways below 1.1800 on Christmas Eve

EUR/USD struggles to find direction and trades in a narrow channel below 1.1800 after posting gains for two consecutive days. Bond and stock markets in the US will open at the usual time and close early on Christmas Eve, allowing the trading action to remain subdued. 

GBP/USD keeps range around 1.3500 amid quiet markets

GBP/USD keeps its range trade intact at around 1.3500 on Wednesday. The Pound Sterling holds the upper hand over the US Dollar amid pre-Christmas light trading as traders move to the sidelines heading into the holiday season. 

Gold retreats from record highs, trades below $4,500

Gold retreats after setting a new record-high above $4,520 earlier in the day and trades in a tight range below $4,500 as trading volumes thin out ahead of the Christmas break. The US Dollar selling bias remains unabated on the back of dovish Fed expectations, which continues to act as a tailwind for the bullion amid persistent geopolitical risks.

Bitcoin slips below $87,000 as ETF outflows intensify, whale participation declines

Bitcoin price continues to trade around $86,770 on Wednesday, after failing to break above the $90,000 resistance. US-listed spot ETFs record an outflow of $188.64 million on Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive day of withdrawals.

Economic outlook 2026-2027 in advanced countries: Solidity test

After a year marked by global economic resilience and ending on a note of optimism, 2026 looks promising and could be a year of solid economic performance. In our baseline scenario, we expect most of the supportive factors at work in 2025 to continue to play a role in 2026.

Avalanche struggles near $12 as Grayscale files updated form for ETF

Avalanche trades close to $12 by press time on Wednesday, extending the nearly 2% drop from the previous day. Grayscale filed an updated form to convert its Avalanche-focused Trust into an ETF with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.