Latest news with #IPI
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Bank Negara likely to maintain OPR at 2.75% for rest of year: AmBank chief economist
KUALA LUMPUR: AmBank Group expects Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75% for the remainder of the year, citing current economic conditions as supportive of the existing rate. AmBank Group chief eonomist Firdaos Rosli said the current OPR level is appropriate and no adjustments are anticipated in the near term. 'We believe the current OPR of 2.75% is adequate. Given the prevailing economic landscape, we do not foresee any changes in the coming months. It is likely to remain unchanged through the end of 2025,' he told reporters at the National Economic Forum 2025 today. However, Firdaos cautioned that the outlook for 2026 may differ, depending on external developments. 'There is still considerable uncertainty surrounding economic conditions in the United States and other key markets. The situation could evolve in ways that impact our projections,' he noted. On Malaysia's economic performance, Firdaos said that second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth may moderate slightly to the lower end of the 4% range, following a decline in the Industrial Production Index (IPI). Malaysia's IPI grew by just 0.3% year-on-year in May, a notable slowdown from the 2.7% expansion recorded in April. 'Given the slowdown in industrial output, GDP growth for Q2 could come in closer to 4%, although still within the targeted range. External trade has remained relatively resilient, which supports overall performance,' he said. He attributed this resilience to front-loading activities, particularly among exporters shipping goods to the United States and other international markets ahead of potential trade disruptions. Firdaos pointed out that the strong 4.4% GDP growth recorded in the first quarter was likely boosted by early festive spending, some of which carried into the second quarter. 'Consumer spending has remained stable, especially with the Hari Raya period falling within the quarter,' he said. AmBank's full-year GDP forecast stands at 3.8%, slightly below the World Bank's projection of 3.9%. 'We are anticipating a general economic slowdown, primarily driven by external headwinds. Consumer and investment confidence remain somewhat subdued, and we expect this trend to continue in the near term,' Firdaos said. While not attributing the slowdown to any specific policy or shock, he emphasised the broader sentiment-driven nature of the deceleration. 'It's a general, broad-based slowdown – not due to any one specific factor such as tariffs – but rather an accumulation of uncertainty in the external environment,' he said. Tariffs, however, remain a key area of concern. 'In my view, tariffs continue to pose a significant uncertainty in the global trade landscape. The United States is taking a bilateral approach, and it's still unclear how other Asean countries will be treated under this policy direction,' he said. Firdaos noted that countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia have already received official communication from the US, while Singapore has not. Malaysia, he said, has also received such correspondence, with negotiations ongoing and expected to continue until August. 'There is a possibility that the negotiation deadline could be extended, which keeps sentiment cautious among businesses and investors,' he added. In light of this uncertainty, Firdaos said, companies may accelerate trade activities to hedge against potential tariff hikes. 'This cautious sentiment is a key reason behind the expected slowdown. Businesses and consumers are taking a more conservative stance amid unresolved global issues.'
Barnama
7 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
AmBank Group Projects Moderate Four Pct Malaysia GDP Growth For 2Q 2025
BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- AMMB Holdings Bhd (AmBank Group) expects Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) to grow at a moderate rate of around four per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q 2025), supported by continued front-loading activities that benefit the external sector. Its chief economist Firdaos Rosli said the growth momentum seen in 1Q 2025 is likely to ease in 2Q due to weaker industrial output. 'We think 2Q GDP will ease slightly, mainly due to the softer industrial production index (IPI). But, overall growth should remain in the low four per cent range,' he told reporters after speaking as a panellist at the National Economic Forum 2025 today. Firdaos added that the strong 1Q performance was likely driven by early economic activity, but external challenges are expected to weigh on the subsequent quarter. For the full year, the bank projects GDP growth at 3.8 per cent, which is slightly below the World Bank's forecast of 3.9 per cent, as weaker consumer and investment confidence continue to affect overall economic momentum, reflecting broader signs of a slowdown. 'Tariff uncertainties remain a key concern, particularly given the bilateral nature of trade decisions in the United States,' he said. The Department of Statistics Malaysia is scheduled to announce the advance GDP estimates for 2Q 2025 tomorrow, followed by an official announcement on Aug 15, 2025. On the overnight policy rate (OPR), Firdaos said AmBank expects it to remain at 2.75 per cent until the end of the year. On July 9, Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) reduced the OPR by 25 basis points to 2.75 per cent, a pre-emptive measure to preserve Malaysia's steady growth path amid moderate inflation prospects.
Business Wire
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Intrepid Announces Date for Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Release
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intrepid Potash, Inc. (NYSE: IPI) plans to release its second quarter 2025 financial results on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, after the market closes. Intrepid will host a conference call on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results and other operating and financial matters and answer investor questions. Management invites you to listen to the conference call by using the toll-free dial-in number 1 (800) 715-9871 or International dial-in number 1 (646) 307-1963; please use conference ID 1179359. The call will also be streamed live via webcast. A recording of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call by dialing 1 (800) 770-2030 for toll-free, 1 (609) 800-9909 for International, or via webcast. The replay of the call will require the input of the conference ID 1179359. The recording will be available through August 14, 2025. About Intrepid Intrepid is a diversified mineral company that delivers potassium, magnesium, sulfur, salt, and water products essential for customer success in agriculture, animal feed and the oil and gas industry. Intrepid is the only U.S. producer of muriate of potash, which is applied as an essential nutrient for healthy crop development, utilized in several industrial applications and used as an ingredient in animal feed. In addition, Intrepid produces a specialty fertilizer, Trio ®, which delivers three key nutrients, potassium, magnesium, and sulfate, in a single particle. Intrepid also provides water, magnesium chloride, brine, and various oilfield services. Intrepid serves diverse customers in markets where a logistical advantage exists and is a leader in the use of solar evaporation for potash production, resulting in lower cost and more environmentally friendly production. Intrepid's mineral production comes from three solar solution potash facilities and one conventional underground Trio ® mine. Intrepid routinely posts important information, including information about upcoming investor presentations and press releases, on its website under the Investor Relations tab. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll at to receive automatic email alerts or RSS feeds for new postings.
The Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Weaker industrial output weighs on growth
PETALING JAYA: The latest industrial production index (IPI) data tracking manufacturing, mining and electricity output released last week shows that the Malaysian economy is on course for slower growth, as external challenges centring around trade and geopolitics continue to weigh on industrial activities. The IPI registered a slight growth of 0.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) in May after a 2.7% expansion in April, which was below market expectations for an increase of 2.1% y-o-y, with analysts projecting moderate growth this year against a backdrop of global trade uncertainty and early indications of improvements in manufacturing-sector conditions. TA Research said the latest IPI data points to a likely moderation in overall economic growth for the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25) despite the manufacturing sector remaining a key driver of gross domestic product expansion, supported by domestic demand and front-loading activity to get ahead of tariffs. The data remained mixed, as manufacturing output, which grew an average 4.2% y-o-y in the April-to-May period, suggested sustained underlying momentum while the manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI), which tracks the sector's market sentiment, improved to 49.3 in June from 48.8 in May. A reading below 50 signals a contraction. The research house believes the manufacturing PMI reading, the highest since late 2022, signals a gradual improvement in business sentiment despite the index remaining in contraction territory. Malaysia's manufacturing PMI has been in continuous contraction since last June. It maintained IPI growth of 2% y-o-y compared with the 3.7% expansion last year. 'Looking ahead, industrial activity is expected to remain highly sensitive to global trade dynamics, domestic demand conditions, and fluctuations in energy prices, particularly amid ongoing uncertainty over US trade policy. 'Ongoing trade tensions, particularly those involving the United States, pose notable downside risks for Malaysia's export-oriented industries by disrupting supply chain continuity and undermining export competitiveness,' it added. BIMB Research, which retained an IPI growth forecast of 2.9%, pointed to elevated risks for export-heavy categories such as electrical and electronics products, raw materials, and machinery, with the Aug 1 US tariff deadline and the possible expiry of China-related tariff suspensions on Aug 12 as key turning points.
New Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
CIMB: Malaysia's Q2 growth to moderate on weaker IPI
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's economic growth is expected to moderate in the second quarter of 2025, following a slowdown in industrial production and ongoing trade uncertainties, according to CIMB Securities. The firm said the industrial production index (IPI) growth eased to an average of 1.5 per cent on a yearly basis in April-May 2025, down from 2.3 per cent in the first quarter, signalling a loss of momentum in industrial activity. However, the impact of weaker mining output is likely to be cushioned by sustained front-loading of manufacturing exports, driven by the extension of the US tariff deadline to Aug 1 from July 9. CIMB Securities expects this export momentum to continue into the early third quarter of this year. "Manufacturing sector conditions are showing tentative signs of stabilisation," the report noted, citing the S&P Global Malaysia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which inched up to 49.3 in June from 48.8 in May. CIMB Securities cautioned that the country's economic outlook remains vulnerable to external risks, particularly from the prospect of higher US tariffs. "Our base case assumes that the current 10 per cent tariffs on Malaysia's exports to the US will remain in place through end-2025. Under this scenario, we project gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 4.3 per cent," it added. However, it flagged the increasing likelihood of a tariff hike to 25 per cent effective Aug 1, depending on the outcome of ongoing US-Malaysia trade talks. "Should the 25 per cent rate be imposed, we expect a temporary spike in front-loading export activity as exporters rush to beat the deadline. "Beyond August, however, trading activity is likely to soften, resulting in a weaker external environment," CIMB Securities said. Consequently, the firm said Malaysia's GDP growth could fall below the 4.3 per cent baseline projection, with downside risks stemming from weaker export momentum and potential spillovers into domestic investment and business sentiment. "Amid prolonged trade uncertainty and a deteriorating economic outlook, Bank Negara Malaysia cut the overnight policy rate to 2.75 per cent in July while emphasising that any further adjustments will be guided by incoming data," it added.
