Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Malaysia industrial production is expected to register a robust expansion of 6.5 percent y/y in November, expanding up from 4.2 percent in October. This strong reading should come in the wake of recent surge in export sales.
Exports staged a strong rebound in November. Sales were up by 7.8 percent y/y, led by shipments of electrical and electronic products, and palm oil and palm-based goods. While the latter reflects the recovery in commodity prices, the former was driven by the pick-up in global electronics cycle amid stronger consumption growth in the US, noted DBS Group Research.
We expect that the stronger industrial production will support the growth in gross domestic product (GDP). Base effects, currency fluctuations, seasonal factors and restocking of inventory all have a tendency to distort export figures.
But industrial output growth matters more to manufacturing sector performance and consequently on GDP growth. As long as IPI continues to march north, we can expect improvement in GDP growth.
