Business

EcoWorld Development Group has signed an MoU with Public Bank to provide special end-financing packages for green-certified properties. The Green 5Home and Green Swift Plans offer preferential pricing and fast approval for sustainable residential and commercial projects, supporting environmental initiatives.

Asian stock markets show mixed performance ahead of crucial US employment data. Investors are closely watching August job figures that could influence Federal Reserve's monetary policy and interest rate strategy amid high inflation concerns. Shanghai and Seoul saw gains, while Tokyo and Hong Kong experienced declines.

Standard Chartered Malaysia introduces SmartStocks, a revolutionary online share trading platform allowing Malaysian investors to trade across 12 exchanges in seven global markets through a single account. The platform offers competitive brokerage rates, addressing challenges faced by retail investors seeking international market access.

Malaysia has secured RM123.3 billion in approved investments from January to June 2022, with foreign direct investments contributing 70.9% of the total. The services sector led the investment landscape, accounting for 63.3% of approved projects and expected to create 57,771 job opportunities.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, highlighting a major semiconductor investment that strengthens economic ties between Taiwan and the United States.

The International Monetary Fund has agreed to provide Sri Lanka with a $2.9 billion support package over four years, aimed at helping the country recover from its severe economic crisis. The arrangement is contingent on creditor approvals and will focus on restoring financial stability and economic growth potential.

President Joe Biden traveled to Iowa to announce a strategy for reducing gas prices by temporarily suspending ethanol blending restrictions. The move aims to cut fuel costs by approximately 10 cents per gallon at select stations, addressing high inflation challenges facing American consumers.

President Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to discuss Russia's Ukraine invasion. India's neutral stance has drawn US concerns, with recent UN votes showing global divisions. Biden aims to persuade Modi to take a firmer position against Russian military actions.

Standard & Poor's has downgraded Russia's credit rating to "selective default" after Russia attempted to pay foreign bond payments in rubles instead of dollars. The move suggests Russia is likely to default on external loans for the first time in over a century, impacted by international sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. - EXCERPT: Provides context and key information within 100 words - Uses relevant keywords: S&P, Russia, default, sanctions, Ukraine

SpaceX successfully launched three international entrepreneurs to the International Space Station, marking a milestone in commercial space travel. Passengers from the US, Canada, and Israel paid $55 million each for a week-long orbital experience, demonstrating the growing market for private space exploration.