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Market Overview - Major U.S. index futures indicate a higher open on Monday, with stocks expected to continue the upward trend from the previous sessions [1] - Technology stocks are likely to lead the market, following strong performances last Thursday and Friday [1] Company Highlights - Oracle (ORCL) shares surged by 2.6% in pre-market trading after Wells Fargo reiterated its Overweight rating [1] - Oracle's stock spiked by 6.6% following a memo from TikTok CEO indicating an agreement to sell its U.S. operations to a joint venture including Oracle and Silver Lake [5] - Nvidia (NVDA) shares jumped by 3.9% after reports of plans to ship AI chips to China before the Lunar New Year [6] - Micron Technology also showed strong performance after better-than-expected quarterly results and guidance [5] Economic Indicators - Existing home sales in the U.S. rose by 0.5% to an annual rate of 4.13 million in November, following a 1.5% increase in October [7] - Consumer sentiment index for December was revised down to 52.9 from a preliminary 53.3, still above November's 51.0 [9] Sector Performance - The tech-heavy Nasdaq closed up 301.26 points or 1.3% at 23,307.62, while the S&P 500 rose by 59.74 points or 0.9% to 6,834.50 [4] - Biotechnology stocks performed well, with the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index surging by 3.1% [10] - Gold stocks saw strength, with the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index increasing by 2.7% amid rising gold prices [10] Commodity and Currency Markets - Crude oil futures rose by $1.28 to $57.80 per barrel [12] - Gold futures jumped by $69.50 to $4,456.80 per ounce [12] - The U.S. dollar traded at 157.04 yen, down from 157.75 yen [12]

Asian closed with strong gains on Monday, buoyed by Wall Street's tech-led rally on Friday. Sentiment was also boosted by People's Bank of China keeping its one-year and five-year Loan Prime Rate at record lows for the seventh consecutive month.China's Shanghai Composite Index gained 27 points or 0.69 percent to finish trading at 3,917.36, versus the previous close of 3890.45. The day's trading ranged between 3,900.52 and 3,920.01. The Japanese benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 913 points or 1.8 percent to close ...

Convenience store-sized supermarkets are boosting Aeon's shares, writes @GearoidReidy — and threatening 7-Eleven (via @opinion) https://t.co/F4UN06RglM ...

Seven & i's market value dipped below Aeon for the first time in two decades https://t.co/yrGfgnlSVr ...

Market Overview - The gift card market in Malaysia is projected to grow by 13.5% annually, reaching USD 1.98 billion in 2025 [1] - The market experienced a CAGR of 14.5% from 2020 to 2024 and is expected to maintain a CAGR of 12.0% from 2025 to 2029, potentially expanding to approximately USD 3.12 billion by the end of 2029 [2][21] Market Dynamics - The market is transforming due to increased digital adoption, corporate demand, and strategic retailer collaborations, with a notable shift towards digital formats driven by e-commerce growth [4][6] - Regulatory changes are shaping the industry, focusing on consumer protection and market transparency, which will be critical for business operations [5][22] Competitive Landscape - The competitive environment is intensifying with the participation of fintech firms and e-commerce giants, leading to innovative and consumer-friendly offerings [6][10] - Major players include Lazada, Shopee, Grab, and Boost, which are leveraging their platforms to enhance gift card solutions [10][11] Consumer Behavior - There is a growing preference for digital transactions, with consumers using gift cards for both gifting and self-use, driving demand across various sectors [7][11] - The corporate sector is increasingly utilizing gift cards for employee recognition and customer incentives, reflecting a shift towards modern reward strategies [13] Strategic Collaborations - Retailers are forming partnerships with gift card providers to enhance accessibility and broaden distribution, with online marketplaces offering customizable solutions [15][16] - These collaborations are expected to expand the market reach of gift cards, making them more available in both online and offline channels [15][16] Regulatory Environment - The Malaysian government is implementing regulations to enhance consumer protection, ensuring transparency and fairness in the gift card market [22] - These regulatory updates may increase compliance costs for businesses but are expected to boost consumer confidence and adoption rates [22]