Market Overview - U.S. equity markets are expected to open strongly due to improved investor sentiment following a bipartisan deal in the Senate to end the government shutdown [1][3] - Major index futures are showing gains, with S&P 500 futures up approximately 0.7% to 0.9%, Nasdaq 100 futures up 1.2% to 1.5%, and Dow Jones futures up 0.1% to 0.4% [2][4] Economic Impact - The government shutdown, lasting 40 days, has created significant economic uncertainty, delaying crucial data releases and impacting various sectors [3] - The resolution of the shutdown is anticipated to lead to the release of delayed economic reports, including the Consumer Price Index (CPI), initial jobless claims, retail sales, and Producer Price Index (PPI) for October [5] Company Developments - Nvidia (NVDA) saw a 7% stock decline last week but is expected to recover as optimism returns to the tech sector, with CEO Jensen Huang requesting TSMC to increase chip supplies for AI technology [7] - Apple (AAPL) recently surpassed a $4 trillion market value, indicating the strength of major tech players [11] - Pfizer (PFE) has agreed to acquire Metsera for up to $10 billion, winning a bidding war against Novo Nordisk [11] - CoreWeave ([CRWV]) is set to release earnings today, with shares having more than doubled since going public, driven by deals with Nvidia and Meta [11] - Toyota Motor Corporation (TM) unveiled a new Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) model, part of its strategy for carbon neutrality [11] - Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA) are nearing a deal with merchants that could reshape the credit card rewards landscape [11] - UPS (UPS) and FedEx (FDX) may face operational impacts due to the FAA grounding MD-11 planes following a recent crash [11] - Diageo (DEO) appointed former Tesco boss Dave Lewis as its new chief [11] - Nomad Foods (NOMD) reported lower revenue and earnings in Q3 2025, citing ongoing market headwinds [11] Upcoming Events - The week includes important economic updates, such as the German Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and Eurozone's Q3 GDP [6] - High-profile earnings reports are expected from companies like Cisco (CSCO), Applied Materials (AMAT), Walt Disney (DIS), and others [8]

Vehicle Market Overview - The Malaysian vehicle market saw a slight increase in August 2025, reaching 73,041 units compared to 72,580 units in August 2024, supported by improved inventories, new model launches, and aggressive dealer promotions [1] - In the first eight months of 2025, the vehicle market declined by 4% to 516,862 units from a record high of 537,532 units in the same period last year, with light passenger vehicle sales down by 3% and commercial vehicle sales down by 16% [3] Economic Context - The Malaysian economy expanded by 4.4% year-on-year in Q2 2025, maintaining similar growth from Q1, driven by strong domestic consumption [2] - The central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.75% in July 2025, marking its first rate cut since April 2023 [2] Electric Vehicle Segment - Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales increased by 63% year-to-date to 23,396 units, primarily driven by BYD and its Denza brand, Proton's e.MAS7, and Tesla [4] - Total vehicle production in Malaysia fell by 9% to 493,176 units in the first eight months of 2025 [4] Company Performance - Perodua, the market leader, experienced a 2% decline in sales to 231,700 units year-to-date, slightly outperforming the overall passenger vehicle market [5] - Proton's global sales fell slightly to 100,902 units in the first eight months of 2025, with the Saga being its best-selling model [5] - UMW Toyota reported a 4% decline in sales to 62,246 units, with the Vios as its best-selling model [6]