Ringgit climbs with stocks as 1MDB's asset sales buoy finances

The ringgit headed for the longest stretch of gains in a month and stocks rose on optimism debt-ridden state investment company 1Malaysia Development Bhd is close to finalising the sale of property assets for US$2.6 billion.

Shrinking gold trade prompts SGX to refine contract

Just over a year ago, Singapore Exchange Ltd. started gold trading to help bolster the country's role as a bullion hub in Asia, the world's largest consuming region. Transactions slumped to zero in November and the bourse is now trying to revitalize the market.

"Volumes haven't been spectacular," William Chin, vice president of commodities at the exchange, said in an interview. "One of the key reasons is the contract specification itself, and this is quite normal across different products. You don't always get it right the first time round."