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Written by Irhamy Ahmad, Founder and Managing Director of Irhamy Valuers InternationalMalaysia’s data centre industry is experiencing rapid expansion, cementing its position as a key Southeast Asian digital hub. By Q1 2025, operational capacity reached 522 MW, with an additional 1.1 GW expected by year-end, pushing total capacity towards 5 GW. This growth is backed by strong government support and significant global investments. Major milestones include AWS launching its Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Region in August 2024, Google beginning work on a US$2 billion facility in Selangor in October 2024, Microsoft’s first Malaysian cloud region scheduled for Q2 2025, and Alibaba Cloud opening its third local site in July 2025. In 2024, Tenaga Nasional Berhad boosted the national grid with nine projects adding 1.3 GW of maximum demand, while MIDA confirmed six operational sites by mid-year. Local players are also scaling up rapidly. Equinix expanded its KL1 facility by 450 cabinets in May 2025, bringing capacity above 4.5 MW, while Telekom Malaysia’s KVDC2 (9.2 MW) and IPDC2 (10 MW) are set to go live in late 2025. AIMS completed its Cyberjaya Block 2 (8 MW) in April 2024 and Block 3 (12 MW) in mid-2025. Growth is concentrated in Klang Valley and Johor, the latter expected to hit 1.6 GW by mid-2025 due to its strategic proximity to Singapore. As energy and water usage rise, the sector is increasingly shifting towards sustainable, high-efficiency solutions to support long-term growth. For more countries updateDownload Now!

Written by Shan Saeed, IQI Chief EconomistIn early April 2025, President Donald Trump’s announcement of “Liberation Day” tariffs rattled global markets, with fears of a trade war driving volatility in equities, currencies, and commodities. While the initial levies caused a sharp sell-off, a quick de-escalation—reducing most tariffs to 10% by April 9 and extending similar terms to China in May—helped financial markets rebound swiftly. Although macroeconomic uncertainty eased, tariffs remain a central part of the U.S. administration’s strategy. This backdrop has influenced commodity and currency markets, with gold and silver leading strong year-to-date gains, while the U.S. dollar index has fallen sharply. Equity markets tell a different story—market concentration in the U.S. has reached unprecedented levels, with the top 10 stocks comprising a record 40% of the S&P 500’s market cap, up from 27% at the height of the dot-com bubble. Yet, these companies contribute only 30% of total earnings, raising questions about sustainability. The world’s largest companies, led by Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon, dominate both investor attention and market value. Berkshire Hathaway’s record $344 billion cash position underscores a cautious stance amid “considerable uncertainty,” driven by trade policy shifts and macroeconomic headwinds. For more infoDownload now!

Written by Hamid R. Azarmi, Head of Business DevelopmentIn September 2025, global markets are navigating a complex macroeconomic landscape marked by persistent but uneven disinflation, diverging monetary policies, and slowing yet resilient growth. U.S. core PCE inflation remains elevated at 2.8%, fuelling cautious optimism for a Federal Reserve policy shift. The Bank of England has begun gradual rate cuts, while the Bank of Japan maintains its stance amid upward inflation revisions. These differing approaches are adding volatility to interest rates, currencies, and capital flows, requiring investors to adopt a more strategic and risk-aware posture. Portfolio positioning now calls for a focus on quality, liquidity, and selective opportunity. Short-duration sovereign and investment-grade corporate bonds remain preferred to manage policy uncertainty, supported by diversified global exposure and currency hedging. In equities, defensive holdings in companies with strong balance sheets, stable cash flows, and pricing power are favoured, with Europe and select Asia-Pacific markets offering better value than the U.S. Real estate investments should prioritise structurally resilient sectors such as logistics, data infrastructure, and ESG-compliant residential, avoiding underperforming legacy office and retail. Selective exposure to emerging markets like India and Southeast Asia is attractive due to improving yields and strong domestic demand, but active management and currency vigilance remain key. 

Hong Kong’s property sector is sending a mixed picture. In June, the office market posted a positive net absorption of 44,200 square feet, led by financial tenants such as TPG 6th Street Partners expanding in Central. Yet office rents slipped 0.5 per cent, with Hong Kong East recording the sharpest drop.On the residential side, primary market transactions rose 16.7 per cent month-on-month to 2,147 units, driven by aggressive discounts and new launches. The Deep Water Pavilion sold all 138 units within a single day. Luxury demand also held firm, highlighted by a Mount Nicholson penthouse sold for HKD 609 million.While secondary activity remains subdued, the strength of the primary and luxury segments underscores Hong Kong’s enduring appeal, even as broader recovery momentum stays uncertain.Explore the full analysis and market updates from other countries here!Download

India has become the Trump Organisation’s largest market outside the United States, with seven luxury projects already delivered across major cities. Following Donald Trump’s election in 2024, the company announced six new developments in Gurugram, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Noida, and Bengaluru.Together these projects will add eight million square feet of branded luxury real estate, more than quadrupling the firm’s footprint since 2024. The asset-light model, based on brand licensing rather than direct construction, ensures strong profits with minimal capital risk.Once completed, the India portfolio will reach 11 million square feet, solidifying the country’s role as both the cornerstone of Trump Organisation’s global expansion and its most profitable international market.Explore the full analysis and market updates from other countries here!Download

The Philippine housing market remains resilient in 2025, with the Residential Real Estate Price Index rising 7.6 per cent in Q1. Condominiums led growth at 10.6 per cent, especially in Metro Manila where prices climbed nearly 14 per cent. Detached homes rose more modestly at 4.5 per cent.The office sector is equally vibrant, with leasing activity up 80 per cent in the first half of the year, driven by IT-BPM expansions in Ortigas and Taguig. Regional cities such as Cebu and Davao are also emerging as strong growth centres.Sustainability is becoming central, with more developers prioritising green-certified projects. With infrastructure upgrades, remittances, and expected rate cuts supporting demand, the outlook for the Philippine real estate sector remains robust.Explore the full analysis and market updates from other countries here!Download

Pakistan’s property market is gaining momentum as mixed-use developments reshape urban living. With urbanisation nearing 39 per cent and expected to reach 50 per cent by mid-decade, demand is surging for integrated spaces that combine residential, commercial, and leisure facilities.Flagship projects in Islamabad and Karachi are attracting strong interest, offering yields between 5 and 7 per cent alongside steady capital appreciation. At the same time, regulatory reforms are streamlining approvals and boosting transparency, making the market more investor-friendly.By blending smart infrastructure, energy efficiency, and enhanced security, developers are creating assets that deliver both lifestyle value and long-term returns. Mixed-use projects are quickly becoming the cornerstone of Pakistan’s evolving real estate sector.Explore the full analysis and market updates from other countries here!Download

Vietnam’s residential property market is facing a growing affordability challenge, particularly in Hanoi where mid-range apartments have nearly disappeared. New launches are priced above VND60 million per square metre, with many pushing past VND100 million, leaving middle-income buyers priced out.In Ho Chi Minh City, however, the secondary market is rebounding as long-standing legal hurdles are resolved. Older apartments, once undervalued, are now seeing price increases of 15 to 24 per cent, with popular projects such as Saigon Royal and The Tresor gaining strong momentum.This shift highlights the dual reality of Vietnam’s property landscape: rising barriers for first-time buyers but renewed opportunities for investors and sellers in the secondary market.Explore the full analysis and market updates from other countries here!Download