NEW YORK, June 18 ― Bitcoin dropped below US$20,000 (RM88,039) on Saturday to its lowest level in 18 months, extending its slide as investors pull back from riskier assets amid rising interest rates.

The biggest cryptocurrency was down 7.1 per cent to US$18,993 at 0906 GMT, having earlier touched US$18,732, its lowest since December 2020.

It is down about 59 per cent this year, while rival cryptocurrency Ethereum-backed ether is down 73 per cent.

The digital currency sector has been pummelled this week after cryptocurrency lending company Celsius froze withdrawals and transfers between accounts.

The sector has also suffered losses after companies such as Coinbase Global Inc, Gemini and Blockfi said they would lay off thousands of employees as investors ditch risky assets. ― Reuters

TOKYO, June 17 ― The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has warned internet users to be wary of possible fake websites posing as the country's central bank ahead of a highly anticipated policy decision today.

In a statement on its website, the BoJ said the government's cybersecurity centre had issued a warning earlier this week about phoney websites being created for public and private entities, adding that the central bank had also been targeted.

The warning included the correct URL for the bank: https://www.boj.or.jp/. ― Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 — Caely Holdings Bhd has appointed a new board of directors to steer the company out of financial distress, in light of the current boardroom tussle and ongoing lawsuits that are impacting the company’s operations.

In a statement today, the lingerie maker said among the new board members are group executive chairman Datuk Loh Ming Choon, executive director Datuk Seri Sin Hock Min, executive vice chairman Wong Siaw Puie and executive director Khoo Chen Yeng.

The company said it has laid down projects in the pipeline for the company’s future business operation and intended to materialise and commence the said projects in the near present.

"The details of the projects are being fined and will be disclosed at the appropriate time,” it added. — Bernama