KLSE 

Dated 2011-12-31


  Tenaga launches e-Application for supply
Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has made it easy for customers to apply for electricity supply with the launch of its online service called e-Application. Aimed at improving efficiency, the e-Application can also be used to help customers monitor the stat…..

  ‘Dragon to wake up from slumber slowly’
Bursa Malaysia, despite the turmoil in Europe and unexciting investment environment now, is expected to kick off 2012 on an upbeat note next week as it ushers in the year of the dragon, dealers said. The market will be relatively firm as there is amp…..

Ringgit to stay uncertain next week
The ringgit is expected to remain uncertain against the US dollar in the first trading week of the New Year as investors look ahead for fresh leads against the backdrop of the eurozone debt crisis, dealers said. Investors are likely to remain sidelin…..

Palm futures likely to trade lower
Crude palm oil (CPO) futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is likely to trade lower next week in line with the weak performance in other commodity markets, dealers said. ‘Buyers will not actively enter the market next week due to the curren…..

KL tin mart to usher in 2012 on sluggish note
The Kuala Lumpur Tin Market (KLTM) is expected to embrace 2012 on a sluggish trading pattern in the absence of fresh catalyst to boost the market, a dealer said. He said the market would be quiet in the first trading week, with buyers mostly staying …..

Tight supply seen boosting rubber prices
Continued tight supply coupled with the forthcoming Lunar New Year festival in January is expected to see the Malaysian rubber market opening on a high note come 2012. Supply of the commodity is expected to slow down even further in the next two mont…..

US stocks end year in red
NEW YORK: US stocks on Friday closed the final session of the year solidly in the red as investors appeared to pause ahead of the extended New Year’s holiday weekend.The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 12,217.56, down 69.48 points (0.57 percen…..

Your 10 questions for Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai
Dr Lim Wee Chai, Top Glove chief answers your 10 questions……

Media Prima plans to restructure
KUALA LUMPUR: Media Prima Bhd (MPB) and its subsidiary companies will undertake a group-wide internal corporate restructuring exercise to realign the group’s businesses into distinct business units……

Limited gains seen for Genting from new Manila casino
PETALING JAYA: Genting Bhd will likely see only limited gains from its affiliate Genting Hong Kong Ltd (GHK) after a news report that the latter would begin construction on a second casino in the Philippines next year……

Financing issues affecting the SMEs
The financial sector blueprint, which charts the direction of the financial sector over the next decade, lacks a comprehensive road map on the development of the small and medium enterprise (SME), according to industry observers……

Fear factors for Asia in 2012
As we bid farewell to a volatile 2011, and usher in a seemingly more challenging new year, StarBizWeek polls 10 major factors that could trigger economic fears in Asia in 2012……

MAS unveils new management structure, names 2 new heads
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has unveiled its management structure that will take effect Jan 1, 2012, in line with its recently announced business plan……

AirAsia extends F1 sponsorship
KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd has extended its sponsorship agreement with 1Malaysia Racing Team Sdn Bhd for a period of one year effective Jan 1, 2012……

Up Close & Personal with Dr Nehemiah Lee
HOW’S this for humble beginnings – a boy from a family of seven was so poor, he and his siblings lived off brown rice and sweet potatoes that were plucked from their garden almost all of the time……

Brokerages recommend defensive stocks in six sectors
PETALING JAYA: Investors are advised to target defensive stocks in the consumer, telecommunications, healthcare, construction, oil and gas and plantations in view of the uncertain market outlook……

FBM KLCI closes the year 24.04 points higher to 1,530.73
PETALING JAYA: The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KL Composite Index ended 2011 with a last minute bang, adding 24.04 points to 1,530.73, making the local bourse the third-best performing index in Asia for the year……

Boustead unit buys 16 aircraft for RM586.2mil
PETALING JAYA: Boustead Holdings Bhd’s 51%-owned subsidiary MHS Aviation Bhd (MHS) is buying 16 aircraft for RM586.2mil from DRIR Management Sdn Bhd and DRIR Rotor Sdn Bhd……

Economist: Lower inflation in November expected
PETALING JAYA: Headline inflation moderated to 3.3% in November, reflecting the mostly lower inflation in the food and non-alchoholic beverages, according to the latest Bank Negara statistical bulletin……

SMR Tech unit wins RM14m contract
PETALING JAYA: SMR Technologies Bhd’s (SMR Tech) wholly-owned unit, SMR HR Group Sdn Bhd, has been awarded a one-year contract worth RM14mil from Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Bhd of the Human Resources Ministry……

Bursa rejects Silver Bird waiver application
PETALING JAYA: Bursa Malaysia has rejected Silver Bird Group Bhd’s application to waive the latter from undertaking back-to-back placements for the proposed issuance of a non-binding term sheet in relation to a subscription commitment of up to RM100m…..

After bumpy ride, car industry likely in cruise control
KUALA LUMPUR: The local car industry is set to shift into high gear in 2012 despite having gone through a roller-coaster ride this year……

Syed Ali: Food chain must not fall into foreign hands
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malay Chamber of Commerce (MCCM), which had on Thursday announced its intention to make a counter-offer for Kulim (M) Bhd’s 54% stake in QSR “to ensure the profitable fast food chain does not fall into foreign hands,” now wants to i…..

Yinson Holdings ready to embrace O&G sector
JOHOR BARU: Land transportation and logistics services provider, Yinson Holdings Berhad, is ready to expand its business to embrace the oil and bas (O&G) industry in South-East Asia……

Jaya Tiasa announces disposal of subsidiary
KUALA LUMPUR: Jaya Tiasa Holdings Bhd has announced that its subsidiaries, Atlantic Timber Holdings Ltd and Pacific Timber Holdings Ltd, had entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Brazilian businessman, Cezar Augusto Carrenho De Souza on Dec…..

MARC downgrades rating on MNRB Islamic notes
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd (MARC) has downgraded its rating on MNRB Holdings Bhd’s RM200mil Islamic Medium Term Notes (IMTNs) to A+IS from AA-IS to reflect the company’s weakened financial metrics following two consecutive years…..

  4,500MW onstream by 2016
PETALING JAYA: While Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) still faces an erratic gas supply problem, a silver lining may emerge with the coming onstream of 4,500 megawatts (MW) by 2016……

  Pos M’sia appoints Khalid as new CEO
KUALA LUMPUR: Former group director, corporate planning of DRB-HICOM Bhd, Datuk Khalid Abdol Rahman has been appointed as the group chief executive officer of Pos Malaysia Bhd, effective Jan 1, 2012……

Public Mutual declares distributions for funds
KUALA LUMPUR: Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual, declares distributions totaling more than RM191mil for five of its funds……

Upward momentum likely to continue
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Making ringgit and sense in property investments
MAKING sensible property investment decisions, especially in the Klang Valley, is getting tougher in today’s climate where real estate values are constantly spiralling upwards……

Asian demand keeps market growing amid economic uncertainty
PEOPLE sometimes wonder whether the luxury watch market is somewhat affected by the current global market uncertainty, with the rich also beginning to tighten their spending……

AME Festival opens for delegate registration
THE 2012 Asian Marketing Effectiveness Festival is now open for delegate registrations……

Prashant Kumar takes on regional role
PRASHANT Kumar, chief executive officer of IPG Mediabrands in Malaysia, will assume the role of regional president (world markets Asia)……

Singapore stamp duty a blessing?
Singapore increasing its stamp duty seemsto be a boon for other property markets inthe region as buyers look out of Singaporefor more competitively priced properties……

When old should be bold
Errol Oh questions why some old listed companies should remain sanguine intoday’s fast-paced business world……

A new year’s field of wishes
Tan Thiam Hock hopes for a responsible andjust society as he looks towards 2012……

Urbanising Malaysia calls for the adoption of smart-growth principles
Abdul Rahim Rahman looks at the propertymarket in and around KL, anlyses what’s indemand and in supply, and stresses on theimportance of sustainable development……

Property market welcomes new group of buyers
Thean Lee Cheng wonders how willBank Negara’s new guidelines, aimed atcurbing household debt, affect youngbuyers flocking the property market……

MPH’s December bestsellers
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Snapshots
Compiled by THEAN LEE CHENG…..

Petroplus gets provisional financing, shuts French plant
PARIS: Embattled Swiss-based oil refiner Petroplus has obtained provisional financing from its lenders, sources close to the matter said, even as the debt-laden group prepared to shut down its French refinery as crude oil supplies dwindled……

Deutsche Telekom in US$95m US bribery settlement
NEW YORK: German phone company Deutsche Telekom AG and a Hungarian unit will pay more than US$95mil to settle US criminal and civil probes into the bribery of government officials in Macedonia and Montenegro……

Thai GDP forecast in doubt
BANGKOK: Thai exports fell 13.1% in November from a year before after severe floods forced hundreds of factories to close and the central bank said even its sharply reduced GDP growth forecast was in doubt as a result.       …..

Premier Lee says maintaining price stability among its priorities
SINGAPORE: The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is bracing to thrive in a more competitive world following the underlying problems inflicting the global economy – indebtedness and imbalances – that remain unresolved, in particular, in Europe……

China car rules will discourage foreign firms
BEIJING: China’s decision to “withdraw support” for foreign investment in its car sector is unlikely to see global firms leave the country but will make it harder for new carmakers to enter, analysts say……

India April-November deficit at US$66b
NEW DELHI: India’s fiscal deficit during April to November was 3.53 trillion rupees (US$66.3bil), or 85.6% of the full-year target, according to government data……

Hungary central bank hits out at new bills
BUDAPEST: Hungary’s new central bank bill and another legislation which will allow the merger of the bank with the financial regulator seriously violate the country’s interests and allow government influence over central bank decision making, accordi…..

Taiwan, Hong Kong sign new aviation deal
TAIPEI: Taiwan and Hong Kong signed a new aviation agreement to add more flights between the two and boost trade and tourism……

Tough to predict how 2012 will turn out
AT any given time, it’s tough to foresee how the next 12 months will pan out. But right now, it may be especially hard to construct a reasonably clear picture of the global economy in 2012. And by extension, we have trouble figuring out the direction…..

Ability to win out there
Datuk seri idris jala urgesmalaysian companies to use thedomestic market as a launchingpad and then look beyond ourshores……

In golf lies our end
Tan sri mohd sidek hassan believesthat when our grip on good valuesis the basis to our being, then ourdelivery will be consistently good inall aspects of our lives……

2011: Annus horribilis
Tan sri lin see-yan predicts thatthings are likely to become moreunsettling in 2012 before they getbetter……

Here’s to the CRAZY ONES
Roshan thiran celebrates theheretic, who sees a truth thatcontradicts conventional wisdomand yet remains loyal to theorganisation and the truth……

Deals of the Year
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Should Malaysia’s renewable energy target be more ambitious?
Leong Hung Yee, writer…..

Can the financial sector contribute 10%-12% to the economy by 2020?
Yap Leng Kuen, associate editor…..

Will the slowdown in property prices continue?
Thean Lee Cheng, assistant news editor…..

Will Malaysia’s own sustainable palm oil standards gain acceptance?
Hanim Adnan, deputy news editor…..

Will the MAS-AirAsia collaboration take off?
B.K. Sidhu, deputy news editor…..

Should Proton Holdings Bhd go to DRB-HICOM Bhd?
Jagdev Singh Sidhu, deputy news editor…..

Will we start paying GST next year?
Errol Oh, executive editor…..

Will the Competition Act be a game changer?
Cecilia Kok, writer…..

Will the Government divest more assets?
Risen Jayaseelan, business editor (news)…..

Should Corporate Malaysia give less to charity?
Soo Ewe Jin, deputy executive editor…..

Five key risks for next year
Deepening growth concern, weak sovereign and banking sector balance sheets, and inflation are among the worries……

Volatility is the word
Volatility will continue to be thename of the game for the stockmarket in 2012……

Time of cautious opportunity
There may be more possibilities for Malaysian banking groups to expand locally and abroad……

Property sector to correct
The steep increases seen in the last two years expected to sputter to a halt on weak global sentiment…..

Builders cautiously optimistic
The sector’s growth will hinge on timely implementation of announced mega infrastructure projects……

Another test of resilience
Analysts and industry players, however, are generally bullish on commodities despite global uncertainties……

Clearer skies for Asian carriers
Although IATA predicts a gloomy year for air travel, it expects Asia will be an exception…..

The reign of broadband
Affordability of Internet access and device price point will be among the growth drivers of the telecommunications sector…..

Growth momentum of sukuk and bonds poised to continue
WHILE there are clouds of uncertainty looming over the global economy, the Malaysian bond market is expected to remain bullish next year, fuelled by the expected implementation of infrastructure projects……

Ad market bucks the trend
The industry is expected to outpace global economic growth despite the eurozone and US woes…..

Our take on those who made the news in 2011 and those who will count in 2012
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