KLSE

Dated 2012-05-22
More KLSE news from:
http://www.thestar.com.my


  MAS proposes up to RM2.5b sukuk
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has proposed to launch a Sukuk programme of up to RM2.5 billion to shore up its capital base, with the proposal currently pending regulatory approval. The Sukuk programme is part of the airline’s funding plan which consists of…..

  MAS cuts Q1 loss after tax by 29pc
Tough business decisions helped Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to reduce its loss after tax by 29 per cent to RM171 million inthe first quarter ended March 31, 2012, from a loss of RM242 million posted in the same period last year despite higher jet fuel pr…..

Mudajaya stands out in industrials sector
Mudajaya Group emerges as a strong performer on a combination of valuation and analyst revision scores among 23 companies in Malaysia’s industrials sector, data from Thomson Reuters StarMine shows. The data covers firms tracked by at least three …..

SapuraKencana secures Australia contract
SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Australia, SC Projects Pty Ltd, has secured a A$51 million (RM157.25 million) contract from Origin Energy Resources Ltd for the Origin Otway Phase 3 Development.In a filing with Bursa Malaysia,…..

WCT grows pre-tax profit to RM51.6 in Q1
WCT Bhd has registered a pre-tax profit of RM51.606 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, up from RM49.548 million in the corresponding quarter last year.Revenue for the three-month period rose to RM341.57 million from RM315.614 million…..

YTL Corp revenue jumps 24pc in Q1
YTL Corporation Bhd’s (YTL) revenue and profit after taxation for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, rose 23.5 per cent and 10.8 per cent, respectively, due to better performance in the cement and property development segments.The revenue rose t…..

MRCB enjoys 48pc Q1 pre-tax profit surge
Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) recorded a 48 per cent hike in pre-tax profit to RM35.6 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, from RM24 million in the same quarter last year.Revenue also rose to RM328.6 million versus RM221.5…..

Alam Maritim swings to profit in 1st quarter
Alam Maritim Resources Bhd returned to the black when it chalked up a pre-tax profit of RM7.536 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012 against a pre-tax loss of RM6.728 million recorded in the same quarter last year.Group turnover was hig…..

Yeo Hiap Seng a ‘buy’: AmInvestment
The research arm of AmInvestment Bank started coverage on drinks manufacturer Yeo Hiap Seng Bhd with a ‘buy’ call and a target price of RM3.90 (US$1.24) per share thanks to its expansion into Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy. AmInvestm…..

Axiata Q1 pre-tax profit rises to RM905m
Axiata Group Bhd has scored a higher pre-tax profit of RM905.134 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012 compared with RM902.21 million in the corresponding quarter last year.Revenue for the three-month period rose eight per cent to RM4.25…..

Kenanga cuts Mah Sing target price
Kenanga Research cut its target price for property developer Mah Sing Group to RM2.00 (US$0.64) from RM2.18 on an outlook for higher net gearing after acquiring more landbank. Kenanga said it was neutral on Mah Sing’s recent RM333.2 million acqui…..

Willowglen awarded rail project contracts
Willowglen MSC Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Willowglen (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, has been awarded contracts valued at RM17.992 million for the design, manufacture, installation, testing and commissioning of SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition…..

AirAsia stopping KL–Solo flights Sept 2
AirAsia is withdrawing operations for its seven times a week Kuala Lumpurand#8211;Solo (Indonesia) flights effective Sept 2, 2012 as part of the airline’s realignment of its business plans. ‘Affected guests who have booked flights on this route will …..

Hei Tech Padu gains on RM34.5m IT job
HeiTech Padu Bhd, a computer-services company, gained 4.2 per cent to RM1, the most since Dec 8. The company won a RM34.5 million (US$11 million) contract to provide maintenance services and computer software to the government, it said in a statement…..

Deleum pre-tax profit up 92pc
Deleum Bhd recorded a 91.7 per cent increase in pre-tax profit to RM15.3 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, from RM8 million in the same period last year. Revenue declined by 35.6 per cent to RM82.8 million from RM128.4million previo…..

SapuraKencana wins RM157m Aussie job
SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd’s wholly-ownedsubsidiary in Australia, SC Projects Pty Ltd, has secured a AUD$51 million(RM157.25 million) contract from Origin Energy Resources Ltd for the OriginOtway Phase 3 Development. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia,…..

Lion Forest posts weaker Q3 pre-tax profit
Lion Forest Industries Bhd posted a lower pre-tax profit of RM9.1 million for the third quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared with RM10.7 million in the same quarter last year.Revenue also fell to RM218.9 million from RM395.7 million.The weaker per…..

Tambun Indah reaps better Q1 pre-tax profit
Tambun Indah Land Bhd, which plans to launch new projects with a total gross development value (GDV) of RM500 million this year, posted a pre-tax profit of RM18.154 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.The property developer recorded a …..

Exabytes, MOLPay ink easy payment pact
Web-hosting provider, Exabytes Network Sdn Bhd has forged a partnership with MOLPay Sdn Bhd to provide fast, easy andaffordable online payment gateway systems for e-commerce set ups at Easy.my. Easy.my is hosted on Exabytes’ system and provides an in…..

Scomi Marine up on Q1 profit jump
Scomi Marine Bhd, a marine transport company, added 1.2 per cent to 41.5 sen at midday, headed for its highest close since May 15. First-quarter profit jumped to RM16.4 million from RM5.9 million a year earlier, the company said in an exchange filing…..

Xingquan gains on US$131m orders
Xingquan International Sports Holdings Ltd, a China-based maker of sports shoes, gained 2.3 percent to 91 sen at midday, bound for its highest close since May 7.The company received orders totaling 826 million yuan (US$131 million) from a sales fair …..

Boustead jumps on UAC buyout offer
Boustead Holdings Bhd, a plantation, property and heavy industries group, climbed 2.4 per cent to RM5.11 at midday, bound for its steepest increase since Jan. 3. The company made an offer to buy out UAC Bhd through a capital reduction and repayment e…..

OSK Ventures rises on Q1 net income
OSK Ventures International Bhd, an investment group, rose 3.9 per cent to 40.5 sen at midday, poised for its largest gain since March 2. The company reported first-quarter net income of RM29.6 million (US$9.5 million), compared with a loss of RM18.5 …..

Great Eastern Life gets new CMO
Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Bhd has appointed Nicholas Kua as its new Chief Marketing Officer. In a statement today, it said Kua would be leading the marketing and communications function in line with Great Eastern’s strategic objectives……

‘KL Monorail expansion on track’
The KL Monorail Fleet Expansion Plan,undertaken by Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana), is proceeding smoothlyaccording to schedule. Prasarana Group Director for Rail Division Khairani Mohamed said the firstsets of four-car trains will be recei…..

Malaysia-Australia FTA to be in force in 2013
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA) will come into force on Jan 1, 2013.The talks began in May 2005 and were concluded on March 30, 2012 after 11 rounds of negotiations.In a statement today, the International Trade and I…..

BRDB posts higher Q1 pre-tax profit
Bandar Raya Developments Bhd (BRDB) registered a pre-tax profit of RM17.492 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, from the RM7.818 million posted in the corresponding quarterlast year. Revenue for the three-month period also grew to RM1…..

KNM posts higher Q1 pre-tax profit
KNM Group Bhd’s pre-tax profit forthe first quarter ended March 31, 2012, rose to RM15.965 million from RM6.267million in the same quarter last year. Revenue increased to RM585.829 million in the period from RM413 millionpreviously. In an announce…..

Lion Forest posts lower Q3 pre-tax profit
Lion Forest Industries Bhd posted a RM9.1 million lower pre-tax profit for the third quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared with RM10.7 million in the same quarter last year. Revenue also fell to RM218.9 million from RM395.7 million. The weaker perfo…..

Parkson posts higher Q3 pre-tax profit
Parkson Holdings Bhd’s pre-tax profit forthe third quarter ended March 31, 2012 rose to RM249.815 million from RM246.258million in the same quarter last year.Revenue increased to RM918.206 million in the period from RM801.325 millionpreviously. In an…..

OSK Holdings posts lower Q1 pre-tax profit
OSK Holdings Bhd registered a lower pre-tax profit of RM57.322 million for its first quarter ended March 31, 2012 against RM72.007 million in the corresponding quarter last year. Revenue for the three-month period fell five per cent to RM287.869milli…..

Tambun Indah posts higher Q1 pre-tax profit
Tambun Indah Land Bhd, which plans to launch new projects with a total gross development value (GDV) of RM500 million this year, posted a pre-tax profit of RM18.154 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. The property developer recorded a…..

AmBank issuing Europe-style warrants
AmBank (M) Bhd is issuing two new European style cash-settled structured warrants today to meet investors’ demand for trading opportunities and alternative investments for the current market. The two new call warrants (CW) will be over the ordinary s…..

KL shares close higher
Shares of the following companies had unusual moves in Malaysia trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses and prices are as of the close in Kuala Lumpur.The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index rose 0.5 per cent to 1,546.84, its highest close since May 15……

US shares score solid gains
NEW YORK: US shares racked up strong gains Monday with the Nasdaq adding nearly 2.5 per cent helped by an Apple surge, but Facebook shares flipped below their IPO price on their first full day of trading.Jumps in the prices of the Nasdaq’s two larges…..

MRCB Q1 earnings up 2.5% to RM22.15m
Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd’s (MRCB) earnings rose 2.5% to RM22.15mil in the first quarter ended March 31, 2012 from RM21.60mil a year ago, mainly due to higher expenses, despite the sharply higher revenue……

YTL Corp Q3 earnings up 16.9% to RM364.8m
YTL Corporation Bhd’s earnings rose 16.9% to RM364.82mil in the third quarter ended March 31, 2012 from RM312.05mil a year ago, underpinned by its multi-utility business……

  Investor sentiment perks up; KLCI closes up 8pts
European and Asian markets climbed on Tuesday, as investors pinned their hopes that China and the euro area would do more to bolster global economic growth……

  MAS to issue RM2.5b sukuk, 10-yr tenure
Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) plans to undertake a RM2.5bil Sukuk programme to shore up its capital base and the tenure would be for 10 years under a three-pronged funding programme……

MAS Q1 losses shrink to RM171m from RM242m year ago
Malaysian Airline System Bhd’s (MAS) net losses in the first quarter ended March 31, 2012 were lower at RM171mil compared with the RM242mil a year ago……

Unisem chairman says ‘worst is over’, sees strong growth ahead
Unisem (M) Bhd expects to record double-digit growth this year after its poor performance last year, as it focuses on tier-one clients and the China market……

Felda Global to kick-start book-building from May 31
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The book-building process of Malaysia’s Felda Global Ventures Holdings’ over US$3 billion listing will begin on May 31 and end on June 15, a source with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters on Tuesday……

Petrofac secures US$220m contract from Petronas Carigali
Petrofac Group has secured a US$220mil contract from Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd to refurbish the Bekok-C platform in Block PM9 in the south-eastern part of the Malay basin……

OECD sees euro crisis threatening world recovery
PARIS (Reuters): The United States and Japan are leading a fragile economic recovery among developed countries that could yet be blown off course if the euro zone fails to contain its flaring growth crisis, the OECD said on Tuesday……

RAM Ratings expects Tan Chong Motors’ performance to improve
RAM Rating Services Bhd expects Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd’s (TCMH) performance to improve in 2012, underpinned by the introduction of several models……

GLOBAL MARKETS-Shares gain on hopes of action over EU crisis
LONDON (Reuters): European shares joined a global rally in riskier assets on Tuesday and German bond prices fell as hopes grew that European leaders would agree on fresh action to tackle the debt crisis while promoting growth……

UAC hits limit-up on Boustead privatisation offer
Shares of UAC Bhd hit limit-up to RM3.66 on Tuesday afternoon after Boustead Holdings Bhd’s privatisation offer at RM4.30 per share……

SCORE attracts RM24.6b investments from 17 projects
KUCHING (Bernama): The Sarawak Corridor Renewable Energy (SCORE) has secured ivestments totalling RM24.63bil from 17 projects which are expected to create more than 14,000 employment opportunities……

REDTone, MIMOS plan WiFi access solution, ISP
REDtone International Bhd’s subsidiary is collaborating with MIMOS Bhd to provide WiFi access solutions and also the Intelligent Surveillance Platform (ISP)……

Axiata Q1 net profit, excluding forex translation, up 19% to RM652m
Axiata Group Bhd’s net profit excluding foreign translation rose 19% to RM652mil in the first quarter ended March 31, 2012 while regional mobile subscribers grew 24% on-year to over 200 million making the group one of the largest telcos in the region…..

Markets firmer, CIMB, DiGi buoy KLCI
Key Asian markets held on to their gains at midday on Tuesday, notching gains of more than 1% as investors pinned their hopes that China and Europe would implement measures to strengthen economic growth……

Harvest Court shareholders approve RM808m construction venture
Harvest Court Industries Bhd’s shareholders have approved the company’s plan to diversify from the timber product business into the construction sector……

Malaysia-Australia FTA to come into force January 2013
The Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which was signed on Tuesday, will come into force on Jan 1, 2013. …..

AHB slips on proposed share capital reduction
Shares of AHB Holdings Bhd were among the major losers in late morning on Tuesday after the company proposed to reduce the issued and paid-up share capital……

SapuraKencana Petroleum snaps 3-day of losses
Shares of SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd snapped their three days of losses since last Thursday’s listing with the share price advancing in line with the firmer markets on Tuesday……

Markets extend gains on value hunt, hopes for EU summit
TOKYO (Reuters): Markets extended gains on Tuesday with investors hunting for bargains after prices reclaimed some groud off 2012 lows, as hopes grew that Europe would embark on fresh action to tackle its debt crisis while promoting growth……

Kenanga Research maintains Scomi Marine FV at 66.5 sen
—…..

Consumer stocks top gainers
Consumer stocks and high dividend counters were among the top gainers in mid-morning trade on Tuesday but in thin volume while the FBM KLCI extended its gains, in line with the firmer regional markets……

RHB Research maintains Market Perform on Tan Chong
RHB Research Institute is maintaining its Market Perform call on Tan Chong Motor Holdings and sees few catalysts for the stock to be re-rated higher in the near-term. …..

HDBSVR: Underlying sentiment on Bursa to remain cautious
Hwang DBS Vickers Research (HDBSVR) said the technical rebound on Wall Street would probably lift the Malaysian bourse a bit more on Tuesday after its FBM KLCI posted a mild 6.5-point increase yesterday……

HDBSVR maintains Buy on TSH, RM2.75 target price
Hwang DBS Vickers Research (HDBSVR) is maintaining its Buy call on TSH Resources Bhd and a target price of RM2.75……

GLOBAL MARKETS-Markets extend gains on hopes for EU summit
TOKYO(Reuters): Markets kept gains on Tuesday after reclaiming some ground to move off lows for the year the day before, as hopes grew that Europe would embark on fresh action to address its debt crisis while promoting growth……

Facebook shares sink 11% in first day of trade as reality overtakes hype(update)
NEW YORK: Facebook shares sank 11 percent in the first day of trading without the full support of the company’s underwriters, leaving some investors down almost 25 percent from where they were Friday and driving others to switch back to more establis…..

GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks, oil rise as G8 leaders pledge growth
NEW YORK: Global stocks on Monday rebounded from lows for the year and oil prices rose for the first time in four sessions as world leaders emphasized support for growth in the euro zone, and China said priority should be given to maintaining its eco…..

EPF releases list of funds
KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has published the revised list of fund management institutions (FMI) and unit trust funds for 2012/2013 for the EPF members investment scheme (EPF-MIS)……

Tips on what to do during an interview for a job
Yippee! You’ve finally landed an interview for your dream job at your dream workplace. You’ve done everything humanly possible to prepare for the big interview – updated resume, researched the company, dry-cleaned your lucky interview clothes, spent …..

MMC-Gamuda JV denies will claim RM1.5bil from Govt
PETALING JAYA: MMC-Gamuda Joint Venture Sdn Bhd has denied claims that it may be seeking a variation order amounting to RM1.5bil from the Government due to cost overruns in the RM12.5bil Ipoh-Padang Besar electrified double track project (EDTP), said…..

Malaysia’s venture capital industry poised to bounce back
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s venture capital industry is expected to reverse its declining trend this year, as it is looking at about 25% growth by the year-end from the current RM5.4bil of total assets under management……

Malaysia’s eight golden years to come
KUALA LUMPUR: The period from now till 2020 will be Malaysia’s eight golden years as close to RM1 trillion of gross national income is expected to be created, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah……

RSPO pushing for certification of smallholders in Malaysia and Indonesia
EARLY this month, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) said in a statement that Indonesia had overtaken Malaysia as the world’s largest certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) producer……

Salcon mulls expansion through M&As
SUBANG JAYA: Salcon Bhd is looking at mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to grow itself in a bid to fast track its listing plan for its China water and waste water concessions within the next two years……

MTD awarded RM500mil MRT viaduct project
PETALING JAYA: MTD ACPI Engineering Bhd’s wholly owned subsidiary MTD Construction Sdn Bhd has received a letter of award worth RM499.98mil from Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd……

TAS secures RM98mil contract
KUCHING: TAS Offshore Bhd has secured a major contract to sell two vessels for RM98mil to a Middle-East client……

Latin America outlook seen attractive
KUALA LUMPUR: Latin America continues to be an attractive market to many foreign companies despite the sluggish global economy, said International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir……

Hard disk makers see turnaround
GEORGE TOWN: Hard disk drive (HDD) component manufacturers in the country expect a healthy year for the industry in 2012, after the industry was badly hit late last year by floods in Thailand……

GK Goh founder buys into E&O
PETALING JAYA: Singapore-based GKG Investment Holdings Pte Ltd has emerged as a substantial shareholderin niche property developer Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O) following acquisitions of shares in the company on the open market last week……

Brahim’s proposes to buy 49% in F&B company
PETALING JAYA: Brahim’s Holdings Bhd has proposed to acquire a 49% stake, or 490,000 shares, in Brahim’s-LSG Sky Chefs Holdings Sdn Bhd (BLH) for RM130mil cash……

FBM KLCI rebounds in tandem with Asian markets
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian stock market rebounded in tandem with most Asian bourses, after suffering some steep declines last week……

Masterskill could pay out some IPO proceeds
PETALING JAYA: Masterskill Education Group Bhd’s announcement that it is delaying plans to build its flagship campus is in line with speculation that the company may consider returning some of the proceeds from its 2010 listing to shareholders……

I-Bhd to reap i-City reward
I-Bhd, the master developer of i-City, is now ready to reap the fruits of its labour as most of the major infrastructure works at i-City in Shah Alam have been completed……

Increased reliance on bond markets for financing
KUALA LUMPUR: Corporations have increased their issuance of debt papers of late with reasons for doing so varying from refinancing existing bonds to raising capital for future expansion……

Proposal to privatise UAC
PETALING JAYA: Boustead Holdings Bhd has proposed to privatise its 65.21% subsidiary UAC Bhd at RM4.30 per share, which is 49.9% above the latter’s five-day volume weighted average market price of RM2.87 on May 18……

Corporate Results In Brief
KUALA LUMPUR: Corporate results in brief…..

Formula One to start pre-marketing S’pore IPO
HONG KONG: Motor racing business Formula One will start pre-marketing for its up to US$3bil Singapore initial public offering (IPO) today after receiving approval from the city’s stock exchange for the deal, a source said……

Crucial week for Facebook
NEW YORK: Newly issued shares in Facebook Inc may have a hard time in the coming week if lead underwriter Morgan Stanley stops supporting the stock and managers lower down in the initial public offering (IPO) book who were hoping for an early surge d…..

China opens vast rail system to investors
BEIJING: China’s railway industry will open to private investment on an unprecedented scale, according to a document issued this weekend by the Ministry of Railways, which is struggling with mounting debts and a corruption scandal while attempting to…..

Alibaba buys back 20% stake in Yahoo
SHANGHAI: Chinese Internet entrepreneur Jack Ma is buying back up to half of a 40% stake in his Alibaba Group from Yahoo Inc for US$7.1bil, in a deal that moves the Chinese e-commerce leader closer to a public listing.       …..

Wanda buys AMC for US$2.6bil
BEIJING: Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group agreed to buy AMC Entertainment for US$2.6bil, including debt, making it the biggest theatre operator in the United States.        …..

Operational efficiencies to balance forex losses for Axiata Q1 results
PETALING JAYA: With Axiata Group Bhd set to release its first quarter results to March 31, 2012 today, analysts are expecting flattish growth due to the depreciation of currencies in the countries that it operates, but supported by a rebound in its o…..

Tan Chong Q1 profit falls 57%
PETALING JAYA: Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd’s net profit for its first quarter ended March 31, 2012 fell 57% to RM31.67mil from RM74.08mil in the previous corresponding period due to stock constraints in popular models……

Xingquan’s seasonal sales fare better this year
PETALING JAYA: Xingquan International Sports Holdings Ltd recorded a 4.6% rise in sales orders to 826 million renminbi (RM400mil) at its recent Autumn/Winter 2012 Sales Fair in China compared with orders received at the same event last year……

Petronas Dagangan posts RM246mil net profit
PETALING JAYA: Petronas Dagangan Bhd registered RM246.21mil in net profit for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Revenue posted was RM6.85bil on the back of higher average product selling prices and higher sales volume……

James Hardie Q4 profit falls on higher fixed costs
SYDNEY: Australia’s James Hardie Industries Ltd posted a 4% fall in fourth-quarter operating profit as higher fixed costs outweighed an improvement in its US and European businesses……

Ryanair sees 20% fall in profit
DUBLIN: Ryanair, Europe’s biggest budget airline, warned high fuel costs and a worsening economic outlook in Europe meant profit would slip by up to 20% in the coming year, the first fall in four years.       …..

Campbell profit beats forecast
NEW YORK: Campbell Soup Co reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings yesterday but left its full-year forecast unchanged as it continues trying to turn around its North American soup business. Net income was US$177mil for the fiscal third quar…..

L&G unit gets RM7.8mil aid
PETALING JAYA: Land & General Bhd (L&G) is providing up to A$2.5mil (RM7.8mil) to its 50%-owned subsidiary Hidden Valley Australia Pty Ltd (HVA) within the next 12 months as financial assistance for a proposed retirement estate project in Melbourne……

Mah Sing to build township
PETALING JAYA: Mah Sing Group Bhd plans to undertake the building of a mixed township near Bangi, Selangor, after acquiring 412 acres there……

MAS only to pay caterer what it takes for in-flight services
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is said to have re-negotiated its catering contract after nine yearswhere it will no longer pay a guaranteed monthly amount for catering services and only for what it takes from LSG Sky Chefs-Brahim’s Sdn Bhd (L…..

Thai Q1 growth surges after floods
BANGKOK: Thailand’s economy grew a record 11% in the first quarter from the previous three months, rebounding from last year’s severe flooding, and strong full-year growth is expected due to a jump in consumption and investment after the disaster……

Fat pay rise for German workers
BERLIN: A record-breaking pay deal will give millions of German workers their biggest rise in wages in two decades, boost consumption in Europe’s biggest economy and help towards adjusting the regional imbalances that have caused severe tensions with…..

Britons’ finances squeezed in May
LONDON: Britons’ household finances worsened at their fastest rate in four months in May as some mortgage holders grappled with higher repayments, while worries about jobs and rising living costs also increased, a survey showed……

Chinese buyers default on coal shipments
SHANGHAI: Chinese traders have defaulted on some thermal coal contracts following a drop in prices over the past month, according to traders, providing more evidence that a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy is hitting the appetite for co…..

Rupee yet to hit bottom
MUMBAI: The rupee fell below the key psychological level of 55 to hit a new record low yesterday, setting up the prospect of further falls unless the central bank takes measures or intervenes more aggressively, traders said.       …..

Spain confident of deficit goal
MADRID: Spain says it will meet its deficit targets this year despite a new slippage in its regions’ accounts and a further contraction of the economy in the second quarter.       …..

Australia’s Qantas to split business into two
SYDNEY, May 22 (Reuters) – Qantas Airways, said it plans to split its loss-making international and profitable domestic businesses, though Australia’s top airline was viewed by analysts as unlikely to spin off or sell the international operations……

Nasdaq seen struggling with aftermath of Facebook IPO
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Nasdaq OMX faces short-term costs from its botched handling of Facebook shares on their first day of trading but the longer term repercussions could be more expensive as it struggles to restore its image……

MF Global paid Corzine US$8mil in year before collapse
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Former MF Global Holdings Ltd chief Jon Corzine received more than US$8 million in pay and stock options from the futures brokerage in the year before it went bankrupt……

Tough NZ budget, no spending rise, targets 2015 surplus
WELLINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) – New Zealand is set to deliver its toughest budget in 20 years this week, promising no spending increase in a struggling economy and a lower tax take, as the government strives to return to surplus by 2015……

G8 steps up plans to aid Arab Spring economies
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Industrialized nations have stepped up plans to help countries swept up in the Arab Spring rebuild their economies through more access to international credit markets, investment and trade, a senior State Department official sa…..