KLSE STOCK MARKET

Dated 2012-04-19
More KLSE news from:
http://www.thestar.com.my


  Bursa Q1 pre-tax profit dips to RM57.8m
Bursa Malaysia Bhd registered a slightly lower pre-tax profit of RM57.8 million for the first quarter ended March 31,2012, from RM58.2 million, recorded in the same quarter last year. Revenue dipped five per cent to RM110.5 million, during the period…..

  Lynas: Malaysia over Perth on lower costs
Lynas Corp, an Australian miner, had approval to refine rare earth in Perth though chose to do so in Malaysia instead due to lower costs, Mashal Ahmad, managing director of Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd, told reporters today in the Southeast Asian nation’s …..

TA raises auto sector to ‘neutral’
TA Research upgraded Malaysia’s automotive sector to ‘neutral’ as it saw the worst was over for the industry and sales would improve ahead. The broker said quarter-on-quarter total industry volume (TIV) figures showed gradually normalising im…..

China Stationery queried over price jump
China Stationery Limited has been issued an Unusual Market Activity (UMA) query by Bursa Malaysia today due to the sharp increase in the price and high volume of the company’s shares recently.China Stationery, which was listed on the main market on F…..

RHB ups Public Bank’s fair value
RHB Research raised Public Bank Bhd’s fair value to RM16.70 a share from RM16.07 following better results announced by the country’s No.3 lender in the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. ‘Public Bank’s first quarter net profit of RM941 milli…..

Weststar wins RM500m military 4×4 job
Weststar Group will replace all the 3,600 units of the Armed Forces’ Land Rover Defender four-wheel drives (4WDs) with its 4×4 GS Cargo for a contract sum of RM500 million. Its Group Senior Vice President, Automotive, Datuk Nik Hamdam Nik Hassan sai…..

RM1mil to promote Gloria Jean’s Coffee
Malaysia International Franchise Sdn Bhd (MyFranchise) will set aside funds annually to further strengthen the positionof Gloria Jean’s Coffee brand in the country.Chairman Datuk Ahmad Shalimin Ahmad Shaffie said that this year, more than RM1 million…..

Ta Ann proposes bonus issue
Ta Ann Holdings Bhd has proposed to undertake bonus issue of up to 61,796,130 bonus shares of RM1 each to be credited as fully paid-up on the basis of one bonus share for every five existing shares held on the entitlement date. In a filing to Bursa M…..

MIDF starts Eversendai with a ‘buy’
MIDF Research initiated coverage on Eversendai Corp with a ‘buy’ and a target price of RM2.10 per share, seeing the construction firm in a good position to ride on the robust construction outlook especially in the Middle East. ‘Eversendai has a…..

Media Prima optimistic of profitable FY2012
Media Prima Bhd is optimistic of delivering a profitable current financial year driven by upcoming global and domestic events as well as expansion of content, distribution medium andnon-advertisement revenues, says Group Managing Director Datuk Amrin…..

Stop speculating: MAS CEO
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has asked all parties to exercise caution and refrain from using speculative opinions tocomment on Monday’s incident as it interferes with investigation processes and causes unnecessary alarm among stakeholders. The national c…..

KPJ, Naim Land inks hospital pact
Kumpulan Perubatan (Johor) Sdn Bhd has signed a joint-venture agreement with Naim Land Sdn Bhd to own a purpose-builthospital and later operate the hospital at Kuala Baram district in Miri. Under the joint venture, Kumpulan Perubatan Johor, a wholly-…..

Siemens to setup plant if picked for MRT job
Siemens Malaysia Sdn Bhd intends to establish a local assembly plant for rolling stocks if it were chosen as the system provider for the Sungai Buloh-Kajang Mass Rail Transit (MRT) project. President and Chief Executive Officer M. Prakash Chandran sa…..

Eversendai wins RM134mil Qatar museum job
Eversendai Corp. (EVSD MK), a structural steel contractor, rose 2.3 percent to 1.75 ringgit, bound for the largest increase since Feb. 23. The company received a subcontract valued at 134 million ringgit for the National Museum Qatar project. – Bloom…..

Warisan TC eyes 8 pc heavy truck mart
Angka-Tan Motor Sdn Bhd (ATMSB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warisan TC Holdings Bhd, expects to garner about eight per centmarket share of the local heavy-duty trucks segment with the Malaysian launch of the AUMAN Heavy Duty Trucks. Warisan TC Hol…..

ING may sell Asia asset management unit
ING Groep NV, seeking to sell its asset-management division in Asia, has approached potential buyers including Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. and Invesco Ltd., four people with knowledge of the matter said.The largest Dutch financial-services c…..

Aker Solutions to invest in Malaysia
International oil service group Aker Solutions will invest US$87 million (RM266 million) in its subsea business in Malaysia and Norway. This investment is set to double the capacity of its manufacturing plants in Port Klang and Tranby in addition to …..

Ikam Maju to dispose land for RM3.6m
Ikam Maju Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keladi Maju Bhd, has signed three sales and purchase agreements with Nasa Land Sdn Bhd to set the terms for the disposal of 1.2 hectares ofthree pieces of vacant freehold land in Tebrau, Johor Baharu, f…..

Bintai Kinden climbs on Singapore job
Bintai Kinden Corp. Bhd. (BKC MK), a builder, jumped 8.1 percent to 40 sen in Kuala Lumpur trading at 9.36am, poised for the highest close since November 2010. The company won a contract valued at S$29.1 million (US$23 million) in Singapore, it said …..

Malaysia army to try out new Adiwira trucks
Amdac (M) Sdn Bhd, a player in the heavy duty and special purpose vehicle sector, is sending three of its new Adiwira Interchangeable Tactical Mobility Systems (ITMS) prototype trucks to the Malaysian Army Combat Training Centre (Pulada) for trial. I…..

TM bags Best Broadband Carrier award
Telekom Malaysia Bhd was named the Best Broadband Carrier at the 15th Annual Telecom Asia Awards, the region’s longest-running and most prestigious telecoms industry awards, in Bangkok yesterday.In a statement today, chairman of the judging panel Per…..

MAA to undergo rebranding
The Malaysian Assurance Alliance Bhd (MAA) is to undergo a ‘several million-dollar’ rebranding exercise following itsacquisition by Zurich, chief executive officer Chee Cheong said today. He said part of the exercise would include a name change on Ap…..

Century Software jumps on contract wins
Century Software Holdings Bhd, a developer of financial management software, climbed 3.5 percent to 44 sen in Kuala Lumpur trading at 9.36am, on course for the steepest advance since April 4. The company won contracts valued at RM5.6 million (US$1.8 …..

LBS Bina falls on stake sale
LBS Bina Group Bhd, a property developer, fell 1.7 percent to 87.5 sen in Kuala Lumpur trading at 9.36am. The company signed an agreement to sell between 60 percent and 100 percent of Dragon Hill Corp. for an indicative price of as much as HK$1.65 bi…..

AEON Credit posts net profit of RM95.6m
AEON Credit Service (M) Bhd has reported a net profit of RM95.61 million for the financial year (FY) ended Feb 20, 2012. In a statement here today, it said net profit increased by 50.7 per cent from RM63.43 million in the previous financial year. ‘Th…..

KL shares close marginally lower
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 fell 0.1 per cent to 1,596.62.Bintai Kinden Corp Bhd, a builde…..

Ringgit retreats for 2nd straight day
The ringgit weakened for a second straight day on concern Europe’s debt crisis will worsen and damp demand for Malaysian exports.Spain’s non-performing loans as a proportion of lending rose to the highest level in 18 years in February, data showed th…..

US stocks decline on eurozone jitters
NEW YORK: Investors unimpressed by positive earnings surprises sold down US stocks Wednesday, with some nervousness over the eurozone clouding sentiment.The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 82.79 points (0.63 per cent) to finish the session at 13,03…..

IMF predicts rise in economic growth
HANOI: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its projections for global economic growth in 2012 to 3.5 percent and in 2013 to 4.1 percent, higher than the previous estimate announced in January. In its latest World Economic Outlook rep…..

  Spain clears bond auction hurdle but yields rise
Spain managed to sell 2.5 billion euros (US$3.3 billion) of bonds at auction on Thursday, as much as it wanted, but at a cost of rising yields as the country struggles to tame its deficit……

  Silver Bird unit gets letter of demand for RM19.63m
Silver Bird Group Bhd’s unit Standard Confectionery Sdn Bhd has received a letter of demand seeking full payment of RM19.63mil together with interest……

KLCI closes lower, banks weigh
The FBM KLCI ended lower Thursday, in line with cautious investor sentiment in the region, with some mild selling seen in bank stocks like Maybank and CIMB……

CIMB Thai’s Q1 net profit up 22.2% to RM34.21mil
CIMB Thai Bank Plc posted net profit of 344.1mil baht (RM34.21mil) in the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, up 22.2% on-year from the 281.6mil baht a year ago from higher net interest income and net fee and service income……

KPJ in JV with Naim Land for hospital project
KPJ Healthcare Bhd is teaming up with Naim Land Sdn Bhd to build and operate a hospital in Miri……

Zeti: Monetary policy based on domestic conditions
Bank Negara Malaysia will only change its stance on monetary policy, where the benchmark interest rate has remained at 3% since last May, if and when inflationary pressure builds up……

China Stationery extends losses after Bursa query
China Stationery Ltd’s share price extended its losses in the afternoon session on Thursday as speculators sold their shares after Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd’s query over the recent spike in the price and volume……

IMF says secures $320 bln in drive for new funds
The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday it had raised $320 billion so far in a bid to boost its firepower to deal with the euro zone debt crisis, with Poland and Switzerland joining the effort. …..

MRCB falls to lowest since October
Shares of Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) fell to their lowest since October last year on Thursday in the absence of fresh positive news……

Bursa Malaysia 1Q earnings up 1% to RM40.77mil
Bursa Malaysia Bhd posted net profit of RM40.77mil in the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, up just 1% from the RM40.49mil a year ago……

MARC affirms ratings of Westports’ RM2.8bil debt notes
The Malaysian Rating Corp (MARC) has affirmed its sukuk ratings of AA+IS on Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s Islamic debt notes totalling RM2.8bil……

Bursa Securities queries China Stationery over spike in price, volume
Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd had on Thursday queried China Stationery Ltd over the recent sharp increase in the price and high volume of shares traded……

RHB Research remains positive on Telekom Malaysia
RHB Research Institute remains positive on Telekom Malaysia as monthly net additions for its UniFi service continue to remain healthy (+24,000a month), although adoption by business users still remain low……

KLCI lower at midday
The FBM KLCI was lower at midday, in light with cautious investor sentiments in the region. At 12.30pm, the local bourse was down 2.67 points or 0.17% to 1,596.19……

OSK Research: Downward momentum of UOA Devt share price has eased
OSK Retail Research said the share price of UOA Development has been trending lower since its debut in June 2011……

In-depth steel study to check out problems in M’sian steel sector
PETALING JAYA: The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has been hired by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) to undertake an in-depth study on the current plight faced by players in the country’s RM40bil steel sector, industry sources told…..

HDBSVR expects selling to resume after Wall St fall
Hwang DBS Vickers Research expects selling momentum to return across the region on Thursday after the overnight fall on Wall Street and nagging concerns over the Eurzone debt woes……

MAA said to be considering selling fund management business
PETALING JAYA: Fresh from selling its core insurance business and becoming debt-free, MAA Group Bhd is considering hiving off its fund management business, according to sources……

Proposal with minimal Govt funding favoured for high-speed KL-S’pore rail bids
PETALING JAYA: The private sector will be invited to come out with a proposal that requires minimal Government funding for the development of the high-speed rail (HSR) project linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore if the project gets the green light……

Overcoming public transport toughest hurdle
THE journey towards building a much better public transportation system in the Greater Klang Valley is underway……

Raymond Chan buys substantial stake in Ariantec
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Raymond Chan Boon Siew has emerged as a substantial shareholder in yet another smallish and otherwise unexciting listed company on Tuesday. This time, it is Ariantec Global Bhd……

Eversendai wins RM134mil Qatar contract
PETALING JAYA: Eversendai Corp Bhd has been appointed a major sub-contractor for the National Museum of Qatar (Package 2) project worth QAR 160 million (about RM134mil)……

Three-A Resources’ new plant in China to start ops soon
KUALA LUMPUR: Food and beverage (F&B) ingredients manufacturer Three-A Resources Bhd’s factory in China will start producing hydrolysed vegetable protein (HVP) and related products this month, said chairman Datuk Mohd Nor Abdul Wahid……

First Solar to scale back operations in Malaysia
WASHINGTON: US solar energy firm First Solar said it would cut 30% of its global workforce due to Europe’s financial woes, scaling back operations in Germany and Malaysia……

New leadership line-up at PwC
PETALING JAYA: Accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Malaysia has announced the appointments of Mohammad Faiz Azmi, 49, as executive chairman and Sridharan Nair, 47, as managing partner……

Clarification
WITH reference to the StarBiz report yesterday titled CIMB will transform into an Asia-Pacific bank , it has been pointed out that it was not mentioned in the press conference on Tuesday that CIMB Group Holdings Bhd would become an Asia-Pacific ba…..

Sharp growth in China jewellery market seen
PETALING JAYA: The jewellery market in China is expected to grow by 35%, with momentum expected to continue for the next five years as economic growth pushes sales, according to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade)……

Penny stocks continue to fuel trading on Bursa
PETALING JAYA: The heavy trading volume on Bursa Malaysia, which has been a daily feature since early February, continue to be fuelled by penny stocks, with five of them accounting for more than a billion of the 2.13 billion shares traded on the mark…..

TNB debt ratings affirmed
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd (MARC) has affirmed Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) issuer rating of AAA and Islamic debt ratings at AAA ID with a “stable” outlook, but expects continued pressure on its credit metrics in the absence of furth…..

Symphony notes’ ratings affirmed
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd (MARC) has affirmed its ratings on Symphony House Bhd’s RM100mil Islamic Commercial Papers/Medium-Term Notes (Islamic CP/MTN) Programme and revised the outlook to “negative” from “stabl…..

LBS unit to sell stakes in firms to HK-listed company
PETALING JAYA: Intellplace Holdings Ltd, a wholly-owned unit of LBS Bina Group Bhd, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the sale of the group’s equity in two of its companies involved in golf club operations and property developm…..

Upside potential for AEON
WE downgrade our recommendation from “buy” to “hold” due to little upside catalyst at this stage and low dividend yield as support. However, AEON’s share price is up an impressive 33% year-to-date and has breached our target price of RM8.70……

Haitong considers early book close on HK offer
HONG KONG: Haitong Securities Co Ltd, China’s second-biggest brokerage by assets, could close the order book for its up to US$1.77bil Hong Kong stock offering one day ahead of schedule after getting more than enough orders from investors, sources wit…..

Public Bank earnings rise
PETALING JAYA: Public Bank Bhd has recorded a 6.42% rise in net profit to RM940.81mil in its first quarter ended March 31 from RM884.06mil a year earlier, backed by strong annualised domestic loan growth and a lower impaired loan ratio……

Guocoland losses narrows in Q3
PETALING JAYA: The Hong Leong group’s property arm Guocoland (M) Bhd posted a narrower loss of RM2.36mil for the third quarter ended March 31 compared with a loss of RM3.64mil in the corresponding quarter a year ago on an increase in earnings c…..

Tesco sales up 12%
PETALING JAYA: Tesco Malaysia has recorded a sales growth of 12% in its 2011/2012 financial year (FY11/12) over the previous year, supported by contribution from new stores as well as aggressive promotions……

OCBC profit 6% higher
PETALING JAYA: OCBC Bank (M) Bhd and its subsidiaries registered over RM1bil in pre-tax profit for its financial year ended Dec 31, 2011, up 5% from the previous year……

Margins boost Seagate Q3 profit
BANGALORE: Higher hard drive prices boosted Seagate Technology Plc’s third-quarter earnings, but the electronic storage device maker expects margins to fall as production levels return to normal following floods in Thailand.       …..

Intel eyes H2 sales pick-up
NEW YORK: Top chipmaker Intel Corp posted earnings confirming the PC industry is alive – but not kicking – and said sales would accelerate in the second half of the year with a powerful new PC processor.       …..

Concerns over floor price hike for residential properties
PETALING JAYA: Some property consultants are not in favour of a potential move to increase the floor price of residential property for foreign buyers from RM500,000 to RM1mil……

Tradewinds to buy RM510mil property
PETALING JAYA: Agro-based Tradewinds (M) Bhd has signed a sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Tradewinds Corp Bhd to acquire a 31-storey office building in Kuala Lumpur for RM510mil……

S’pore tightens rules for developers
SINGAPORE: Singapore says it will tighten rules to ensure developers reflect the size and layout of apartments more accurately as part of new measures to protect buyers who are less familiar with the property market……

Beijing sees first house price fall since curbs
BEIJING: China’s average new home price fell last month from a year earlier, the first decline in two years, raising investors’ hopes that property calming policies may soon be eased……

Daya Materials hopes to venture into O&G upstream
PETALING JAYA: Daya Materials Bhd is hoping to venture into the upstream of the oil and gas sector by acquiring an asset worth US$200mil (RM600mil) to participate in marginal oilfields in Malaysia……

Exim Bank forms strategic partnership with Al Rajhi
KUALA LUMPUR: The Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Bhd (Exim Bank) has entered into a strategic partnership with Al Rajhi Bank Malaysia to assist the country’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and corporations to expand overseas, particularly …..

DRB-HICOM partners TATA
PETALING JAYA: DRB-HICOM Bhd’s unit DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech) has signed a cooperation agreement with India’s TATA Motors Ltd to develop, promote and market TATA military vehicles……

Perodua sales 11% down
PETALING JAYA: Sales of Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) vehicles fell 11% in March to 16,000 vehicles versus 18,000 units in the previous corresponding period, mainly due to Bank Negara’s responsible lending guidelines implemented this ye…..

Thai rice exports drop, surge in Vietnamese shipment
BANGKOK: Thai rice exports have halved from a year ago due to unrealistically lofty prices caused by government intervention, and prices are likely to stay high until the end of the second quarter which will cause exports to slump, according to trade…..

BHP mines hit by weather, strikes
SYDNEY: BHP Billiton yesterday posted sharp drops in iron ore and coal production – key revenue earners for the world’s biggest mining house – for the first quarter of 2012 due to bad weather and labour unrest.       …..

NZ April consumer confidence picks up
WELLINGTON: New Zealand consumer confidence rose in April, a survey showed yesterday, with households showing more signs of optimism in the coming year, although respondents remained cautious over the longer term as the economy struggles to recover……

BoJ deputy governor signals further easing as rate review nears
OKAYAMA: The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is ready to ease monetary policy further if necessary to help the economy recover and escape deflation, according to a deputy governor, giving the strongest signal yet for additional stimulus since its surprise Februa…..

Bailout for Spain?
BRUSSELS: Economic experts watching Spain don’t know how much money will be needed or precisely when, but some are near certain that Madrid will eventually seek a multibillion euro bailout for its banks, and perhaps even for the state itself……

Italy delays balanced budget goal by a year
ROME: Italy will delay by a year its plan to balance the budget in 2013 due to a weakening economic outlook, according to a draft document due to be approved by the cabinet of Prime Minister Mario Monti……

China seen to overtake Canada as Starbucks’ second largest market
LOS ANGELES: Starbucks Corp is on the rise in China with ambitious expansion plans but like any big new emerging market there are teething problems, not least of which is that customers love it so much, they stay for hours and hours and sometimes don…..

HSBC launching London’s first offshore yuan bond
SHANGHAI: HSBC Holdings PLC says it plans to issue a yuan-denominated bond in London, the first issue of a “dim sum” bond in the city, marking a milestone in London’s efforts to become a centre for offshore yuan trading alongside Hong Kong……

Tesco unveils £1bil plan
LONDON: Tesco, the world’s No. 3 retailer, says it will spend £1bil (US$1.6bil) this year overhauling its under-performing British business and will rein in expansion as it seeks to win back market share and calm nervous shareholders.       …..

LVMH sales up 25% on strong Asian growth
PARIS: LVMH, the world’s biggest luxury goods group, said first-quarter revenue grew 25%, thanks to particularly strong growth in Asia and the United States, as wealthy shoppers shrugged off a tumultuous global economy.       …..