KLSE STOCK MARKET

Dated 2012-05-18
More KLSE news from:
http://www.thestar.com.my


  Petronas inks 2 petchem plant deals
Malaysia’s state oil firm Petronas said today it has signed a head of agreement with Japan’s Itochu Corporation and Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical Pcl to build two separate petrochemical complexes. Petronas said in a statement it will be the majo…..

  Gas Malaysia to raise US$234m in IPOs
Gas Malaysia Bhd, part of an energy distributor linked to Malaysian billionaire Syed Mokhtar Al- Bukhary, said it wants to raise about RM734 million (US$234 million) in an initial public offering in Kuala Lumpur.Existing stockholders, including MMC C…..

ConocoPhilips to invest additional US$1.5b
NEW YORK: ConocoPhilips, among the world’s biggest oil producer from the United States, has invested US$1.5 billion (RM4.6 bilion) in Malaysia so far for oil production in offshore Sabah.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the company’s in…..

AirAsia is QPR’s official kit sponsor
AirAsia Bhd, which paid RM12.393 million to sponsor Queens Park Rangers (QPR)’s jerseys for away matches, has extended the partnership for the 2012/13 Barclay’s Premier League (BPL) season.Under the renewed partnership, AirAsia is set to become the f…..

Solexel to build pilot plant in California
Solexel Inc, a closely held U.S. solar-panel maker that uses silicon gas to manufacture its wafers, received US$25 million to build a pilot plant in California, according to an executive.New investor Gentry Venture Partners led the financing, which i…..

Sunway unit accepts RM1.17b MRT job
Sunway Bhd announces that Sunway Construction Sdn Bhd has accepted a RM1.17 billion contract in relation to the proposed Sg Bulohand#8211;Kajang (SBK) Mass Rapid Transit Line, Package V4 project.The contract is for the construction and completion of …..

Favalle unit wins RM60m crane jobs
Favelle Favco Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Favelle Favco Cranes (M) Sdn Bhd, has won contracts to supply cranes worth RM60.1 million to four companies.Among these contracts, one is from Shin Yang Shipyard Sdn Bhd for the supply of an offshore crane…..

Bursa announces 2 new appointments
Bursa Malaysia Bhd has appointed Datin Azalina Adham as Head of Strategy and Transformation, a newly created position to oversee the exchange’s overall business strategy and transformation initiatives. The appointment is effective Jan 1, 2012.Bursa a…..

Chatime to expand to Sabah, S’wak, Brunei
KUALA LUMPUR: Taiwanese bubble tea brand Chatime is set to be introduced in Sabah and Sarawak as well as Brunei in the third quarter of this year.The franchise holder for Malaysia and Brunei, Loob Holdings Sdn Bhd, is planning to venture into the reg…..

Landmarks unit signs MOU with Decennia
Landmarks Bhd today announced that its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, PT Bintan Hotel Utama (BHU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with with Decennia Asia Pte Ltd.Under the MoU, BHU and Decennia are to explore investment opportunity …..

SC chaiman elected as IOSCO board member
KUALA LUMPUR: Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) Chairman Datuk Ranjit Ajit Singh has been elected a member of the Board of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).He will be part of the governing body of IOSCO that is respo…..

Allianz Malaysia eyes 15pc premium growth
KUALA LUMPUR: Allianz Malaysia Bhd is aiming for a 15 per centgrowth to RM3 billion this year from the RM2.6 billion in 2011 for gross written premiums in its life and general insurance segments.Chief Executive Officer Jens Reisch said the growth wou…..

April auto sale down to 47,736 units
Motor vehicle sales last month dwindled to 47,736 units from 50,936 in the same month last year, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said today. The passenger vehicles segment recorded 41,436 units compared with 45,335 units in the same mo…..

Firefly introduces Prepaid Change Fee
Firefly passengers who choose to change their flight date or time after having paid for their seats can now do so through the Prepaid Change Fee. The airline introduced today the new product which offers savings for passengers.Community airline Firef…..

Kian Joo declines on lower Q1 profit
Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd, a maker of tin cans, declined 1.1 per cent to RM1.87, headed for its lowest close since Nov 8. First-quarter profit fell 11 per cent from a year earlier to RM27.2 million, the company said in an exchange filing. – Bloomberg…..

Malayan Flour slides 8.8pc on Q1 net loss
Malayan Flour Mills Bhd slid 8.8 per cent to RM1.45, poised for its lowest close since Feb 10, 2011. The company reported first-quarter net loss of RM598,000, compared with a profit of RM29.8 million a year earlier, it said in a statement. – Bloomber…..

Jobstreet Corp drops on Q1 net income dip
JobStreet Corp, an interactive marketing services provider, dropped 4.2 per cent to RM2.30, bound for its steepest decline since Dec 19. First-quarter net income fell to RM10.4 million (US$3.3 million) from RM11.3 million a year earlier, the company …..

PBA Holdings falls 2.2pc on profit slip
PBA Holdings Bhd, a water treatment operator, fell 2.2 per cent to 90 sen, on course for its lowest close since Aug 22. First-quarter profit slipped to RM8.4 million from RM11 million a year earlier, the company said in an exchange filing. – Bloombe…..

Kurnia Asia rises on Q1 net income jump
Kurnia Asia Bhd added 0.9 per cent to 55 sen. First-quarter net income jumped 72 per cent from a year earlier to RM24.6 million (US$7.9 million), the company said in an exchange filing. Kurnia Asia also scrapped a private placement plan proposed earl…..

FBMKLCI ends 0.76pc lower
Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended lower today on renewed selling pressure in heavyweights and big capitalised stocks, dealers said.The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) closed 11.75 points or 0.76 per cent lower at 1,532.46, after hovering betwe…..

Sukuk yields high on treasury demand
Islamic bond yields rose to a two- month high in their worst weekly performance since January, as Europe’s deficit crisis and China’s slowing economy boosted demand for the relative safety of U.S. debt.Global sukuk yields climbed nine basis points to…..

US stocks slump on negative Europe news
NEW YORK: US stocks piled up losses Thursday as negative news continued from Europe, with Greece’s woes deepening and Spain falling into recession.Strong quarterly earnings from Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, were not enough to shatter the g…..

Zuckerberg rings bell to mark Facebook IPO
NEW YORK: Mark Zuckerberg, wearing his trademark hooded sweatshirt, remotely rang the bell to open trade Friday on the Nasdaq, marking a record-setting public offering for Facebook……

Sunway accepts RM1.17b contract from MRT Corp
Sunway Bhd has accepted the letter of award totaling RM1.17bil from Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) for part of the proposed Sugai Buloh-Kajang MRT line……

Markets fall further as Greece, Spain sap confidence
Key regional markets continued to lose ground on Friday on continued growing anxiety over Greece’s potential exit from the euro zone, with South Korea’s Kospi falling 3.4%……

Itochu, PPT Global Chemical to invest in Petronas’s Rapid project
Japan’s Itochu Corporation and Thailand’s PPT Global Chemical are teaming up with Petroliam Nasional Bhd to jointly own and build two complexes in Pengerang, Johor……

RAM Ratings: Pasdec’s AAA rating unaffected by delay
RAM Rating Services Bhd said the AAA(s)/stable rating of Pasedec Holdings Bhd’s RM150mil bonds are unaffected by the delay in the submission of its audited financial statements for FY ended Dec 31, 2011……

Grand-Flo Solution gets RM82m ICT govt project
Grand-Flo Solution Bhd, which is involved with tracking solutions, has secured a RM82mil contract for the information and communication technology (ICT) equipment for a government related project in Malaysia……

YTL Power’s 50m warrants crossed at 24.5 sen each
YTL Power International Bhd’s 50 million warrants (YTL Power-WB) were transacted at 24.5 sen each on Friday, which was 14.5 sen or 37% below Thursday’s closing price of 39 sen……

Euro zone fears spark rush for dollar, global shares fall
LONDON (Reuters): German government bond yields hit record lows on Friday, the U.S. dollar rose and shares fell as the escalating bank crisis in Spain, a ratings downgrade for Greece and sluggish U.S. data spurred investor demand for safe-haven asse…..

Gas Malaysia set for high dividend payout
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Its position as the sole licensed operator and distributor of natural gas in Peninsular Malaysia and a high dividend payout policy are among factors attracting investors to Gas Malaysia Bhd……

  SapuraKencana extends decline, hits low of RM1.91
Shares of SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd extended its decline for the second day on Friday, falling to a low of RM1.91 earlier, as sentiment for the oil and gas counters was dampened by the weakened markets……

  Allianz Malaysia targets RM3b in gross written premium
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Allianz Malaysia Bhd is aiming for a 15% growth to RM3bil this year from RM2.6bil in 2011 for gross written premiums in its life and general insurance segments……

Lipper: Funds fell 0.31% on average in April
Funds registered for sale in Malaysia fell 0.31% on average for April, their first month of reporting a negative return since November 2011, according to the Lipper Fund Market Insight Report……

SC chairman elected member of IOSCO board
The chairman of the Securities Commission (SC) Datuk Ranjit Ajit Singh has been elected as a member of the Board of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)……

Won leads Asia FX slide on Spain, Greece; seen down more
SINGAPORE (Reuters): Emerging Asian countries weakened again on Friday as investors kept slashing risky assets due to worries about Spanish banks, and the South Korean won was on track for its worst week in eight months……

Key markets in the red, KLCI down 13pts at midday
All key regional markets were in a sea of red at midday on Friday, as worries in Europe and weakening US manufacturing sector continued to erode investors’ confidence……

Asia shares plunge on worries over Spain banks, growth
TOKYO (Reuters): Asian shares tumbled on Friday and were set for their worst weekly showing since September, amid signs of growing instability among Spanish banks and political turmoil in Greece, with investors adding the latest weak U.S. data to the…..

CIMB Research maintains trading Buy on JCY, TP RM2.22
CIMB Equities Research is maintaining a trading buy on JCY International with a target price of RM2.22 from its current price of RM1.57……

Boustead, UAC suspended for corporate exercise
Trading in the securities of Boustead Holdings Bhd and its 65.21% subsidiary UAC Bhd has been voluntarily suspended from 9am on Friday until 5pm on Monday, May 21……

KLCI sharply lower in early trade
Blue chips fell in early trade on Friday, following growing worries about the health of Spain’s banks and the political turmoil in Greece, with key regional indices registering more than 2% in losses……

HDBSVR maintains Buy on APM, TP RM5.60
Hwang DBS Vickers Research said APM Automotive Bhd’s results for the first quarter were within expectations and maintained its Buy rating and target price of RM5.60……

MIDF Research revises TP for AMMB to RM6.60
MIDF Equities Research has revised AMMB Holdings Bhd target price to RM6.60 from RM6.50……

HDBSVR sees KLCI testing 1,530
Hwang DBS Vickers Research said the FBM KLCI, after staging a mild technical rebound on Thursday, could give back all its gains and more on Friday……

Facebook sets prices at top of range in landmark IPO
NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook Inc priced its initial public offering at the top of its target range to raise more than US$16 billion, as strong demand, particularly from retail investors, fuels anticipation of a big pop in the stock when it begins…..

Asia shares fall steeply on worries over Spain banks, growth
TOKYO (Reuters): Asian shares fell steeply on Friday after more signs emerged of growing instability among Spanish banks and political turmoil in Greece, with the latest sluggish economic data from the United States adding to the list of risks for in…..

US, Asian, global stocks fall amid fears for Spanish banks, growth(update)
NEW YORK: World stocks fell for a fifth day and Brent oil prices dropped 2 percent on Thursday on concerns about the health of Spain’s banks and the prospect of Greece leaving the euro zone……

Contrasting fortunes for MAS, AirAsia
PETALING JAYA: It is going to be another quarter of losses for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) when it releases its first quarter 2012 results by month-end but its rival AirAsia Bhd will continue to grow its earnings amid rising jet fuel prices that is putti…..

EPF’s buyout portion in KFCH and QSR will be around RM1.26bil
KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) says it is participating in the buyout of QSR Brands Bhd and KFC Holdings (M) Bhd (KFCH), alongside Johor Corp (JCorp) and private equity firm CVC Capital Partners……

Are consumers getting fair data deals?
LAST July Verizon Wireless of the United States dropped its US$30-a-month unlimited data plan for new customers……

Thai affiliate of AirAsia to raise RM443mil
BANGKOK: Asia Aviation Pcl, owner of the Thai affiliate of Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia Bhd , has set an IPO price of 3.7 baht (37 sen) a share to raise 4.5 billion baht (RM443mil) in the Thai market this month, sources close to the deal sai…..

KHSB, HK firm plan eco-development in Kuala Selangor
SHAH ALAM: Kumpulan Hartanah Selangor Bhd (KHSB) and Hong Kong-based Sun Lohas Group Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the proposed eco-development concept of a 2,013ha land in Bestari Jaya, Kuala Selangor……

OUM to export programmes to China
KUCHING: Open University Malaysia (OUM) is targetting China and Zambia as the next destinations to expand its educational programmes after setting foot in seven countries in Asia and the Middle East……

IHH RM4.7bil dual listing in KL and S’pore in July
KUALA LUMPUR: The planned US$1.5bil (RM4.7bil) listing of Integrated Healthcare Holdings Sdn Bhd (IHH) is expected to debut on the Malaysian and Singapore bourses by the end of July, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said……

Ho Hup gets leave to appeal in case watched by corporate world
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has granted leave to Ho Hup Construction Co Bhd to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision on the development rights of over 60 acres of land in Bukit Jalil……

SapuraKencana closes lower in first-day trading
KUALA LUMPUR: Shares in SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd finished 14 sen lower at RM2.10 in a higher broader market after the stock opened six sen higher over its reference price of RM2.24……

Crest proposes share placement
PETALING JAYA: Crest Builder Holdings Bhd has proposed a placement of 12.4 million new shares representing up to 10% of its issued and paid-up share capital……

Scomi exits Nigeria machine shop ops
KUALA LUMPUR: Scomi Group Bhd has entered into a conditional agreement with AOS Orwell Ltd for the disposal of its 100% equity interest in Scomi Nigeria Pte Ltd (SNPL) and 2% equity interest in Oiltools Africa Ltd (OAL) for a total US$39.8mil (RM123……

Formis buys 20% stake in Microlink
KUALA LUMPUR: Formis Resources Bhd said its unit Formis Holdings Bhd (FHB) has acquired a 20% stake in Microlink Solutions Bhd from Technology World Company for RM4.587mil cash……

AsiaEP becomes GN3 firm
PETALING JAYA: AsiaEP Resources Bhd said it has been classified as a Guidance Note 3 (GN3) company by Bursa Malaysia……

Offer for TMS ‘not fair but reasonable’, says adviser
PETALING JAYA: The minority shareholders of TSM Global Bhd have been advised by independent adviser TA Securities Holdings Bhd to accept the voluntary general offer (VG0) for their shares at RM1.25 each from the major shareholders……

CIMB: Tough for HLB to maximise value creation at present
DESPITE the enlarged loan base following the merger (with EON Capital Group), the group’s loan loss provisioning (LLP) slumped by 62.5% year-on-year to only RM44.4mil in its nine-month financial year ended March 31, 2012 (9MFY12)……

Another record year for AmBank group
KUALA LUMPUR: AMMB Holdings Bhd grew its net profit by 12.5% year-on-year to RM1.51bil for the financial year ended March 31, 2012 and the banking group has attributed this to faster non-interest income growth……

Three Gas M’sia shareholders to receive RM734mil
PETALING JAYA: The three major shareholders of Gas Malaysia Bhd will receive a total of RM734mil from the sale of their shares in the former’s impending initial public offering (IPO)……

KJCF posts lower profit despite higher revenue
KUALA LUMPUR: Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd’s (KJCF) pre-tax profit for the first quarter ended March 31 fell to RM33.584mil from RM38.556mil a year earlier……

JCY profit soars on better deals
KUALA LUMPUR: JCY International Bhd has posted a 1,209% spike in its second-quarter ended March 31 net profit to RM163.09mil, compared with RM12.46mil a year earlier, fueled by better average selling price of its products, favourable exchange rates a…..

Toshiba aims to double operating profit
TOKYO: Japan’s Toshiba Corp said it aims to more than double its annual operating profit in three years to US$5.6bil, by expanding its social infrastructure business and boosting sales of electronics devices……

HSBC turnaround on target
HONG KONG: HSBC doubled the annual revenue boost expected from its turnaround plan to US$2bil, as Europe’s biggest bank targets emerging markets and cost cuts to lead its battle to recover from the financial crisis and cope with new regulations……

National Grid full-year profit up 5%, outlook positive
LONDON: National Grid, Britain’s biggest energy distributor, reported a 5% increase in full-year profit, in line with estimates, and said it was positive on its outlook for next year……

Amcorp Properties sells London flats
PETALING JAYA: Amcorp Properties Bhd is selling an apartment development in London, England for £9.3mil (RM46mil) to International Trading Group (Holding) SAL and Universal Distributors Holding SAL……

Bank Negara signs MoU with Turkey central bank
KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Central Bank of Turkey to foster strategic cooperation between the two countries……

HLM Takaful names new chief
KUALA LUMPUR: Hong Leong MSIG Takaful Bhd (HLM Takaful) has appointed Mohd Fauzi Yaakub as its new chief executive officer (CEO)effective May 15.       …..

Fajarbaru wins RM13.6mil contract
KUALA LUMPUR: Fajarbaru Builder Group Bhd’s (FBG) wholly owned subsidiary, Fajarbaru Builder Sdn Bhd has bagged a RM13.6mil contract from Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd for the works on supply, installation, testing and commissioning of Visual Dockin…..

EWOC launches oil palm investment scheme
PETALING JAYA: East West One Consortium Bhd (EWOC) has launched an oil palm investment scheme that promises annual returns of between 8% to 10% over six to eight year periods……

Glencore tightens grip on global zinc market
LONDON: Commodity trader Glencore is tightening its grip on the global zinc market by moving material to inaccessible locations, forcing industrial users to pay high physical premiums for a metal that is in surplus.       …..

Singapore growth lower than expected
SINGAPORE: Singapore said its economy grew 1.6% year-on-year in the first quarter, unchanged from its earlier estimate, confounding economists who had predicted an upward revision……

Spain in recession
MADRID: Spain officially slipped into recession in the first quarter, final figures confirmed yesterday, leaving the country threatened with a prolonged slump as the turmoil-wracked eurozone struggles to balance austerity with growth……

High funding costs threaten Spain’s robust exports
MADRID: Spain’s small and medium-sized exporters are struggling to compete with European rivals due to high borrowing costs, as fallout from the country’s banking crisis hurts one of the few bright spots in a contracting economy……

Japan economy rebounds in Q1
TOKYO: Japan’s economy bounced back in the first quarter from a year-end lull, powering ahead of other major industrial nations thanks to rebuilding of the tsunami-battered northeast, solid private spending and some improvement in exports……

Greece slides in political paralysis
ATHENS: Prolonged electoral uncertainty has put Greece into a state of deep freeze, meaning whoever finally emerges as the new leader will take over a country already falling behind on its promises to lenders……

Exports lift UK April car production
LONDON: British car production rose by 9.3% on the year in April, boosted by strong export demand, and suggesting the industry can provide some support to Britain’s flagging economy, data showed yesterday……

GM chooses UK plant for new Astra
LONDON: General Motors Co (GM) will build the next generation of its Astra compact in Britain after workers at its factory in Ellesmere Port, northwest England, overwhelmingly agreed to a new labour deal, leaving its plant in Bochum, Germany, in dang…..

China Q1 gold demand hits record
SINGAPORE: China’s gold demand hit a record high in the first quarter on investor worries over inflation and property market curbs, the World Gold Council (WGC) said, bucking a lower trend in global consumption driven by higher gold prices……

BoJ may hold off boosting asset purchases
TOKYO: The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is expected to hold off on boosting asset purchases when it reviews policy next week, preferring instead to save ammunition as Europe’s deepening debt crisis could warrant action in coming months to fend off damage to t…..

Euromoney sees upside to euro woes
LONDON: Euromoney, the financial information arm of Daily Mail & General Trust, reported a 13% rise in first-half sales, boosted by acquisitions, and said it saw business opportunities in the eurozone crisis……

Greece needs growth as well as debt cuts – French PM
PARIS (Reuters) – Greece’s European partners took too long to help the country and the goal must now be to spur economic growth as well as cutting the debts of the euro zone country, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Friday……

G8 leaders look to head off euro zone crisis
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Leaders of major industrial economies meet this weekend to try to head off a full-blown crisis in Europe where fears are growing that Greece could leave the euro zone bloc, threatening the future of the common currency……

Euro zone market turmoil to last 12-24 months: German finance minister
PARIS (Reuters) – German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Friday that market turmoil surrounding the euro zone crisis could last another 12 to 24 months and he urged Greeks to decide whether they wished to stay in the single currency……

China second quarter GDP growth seen at 7.5%: Govt think-tank
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s annual economic growth could slow to 7.5 percent in the second quarter, largely due to curbs on the property sector and headwinds from external demand, the State Information Center, a government think-tank, said in a repor…..

MF Global clients bash fat fees, seek quick wind-down
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The legal team winding down MF Global’s bankruptcy estate, led by former FBI director Louis Freeh, estimates the fees charged by the team and other professionals have reached nearly US$25 million since the bankruptcy was filed in…..

GE aims to double China JVs to around 56 in five years
HONG KONG (Reuters) – General Electric Co aims to double the number of joint ventures it has in China from the current 28 in roughly five years, its vice-chairman said on Friday…..