KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 31): Based on corporate announcements and news flow today, stocks in focus on Monday (Nov 5) may include: Genting Bhd, YKGI Holdings Bhd and Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd.

The Government has announced in Budget 2019 that taxes, fees and levy on the gaming industry, which have not been raised since 2005, will be increased.

Casino licence fees will be raised from RM120 million to RM150 million per annum, with casino duties to be raised up to 35% on gross collection, while machine dealer's licence fees will be raised from RM10,000 to RM50,000 per annum.

The measure is expected to eat into the earnings of gaming player Genting Bhd. The company's stock slid 20 sen or 2.7% to close at RM7.20 today.

YKGI Holdings Bhd is disposing of two of its coated coil business and related assets as a going concern for RM125 million, which will result in YKGI exiting the coated coil business in Peninsular Malaysia.

This will allow the company to focus on its downstream business in East Malaysia. Proceeds from the disposal will be used for loan repayments. YKGI also plans to undertake a capital reduction exercise — at a quantum to be fixed at a later date — to rationalise the group’s financial position.

The government has announced that it will be setting up an airport real estate investment trust (REIT) during the tabling of Budget 2019, and that it hopes to raise RM4 billion from selling a 30% stake in the REIT to private investing institutions.

Investors in the airport REIT will get income from user fees collected from Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd, which holds the concession to operate 39 local airports.

MAHB said it will await further direction from the Government to get a clearer picture on how the proposed REIT will be implemented.