KUALA LUMPUR: Plantations stocks could see rising trading activity on July 3 after crude palm oil (CPO) futures closed sharply lower.

CPO futures closed RM78 down to RM2,180 on concern that rising production this quarter might see prices retrace. Analysts were expecting palm oil production will rise in August. However, IOI Corp's statement that the worst is over could provide some reassurance.

The sharp overnight close on Wall Street would weigh on Asian markets today. US stocks tumbled on Thursday, driving the S&P 500 down to its third-straight weekly loss, as a steeper-than-expected slide in June non-farm payrolls revived caution about economic recovery prospects.

At Bursa Malaysia, stocks in focus would be Media Prima, Ingress, Wonderful Wire and Cable and AirAsia. Data to be released today would be the external trade numbers.

Harris Associates LP continued to raise its shareholding in Media Prima after it acquired 13.51 million shares from June 22 to 25. The recent acquisitions raised stake to 96.42 million shares or 11.29%.

AirAsia’s foreign shareholding showed an increase to 37.98% of its paid-up share capital of 2.375 billion shares as at June 30, up from 37.86% on Nov 28 last year. The low-cost carried recently proposed to place out 20% of its paid-up.

Ingress should see more trading activity after it received a six-month extension to repay the first tranche of its sukuk amounting to RM50 million which was due July 9. The sukuk holders, had at its EGM, approved the resolution to extend the maturity date to Jan 9 next year.

Meanwhile, the Securities Commission had rejected Wonderful Wire and Cable’s proposed debt restructuring exercise.

WWC’s revamp plan did not comply with the Guidelines on Offering of Equity and Equity-linked Securities, which specified a proposal by a distressed listed company must be sufficiently comprehensive and capable of resolving all problems, financial or otherwise.

The exercise involved a capital reduction, cancellation of reserves, two-call rights issue with warrants, exemptions, placement, debt settlement and disposal of a factory in Pasir Gudang.

In Sunway Holdings, its proposed private placement of up to 10% of its paid-up share capital to be issued in tranches has been submitted to the SC.