<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 25): AffinHang Capital Research has maintained its Buy rating on WCT Holdings Bhd at RM1.91 with a lower target price of RM2.48 (from RM2.65) and said the company’s 9M14 core net profit declined 31% year-on-year due to lower civil engineering and construction (CE&amp;C) margin as well as lower property development billings and margins.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>In a note Tuesday, the research house said based on the revised 2015E EPS forecast of 17.7 sen and an unchanged PE target of 14x, the price target for WCT was cut to RM2.48 from RM2.65.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>“At current price, Buy is maintained. It remains to be seen if the group can achieve its new property sales target of RM1.2 billion in 2014 but new contract wins is within the target of RM1 billion.</div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>“Key downside risks to our rating include; (i) further delays in the award of jobs in Malaysia and overseas; (ii) sharp spikes in construction costs; and (iii) further govenrment tightening measures cutting property demand,” it said.</div>

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 25): AffinHang Capital Research has maintained its Buy rating on WCT Holdings Bhd at RM1.91 with a lower target price of RM2.48 (from RM2.65) and said the company’s 9M14 core net profit declined 31% year-on-year due to lower civil engineering and construction (CE&C) margin a...

AffinHwang Capital maintains Buy on WCT, lowers target price to RM2.48 

Bank of America (BofA) reported a drop in first-quarter profit, as the lender set aside more money to cover souring loans, but still beat estimates on surging investment banking fees.

BofA's profit drops on rising provisions, but beats estimates as investment banking surges

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Newly-listed fertility care company Alpha IVF Group Bhd made a net profit of RM13.59 million for its third quarter ended Feb 29, 2024 (3QFY2024), on a revenue of RM40.7 million.

Alpha IVF makes RM13.6 mil net profit in 3Q, sees rising demand for fertility solutions amid resurgence in medical tourism

Morgan Stanley's first-quarter profit beat estimates on Tuesday, fuelled by a resurgence in investment banking led by equity underwriting, where revenue more than doubled, sending its shares up 2.7% before the bell.

Morgan Stanley's profit beats as investment banking rebounds

OTTAWA (April 16): Canada's annual inflation rate ticked up to 2.9% in March, as expected, while core inflation measures continued easing for a third consecutive month, data showed on Tuesday.

Canada's inflation rate ticks up to 2.9%, but underlying cooling continues

Practice Note 17 (PN17) company Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd said it had been granted an extension of time until May 15 by Bursa Malaysia to submit its regularisation plan.

Bursa grants Serba Dinamik second extension of time until May 15 to submit regularisation plan

KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): Express carrier GDEX Bhd, which has been in the red for the last two financial years, is planning to diversify into the provision of information technology (IT) services and solutions to enhance its revenue stream.

GDEX plans to diversify into IT

In today’s edition of Evening 5: 0:06 CIMB’s Abdul Rahman Ahmad returns to PNB as president, group chief executive1:34 Local airlines may feel heat from rising oil prices as Middle East tensions simmer2:52 Wealth of Malaysia’s 50 richest individuals on Forbes list rises 2% — Forbes Asia4:21 MyEG and HeiTech Padu form partnership to collaborate on IT projects5:47 GDEX proposes a diversification into the provision of IT services and solutions

EVENING 5: CIMB’s Abdul Rahman Ahmad returns to PNB

Transport Minister Anthony Loke says that private companies are welcome to invest in providing more EV charging facilities nationwide.

NEWS: Loke: Private companies welcome to invest in EV charging facilities

BENGALURU (April 16): UnitedHealth Group said on Tuesday that it was expecting to take a hit of up to US$1.6 billion this year related to a data breach at its Change Healthcare unit, in its first full public disclosure of the financial impact of the cyberattack.

UnitedHealth to take up to US$1.6 bil hit from Change Healthcare hack this year

Cybersecurity software firm Rubrik, backed by Microsoft, said on Tuesday it is targeting a valuation of up to US$5.44 billion (RM26.07 billion) in its US initial public offering (IPO).

Technology companies have been leading a rebound in listings this year, as stronger equity markets and robust debuts including social media platform Reddit and chip firm Astera Labs encourage others to press ahead with their IPO plans.

Microsoft-backed Rubrik targets up to US$5.4b valuation in US IPO

The collective wealth of tycoons listed on the 2024 Forbes Malaysia Rich List increased by a modest 2% to US$83.4 billion (RM398.8 billion), according to Forbes Asia.

Wealth of Malaysia’s 50 richest individuals on Forbes list rises 2% — Forbes Asia 

Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad will return to Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) as its president and group chief executive effective July 1, 2024, the government-linked investment company said.

CIMB’s Abdul Rahman Ahmad returns to PNB as president, group chief executive

E-government services providers MyEG Services Bhd and HeiTech Padu Bhd have formed a partnership to collaborate on IT projects in Malaysia.

According to separate bourse filings from both companies on Tuesday, MyEG and HeiTech Padu have inked a teaming agreement for the collaboration.&nbsp;

MyEG, HeiTech Padu form partnership to collaborate on IT projects

Analysts are positive on Malaysia’s pilot green power exports to Singapore using existing infrastructure in both countries, following establishment of the platform enabling cross-border trading of green electricity, the Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem).

Analysts positive on pilot green power exports to Singapore; name Tenaga, YTLP as top picks

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Malaysia’s second-biggest banking group by assets, said on Tuesday its chief executive Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad will step down on June 30.

CIMB says CEO Abdul Rahman Ahmad stepping down on June 30

Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd’s (ABMB) net profit is expected to jump by 37.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM179 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2024 (4QFY2024), according to AmInvestment Bank Research.

AmInvestment sees Alliance Bank’s 4Q earnings jump by 37% y-o-y

The Ministry of Transport clarified on Tuesday that the higher contract value of RM190.01 million awarded to HeiTech Padu Bhd for Road Transport Department (JPJ) services was only due to a longer extended contract duration.

Loke: Higher contract value awarded to HeiTech Padu due to longer extended duration

The automotive industry is not exactly the place one would want to be in the next few years.

Competition among manufacturers of internal combustion engine vehicles, battery electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid cars has been ongoing for more than a decade now. Last year, some certainty fin...

Alternative Views: Automotive industry feels heat from intensifying EV price war

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said his ministry has no objection to MMC Corp Bhd divesting a stake in MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd, including to foreign entities, as long as it does not contravene the government's policy that requires 51% ownership of major national assets to remain with local companies.

Loke says MMC Port free to sell stake to foreign firms, but govt has to be notified of shareholding changes

Carlo Rino Group Bhd has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) that would raise more funds for the apparel company as part of its listing transfer to the ACE Market from the LEAP Market.

Carlo Rino files draft prospectus for listing transfer to ACE Market

Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has requested for a bench of five Court of Appeal (COA) judges to hear his review against the court’s own decision to reinstate abuse of power charges involving RM232.5 million against him.

Muhyiddin seeks five-judge bench to hear criminal charges review

Outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) player Globetronics Technology Bhd is in the final stages of discussion with two prospective clients interested in leveraging advanced packaging technology.

Globetronics in final talks with two potential customers for advanced packaging

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is stepping down on May 15 after two decades in office. Lee, 72, will hand the reins over to his deputy Lawrence Wong, 51, in a widely-telegraphed transition.

What observers are saying as Singapore’s Lee paves way for next PM Wong

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is unleashing a barrage of trade restrictions against China as she seeks to follow through on a pledge to make the EU a more relevant political player on the global stage.

EU goes on China trade offensive after getting ‘played’ 

KTI Landmark Bhd (KTI) has signed an underwriting agreement with M&amp;A Securities Sdn Bhd for its listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Sabah-based integrated property developer said the initial public offering (IPO) comprises a public issue of 160 million new shares and an offer for sale of 45 million existing shares, representing 20% and 5.6% of the enlarged share capital of KTI respectively.

KTI Landmark inks underwriting deal with M&A Securities en route to ACE Market listing

Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session lower on Tuesday, in tandem with the weaker regional performance due to a broad sell-off on Wall Street overnight, said an analyst. &nbsp;

Bursa ends morning session lower along with regional peers

EP Manufacturing Bhd's (EPMB) shares climbed on Tuesday and marked their best day in 10 months after the Shah-Alam based auto parts maker signed an assembly deal with a Chinese carmaker.

EP Manufacturing shares chart best day in 10 months after assembly deal

China’s rapidly expanding petrochemicals industry is making life increasingly difficult for producers in Asia’s next-biggest exporter of the building blocks for making plastics. 
&nbsp; 
Asia’s largest economy used to be the major market for South Korean companies like LG Chem Ltd and Lotte Chemical Corp. But the exporters of the chemicals used to make everything from nylon to disposable bottles and car interiors are now being forced to downsize their operations after a frenzy of petchem-plant building in China over the last few years created a supply glut. &nbsp;

China’s growing plastics dominance is squeezing out Asian rivals

Gold is set to reach US$3,000 (RM14,381.71) an ounce over the next six to 18 months on increasing investor inflows amid expectations that the Federal Reserve will eventually cut interest rates, Citigroup Inc said, adding to a roll call of Wall Street banks that have raised forecasts.

Gold seen hitting US$3,000 at Citi as investor inflows juice rally

Workers in Singapore can now ask for four-day work weeks, more work-from-home days and staggered work timings starting from Dec 1, underscoring the global trend of governments and companies relaxing office arrangements in order to retain talent.