<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 2): Hong Leong IB (HLIB) Research has downgraded the banking sector to "neutral" (from "overweight") and said although valuations remained undemanding, the research house has turned less bullish on the banking sector as it sees sector tailwinds dissipating (there are fewer rate hikes next year, deposit rivalry is intense, and macroeconomic outlook is softer).</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a sector update on Friday (Dec 2), the research house also said that investment fatigue is building up towards the sector, considering that "buy" merits employed for the past one to two years are becoming stale.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“Moreover, KLFIN performance is not trending any higher and has been range-bound.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“Currently, we only have two 'buy' ratings under our coverage, namely RHB Bank Bhd (TP: RM6.60) and BIMB Holdings Bhd (TP: RM3.00).</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“The former (RHB) is favoured for its elevated CET1 ratio and attractive price-tag while we like the latter (BIMB) for its laggard share price showing,” it said.</p></div>


KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 2): Hong Leong IB (HLIB) Research has downgraded the banking sector to "neutral" (from "overweight") and said although valuations remained undemanding, the research house has turned less bullish on the banking sector as it sees sector tailwinds dissipating (there are fewer rate ...

HLIB downgrades banking sector, top picks RHB and BIMB

(May 8): Brazil's bid to host the 2027 Women's World Cup scored higher than its rival, a joint bid from Belgium, Netherlands and Germany, in a FIFA's evaluation report released on Tuesday.

The world soccer governing body bid report came ahead of the vote at the 74th FIFA Congress in Ban...

Brazil's bid to host the Women's World Cup tops European rival

SYDNEY (May 8): Australia said on Wednesday it would raise the amount of savings international students will need to get a visa and warned several colleges of fraudulent student recruitment practices, as part of efforts to rein in record migration.

From Friday, international students mu...

Australia raises minimum savings for student visa, warns on fake recruitment

Hong Leong Investment Bank Research is keeping its “buy” call on Kuala Lumpur Kepong, with an unchanged target price of RM24.41

MORNING CALL: 8/5/24

KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): Global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sukuk is expected to cross US$50 billion outstanding globally within the next two years, as issuers aim to meet their funding diversification goals and ESG mandates, alongside new regulatory frameworks and government-led sus...

Global ESG sukuk issuance seen crossing US$50 billion within two years, says Fitch 

JOHOR BAHRU (May 8): Former National and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) skipper Safiq Rahim became the third National footballer to be attacked within a week, although the JDT player’s attack seemed more of a warning than personal harm.

Safiq who was driving a Honda Civic car along Jalan Sri ...

Two suspects on motorcycles break Safiq Rahim's car windscreen in third attack on footballers 

As Malaysia aims to achieve high-income status, it needs to improve its human capital outcomes to match those of high-income countries.

Aspiring to high-income status: Education matters

KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): Global sales of semiconductors jumped 15.2% year-on-yera in the first quarter of 2024 to total US$137.7 billion during the first quarter of 2024, according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

In a statement on Tuesday, the industry association...

First-quarter global semicon sales jumped 15.2% y-o-y to  US$137.7 billion, says SIA 

(May 8): Currency markets have started pricing in elevated foreign exchange volatility around the US vote on Nov. 5, even with election day almost six months away.

That concern is particularly pronounced in options betting on the Chinese offshore yuan, with the spread between six- and t...

US election risks are starting to show up in foreign exchange markets

(May 8): China-based ByteDance Ltd. made clear it won’t comply with a new US law requiring it to sell its popular TikTok video-sharing app, setting up what likely will be a prolonged court battle pitting free-speech rights against national-security interests that could end up at the Supreme Court...

TikTok lawsuit sets stage for prolonged legal fight over US ban

(May 8): Donald Trump’s criminal trial for allegedly mishandling classified documents has been postponed indefinitely in a blow to the Justice Department’s efforts to obtain a jury verdict before November’s presidential election.

US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing the cr...

Trump judge indefinitely postpones documents case trial

<p>Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Tuesday.</p>


Sime Darby Plantation, Pekat, Siab, OCK, Sapura Energy, CTOS, Awantec, Mobilia, Prolintas, Power Root

<p>The takeover bid by Yinson Holdings Bhd’s major shareholder for Icon Offshore Bhd was made at 63.5 sen per share, as wellas 0.1 sen per warrant.</p>


Yinson's major shareholder raises Icon stake to 56.67% as MGO closes

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<p class="thumb-cap">E...

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 7): Following its record-breaking year in 2023, CTOS Digital Bhd posted a 25.6% year-on-year jump in its first quarter net profit this year, as it recorded higher revenue and lower tax expense following the approval of a tax incentive for its main subsidiary CTOS Data Systems Sdn Bhd (CDS).</p>


CTOS kicks off FY2024 with 25% profit jump on higher revenue, lower taxes

<p>AwanBiru Technology Bhd (Awantec) reported a net profit of RM2.14 million for its third quarter ended March 31, 2024 (3QFY2024), a significant turnaround from the net loss of RM1.99 million it incurred a year ago, as its software and services segment secured major contracts with higher revenue.</p>


Awantec reports profit in 3Q as revenue jumps on new contracts

<p>BATU KAWAN (May 7): The semiconductor industry presents Malaysia with a once-in-a-generation opportunity for exponential economic growth, and industry players are advised to capitalise on this billion-dollar sector, said&nbsp;Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong on Tuesday.</p>


Semiconductor industry offers Malaysia chance for exponential growth — deputy minister

<p>Power Root Bhd's subsidiaries have successfully recovered trademark of its own “Ah Huat” brand for coffee and tea beverages, after reaching an amicable out-of-court settlement with its Indonesian distributor CV Ego Sun Star Sukses Mandiri (CV Ego) following an infringement wrangle that started in 2013.</p>


Power Root reclaims ‘Ah Huat’ brand in Indonesia after decade-long trademark tussle 

<p>The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Microsoft on May 14 to develop a digitally skilled workforce, particularly in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, through education.</p>


MCMC, Microsoft to ink MOU on digital workforce cultivation next Tuesday — deputy minister 

<p>Urusharta Jamaah Sdn Bhd (UJSB) — a special purpose vehicle established under the Ministry of Finance to rehabilitate, restructure and monetise underperforming assets transferred to it from Lembaga Tabung Haji — has emerged as a substantial shareholder in Prolintas Infra Business Trust.</p>


Urusharta Jamaah emerges as third largest shareholder in Prolintas Infra

<p>GCH Retail (M) Sdn Bhd, the operator of Giant hypermarkets, said the courts are still deciding on the company’s tenancy dispute with its landlord over premises it is currently occupying in Batu Caves.</p>


GCH Retail says Giant Batu Caves tenancy dispute with landlord still being decided by courts

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): Global sales of semiconductors jumped 15.2% year-on-yera in the first quarter of 2024 to total US$137.7 billion during the first quarter of 2024, according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).</p>

<p>In a statement on Tuesday, the industry association...

<p>Apple Inc unveiled a new artificial intelligence-focused iPad Pro and a larger iPad Air, aiming to reinvigorate a tablet lineup that has languished over the past two years.</p>


Apple revamps iPads with AI-focused Pro model, bigger Air

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 7):&nbsp;The strategic cooperation between the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) is expected to catalyse the country’s industrial growth, especially in supporting the development of&nbsp;more&nbsp;talents at the global level.&nbsp;</p>


Mida’s strategic cooperation with Higher Education Ministry to accelerate local industrial growth — Zafrul

<p>Home furniture maker Mobilia Holdings Bhd is planning to issue up to 218.75 million free warrants (Warrants-B), on the basis of one Warrant-B for every four existing shares held by entitled shareholders.</p>


Home furniture maker Mobilia plans one-for-four free warrants

<p>A key measure of world indebtedness has resumed its climb as global debt hit a record high of US$315 trillion (RM1.5 quadrillion) in the first quarter of the year, fuelled by borrowing in emerging markets, the US and Japan, a study showed.</p>


Key debt ratio resumes rise as global debt burden hits record US$315 tril, IIF says

<p>The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is studying allegations against Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming with regards to his announcement of an allocation for infrastructure in Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) recently.</p>


MACC looking into minister’s KKB allocation announcement ahead of poll

<p>US stock indexes rose on Tuesday, extending their recent run on expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this year, while a drop in shares of Walt Disney following the company's quarterly results limited their gains.</p>


Wall Street extends gains as rate-cut hopes linger

<p>(May 7):&nbsp;PCCW Ltd, the telecommunications group controlled by Hong Kong tycoon Richard Li, is in advanced talks to sell a significant minority stake in its fiber business to China Merchants Group Ltd, according to people familiar with the matter.</p>


Tycoon Richard Li said to near stake sale of telecom group’s fiber unit to China Merchants

<p>TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance said on Tuesday they filed suit in US federal court seeking to block a law signed by President Joe Biden that would force the divestiture of the short video app used by 170 million Americans or ban its use.</p>


TikTok, ByteDance sue to block US law seeking sale or ban of app

<p>Microsoft Corp has deployed a generative AI model entirely divorced from the internet, saying US intelligence agencies can now safely harness the powerful technology to analyse top-secret information.</p>
