<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>This article first appeared in <em>The Edge Financial Daily</em>, on January 28, 2016.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><strong>Astral Asia Bhd (-ve)</strong></p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Shares in Astral Asia (Fundamental: 1.35/3, Valuation: 0.9/3) continued to rise yesterday, surging 16.67% to close at a one-year high of RM1.75, valuing it at RM204 million.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The stock saw a surge in investor interest after Jan 18, and has risen a cumulative 71.6% since then. Previously, the stock was barely traded, and was range bound between RM1 and RM1.13.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>On Tuesday, Astral Asia had proposed a 9-for-2 bonus issue of shares, with entitlement dates to be determined later. The exercise is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2016.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Astral Asia derives most of its revenue from the operation of oil palm estates, with the segment contributing 97.7% of revenue in 2014. It is also involved in property development and construction.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>For the nine months ended Sept 30, 2015 (9MFY15), Astral Asia posted a net loss of RM4.19 million compared with a net profit of RM2.7 million a year ago, while revenue declined 19.9% to RM18.71 million from RM23.36 million in 9MFY14, due to lower fresh fruit bunch production and lower crude palm oil prices.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><img alt="Astral-Asia_swm_fd_280116" src="http://edgemarkets.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/pictures/Astral-Asia_swm_fd_280116.png" /></p></div>


This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on January 28, 2016.

 

Astral Asia Bhd (-ve)

Shares in Astral Asia (Fundamental: 1.35/3, Valuation: 0.9/3) continued to rise yesterday, surging 16.67% to close at a one-year high ...

Stock With Momentum: Astral Asia

Elon Musk postponed a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing obligations at his Tesla automaker and saying he aimed to reschedule the visit for later this year.

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Approved road transport logistics companies will obtain “fleet cards” from select fuel retailers to purchase subsidised fuel under the diesel subsidy rationalisation programme, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said.

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PKR Information chief Fahmi Fadzil said no specific names were discussed regarding the leadership of the Sabah PKR State Leadership Council (MPN) at a special meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday.

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A highly anticipated Bitcoin software update called the “halving” has been completed, dealing a potential blow to the companies that make money by ensuring that the digital currency functions smoothly and securely.

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The World Bank on Friday said that 11 countries have pledged to contribute over US$11 billion (RM52.62 billion) to new hybrid capital and portfolio guarantee instruments designed to expand the bank's financing capacity by US$70 billion over a decade to tackle climate change, pandemics and other global challenges.

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Shareholders of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed this week on the importance of addressing challenges faced by low-income countries, many of which are facing unsustainable debt burdens, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday.

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<p>A Philippine freight railway project may be built with the support of the US and Japan, an official in charge of it said, as Manila seeks alternative financing deals after dropping funding talks with China.</p>


<p>A highly anticipated Bitcoin software update called the “halving” has been completed, dealing a potential blow to the companies that make money by ensuring that the digital currency functions smoothly and securely.</p>


<p>Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), the operator of Malaysia’s 5G telecommunications assets, said the process in relation to the subscription of its shares by five mobile network operators (MNOs) in this country is ongoing.</p>


<p>Approved road transport logistics companies will obtain “fleet cards” from select fuel retailers to purchase subsidised fuel under the diesel subsidy rationalisation programme, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said.</p>


<p>The ringgit is likely to trade in the same range of around 4.78 against the US dollar next week, as the situation in the Middle East will continue to be under scrutiny by investors, said an analyst.</p>


<p>Shareholders of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed this week on the importance of addressing challenges faced by low-income countries, many of which are facing unsustainable debt burdens, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday.</p>


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<p>The World Bank on Friday said that 11 countries have pledged to contribute over US$11 billion (RM52.62 billion) to new hybrid capital and portfolio guarantee instruments designed to expand the bank's financing capacity by US$70 billion over a decade to tackle climate change, pandemics and other global challenges.</p>


<p>PKR Information chief Fahmi Fadzil said no specific names were discussed regarding the leadership of the Sabah PKR State Leadership Council (MPN) at a special meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday.</p>


<p>Efforts to reform the Bretton Woods institutions – the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank – are progressing, albeit slowly. In December, the IMF Board of Governors approved a 50% increase in member quotas, which will reduce its reliance on borrowed resources, and the World Bank has re...