After three straight months of muted foreign flow, foreign interest in Malaysia’s bond market surged unexpectedly in November, according to RAM Rating Services Bhd (RAM Ratings), with a total foreign holdings of RM8 billion, marking the largest monthly net foreign inflow since September 2017.

RAM Ratings’ head of research Kristina Fong said the increased foreign purchasing of Malaysian bonds was surprising given the US Federal Reserve’s less dovish stance during its monetary policy meeting on Oct 30, 2019, while also signalling a pause in rate movements

Unexpected interest pushes November’s foreign net inflow into bond market to its highest since Sept 2017 

RHB Investment Bank Bhd Research (RHB IB) has cut its forecast of financial year 2020 (FY20F) and FY21F earnings 26% and 24% for MyNews Holdings Bhd to impute a longer-than-expected gestational period of its bakery and ready-to-eat central kitchen.

RHB IB trims FY20 and FY21 earnings forecast for MyNews

Hong Leong Investment Bank Research (HLIB Research) has cut George Kent (Malaysia) Bhd's financial year 2020/2021/2022 (FY20/21/22) earnings forecast by 7.4%/1.4%/1.5% respectively after factoring lower progress billings and water meter sales.

In a note today, the research house said it has maintained its 'hold' rating on the firm at 96 sen with a lower target price of 99 sen (from RM1.04).

HLIB lowers George Kent FY20-22 earnings forecast

Travel management and services group Parlo Bhd has launched its first business-to-consumer (B2C) programme 'Buddy Up' — the first of its kind within the travel industry — to sell its travel products and tour packages while earning commissions.

Parlo launches its first B2C travel programme Buddy Up

KUALA LUMPUR: OCBC Bank was ranked first in Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) in Bloomberg’s 2019 Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) league table for green loans and renewable energy loans, as well as in intelligence service Debtwire’s 2019 MLA league table for green loans and sustainability-linked loans....

OCBC Bank tops two 2019 sustainable finance league tables

Affin Hwang Capital Research has maintained its 'buy' call on Scientex Bhd at RM9.53 with an unchanged target price of RM10.50, and said Scientex's first quarter of financial year 2020 (1QFY20) core net profit growth of 45% was within market and its expectations.

Scientex to improve in coming quarter, says Affin Hwang

OCBC Bank was ranked first in Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) in Bloomberg's 2019 Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) league table for green loans and renewable energy loans, as well as in intelligence service Debtwire's 2019 MLA league table for green loans and sustainability-linked loans.

KUALA LUMPUR: Scientex Bhd, whose first-quarter net profit jumped 50.9% year-on-year (y-o-y), aims to launch RM1.1 billion worth of new properties in the current financial year ending July 31, 2020 (FY20).

“The property development segment is headed for steady growth backed by our conti...

Scientex aims for RM1.1b worth of new launches in FY20

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 17): Scientex Bhd's net profit rose 50.9% to RM80.96 million for its first financial quarter ended Oct 31, 2019 (1QFY20) from RM53.67 million a year ago, mainly due to better sales performance achieved from both the manufacturing and property divisions.

This resulted i...

Scientex starts new financial year on strong footing

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 17): Packaging materials maker and property developer Scientex Bhd is buying 18 parcels of leasehold agriculture land in Kota Tinggi, Johor from Fiamma Holdings Bhd to be developed into a mixed property development.

Measuring a total of 85.73 acres, Scientex will ...

Scientex buys Johor land for mixed property development

The Malaysian rubber glove industry has demonstrated resilience and adaptability amidst challenging global dynamics, with optimism for a rebound in 2024, with an anticipated surge to approximately 450 billion pieces by 2027 despite a downturn in 2023, according to the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma).

Margma optimistic of rebound in 2024, expects surge to 450 billion pieces by 2027

RHB Investment Bank Bhd (RHB IB) on Friday upgraded Public Bank Bhd to “buy” from “neutral”, with a higher target price (TP) of RM4.80 (from RM4.70).

RHB upgrades Public Bank to ‘buy’, raises target price to RM4.80

A total of 218 out of 338 projects to reconstruct dilapidated schools in Sabah have been completed to date, says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

She said 60 projects were currently under construction and expected to be completed soon, while the remaining 60 projects were still in the planning stage.

218 out of 338 dilapidated school reconstruction projects in Sabah completed — Fadhlina

Sales of previously-owned homes in the US fell in March from a one-year high, underscoring the lingering impact of high mortgage rates and elevated prices.

US existing home sales decline as rates keep buyers sidelined

Israeli missiles have hit a site in Iran, ABC News reported late on Thursday, citing a US official, while Iranian state media reported an explosion in the center of the country, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.

Israeli missiles hit site in Iran — report

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Shares of Awanbiru Technology Bhd (Awantec) fell as much as 53% on Friday, prompting Bursa Malaysia to suspend the counter’s intraday short selling (IDSS). 

Awantec’s share price tumbled to a low of 15 sen during the morning session, its lowest since March ...

Awantec shares plunge 53%, intraday short selling suspended 

Apple removed Meta Platforms' WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China on Friday after the iPhone maker was ordered by the Chinese government.

Apple removes WhatsApp, Threads from China app store on govt order

Asian shares and bond yields sank on Friday while safe-haven currencies, gold and crude oil jumped after reports of a sharp escalation in Middle East hostilities.

Stocks sink, oil surges on reports of Middle East attacks

Bursa Malaysia started the morning trading in positive territory, attributed to broad-based buying in response to a regional recovery, with investors seen focusing on counters with high cash reserves.

Bursa opens higher on buying sentiment

The ringgit opened easier against the US dollar on Friday as the greenback strengthened further following the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) official hawkish stance.

Ringgit opens lower against dollar on US Fed’s hawkish stance

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday:

Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiT...

HeiTech Padu, Axiata, AmanahRaya REIT, AmFirst REIT, RHB Bank, 7-Eleven Malaysia, MBSB, Awantec, MAA Group, UMediC, Systech, Pansar, Auro, Kimlun and AWC

PIE Industrial Bhd, whose share price extended its rally to a new all-time high on Thursday on reports that it has secured a new customer, confirmed the matter and said it is expecting the new customer to contribute an additional RM2.5 billion revenue to the group, of which RM1 billion will be recognised as early as next year.

PIE Industrial confirms bagging new client, expects additional RM2.5 bil revenue

FE Green Pet (M) Sdn Bhd’s new high-tech recycling factory is expected to make Melaka a green investment destination and complement the economic growth strategy in the state, said Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

He said with an investment totalling approximately RM958 million, the plant on 14 hectares of land is projected to be completed by 2Q 2025, creating almost 500 jobs.

RM958 mil high-tech recycling factory puts Melaka on green investors map — Ab Rauf

The oil-rich Malaysian state of Sarawak in Borneo is aiming to transform itself into a centre for clean hydrogen energy, betting that its ability to harness an abundance of hydropower can help it defy challenges that are clouding the fuel’s prospects elsewhere.

 Sarawak aiming to transform itself into a centre for clean hydrogen energy

Swiss state prosecutors are seeking long prison terms for two men accused of embezzling US$1.8 billion from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) — Saudi-Swiss businessman Tarek Obaid and his Swiss-British business partner Patrick Mahony, the AFP reported.

Swiss prosecutors seek long jail terms for duo in US$1.8bil 1MDB fraud — report

Israeli missiles have hit a site in Iran, ABC News reported late on Thursday, citing a US official, while Iranian state media reported an explosion in the center of the country, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.

Asian shares and bond yields sank on Friday while safe-haven currencies, gold and crude oil jumped after reports of a sharp escalation in Middle East hostilities.

The US on Thursday effectively stopped the United Nations from recognising a Palestinian state by casting a veto in the Security Council to deny the Palestinian Authority full membershipof the world body.

US stops UN from recognising a Palestinian state through membership

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Shares of Awanbiru Technology Bhd (Awantec) fell as much as 53% on Friday, prompting Bursa Malaysia to suspend the counter’s intraday short selling (IDSS).&nbsp;

Awantec’s share price tumbled to a low of 15 sen during the morning session, its lowest since March ...

The amount of reserves in banking system — a key determinant for the Federal Reserve to continue shrinking its balance sheet — dropped by the most in two years as Americans paid income tax bills out of their bank accounts.

US bank reserve balances see largest drop since 2022 tax season

Apple removed Meta Platforms' WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China on Friday after the iPhone maker was ordered by the Chinese government.

The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed lower for the fifth consecutive day, said palm oil trader David Ng.

He said the weaker soybean oil market and lower crude oil prices continue to pile pressure on prices.

CPO futures end lower for 5th consecutive trading day

RHB Retail Research said Inari Amertron Bhd is poised to challenge the RM3.27 resistance level once again, which would make this its fourth attempt this year.

Inari poised to challenge RM3.27 resistance, says RHB Retail Research 

Chinese government-linked hackers have burrowed into US critical infrastructure and are waiting "for just the right moment to deal a devastating blow," FBI director Christopher Wray said on Thursday.

FBI says Chinese hackers preparing to attack US infrastructure

RHB Retail Research said Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd may be headed for an uptrend after rebounding strongly from a recent pullback and pushing past the 21-day simple moving average line.

Muhibbah Engineering may be headed for uptrend, says RHB Retail Research 

Cocoa futures hit a new high in New York — topping US$11,000 (RM52,624) a metric tonne — as the pace of processing in chocolate factories holds up even in the face of a global supply crunch and record prices.

Cocoa soars above US$11,000 a tonne as processing pace holds up

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) expects Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s earnings for the first quarter to rise 34% year-on-year to RM75 million, amid the expectation of higher securities average daily value (ADV) and derivatives average daily contract (ADC).

HLIB sees Bursa Malaysia’s 1Q earnings rising 34% y-o-y 

Rakuten Trade said United U-Li Corporation Bhd may trend higher after breaking out from its two-week bullish flag pattern with a long white candle on Thursday.

United U-Li Corp may trend higher, says Rakuten Trade 

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) said Kimlun Corp Bhd’s earnings is primed for promising prospects in FY2024-25, underpinned by an unbilled orderbook of RM2.48 billion (3.0x cover on FY2023 revenue and the highest achieved since FY2018), with 85% dedicated to construction and the remaining to precast manufacturing.

HLIB sees promising prospects for Kimlun’s FY24-25 earnings

US stocks closed near the unchanged mark on Thursday, as investors sifted through the latest corporate earnings, while economic data and comments from Federal Reserve officials suggested the central bank was unlikely to cut interest rates in the near future.

Wong Swee May

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