The FBM KLCI’s uptrend has been relentless since mid-April as accumulation on blue chips by both local institutions and foreign funds continues, according to Rakuten Trade.

Banks, construction to be in focus as FBM KLCI could test 1,600 soon, says Rakuten Trade 

Inter-Pacific Securities Sdn Bhd said the FBM KLCI’s technical indicators remain overbought, and this could extend the downside pressure on these constituents.

In its daily bulletin on Thursday, the research house said the KLCI ended its upward streak on Wednesday as profit-taking activities set in to send the key index lower.

KLCI’s technical indicators remain overbought, says Inter-Pacific

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research said in the near term, the FBM KLCI is expected to remain choppy (support: 1,500-1,520), as investors weigh the ongoing February reporting season, a delay the US Federal Reserve’s rate-cut trajectory, and the sustainability of the Shanghai Composite Index’s recent rebound.

KLCI expected to remain choppy in near term, says HLIB Research

The return of foreign funds to the region is expected to provide a fillip to Bursa Malaysia next week, as buying momentum for domestic equities persists on renewed optimism.

Foreign funds expected to boost Bursa in coming week

Asian stocks were set to follow a selloff on Wall Street, with bond yields rising as traders comb through remarks from a slew of Federal Reserve officials and await Jerome Powell’s speech for clues on the interest-rate outlook.

Equity futures for Japan, Hong Kong and Australia pointed to declines after the S&P 500 almost wiped out its weekly advance, while losses in the Nasdaq 100 topped 2%. Treasury two-year yields, which are more sensitive to imminent policy moves, climbed above 5%. The greenback advanced against all of its G-10 peers on Thursday (Aug 24), with the Australian and New Zealand dollars falling the most in more than three weeks.

Asian stocks to follow US drop before Powell speech

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): Interest for beaten down counters is set to boost Bursa Malaysia’s performance with the main index expected to trade within the 1,420-1,440 level next week, said Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd.

Bursa Malaysia's main index set to trade within 1,420-1,440 level next week

Bursa Malaysia is expected to trend higher next week amid easing inflationary pressure in the US and expectations for smaller interest rate hikes, said an analyst.

Bursa expected to trend higher next week

Bursa Malaysia is likely to trade sideways with a slightly upward bias within the 1,475-1,495 range next week. 

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said investors will remain cautious due to increasing global market volatility.

Bursa to trade sideways with upward bias in coming week — Rakuten Trade

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3): Hong Leong IB Research expects 2023 to be a less stormy year for Bursa Malaysia (but certainly not a smooth journey), following a cumulative two-year loss of 8.2%.

In a traders’ brief on Tuesday (Jan 3), the research house said that currently, CY2023’s valuation is...

2023 to be less stormy year for Bursa Malaysia, says HLIB Research

Bursa Malaysia looks set to kick off the new year within the current level, with the FBM KLCI fluctuating in the 1,490 and 1,510 range.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng expects global funds to return to the Asia-Pacific region in 2023, and expects Malaysia to benefit from the spillover effect.

KLCI to begin 2023 within 1,490-1,510 range, may end year at 1,800 mark — Rakuten Trade

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 22): Hong Leong Investment Bank Research (HLIB) said that as a hung parliament election outcome is unprecedented for Malaysia and the possibility of higher political risk premium and regulatory risks (due to the unexpected strong showing by PAS), the FBM KLCI may witness further...

FBM KLCI may witness further volatility ahead, says HLIB

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): Inter-Pacific Research Sdn Bhd said that with no clear winner in the recently concluded elections, market conditions are likely to be volatile at the start of the week as the political impasse will leave investor sentiments wary

In its daily bulletin on Monday (No...

Impasse could see a knee jerk reaction to politically sensitive stocks, says Inter-Pacific 

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 17): Inter-Pacific Research Sdn Bhd sees the near-term outlook for the FBM KLCI remaining soft as market players continue to shy away from the market as they await the outcome of the 15th general election.

In its daily bulletin on Thursday (Nov 17), the research house ...

Inter-Pacific sees near-term outlook for FBM KLCI remaining soft 

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 16): Hong Leong IB (HLIB) Research expects the FBM KLCI to stay choppy (resistances: 1,469-1,482-1,500; supports: 1,408-1.424-1.436) ahead of the long weekend holidays and 15th general election (GE15) polling, as market participants adopt a cautious “wait-and-see” attitude.
...

FBM KLCI to stay choppy ahead of GE15 polling, says HLIB Research 

The FBM KLCI was little changed in early trade on Wednesday although it held firm above the 1,600-point level.

KLCI little changed in early trade, hovers above 1,600 resistance level

United Overseas Bank (M) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) has launched a programme to assist businesses in understanding and preparing for the European Union's (EU) carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), a carbon border tax that is set to take effect in 2026 and affect some 75% of Malaysian exports to the region.

UOB Malaysia introduces masterclass to prepare businesses for EU’s carbon border tax

SAN FRANCISCO (May 8): The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is piloting artificial intelligence to train officers who review applicants for refugee status in the United States, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters on Tuesday.

The work addresses what Mayorkas said is “labor-i...

US explores AI to train immigration officers on talking to refugees

(May 8): The head of Saudi Arabia’s new investment fund for semiconductor and artificial intelligence technology said the country would divest from China if it were asked to do so by the US.

“So far the requests have been to keep manufacturing and supply chains completely separate, but ...

Saudi Arabia AI fund would divest from China if US asked, CEO says

SEOUL (May 8): Kim Ki Nam, one of the longest-serving North Korean officials who served all three generations of its leaders cementing their political legitimacy and heading the propaganda apparatus for the dynastic state, has died, official media said on Wednesday.

North Korea leader K...

North Korean propaganda chief who served all three leaders dies

(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 

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Semiconductor industry offers Malaysia chance for exponential growth — deputy minister

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.

Urusharta Jamaah emerges as third largest shareholder in Prolintas Infra

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.

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

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.

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

Global sales of semiconductors jumped 15.2% year-on-year (y-o-y) to US$137.7 billion (RM653.24 billion) during the first quarter of 2024, according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

The S&amp;P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both clung onto gains to ended slightly higher on Tuesday, extending recent winning streaks fueled by renewed expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will cut interest rates this year.

S&P, Dow end slightly up, extend closing streaks despite Disney drag

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;

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

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.

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

United Overseas Bank (M) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) has launched a programme to assist businesses in understanding and preparing for the European Union's (EU) carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), a carbon border tax that is set to take effect in 2026 and affect some 75% of Malaysian exports to the region.

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.

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

Wall Street pared earlier gains on Tuesday after equity markets elsewhere rallied as investors parsed when and by how much the Federal Reserve (Fed) cuts interest rates this year, while a resurgent dollar helped weaken the yen further.

Wall Street loses steam, dollar gains as investors mull rate cut timing

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

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