Select blue chips lift KLCI marginally higher

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): The FBM KLCI closed higher on Thursday, erasing its earlier losse, lifted by gains at select blue chips including AirAsia, Telekom, AMMB and CIMB.

The stock index added 0.78 of a point to 1,583.17.

Gainers trailed losers by 344 to 390, whiel 325 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.29 billion shares valued at RM1.21 billion.

Meanwhile, Asian shares slipped on Thursday and the euro languished near a two-week low after disappointing economic data from both sides of the Atlantic rekindled concerns about the strength of global growth, according to Reuters.

But European stock markets were seen opening stronger, fueled by hopes that a European Central Bank policy meeting later in the session will prepare the ground for further stimulus measures, it said.

At the regional markets, the Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.07% to 2,440.08, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.28% to 21,249.53, Taiwan’s Taiex lost 0.23% to 7,659.53, South Korea’s Kospi shed 0.20% to 1,995.11 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index down to 3,000.94. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was closed for a national holiday.

On Bursa Malaysia, Knusford was the top gainer and rose 34 sen to RM2.28, Airasia added 27 sen to RM3.60, Panasonic up 22 sen to RM22.92, BAT 20 sen to RM55.24, Country View 19.5 sen to 84 sen, MPHB, Tradewinds PLANTATION []s and Tradewinds added 14 sen each to RM2.86, RM6 and RM9.99 respectively, MBM Resources was up 13 sen to RM5.09 and Permaju was up 12.5 sen to 55.5 sen.

Utopia was the most actively traded counter with 84.11 million shares done. The stock was unchanged at 8 sen.

Other actives included Ariantec, Naim Indah Corp, AirAsia, Metronic, Astral Supreme, Compugates and DayaMaterials.

Meanwhile, the decliners included Genting, BLD Plantations, MAHB, PPB Bank, Shell, Pasdec,Eng Kah and Rexit.



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KLCI reverses earlier losses at mid-day break

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): The FBM KLCI managed to reverse some of its earlier losses at the mid-day break on Thursday and edged up, lifted by gains at select blue chips including AirAsia, BAT and RHB Capital.

The FBM KLCI added 0.41 of a point to 1,582.80 at the mid-day break.

Losers outpaced gainers by 314 to 234, while 318 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 779.26 million shares valued at RM479.15 million.

The ringgit weakened 0.14% to 3.0323 versus the greenback, crude palm oil futures for the third month delivery fell RM31 per tonne to RM3,404, crude oil shed 13 cents per barrel to US$105.09 while gold fell US$5.02 an ounce to US$1,648.48.

Meanwhile, Asian shares slipped on Thursday and the euro languished near a 2-week low after disappointing economic data from both sides of the Atlantic rekindled concerns about the strength of global growth.

Commodities and the Australian dollar - all sensitive to growth expectations - also struggled as the data put investors on the defensive and limited appetite for riskier assets.

At the regional markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.5% to 21,203.40, the Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.37% to 2,429.49, Taiwan’s Taiex was down 0.23% top7,659.09, South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.33% to 1,992.46 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged down 0.07% to 3,004.14.

On Bursa Malaysia, AirAsia was the top gainer at mid-day and rose 21 sen to RM3.54, Country View was up 19.5 sen to 84 sen, BAT 16 sen to RM55.20, Nestle and Takaful 12 sen each to RM55.50 and RM4.29, NPC 10 sen to RM2.78, Crest Builder 9.5 sen to RM1.02 and RHB Capital nine sen to RM7.50.

Utopia was the most actively traded counter with 59.68 million shares done. The stock fell half a sen to 7.5 sen.

Other actives included Naim Indah Corp, AirAsia, Ariantec, Metronic, Compugates, Daya Materials and JCY.

Decliners in the morning session included Dutch Lady, MAHB< Genting, Carlsberg, Pasdec, Delloyd, Rexit, Shelll and Sarawak PLANTATION []s.



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KLCI in red till noon, focus on general election concerns

KUALA LUMPUR (April 27) : The FBM KLCI stayed in the red till lunch break on Friday as the local market takes the cue from domestic concerns ahead of the coming general election. Crucial highlights include the much-anticipated Bersih 3.0 rally on Saturday.

The less-optimistic sentiment across the local bourse was despite a stronger overnight close across US markets as global investors responded positively to improving US real estate and corporate earnings updates.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 8.01 points to 1,571.68.Across the exchange, some 759 million shares worth RM543 million were traded, leading to 216 gainers versus 356 decliners.

Top gainers NCB HOLDINGS BHD [] was up 46 sen to RM4.36 while COUNTRY VIEW BHD [] added 19 sen to 85 sen.

Among decliners, Sam Engineering & Equipment Bhd fell 37 sen to RM3 while United PLANTATION []s Bhd was down 24 sen to RM25.70.

Most active was Ariantec Global Bhd which gained 1.5 sen to 25 sen with some 267 million shares done.

Across Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.12% to 9,573.64, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.05% to 4,373.2, while South Korea’s Kospi was up 0.48% to 1,973.55.



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Country View up 6% on higher profits

KUALA LUMPUR (April 26) : COUNTRY VIEW BHD [] rose as much as 6% following updates that the property developer’s first quarter net profit rose almost eight-fold from a year earlier on higher property sales.

The stock climbed five sen to 95 sen from its last closing price of 90 sen last Friday.

In a statement to the exchange on Wednesday, Country View said net profit came to RM5.95 million in the quarter to February 29, 2012 versus RM761,000 previously as revenue almost tripled to RM37.87 million from RM14.2 million.



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Country View 1Q profit up 8-fold

KUALA LUMPUR (April 25) : COUNTRY VIEW BHD [], a real estate developer, posted an almost eight-fold increase in first quarter net profit from a year earlier on higher property sales.

In a statement to the exchange on Wednesday, Country View said net profit came to RM5.95 million versus RM761,000 previously as revenue almost tripled to RM37.87 million from RM14.2 million.

“Barring unforeseen circumstances, the group expects its performance for the financial year ending November 30, 2012 to improve further,” Country View said.

The company said this is in anticipation of revenue and profit recognition from the sale of its property development projects in Johor.



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KLCI closes lower as investors remain jittery

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): The FBM KLCI closed lower on Thursday, in line with the mixed sentiment at regional bourses underpinned by concerns of the Euro zone sovereign debt crisis.

Markets have grown jittery about the euro zone's capacity to prevent Spain's fiscal woes in particular from spreading to other vulnerable peripheral euro zone economies, despite massive liquidity injections by the European Central Bank, according to Reuters.

The FBM KLCI shed 2.24 points on Thursday to close at 1,596.62.

Market breadth turned negative with 429 losers, 281 gainers and 350 counters trading unchanged. Volume was 1.71 billion shares valued at RM1.56 billion.

At the regional markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.82% to 9.588.38, South Korea’s Kospi down 0.23% to 1,999.86 and the Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.09% to 2,378.63.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Taiex gained 0.23% to 7,622.69.

On Bursa Malaysia, Dutch Lady fell 60 sen to RM34.38, KLK down 40 sen to RM23.80, BAT shed 20 sen to RM55, Country View down 18 sen to 64 sen, CSL 15 sen to RM1.53, SAM Engineering 14 sen to RM3.65, Tradewinds and KESM down 13 sen each to RM9.69 and RM2.05, while Subur Tiasa lost 10 sen to RM2.98.

Ariantec was the most actively traded couter with 266.8 million shares done. The stock fell 1.5 sen to 17.5 sen.

Other actives included Utopia, CSL, Metronic, DBE Gurney, Compugates, Managed Pay, Iris Corp and Astral Supreme.

Gainers on Thursday included Pintaras, F&N, GAB, Metal Reclamation, Tan Chong, Can-One, Kian Joo, Bintulu Port and Genting.



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KLCI slips into the red at mid-day break

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): The FBM KLCI gave up some ground to slip into negative territory at the mid-day break on Thursday, in line with the generally tepid sentiment at key regional markets.

Asian shares and the euro traded in tight ranges on Thursday ahead of a Spanish bond sale seen as a key test of investors' risk appetite amid renewed concerns over the euro zone's debt crisis, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, U.S. stocks slipped on Wednesday, a day after Wall Street's best gains in a month, as uninspiring earnings from tech bellwethers IBM and Intel gave investors a reason to take profits, according to Reuters

The FBM KLCI fell 2.80 points to 1,596.06 at 12.30pm, weighed by losses at select blue chips including CIMB, KLK, Maybank and Genting.

Losers beat gainers by 358 to 221, while 311 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.02 billion shares valued at RM661.94 million.

The ringgit weakened 0.13% to 3.0686 versus the greenback, crude palm oil futures for the third month delivery fell RM30 per tonne to RM3,449, crude oil shed 11 cents per barrel to US$102.56 while gold lost US$4.50 an ounce to US$1,637.60.

At the regional markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.89% to 9,580.90, the Shanghai Composite Index down 0.14% to 2,377.57, Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.08% to 2,998.17, south Korea’s Kospi lost 0.33% to 1,997.92, Taiwan’s Taiex edged down 0.01% to 7,604.367 while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.36% to 20,856.40.

Among the major losers on Bursa Malaysia, Dutch Lady lost 38 sen to RM34.60, KLK 24 sen to RM23.96, Country View 21 sen to 61 sen, Tradewinds 16 sen to RM9.66, KESM and SAM Engineering down 12 sen each to RM2.06 and RM3.67, CSL 10 sen to RM1.68, Subur Tiasa eight sen to RM3 and Nice seven sen to 31 sen.

Meanwhile, CIMB lost three sen to RM7.64, Maybank and Genting down two sen each to M8.85 and RM10.80, and DiGi was down one sen to RM3.92.

Ariantec was the most actively traded counter with 143.99 million shares done. The stock was unchanged at 19 sen.

Other actives included Utopia, CSL, metronic, DBE Gurney, Compugates, Iris Corp and Astral Supreme.

Gainers included Can-One, Tan Chong, F&N, Pintaras, Jaya Tiasa, Bintulu Port, Aeon Credit, Utusan and GAB.



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KLCI still above 1,600 at close

KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): Malaysian stocks exhibited resilience on Friday, with a brief encounter in the red before rising to close in positive territory on the final trading day of the week.

Gains in the FBM KLCI were in tandem with global markets, following positive updates that Italian government bonds have seen better-than-expected demand, although China's first quarter economic growth of 8.1% came in below street estimates.

At 5pm, the FBM KLCI added 1.85 points to close at 1,603.12. Across the exchange, 1.35 billion shares worth RM1.66 billion were traded, leading to 400 gainers versus 325 decliners.

Top gainer Sam Engineering & Equipment (M) Bhd rose 62 sen to RM2.69, while Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd added 41 sen to RM2.10.

Decliners included COUNTRY VIEW BHD [], which fell 31 sen to 73 sen, while Tradewinds PLANTATION [] Bhd was down 21 sen to RM5.69.

Among actively-traded stocks, INGENUITY SOLUTIONS BHD [] added one sen to 10 sen, with some 105 million shares done.

Across Asian bourses, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.19% to close at 9,637.99 points while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 1% to 4,323.31. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 1.84% to 20,701 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.35% to 2,359.16.



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KLCI closes higher, but stays shy of 1,600-mark

KUALA LUMPUR (APRIL 10): The FBM KLCI closed higher on Tuesday, but stayed shy of the 1600-point mark as investor sentiment appeared to be cautious given the concerns over data that came from the US and China.

Regional markets were mostly mixed on Tuesday, as investors remained cautious after Chinese trade data showed the world's second largest economy may be able to achieve a soft landing but global growth concerns lingered given the sharp slowdown in U.S. job creation, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, European stocks posted sharp early losses on Tuesday and German government bond yields hit their lowest levels since September, as investors returning from a holiday weekend cut their exposure to risky assets after surprisingly weak March U.S. jobs data, it said.

The FBM KLCI rose 5.89 points to 1,597.17. It had earlier risen to its intra-day high of 1,598.53.

Gainers overtook losers by 365 to 332, while 33 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 1.11 billion shares valued at RM1.58 billion.

The worries about the health of the giant U.S. economy overshadowed positive trade numbers from Germany and China, with both nations enjoying strong export growth, although weak Chinese import numbers took some of the gloss off the data, said Reuters.

At the regional markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.15% to 20,356.24, Japan’s Nikkei 225 shed 0.09% to 9,538.02, and South Korea’s Kospi was down 0.13% to 1,994.41.

The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.88% to 2,305.86, Taiwan’s Taiex gained 0.52% to 7,640.68 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index up 0.59% to 2,977.70.

On Bursa Malaysia, Country View was the top gainer and rose 29.5 sen to 95.5 sen, Tradewinds PLANTATION []s added 26 sen to RM5.71, Genting rose 24 sen to RM11.08, Tradewinds added 24 sen to RM10.16, Batu Kawan 20 sen to RM18.74, BLD Plantations 19 sen to RM9.39, Chin Teck 14 sen to RM9.20, KPJ and SMPC up 13 sen each to RM5.29 and RM2.49, while Carlsberg added 12 sen to RM10.86.

Naim Indah Corp was the most actively traded counter with 69.82 million shares done. The stock gained one sen to 54 sen.

Other actives included DiGi, Metronic, KBES, Tiger Synergy, CSL, DPS, Ariantec and Managed Pay.

Meanwhile, decliners included Aeon, Sarawak Oil Palms, GBH, Advanced Packaging, GAB, Amtek, Malpac, Panasonic, UAC and Inno.



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Stocks to watch: Hua Yang, HELP, Pantech, Country View

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 19): Stocks which could see trading interest on Thursday include HUA YANG BHD [], HELP INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION [] Bhd, PANTECH GROUP HOLDINGS BHD [] and COUNTRY VIEW BHD [].

Hua Yang Bhd’s earnings jumped 90% to RM14.57 million in the third quarter ended Dec 31, 2011 from RM7.68 million a year ago underpinned by better sales of its homes. Its revenue rose 70.8% to RM84.25 million from RM49.30 million while earnings per share were 10.12 sen versus 5.33 sen.

HELP is expanding its education business to set up a private primary and secondary international school.

It is investing RM20 million to set up the school on a seven acre site in Subang with the capacity to cater for more than 3,000 students. The first phase will open in September 2012 with an initial intake of 500 to 600 students.

Steel pipes and fittings manufacturer Pantech posted net profit of RM10.34 million in the third quarter ended Nov 30, 2011, an increase of 69.5% from RM6.09 million a year ago.

Its revenue increased 49.3% to RM112.65 million from RM75.43 million. Earnings per share were 2.29 sen compared with 1.36 sen. It declared a special interim single tier dividend of 1.2 sen per 20 sen share.

Country View swung into the black for the financial year ended Nov 30, 2011, posting net profit of RM7.43 million compared with net loss of RM8.19 million in FY10, boosted by higher sales from its residential PROPERTIES [] and shop-offices.

Its revenue surged 314% to RM96.29 million from RM23.26 million. At the profit before tax level, it was RM11.50 million compared loss before tax of RM8.5 million.

In the fourth quarter ended Nov 30, 2011, it posted net profit of RM4.72 million compared with net loss of RM1.72 million a year ago.



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Country View back in the black for FY11

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 18): COUNTRY VIEW BHD [] swung into the black for the financial year ended Nov 30, 2011, posting net profit of RM7.43 million compared with net loss of RM8.19 million in FY10, boosted by higher sales from its residential PROPERTIES [] and shop-offices.

It said on Wednesday revenue surged 314% to RM96.29 million from RM23.26 million. At the profit before tax level, it was RM11.50 million compared loss before tax of RM8.5 million.

“The significant increase in the revenue and profit before tax was derived from the percentage of completion recognised and the increase in sales for the residential properties and triple storey shop-offices in Taman Nusa Sentral as well as the bungalow units, Residence at The Peak,” it said.

In the fourth quarter ended Nov 30, 2011, it posted net profit of RM4.72 million compared with net loss of RM1.72 million a year ago.

Revenue jumped 721% to RM41.40 million from RM5.04 million a year ago while earnings per share were 4.72 sen compared with loss per share of 1.72 sen.

Country View said the profit before tax of RM6.3 million in the fourth quarter as compared to the profit before tax of RM3.0 million in the third quarter was derived from the percentage of completion recognised and the increase in sales for the residential properties and triple storey shop-offices as well as the bungalow units.



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Limited gains at Asian markets as Spanish, Italy bond sale euphoria fizzles out

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI remained relatively muted at the mid-day break while gains at key regional markets appeared capped as the initial euphoria over the successful bond sales in Spain and Italy fizzled out.

The FBM KLCI shed 0.17 of a point to 1,525.39 at the mid-day break.

Gainers trailed losers by 295 to 329, while 320 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 814.47 million shares valued at RM585.57 million.

The ringgit strengthened 0.37% to 3.1305 versus the US dollar; crude palm oil futures for the third month delivery fell RM55 per tonne to RM3,154, crude oil rose 55 cents per barrel to US$99.65 while gold lost US$8.50 an ounce to US$1,641.75.

At the regional markets, Japan’s Nikkei was up 0.96% to 8,465.69, Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.76% to 2,764.45, South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.42% to 1,872.47 and Taiwan’s Taiex rose 0.22% to 7,202.13.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.77% to 2,234.81 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index shed 0.03% to 19,089.40.

On Bursa Malaysia, United PLANTATION []s fell 40 sen to RM19.60, Iretex down 23 sen to 94 sen, F&N down 14 sen to RM18.86, BAT 12 sen to RM49.72, Advanced Packaging 11 sen to RM1.19, Dutch Lady and GAB down 10 sen each to RM26 and RM11.96, while Cview fell 8.5 sen to 59.5 sen.

Compugates was the most actively traded counter with 40 million shares done. The stock gained half a sen to 6.5 sen.

Other actives included Utopia, Proton, Takaso, Berjaya Corp and Nextnation.

Gainers included Malayan Flour Mills, Supermax, Hartalega, Pos Malaysia, Carlsberg, MBM Resources, Kian Joo, Tenaga and Can-One.



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