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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Positive external vibes prop KLCI higher, but index stays shy of 1,600-mark

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): The FBM KLCI closed higher on Wednesday, in line with the firmer performance at key regional markets, which saw Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising 2%, but the local benchmark index stayed shy of the 1,600 point level.

Japan's Nikkei index rallied 2.1 percent on Wednesday on robust U.S. corporate earnings, firm demand for Spanish debt and an upbeat German economic sentiment survey, with signals that the Bank of Japan may take more easing steps also providing momentum, according to Reuters.

Mewnwhile, China shares also ended up 2% on Wednesday, the biggest one-day percentage rise in more than two months, led by finance and property sectors on expectations the government would ease monetary policy, it said.

The FBM KLCI was up 2.67 points to close at 1,598.86.

Gainers edged losers by 394 to 350, while 337 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 2.13 billion shares valued at RM1.62 billion.

At the regional markets, Jpan’s Nikkei 225 rose 2.14% to 9.667.26, the Shanghai Composite Inde gained 1.96% to 2,380.85, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was up 1.06% to 20,780.73, South Korea’s Kospi added 0.97% to 2,004.53, Taiwan’s Taiex edged up 0.25% to 7,605.00 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index

Among the gainers on Bursa Malaysia, BAT rose 74 sen to RM55.20, United PLANTATION []s up 40 sen to RM25, Dutch Lady 38 sen to RM34.98, Subur Tiasa 26 sen to RM3.08, Carlsberg 24 sen to RM11.28, SAM Engineering and Can-One 20 sen each to RM3.79 and RM2m, while KESM and Hong Leong Industries added 18 sen each to RM2.18 and RM4.29.

Metronic was the most actively traded counter with 362.76 million shares done. The stock added two sen to 19.5 sen.

Other actives included Ariantec, SuperComNet, Focus, Naim Indah Corp, Sanichi, DVM, CSL, Asral Supreme and Tiger Synergy.

Decliners included Tradewinds, Tan Chong, KLK, Genting, Far East, PMB Tech, Aeon Credit and Tradewinds Plantations.



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KLCI reverses earlier losses at mid-morning

KUALA LUMPUR (March 22): The FBM KLCI reversed its early losses and moved into positive territory at mid-morning on Thursday, lifted by gains in Petronas-linked counters and select blue chips including Genting.

At 10.21am, the KLCI was up 2.84 points to 1,585.37. Gainers led losers by 251 to 188, while 287 counters were traded unchanged. Volume was 1.04 billion shares valued at RM280.35 million.

Maybank IB Research said the KLCI’s resistance areas of 1,577 and 1,594 would cap market gains, whilst the weaker support areas are at 1,562 and 1,575.

“Due to the US markets’ weaker tone last night, we could be in for a range-bound day,” it said, adding that any low-volume and price rebound on Thursday could be a great selling opportunity.

Among the gainers, BAT rose 40 sen to RM53.60, Petronas Gas up 20 sen to RM16.78, Jaya Tiasa 15 sen to RM7.65, KLK 14 sen to RM23.56 and MHC 11 sen to RM1.71.

Hong Leong Bank rose 10 sen to RM12.22 while Uzma, Petronas Dagangan, KESM and Genting advanced eight sen each to RM2.08, RM18.50, RM2.11 an RM10.78 respectively.

Utopia was the most active with 204.91 million shares done. The stock added 2.5 sen to 10 sen.

Other actives included Mtronic, Ingenuity Solutions, Ariantec, DBE Gurney, Key West and Palette.

Decliners included Sarawak Oil Palms, SMPC, Aeon Credit, KrisAsssets, Auto Ventures, Bernas, IOI Corp and BHIC.



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KLCI slips at mid-day break, blue chips weigh

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 25): The FBM KLCI slipped into negative territory at the mid-day break on Wednesday, weighed by losses at key blue chips including CIMB, Genting and Petronas-linked stocks.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 2.37 points to 1,520.29.

Losers overtook gainers by 305 to 270, while 243 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 502.97 million shares valued at RM566.35 million.

The ringgit strengthened 0.23% to 3.0798 versus the US dollar; crude palm oil futures for the third month delivery rose RM12 per tonne to RM3,177, crude oil gained 21 cents per barrel to US$99.16 while gold rose US$1 an ounce to US$1,666.68.

At the regional markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.21% to 8,891. 89, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 0.88% to 4,261.40, Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.83% to 2,872.90 and South Korea’s Kospi was up 0.33% to 1,956.41.

The China, Hong Kong and Taiwan markets remained closed for the Chinese New Year holidays.

On Bursa Malaysia, Nestle fell 30 sen to RM55.70, Dutch Lady 20 sen to RM25.78, CIMB 12 sen to RM6.99, Golsta and KESM 10 sen each to 39 sen and RM2, Affin nine sen to RM3.13, Petronas Chemicals and Genting eight sen each to RM6.60 and RM10.90, Petronas Gas four sen to RM15.20 while Genting PLANTATION []s was down three sen RM9.25.

DBE Gurney was the most actively traded counter with 46.72 million shares done. The stock was unchanged at 12.5 sen.

Other actives included JCY, Compugates, MBSB, Maybulk, CIMB, Unisem and DRB-Hicom.

Among the gainers, BAT was up 46 sen to RM49.96, MPI 35 sen to RM3.63, Malayan Flour Mills 24 sen to RM8.04, Hong Leong Bank and BHIC 20 sen each to RM11.30 and RM3.77, Tradewinds Plantations and Fima Corp 17 sen each to RM4.43 and RM6.21, KLK 16 sen to RM25.64 while NSOP and Batu Kawan added 14 sen each to RM5.84 and RM18.84.



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KESM Industries to capitalise on green tech

KUALA LUMPUR: KESM Industries Bhd, a semiconductor devices testing and burn-in services company, plans to capitalise on green technology amidst a weakening global semiconductor industry.

“We will be assured of gaining more clients as more clients turn ‘green’,” said Sam Lim, CEO of KESM Industries, after the group’s AGM yesterday.

Lim said the group’s recent ISO 14000:2008 certification in quality management standard for the automotive industry was going to be among factors that will sustain the company’s growth in the coming year. The certification was timely as more automobile manufacturers turn towards more environmentally-friendly cars and use more sophisticated electronics systems onboard, which means the group is now well-positioned to garner a larger clientele list.

Lim explained that with no new invention or gadget that would excite the market to spur the semiconductor industry, the group has had to focus on markets which can yield the best results such as lifestyle changing products with high growth, such as smartphones and tablets as well as the automobile industry.

“We are aligning (our) strategies now for the high growth market... that’s all we can do (in this economic climate),” he continued. “I cannot be optimistic with what I’m seeing right now.”

The semiconductor industry is largely dependent on the global economic climate, which in turn dictate consumer spending. In the past, Lim explained that most electronics with chip components were mainly used for military applications, now it is widely used in consumer electronics. The need for “burn-in” is fast becoming a necessity, he added.

Burn-in is the process of stressing semiconductor devices by applying electronic voltages and signals at an elevated temperature by pursuing burn-in boards, burn-in system, loader/unloader and testing equipment.

The technique involves subjecting a device to heat and voltage stress for several hours or days to test the limits of its electrical performance. This method ensures a high reliability of semiconductors.

KESM Industries saw net pro-fit and revenue for its first quarter ended Oct 31 fall 60% and 20.8% to RM1.8 million and RM50.4 million, respectively, from RM4.5 million and RM63.6 million a year ago.



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