Malaysian banks have limited upside in profitability even as asset quality remains strong, though they are well placed to weather external headwinds, S&P Global Ratings said on Monday.

Malaysian banks have limited earnings upside, return on assets likely flat — S&P

The recent spike in crude palm oil (CPO) prices echoes the commodity boom of 2021/22, as supply constraints from lower palm oil production and robust consumer demand push prices up.

Good time to buy planters even as CPO rally seen losing steam soon — analysts

Analysts are positive on Malaysia’s pilot green power exports to Singapore using existing infrastructure in both countries, following establishment of the platform enabling cross-border trading of green electricity, the Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem).

Analysts positive on pilot green power exports to Singapore; name Tenaga, YTLP as top picks

TA Securities has maintained its 'overweight' stance on the technology sector, and said the sentiment of the semiconductor sector in Malaysia will improve gradually, underpinned by an anticipated recovery in global demand and increasing trade diversion opportunities as a result of the 'China Plus One' strategy.

TA Securities keeps 'overweight' on tech sector, top picks Inari, Elsoft and MPI

Investors should go long on Malaysian Government Securities, Standard Chartered (StanChart) said and recommended buying the issue maturing in 2027 on the ringgit’s expected outperformance and prolonged rate pause.

Go long on Malaysian govt bonds, StanChart tips

AmInvestment Bank Bhd has selected Hong Leong Bank Bhd, IOI Properties Group Bhd and Greatech Technology Bhd as its new top stocks to buy.

These three counters replaced its earlier picks namely CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Mah Sing Group Bhd and Sunway Bhd, after their share prices have reached near or above the research house’s fair values, said AmInvestment Bank Bhd in a note released on April 2.

AmInvest names Hong Leong Bank, IOI Properties and Greatech as new top picks

Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) maintained its 'neutral' rating for the plantation sector, and said the sector had played its part in ensuring food security, job security, and health security not just for the nation, but the world over during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Plantation sector contributed more than RM23b over past four years in various forms, says Maybank IB as it keeps 'neutral' call

RHB Investment Bank (RHB IB) Research has maintained its “overweight” rating on the healthcare facilities and services sector with KPJ Healthcare Bhd as its top pick.

RHB IB stays 'overweight' on healthcare sector; KPJ top pick

Analysts are positive on Axiata Group Bhd, and kept their ‘buy’ calls for the telecommunications group after its earnings beat expectations.

They are also positive on the group's decision to exit the Myanmar market by disposing of its telecommunications tower business there.

Analysts keep 'buy' on Axiata as FY2023 results beat expectations

PublicInvest Research has retained its “overweight” rating for the healthcare sector, and said it remains positive on Malaysia’s healthcare sector in the medium term, supported by the increasing trend of an ageing population, growth in medical tourism, as well as the overall increase in demand for medical services.

PublicInvest remains positive on healthcare sector, KPJ is top pick

CGS-CIMB Securities has upgraded Bursa Malaysia Bhd to “add” at RM7.47, with a higher target price of RM8.50 (from RM6.90), and said the stock market operator is the biggest beneficiary of the increased vibrancy of the equity market.

Bursa biggest proxy for vibrant equity market, says CGS-CIMB

The recent market sell-off among small-cap counters and penny stocks on Bursa Malaysia during the first three weeks of the year should not deter investor confidence in looking for good fundamental stocks, according to RHB Research.

Recent small-cap selling pressure should not deter investor confidence, says RHB Research

Analysts are upbeat on the renewable energy (RE) sector following the recent announcements by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Public Utilities (Metpu), highlighting players in engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) as main winners.

Analysts upbeat on RE sector amid firm policies; EPCC players seen as winners

US dollar strength will continue to haunt the local equity market in the near term, according to HSBC, ushering the need for a “prudent and very selective” investment strategy, despite expectations of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve (Fed).

Spectre of strong dollar to haunt Bursa in short term, despite US rate cut expectations — HSBC

The Energy Commission (EC) has raised the tariff to transport gas via Peninsular Malaysia’s gas pipeline, owned and operated by Petronas Gas Bhd (PetGas), to RM1.096 per gigajoule per day (GJ/day) for 2024, versus a base of RM1.063 GJ/day under Regulatory Period 2 (2023-2025).

PetGas gets nod for gas transportation tariff hike; regas sees mixed adjustment

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Yayasan Hasanah, the social impact foundation of sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd, marked a decade of philanthropy this week, reporting the disbursement of RM1.6 billion to date.

Announcing the launch of the 10th edition of The Hasanah Report 2023 on Mon...

Yayasan Hasanah marks 10th year of social impact work, spending RM1.6 bil to date

Plantation company WTK Holdings Bhd is raising its stake in Sarawak-based rival Durafarm Sdn Bhd by another 15% for RM28.33 million.

WTK buys another 15% in Sarawak planter Durafarm for RM28m

Indonesia's central bank is confident that the rupiah currency will continue to regain ground against the dollar until the end of 2024, as capital inflows have returned after its recent unexpected rate hike, its governor said on Friday.

Bank Indonesia confident rupiah will strengthen into year-end, governor says

XOX Bhd has proposed to undertake a share capital reduction to wipe out RM303 million of the virtual mobile network operator’s accumulated losses.

The company, which had been in the red for five straight years, had racked up losses totalling RM307.48 million by the end of 2023 despite a slew of fundraising exercises.

XOX proposes RM303mil share capital reduction

GEORGE TOWN (May 3): China Southern Airlines plans to double its weekly flights from Guangzhou, China to Penang, increasing from seven to 14, starting June 20.

China Southern Airlines to double weekly flights to Penang starting June 20

Malaysia’s commitment to building its 5G network has given the country a world-class digital infrastructure, says Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson president and chief executive officer Börje Ekholm.

NEWS: Ericsson hails Malaysia’s ‘world-class’ digital infrastructure

Plastic packaging maker SLP Resources Bhd’s net profit surged 63% in the first quarter from a year earlier bolstered by better product mix and higher output.

Net profit for the three months ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024) was RM4.94 million compared with RM3.03 million over the same period last year, SLP said in an exchange filing. Earnings per share came in at 1.56 sen in 1QFY2024, higher than 0.96 sen in 1QFY2023.

SLP Resources net profit soars on better product mix, higher output

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Fresh vegetables wholesaler and distributor Farm Price Holdings Bhd, which is set for listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on May 14, said on Friday that its initial public offering (IPO) had been oversubscribed by 91.35 times.

ACE Market-bound Farm Price’s IPO oversubscribed by 91.35 times

In a majority decision, the Federal Court has dismissed a woman's final challenge to change her religious status as a Muslim.

Top court dismisses woman's attempt to change religious status

Malaysia’s planned increase in civil servant salaries will boost earnings of RCE Capital Bhd, which mainly provides consumer financing to government employees, Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) said and upgraded the stock to ‘buy’.

Higher civil servant salaries will boost RCE Capital's earnings, says Maybank IB

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) will hold a meeting next week to review due diligence findings on the 5G network rollout, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said on Friday.

Digital Nasional to meet next week to discuss due diligence on 5G network — minister

Shares of Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Bhd surged to their highest in nearly six years after the food and seasoning company announced the ex-date for its special dividend.

Ajinomoto Malaysia surges to highest in nearly six years

Naza Corp Holdings Sdn Bhd has completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in Berjaya Enviro Holdings Sdn Bhd (BEnviro) from Berjaya Corp Bhd for RM700 million in cash, marking its entry into the green economy with a focus on municipal and scheduled waste, as well as the waste-to-energy sector.

Naza completes acquisition of waste management company from Berjaya for RM700m cash 

Malaysia’s commitment to building its 5G network has given the country a world-class digital infrastructure, according to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson president and chief executive officer Börje Ekholm.

Ericsson CEO hails Malaysia’s ‘world-class’ digital infrastructure

Ranhill Utilities Bhd has declared a share dividend distribution on a basis of 0.5 share for every 100 shares held in the utility group.

Ranhill declares share dividend distribution

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Fraser &amp; Neave Holding Bhd (F&amp;N) said on Friday that the company will focus on fixed asset optimisation over the next three years, after having allocated more than RM3 billion in capital expenditure (capex) and development of its integrated farm in Gemas.

F&N to focus on sweating off its assets after investing RM3b in capex and development

The country faces higher imports of gas energy for electricity use in the coming years if it continues to depend on the commodity without efforts to accelerate the transition to more sustainable energy.

Rafizi warns of hike in gas imports for electricity without switch to sustainable energy

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Engineering firm UUE Holdings Bhd said on Friday that it has signed an agreement with M&amp;A Securities to underwrite its initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market.

UUE signs underwriting deal with M&A Securities for ACE Market IPO

Malayan Cement Bhd will likely report strong third quarter earnings when the company reports its results by this month-end, as volume and average selling prices stay high, CGS International said.

Malayan Cement likely to report strong 3Q results, says CGS International

Individuals who have fallen victim to fraudulent investment schemes risk losing the right to recover their money even after going through the legal avenue.

Bukit Aman: Victims of investment scams won’t be able to recoup losses

Hong Kong stocks are on their longest-winning streak since 2018, adding to signs that a recovery in one of the worst-performing markets last year is well underway.

Hong Kong stocks are on their longest winning streak since 2018

In a majority decision, the Federal Court has dismissed a woman's final challenge to change her religious status as a Muslim.

The Penang High Court on Friday dismissed former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty Chew Gek Cheng, and businesswoman Phang Li Koon’s attempt to strike out their graft and money-laundering charges.

Double jeopardy does not apply, Penang court rules in dismissing Guan Eng, wife and Phang's challenge on graft charge

Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd (LC Titan) is expected to face widening core losses in the second quarter ending June 30, 2024 (2QFY2024) from lower sales volume and weak product spread, according to TA Securities.

Lotte Chemical Titan to face widening losses in 2QFY2024 on lower volume, weak product spread, says TA Securities

Ocean Fresh Bhd has signed an agreement with KAF Investment Bank (KAF IB) to underwrite the frozen seafood company’s initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market.

Ocean Fresh inks underwriting agreement with KAF IB for ACE Market IPO

As the latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data indicated a softer contraction in Malaysia's manufacturing sector in April, economists are expecting the country's manufacturing condition to gradually recover in the near term, though it remains slightly behind regional peers.

Malaysia's manufacturing sector to recover gradually despite lagging behind regional peers — economists

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): KL Wellness City Sdn Bhd, through KL International Hospital Sdn Bhd, has launched KL International Tertiary Hospital as part of the first phase of the KL Wellness City township in Bukit Jalil here on Thursday (May 2).

KL Wellness City launches tertiary hospital as part of the township’s first phase

The US Treasury Department's top sanctions official will travel to Singapore and Malaysia next week, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Washington seeks to combat funding for Iran and its proxy groups as well as evasion of its sanctions on Russia.

Top US Treasury official to travel to Singapore, Malaysia to discuss sanctions

KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Muar Member of Parliament (MP) Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is seeking a judicial review against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the government over RM730,300 in allocations for his constituency.

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