<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>Morgan Stanley has upgraded Jardine Matheson (J36.SG) to &ldquo;overweight&rdquo; from &ldquo;equalweight&rdquo; following recent FY09 results. 
 
Morgan Stanley says FY09 underlying earnings were well ahead of consensus expectations, results accompanied by large dividend increase.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>&ldquo;Upside surprises came mainly from Jardine Motors, Hongkong Land development property, and quicker-than-expected turnaround for Astra.&rdquo; 
 
It has raised FY10, FY11 earnings forecasts by 23%, 25%, respectively, to factor in stronger-than-expected performance for Asian-focused conglomerate&rsquo;s businesses in 2H09; lifting target price to US$35 from US$31. 
 
Says Jardine Matheson preferred to Jardine Strategic (J37.SG) as shares offer higher liquidity, higher dividend yield. 
 
Jardine Matheson is trading up 4.8% at US$31.66. 
 
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Morgan Stanley has upgraded Jardine Matheson (J36.SG) to “overweight” from “equalweight” following recent FY09 results.

Morgan Stanley says FY09 underlying earnings were well ahead of consensus expectations, results accompanied by large dividend increase.

Jardine Matheson upgraded to ‘overweight’ by Morgan Stanley

BANGKOK (Oct 8): Thailand's central bank chief said on Thursday there is no rush to raise interest rates and monetary policy could not address structural issues constraining economic growth.

Thai central bank in no rush to raise rates, governor says

A sell-off in Singapore bank shares deepened after JPMorgan Chase & Co warned that surging long bond yields will hurt third-quarter earnings for Southeast Asian lenders.

Singapore bank shares tumble as yield surge threatens earnings

TOKYO (Oct 8): The Bank of Japan (BOJ) said price increases driven by higher raw material costs were spreading to consumer goods with some firms hiking prices more often, signalling its concern over broadening inflationary pressure.

Bank of Japan sees broadening inflationary pressure

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari will meet the State Education Department (JPNS) on Friday to discuss follow-up measures regarding the haze situation currently affecting the state.

Selangor govt, state education dept to discuss measures to address haze, Super El Niño — MB

LONDON (Oct 8): Accounting firm Deloitte has been fined £6.05 million (US$7.98 million) over its audits of transport operator Go-Ahead Group for the financial years between 2016 and 2020, Britain's Financial Reporting Council said on Thursday.

Deloitte fined £6.05 mil in UK over audits of transport operator Go-Ahead Group

The King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, has called for students' safety and health to be prioritised amid the haze affecting the country.

King decrees priority for student safety, calls for school closure amid worsening haze

MyDCD Bhd, a provider of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection (MEPF) engineering services for critical infrastructure such as data centres, has signed an underwriting agreement with TA Securities Holdings Bhd for its proposed ACE Market listing, targeted for the fourth quarter of this year.

Engineering services firm MyDCD gets TA Securities to underwrite ACE Market IPO

SINGAPORE (Oct 8): The number one challenge to expansion for BYD is geopolitics, Stella Li, BYD's ​executive vice-president, said on Thursday, months after the Chinese company's chairman said it aims to become the world's largest automaker within five years.

BYD exec says biggest challenge to expansion is geopolitics

Vodafone Group plc said its UK business would save costs of £1 billion (RM5.4 billion) annually by fiscal 2032, upgrading its outlook after taking full control of the business earlier this year.

Vodafone boosts cost-cutting target for UK to £1 bil by 2032

Blue Origin is likely to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) in the coming years, billionaire founder Jeff Bezos said on Wednesday, after the space company raised US$10 billion (RM40.9 billion) from outside investors for the first time in a funding round.

Bezos says Blue Origin likely to pursue IPO in coming years

No bidders turned up at an auction for a six-acre land that the Penang state government intends to sell to raise funds for the long-delayed Ayer Itam road bypass project.

Penang state land auction draws a blank, sources say

Just south of Penang, the historic trading island off Malaysia’s northwest coast, excavators are turning a stretch of blue-green sea into a new, man-made island. Dump trucks crisscross freshly reclaimed sand as orange pipes snake across the emerging land mass, carrying fill pumped from dredgers offshore.

Malaysia builds a new ‘Silicon Island’ to house its AI ambitions

A sell-off in Singapore bank shares deepened after JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co warned that surging long bond yields will hurt third-quarter earnings for Southeast Asian lenders.&nbsp;

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): Former Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim has taken the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to court for allegedly unilaterally cancelling a prior agreement over the settled payment of over RM4 million in taxes and penalties.

Azeez takes IRB to court for allegedly cancelling agreement over RM4m taxes and penalties paid; AGC says he is acting on presumption

In recent times, it is not politicians, but bond vigilantes, who hold the most power over the global economy. In 2022, then-newly minted UK Prime Minister Liz Truss presided over a meltdown in the UK government bond market after her government announced sweeping tax cuts without any corresponding spending adjustments.

We have to thank the bond markets for telling the truth — Tharman

The Federal Court on Thursday has granted permission for the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision earlier this year which allows the Malaysian Bar to challenge the Attorney General’s discretion to apply a no further action (NFA) order on Zahid.

Zahid, AGC get nod to challenge appellate decision allowing Bar’s challenge on Zahid’s NFA

Reddish skies and thick haze have shrouded parts of Indonesia’s Kalimantan as forest and land fires sent air quality plunging to very unhealthy and hazardous levels.

Red skies, thick haze shroud Kalimantan as Indonesia records 1,176 hotspots

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (KL:LSH) is planning to develop a new public square near KL Tower to improve access and attract more tourists, while also hoping to introduce a cable car connecting the landmark with other attractions in Kuala Lumpur.

Lim Seong Hai Capital proposes KL Tower Square, cable car linking key attractions

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (KL:LSH) opened higher in its first day on the Main Market following the construction firm’s transfer from ACE Market.&nbsp;

Lim Seong Hai Capital opens higher on Main Market following listing transfer

Analysts see the recent weakness in crude palm oil (CPO) prices as a buying opportunity for plantation stocks ahead of a potential supply tightening in 2027.

Buy plantation stocks on CPO dip, analysts say, ahead of tighter supply next year

Malaysian semiconductor firm SQ Advanced Interconnect Bhd is considering raising about RM300 million in an initial public offering (IPO) in the first quarter of 2027, people familiar with the matter said.&nbsp;

Semicon firm SQ Advanced Interconnect plans RM300 mil IPO in early 2027 — Bloomberg

Asian shares slid on Thursday as strains in sovereign bond markets were aggravated by reports some major tech companies were seeking to raise billions in debt in direct competition for limited funding.

Asia shares slip, bonds submerged in tide of AI debt

Myanmar is prepared to facilitate the repatriation of its nationals on a large scale, with the country ready to bear the associated costs, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday.

Myanmar to accept repatriation of nationals in large numbers at own expense, says Anwar

Malaysia’s corporate earnings growth could slow next year from higher interest rates, cost pressures, and a general slowdown in consumer spending, said Kenanga Investment Bank.

Malaysia’s corporate earnings could slow next year, Kenanga warns

Datuk Seri Awang Adek Hussin will step down as chairman of Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) at the end of his term at the development financial institution.

Awang Adek to step down as BSN chairman, Bank Islam’s former head to take over

SEOUL (Oct 8): Samsung Electronics on Thursday projected its quarterly profit would top 100 trillion won, a world first for a technology company, estimating a nearly nine-fold jump in third-quarter earnings as booming demand for AI chips drove strong memory sales.

Samsung flags US$80 bil profit on AI boom, highest quarterly for any tech company

NEW YORK (Oct 8): Oil prices rose on Thursday on persistent worries about supply from the key Middle East producing region amid an increase in attacks on shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil rises as Middle East supply concerns persist amid shipping attacks

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): Limited water supply headroom in Selangor could affect the timing of new data centre investments and temporarily moderate construction awards in 2027, according to BIMB Securities Research.

Selangor water constraints may slow 2027 data centre construction awards — BIMB Securities

theedgemalaysia.com highlighted two stocks with positive momentum and five stocks with negative momentum at Bursa Malaysia’s afternoon close on Thursday.

Stocks with momentum on Oct 8, 2026: Aemulus, Southern Score, Binastra, Censof, FM Global, Greentronics & Hartanah Kenyalang

Malaysia's stock market remains stable for now, supported by transparent government policies and a conducive environment that encourages foreign fund inflows, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.