KUALA LUMPUR (June 15): Glove stocks hit speed-bumps today as a fresh rout in global equity markets, induced by second wave Covid-19 infections in China, prompted investors to adopt a risk-off approach.

Glove stocks the selling targets after strong rally

BASED on Bursa Malaysia filings, the large caps — companies with a market capitalisation of at least RM2 billion — have slashed their aggregate dividend payment for the first quarter of this year (1Q2020) by 31% year on year to RM3.39 billion, from RM4.91 billion.

An analysis that inclu...

Malaysian companies slash dividends by nearly a third in 1Q2020 

WILL Top Glove Corp Bhd, whose share price has risen 440% year to date, see its market capitalisation (cap) surpass that of Southeast Asia’s largest bank — DBS Group Ltd?

Well, some glove bulls think that is a possible scenario.

Of the most optimistic glove bulls, Affin Hwang ...

Can Top Glove surpass market cap of Asean’s largest bank?

Based on corporate announcements and news flow today, stocks in focus on Monday (Aug 3) may include: AirAsia X Bhd (AAX), Lotte Chemical Titan Holdings Bhd, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Tune Protect Group Bhd, YTL Hospitality Real Estate Investment Trust (YTL REIT), KPJ Healthcare Bhd, Willowglen MSC Bhd, Notion VTec Bhd, YNH Property Bhd (YNH), Top Glove Corp Bhd and Hartalega Holdings Bhd.

AAX, Lotte Chemical, CIMB, Tune Protect, YTL REIT, KPJ, Willowglen, Notion Vtec, YNH, Top Glove and Hartalega

YNH Property Bhd has completed the second issuance of perpetual securities with a nominal amount of RM87 million that carries an initial coupon rate of 6.85% per annum.

In a bourse filing, the property developer said the second issuance has no maturity date as it is under its RM750 million unrated perpetual securities programme

YNH raises another RM87m via second bond issuance

Thanks to the continued craze for rubber glove stocks and the flush of liquidity, Bursa Malaysia remained as the top performing market in the ASEAN region in July.

The FBM KLCI scored a monthly 102.78 points gain or 6.8% to 1,603.75 although it tanked 25 points on the last trading day when UMNO dropped a bombshell announcing its departure from the Perikatan Nasional alliance

Political uncertainties and earnings to hog the limelight

Foreign exchange losses and wrong hedges against higher crude oil prices have pulled AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) into a massive net loss of RM549.7 million for its first quarter ended March 31, 2020 (1QFY20) — the long-haul low-cost carrier’s biggest ever quarterly loss.

AAX’s auditor Ernst & Young (E&Y) raised a red flag on its financials. The auditor announced to the stock exchange that there may be “significant doubt” over the carrier’s ability to continue as a going concern in respect to its financial position

AirAsia X posts record quarterly loss of RM549m, auditors doubt it can continue as going concern

Based on corporate announcements and news flow today, stocks in focus tomorrow may include Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Luxchem Corp Bhd, KIP Real Estate Investment Trust, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Ta Win Holdings Bhd, TRC Synergy Bhd, TCS Group Holdings Bhd, KNM Group Bhd, Axiata Group Bhd, SYF Resources Bhd, Parkson Holdings Bhd and Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd.

TM, Luxchem, KIP REIT, TNB, Ta Win, TRC Synergy, TCS, KNM, Axiata, SYF Resources, Parkson and F&N

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has called on banks to consider making the process for the restructuring of loan repayments be made simple and seamless, given it is based on the individual banks’ commitment and not a directive from the government.

FMM hails targeted loan moratorium extension, reiterates call for more assistance to businesses

SYF Resources Bhd said it is injecting some RM30 million into one of its residential development projects to expedite the construction progress.

SYF said the Alstonia Residence project in Kajang is being undertaken by Darul Majumas Sdn Bhd, which is 75% owned by the group via its indirect subsidiary SYF Development Sdn Bhd.

SYF Resources injects RM30m into ongoing residential project

The Trump administration is proposing an overhaul of the US State Department that would eliminate more than 100 offices including some working on war crimes and rights advocacy to ensure Washington's premier diplomatic agency is in line with President Donald Trump's "America First" priorities.

Trump administration proposes shake-up of US State Department

A slew of mergers and acquisitions among finance-related firms is defying the global slump in dealmaking amid market turmoil triggered by US President Donald Trump’s tariff war.

US$50 bil finance deals defy global M&A gloom

Alphabet Inc pays Samsung Electronics Co an “enormous sum of money” every month to pre-install Google generative AI app, Gemini, on its phones and devices, according to court testimony, even though the company’s practice of paying for installations has twice been found to violate the law.

Google paid Samsung ‘enormous sums’ for Gemini AI app installs

The treasurers of eight US states have written an open letter to Tesla Inc’s board of directors questioning the direction of the company and the level of attention Elon Musk is paying to its mounting challenges.

Tesla board gets an earful from state treasurers over Musk’s focus

United States (US) tech giants Intel and Oracle have raised concerns about the impact of the United States’ (US) tariffs on their operations in Malaysia, said Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Intel, Oracle raise concerns over US tariffs with PM — Zafrul 

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will boost defence spending to 2% of economic output in 2025, or four years earlier than previously planned, as Nato nations come under growing US pressure to invest more in their security.

Spain plans to hike defense spending to 2% of GDP this year

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

MGB, Scanwolf, DPS Resources, Petronas Chemicals, Alpha IVF, Pentamaster, Southern Steel

Northrop Grumman Corp reported first-quarter profit that missed analysts’ expectations and cut its earnings forecast for the year as costs mounted for its next-generation B-21 stealth bomber.

Northrop Grumman cuts earnings outlook on B-21 Bomber costs

Solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturers in Malaysia owned by China-based players could face the risk of being phased out due to the latest US-imposed duties on solar imports from the country, an industry group representing the sector said.

New US tariffs on solar imports threaten to phase out Chinese solar panel makers in Malaysia

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ruled out an imminent cabinet shakeup amid reports of a growing rift between her ruling party and its biggest coalition partner.

Thai PM rules out cabinet shakeup amid signs of coalition rift

The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) plans to nab&nbsp;another ‘Tan Sri’ for questioning&nbsp;in connection with the MBI ponzi scheme, following a second round of arrests from April 18 to 21 and the seizure of RM347 million in assets, according to sources.

Police to nab third ‘Tan Sri’ for questioning, following fresh arrests and RM347m seizure in MBI case — sources

Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (KL: PCHEM), or PCG, announced on Tuesday that its Pengerang Petrochemicals Complex in Johor — the group’s largest growth project under its olefins and derivatives segment in partnership with Saudi Aramco — commenced commercial operations in November 2024

Petronas Chemicals says commercial ops at Pengerang site commenced in November 2024

Norges Bank, which manages Norway’s government pension fund, has emerged as a substantial shareholder in automated test equipment (ATE) maker Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) with a 5.26% stake.

Norges Bank emerges as substantial shareholder of Pentamaster

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

Wong &amp; Partners, the legal firm which had advised 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), did not play a role in the controversial transfer of the US$1 billion meant for a joint venture with PetroSaudi International Ltd (PSI), but which was then misappropriated, the court heard on Tuesday.

1MDB legal adviser Wong & Partners played no role in controversial US$1b remittance, court told

United States (US) tech giants Intel and Oracle have raised concerns about the impact of the United States’ (US) tariffs on their operations in Malaysia, said Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

The treasurers of eight US states have written an open letter to Tesla Inc’s board of directors questioning the direction of the company and the level of attention Elon Musk is paying to its mounting challenges.

Wall Street's main indexes recovered some ground on Tuesday as investors focused on corporate earnings after President Donald Trump's mounting criticism of Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell led to a sharp sell-off in the previous session.

Wall Street bounces back after sell-off as investors focus on earnings

MGB Bhd proposes to settle RM7.23 million with joint venture partner Aset AZG Sdn Bhd (AASB) to kick start a serviced apartment project in Cameron Highlands which has been on the back burner for six years.

MGB settles RM7.23m with JV partner to revive Cameron Highlands project after six years

After Singapore-based steel firm Green Esteel Pte Ltd’s emergence as the controlling shareholder of Southern Steel Bhd (KL:SSTEEL) earlier this year, the Malaysian group is now offloading a 55% stake in its steel wire mesh-making unit to Singapore-listed BRC Asia Ltd for RM61.05 million in cash.

Southern Steel to sell 55% stake in steel wire mesh unit to Singapore-listed BRC Asia

To break into the cryptocurrency mining industry, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr are teaming up with executives who previously founded a miner with the backing of investors implicated in an illegal penny-stock pump-and-dump operation.

Trump sons’ bitcoin mining partners had run-ins with regulators

West River Bhd, slated for listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on May 5, saw 0.26 times oversubscription for the public portion of its new shares in its initial public offering.

West River’s IPO oversubscribed by 0.26 times

DPS Resources Bhd (KL:DPS) is partnering Invest Energy Sdn Bhd to develop solar farms and other infrastructure to support its proposed artificial intelligence (AI) data centre and high-tech industrial park in Alor Gajah, Melaka.

DPS Resources, Invest Energy team up to build solar farms in Melaka

With profit margins close to record levels, Corporate America has some room to absorb costs from higher tariffs. How much it decides to cushion the blow will determine how high inflation goes in 2025.

US earnings to offer clues on how much tariffs will boost prices

Bitcoin advanced to the highest level since early March, fuelling optimism that the biggest digital token is finally breaking free of a longstanding tendency to move in tandem with US tech stocks.

Bitcoin rallies 20% during market turmoil to diverge from tech

Alpha IVF Group Bhd (KL:ALPHA) posted a 12.4% year-on-year decline in net profit for its third quarter, dragged by expansion costs and lower contributions from its Singapore operations.

Alpha IVF's 3Q net profit down 12% on expansion costs

Scanwolf Corporation Bhd (KL:SCNWOLF) said it has secured a RM16.63 million subcontract for the relocation of water supply in Rawang, Selangor.

Scanwolf secures subcontract for relocation of water supply in Rawang

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slashed its forecasts for growth in the United States, China and most countries, citing the impact of US tariffs now at 100-year highs, and warning that further trade tensions would slow growth further.

IMF cuts growth forecasts for most countries in wake of century-high US tariffs

Hours after swearing an oath to defend the US Constitution on January 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing his attorney general to scour the Justice Department and other agencies for evidence of political "weaponization."

Lai Ying Yi

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Lai Ying Yi

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