Kenanga Research has maintained “neutral” on the plastic packaging sector, and expects the sector to see a pickup in orders over the coming quarters, as customers replenish their depleted inventories as well as stock up in anticipation of price hikes, following the uptrend in the price of input resin in recent months.

Plastic packaging sector should see pickup in orders, says Kenanga

Kenanga Research maintained its “neutral” call on the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector due to subdued consumer sentiment, dragged by inflation and the implementation of targeted fuel subsidies possibly undermining spending capacity.

Kenanga stays ‘neutral’ on REIT sector as inflationary pressure, targeted fuel subsidies may drag prospects

RHB Research is “neutral” on rubber products due to a lack of demand clarity in 2023 and slower exports.

These factors led the research outfit to trim its 2023 global glove demand assumption to 7% from 5% year-on-year, with a demand target of 371 billion, the research house said in a report on Wednesday.

RHB neutral on rubber sector, foresees improved demand in 2024

TA Securities Research has maintained an "overweight" stance on the gaming sector with a bet on no gaming tax hike in Budget 2024.

In a note on Wednesday, the research house upgraded Genting Malaysia Bhd (target price [TP]: RM2.71) to "buy" (from "hold") as the current valuation offers superior return to its peers, in terms of dividend yield and financial year 2024 (FY2024) price-earnings (PE) multiple.

TA Securities bets on no gaming tax hike in Budget 2024, top pick Genting

RHB Investment Bank (RHB IB) has maintained its “overweight” rating of the basic materials sector, and said its outlook on demand for aluminium is still upbeat, expecting to see a meaningful recovery beyond 2024, thanks to still-low aluminium inventories, growing demand for solar panels, and the “green push” towards electric vehicles in Europe.

RHB IB still upbeat on demand for aluminium and cement

RHB Investment Bank Research (RHB IB) has maintained its “overweight” call on the power sector, and said electricity demand is set to remain fairly resilient in the second half of 2023 (2H2023).

Electricity demand set to remain fairly resilient in 2H, says RHB IB

Singapore's giant state investment firm Temasek Holdings is "still excited about the Chinese market", a senior executive said, even as investing in the world's No 2 economy has become more challenging, amid a slowdown and tension with the West.

Temasek 'still excited' about China, GIC 'doubling down' on certain sectors

RHB Investment Bank (RHB IB) Research said key risks for local equities include a weak ringgit/US dollar rate, the slower-than-expected pace of economic recovery in China, lacklustre corporate profitability, and the continued stability of the federal government.

RHB IB expects local equities’ FY2024 earnings to grow by 7.7% y-o-y

Property prices of high-rise projects and rental rates at shopping malls in the Johor Bahru city centre are now close to rates in the Klang Valley, driven by the effect of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link and a strong Singapore dollar.

Johor Bahru property prices, rentals catching up with Klang Valley on RTS Link, strong Singapore dollar — RHB IB

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research expects a mixed performance from the plantation sector for the second quarter of 2023 (2Q2023).

The research house said in a sector note that this is due to mixed quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) fresh fruit bunch (FFB) output growth and slightly lower crude palm oil (CPO) prices.

HLIB expects mixed 2Q performance from plantation sector

RHB Research maintained its "overweight" rating of the construction sector, after the outcome of the state polls on Saturday (Aug 12) maintained the status quo for the state governments, and removed the political overhang over the sector.

In a note on Monday, RHB Research said that the federal government will likely be in a stronger position to focus on rolling out programmes and implementing its reform agenda, which could lead to government jobs picking up pace in the coming months.

RHB keeps ‘overweight’ on construction sector on status quo after state polls

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research has maintained its year-end KLCI target at 1,530 and said there could be a possible knee-jerk reaction especially for brewers and gaming stocks.

HLIB: There could be a possible knee-jerk reaction especially for brewers and gaming stocks

Kenanga Research has maintained its "neutral" stance on the property sector, naming Eco World Development Group Bhd (EcoWorld) and IOI Properties Group Bhd as its top picks, which have strong cash flows that could anchor good dividends in the current challenging operating environment.

Kenanga stays ‘neutral’ on property, favours EcoWorld, IOI Properties on strong cash flows

Two research houses maintained their calls on the utilities sector, after the Energy Commission announced 22 successful bids for a total of 563 megawatt (MW) of solar capacity under the Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP). 

In their respective research notes, MIDF Research kept its “positive” call, while CGS-CIMB maintained its “neutral” stance on the sector.

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