<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (March 22): Flat steel product manufacturer Astino Bhd reported a fourfold surge in its net profit for the second quarter of financial year 2024 from a year earlier, on stronger sales and profit margin.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Net profit for the three months ended Jan 31, 2024 (2QFY2024) jumped to RM11.78 million from RM2.95 million in 2QFY2023, while revenue grew 18% to RM169.22 million from RM143.29 million. &nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Earnings per share rose to 2.41 sen during the quarter from 0.6 sen per share, Astino’s bourse filing showed. &nbsp;</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Moving forward, Astino said it is cautiously optimistic of achieving a more sustainable performance as market demand for its product continues to remain firm, though it flagged escalating input costs and the weakening ringgit versus the US dollar.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>For the first half of its FY2024 (1HFY2024), Astino’s net profit doubled to RM20.35 million, from RM10.27 million in 1HFY2023, which it also attributed a surge in sales and profit margin.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Cumulative revenue grew 7.52% to RM334.86 million from RM311.45 million.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Astino shares closed half a sen or 0.86% lower at 57.5 sen on Friday, giving it a market value of RM279.46 million. &nbsp;</p></div>


Flat steel product manufacturer Astino Bhd reported a fourfold surge in its net profit for the second quarter of financial year 2024 from a year earlier, on stronger sales and profit margin.

Astino sees fourfold jump in 2Q profit on stronger sales, profit margin

PH-DAP’s Pang Sock Tao talks about her priorities following her victory in the Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election

NEWS: Pang vows to resolve constituents’ woes

Donald Trump said on Saturday that former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was not being considered to be his running mate in the November election, dismissing a report by news site Axios.

Trump says not considering Nikki Haley as running mate

It’s official: PH-DAP’s Pang Sock Tao has won the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election with a 3,869 vote margin

NEWS: PH retains Kuala Kubu Baharu

PH-DAP’s Pang Sock Tao talks about her priorities following her victory in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election

A total of 268 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have been operational, bringing the total number of EV charging bays to 2,288 units as of March 2024, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (Miti).

Miti: 2,288 EV charging stations installed as of March

A total of 12 police reports for various offences were received with five investigation papers opened during the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election campaign period that ended on Saturday.

Twelve police reports lodged, five investigation papers opened over Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election

Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) victory in the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election was widely expected by political analysts. 

Even so, they had expected it to be closer fought.

PH's victory margin wider than expected in Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, say analysts

Pakatan Harapan-DAP’s (PH-DAP) Pang Sock Tao has emerged victorious in the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election, with a 3,869-vote margin over Perikatan Nasional-Bersatu (PN-Bersatu) candidate Khairul Azhari Saut.

PH wins in Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election with a majority of 3,869 votes

New bank lending in China fell more than expected in April from the previous month, the central bank has revealed on Saturday, even as it seeks to bolster the country's economic recovery in the coming months with new stimulus measures.

China's April new bank loans fall more than expected to 730 bil yuan

The polling process for the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election, which began at 8am on Saturday, concluded at 6pm when all 18 polling centres were closed.

Polling ends, vote-tallying process begins for Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election

<p>Pakatan Harapan-DAP’s (PH-DAP) Pang Sock Tao has emerged victorious in the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election,&nbsp;with a&nbsp;3,869-vote margin over Perikatan Nasional-Bersatu (PN-Bersatu) candidate Khairul Azhari Saut.</p>


<p>The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has never allowed any e-hailing&nbsp;service provider to use the price bidding system for passengers in the country, said Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.</p>


Loke says e-hailing price bidding system never approved by MOT

<p>Bursa Malaysia’s average daily trading value (ADTV) jumped 42% to RM2.9 billion in the first four months of 2024 (4M2024), showing the vibrancy of the local equity&nbsp;market since early this year.</p>


Bursa's average daily trading value jumps 42% to RM2.9b in 4M2024

<p>Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) victory in the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election was widely expected by political analysts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even so, they had expected it to be closer fought.</p>


<p>A viral message claiming that Malaysia is the first Asean member country sanctioned by the US is fake, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.</p>


Viral message of US imposing sanctions on Malaysia is fake, says Fahmi

<p>The polling process for the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election, which began at 8am on Saturday, concluded at 6pm when all 18 polling centres were closed.</p>


<p>Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will undertake an official visit to Qatar from Sunday to Tuesday aimed at strengthening&nbsp;the long-standing relations and multifaceted cooperation between Malaysia and Qatar, said the Foreign Ministry.</p>


Anwar to undertake official visit to Qatar from Sunday to Tuesday

<p>Embattled Chinese property developer Country Garden said in a statement on Saturday it had repaid two onshore bond coupons before the expiry of a five-day grace period, following missed payments last week.</p>


China's Country Garden repays onshore coupons within grace period

<p>New bank lending in&nbsp;China&nbsp;fell more than expected in April from the previous month, the central bank has revealed on Saturday, even as it seeks to bolster the country's economic recovery in the coming months with new stimulus measures.</p>


<p>Donald Trump said on Saturday that former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was not being considered to be his running mate in the November election, dismissing a report by news site <em>Axios</em>.</p>


<p>A total of 12 police reports for various offences were received with five investigation papers opened during the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election campaign period that ended on Saturday.</p>


<p>A total of 268 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have been operational, bringing the total number of EV charging bays&nbsp;to 2,288 units as of March 2024, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (Miti).</p>
