News Bits | 9 Jan 2013

IDEAS OF THE DAY (SEE SEPARATE REPORTS FOR DETAILS)

l  Company Update: TOPGLOV

l  Results Note: LPI

l  Quick Bites: IOICORP, UEMLAND

l  On Our Technical Watch: SYF, HAIO

l  Economic Viewpoint: External Reserves Dec ’12

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  SILK subsidiary gets RM251.9m jobs from Petronas Carigali

l  Paramount to build metropolis university

l  Brahim's targets USD500.0m hajj deal

l  Proton not shifting Shah Alam plant to Tanjung Malim

l  Minetech unit ordered to halt quarry works

l  Ingenuity unit discontinues JV

l  Nod for Asia Media to transfer listing

 

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  HSBC's Ping An stake sale at risk over funding doubts

l  GameStop falls as holiday sales decline prompts new view

 

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)

Malaysia

l  External Reserves Increased In Dec

Asia Pacific

l  Thailand Helps Firms Cope With Big Jump In Basic Wage

l  Japan To Buy European Debt With Currency Reserves To Weaken Yen

l  Australia Trade Deficit Widens; Iron Ore To The Rescue

l  New Zealand House Building Approvals Reach Highest Since May ’10

USA

l  Consumer Credit Rose In November On U.S. Auto, Student Loans

l  Small Business Confidence Nearly Flat For December

Europe

l  Eurozone Unemployment Reaches New High

l  Euro-Area Economic Confidence Rises More Than Estimated

l  German Exports Post Sharp Decline In November

l  German Factory Orders Dropped In November On Weak Exports

l  U.K. Stores Set For Tough 2013 After ‘Underwhelming’ Holiday

l  Ireland Raises $3.3 Billion In First Issue Of 2013

l  Euro Gives Up Japan-Inspired Gains

Commodities

l  Brent Crude Up As Annual Rebalancing Widens WTI Spread

l  Gold Edges Up On Euro, Asia Physical Buying