News Bits | 8 March 2013

IDEAS OF THE DAY

l  On Our Technical Watch: INCKEN

l  Economic Viewpoint: BNM MPC Meeting

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Petronas to focus on raising local output (Comments included in Kenanga Today)

l  Scomi receives RM2.1b Petronas drilling award (Comments included in Kenanga Today)

l  PPB Group plans RM592.0m capex over next 2 years

l  Aeon Co's RM65.0m plan to refurbish Aeon Big stores

l  DiGi to be included into FTSE/Asean 40 Index

l  Digi expands 3G coverage to 75.0% of populated areas by year-end

l  Dijaya to buy Tenaga Kimia for RM79.4m

l  Dominant’s unit buys land parcel for RM10.3m

l  CLIQ Energy aims to list on Bursa Malaysia by April 10

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Chrysler invites IPO pitches, leaves door open to Fiat buyout

l  J.C. Penney Cutting 2,200 Jobs as Sales Plunge

 

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)

Malaysia

l  BNM Keep Rates At 3.00%

l  International Reserves Stand At RM429b

l  Malaysia-Vietnam 2012 Bilateral Trade Hit RM28b

Asia

l  Bank Of Japan Holds Fire, Braces For New Leadership

l  Indonesia Holds Rate As Inflation Limits Room To Spur Growth

USA

l  Jobless Claims Drop, Signaling Labor Market Gains

l  Household Worth in U.S. Rises by $1.17 Trillion on Housing

l  Consumer Comfort in U.S. Improves to Highest Level This Year

l  Consumer credit increase largest in 5 months

l  US trade deficit widens in January

l  U.S. Productivity Fell in Fourth Quarter as Labor Costs Rose

Europe

l  ECB Keeps Rates Unchanged At 0.75%

l  Bank Of England Rejects More Stimulus

l  German Factory Orders Fall As Euro Crisis Curbs Demand

l  French Unemployment Hits Highest In 14 Years

Currencies

l  Euro Jumps After Draghi Remarks, ECB Decision

Commodities

l  Crude Rises On Surprise Drop In U.S. Jobless Claims

l  Gold Drops As Stimulus Hopes Fade, Payrolls Eyed