News Bits | 29 March 2013

IDEAS OF THE DAY

l  Sector Update: Automotive, Building Material, Construction, Consumer, Gaming, Healthcare, Media, MREITs & Property Investment, Plantation, Rubber Glove, Technology, Transport & Logistic

l  Result Note: GAMUDA, UMCCA, YINSON

l  On Our Technical Watch: SUNWAY

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Affin calls off talks with Bank Muamalat shareholders  (Comment included in Kenanga Today)

l  Kimlun acquires land in Medini (Comment included in Kenanga Today)

l  Maybank may seek more time to pare down BII stake

l  BIMB, Dubai Financial Group, Tabung Haji seek more time

l  Sime Darby, FGV form consortium

l  Boustead inks contracts worth RM47.4m at LIMA

l  MAHB: KLIA2 on schedule to open on June 28

l  Borneo Oil sinks deeper into red in 4Q

 

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  ISS may force sweeter MetroPCS/T-Mobile merger

l  Ouya USD99 game device undercuts bigger players in consoles

 

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)

Global

l  OECD Predicts Stronger Global Growth

Malaysia

l  Five New EPPs Unveiled, Expected To Bring In RM22bil

Asia Pacific

l  Haruhiko Kuroda Says Japan's Debts Are Not Sustainable

l  Japan Retail Sales Fall More Than Forecast In February

l  Thai February Exports Fall 5.8%

l  India’s Current-Account Deficit Widened To Record Last Quarter

l  Australia's Interbank Rates To Be Based On Actual Market Transactions

USA

l  Consumer Confidence Cools As U.S. Jobless Claims Rise

l  Business Activity In U.S. Expanded At A Slower Pace In March

l  Economy In U.S. Grew At Revised 0.4% Pace In Fourth Quarter

Europe

l  Cyprus Capital Controls 'May Last A Month'

l  UK Services Sector Grew In January

Currencies

l  Euro Up As Cyprus Banks Reopen, But Down For Month

Commodities

l  Oil Settles Higher, U.S. Crude Surges 5.9 % In Q1

l  Gold Falls, Down For Quarter As Safe-Haven Bid Fades