News Bits | 5 April 2013

IDEAS OF THE DAY (SEE SEPARATE REPORTS FOR DETAILS)

l  Sector Update: Plantation

l  On Our Technical Watch: NAIM

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Bina Puri gets SPNB job for RM1.3b Brickfields development

l  Bank Muamalat posts pre-tax profit of RM172.4m

l  Boustead unit sees profit again

l  BNM gives MRCB consent to issue free warrants to non-residents

l  Maybank rolls out plan, eyes 20.0% of retail SME market

l  Bursa Securities queries IRM Group

l  CEO wants to raise TdC stake

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Deutsche Telekom mulls improved MetroPCS offer

l  Vodafone teams with china mobile for Myanmar license bid

 

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)

Malaysia

l  Foreign Investors Adopt Wait-And-See Attitude Before Investing In M'sia

Asia Pacific

l  Bank Of Japan's Haruhiko Kuroda In Aggressive Growth Move

l  Australia Retail Sales Surge, Odds Lengthen On Rate Cut

USA

l  Jobless Claims At Four-Month High, Cast Shadow Over Jobs Market

l  Job Insecurity High As Layoffs Show Huge Surge

Europe

l  Draghi Signals ECB Stands Ready To Ease Policy If Needed

l  Bank Of England Rejects More QE And Holds Rates

l  German Economic Output 'At Near Stagnation'

l  Greece Passes New Law To Spur Investment, Boost Tourism

l  Italy Delays $50 Billion Payment Of State Debts

l  Hungary To Tap Central Bank Currency Reserves In Growth Plan

Middle East

l  Egypt 1-Year Yields At Highest Since September On Funding Crunch

Currencies

l  Yen Plunges On BOJ Easing Plan; Euro Gains

Commodities

l  Oil Down On Us Jobless Claims, Brent Hits 5-Month Low

l  Gold Hits 10-Month Low Despite Japan Stimulus, Hopes For ECB Cut