News Bits | 9 December 2013

IDEAS OF THE DAY (SEE SEPARATE REPORTS FOR DETAILS)

l  Results Note: SKPETRO

l  Company Update: OLDTOWN

l  Quick Bites: DAYANG, IOICORP, TSH

l  On Our Portfolio: Still In The Consolidation Mode

l  Economic Viewpoint: Malaysia External Trade

 

 NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Berjaya Auto Bhd’s 2Q profit soars 251% announces 1.75 send dividend

l  Sona Petroleum may buy Indonesian Oilfield for RM418m

l  Century set to stem profit decline this year

l  MAS may axe bleeding routes

l  DSC said to be on regulators’ radar

l  Hekta REIT gains RM14.4m from property revaluation

 

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS           

l  QBE Sees USD250m Net Loss in 2013 on North America

l  Supreme Court justice denies stay in airline merger

l  Australia's IPO resurgence to keep bankers busy next year

 

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS) 

Global

l  WTO Agrees Global Trade Deal Worth $1tn

Asia

l  China Trade Surplus Hits Four-Year High As Exports Rise

USA

l  US Jobless Rate Falls To Five-Year Low In November

l  Consumer Spending In U.S. Rose More Than Forecast In October

l  Consumer Credit In U.S. Rose In October By Most In Five Months

l  Consumer Sentiment Jumps In December On Improved Economic Outlook

Europe

l  Germany Raises Growth Forecasts

l  German Factory Orders Decline In Sign Of Uneven Recovery

l  Greece Sees End Of Recession In 2014 With New Budget

Currencies

l  Dollar Rallies, Then Pares Gains After Data

Commodities

l  Oil Rises On U.S. Jobs Data, But Fed Timing Weighs

l  Gold Edges Up After Whipsawing, Upbeat US Jobs Data In Focus