News Bits | 18 Jan 2013

IDEAS OF THE DAY (SEE SEPARATE REPORTS FOR DETAILS)

l  Company Update: CIMB

l  Quick Bites: BPURI, KIMLUN

l  On Our Technical Watch: SBC

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Starhill REIT 2Q net profit plunges 67.4%

l  TRC Synergy signs on for Score project

l  Tiong sells stake in Perdana Petroleum

l  Ambank looks to sell stake in insurance arm

l  Azim Zabidi in talks with foreign partner to revive Patimas

l  QSR, KFC privatisation to conclude on Monday

l  Placement will enable Ingenuity to expand IT ops

l  Paramount proposes staff incentive plan

 

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Cisco acquires minority stake in Russia's Parallels

l  AT&T records USD10.0b pension charge

 

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)

Asia Pacific

l  Singapore December Exports Fall

l  Australia Employment Slips In December, Jobless Up

l  N.Z. Consumer Prices Unexpectedly Fall 0.2%

USA

l  Jobless Claims In U.S. Fell To Lowest Level In Five Years

l  Housing Accelerates In Boost To U.S. Expansion

l  Americans’ Economic Outlook Fell In January To Three-Month Low

Currencies

l  Dollar Slips; Spain Debt Sale Boosts Euro

Commodities

l  Oil Rises On Improving U.S. Jobs, Housing Data

l  Gold Flat, Platinum Snaps Seven-Day Rally