News Bits | 4 Jan 2013

Kenanga Today

IDEAS OF THE DAY (SEE SEPARATE REPORTS FOR DETAILS)

l  Sector Update: Banking

l  Technically Speaking: AXIATA, UEMLAND

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  AirAsia withdraws daily Penang-HK flights from March 4

l  Boustead acquisition to increase land bank

l  Destini to expand aviation equipment services, buys RM14.8m property

l  GW Plastics sells units, maintains listing

l  Bursa Malaysia queries Bright Packaging over unusual market activity

l  Maxwell extends timeframe on IPO proceeds

l  EPF sells Wah Seong shares

 

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Disney Seeks to Halt Bankruptcy Sale of 3-D Technology

l  Hormel buys Unilever's Skippy peanut butter for USD700.0m

 

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)

Malaysia

l  Malaysian Businesses To Benefit From China-HK Pact

Asia

l  Japan’s Aso Targets Myanmar Markets Amid China Rivalry

l  China Services Sector Sees Growth Pick Up

USA

l  Consumer Confidence Improves As Hiring In U.S. Picks Up

l  Jobless Claims In U.S. Rose More Than Forecast In Holidays

l  Concern Over Federal Reserve's Bond-Buying Programme

Europe

l  Spain Sees Jobless Total Fall In December

l  German Unemployment Rose Less Than Forecast In December

Currencies

l  Dollar Jumps After Fed Signals End To QE

Commodities

l  Brent Crude Slips As Profit Taking, Fed Minutes Weigh

l  Gold Down 1.2% As Fed Minutes Show Doubts On QE