News Bits | 6 March 2013

IDEAS OF THE DAY

l  Sector Update: Plantation, Technology

l  Company Update: AMBANK

l  Quick Bites: ALAM, AXIATA, TOPGLOV

l  On Our Technical Watch: GPRO, SKPETRO

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  IJM sells 35.6% of Tamil Nadu highway concessionaire for RM60.1m

l  MAS' shareholders approve all resolutions adopted at EGM

l  Eversendai eyes three more Azerbaijan projects

l  IOI City Mall set to open end-2014, 50.0% of net lettable space secured

l  MBSB to increase loan disbursements to RM14.0b this year

l  Delima Oil targets RM1.3b revenue

l  Pintaras' unit secures RM47.5m contract

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Samsung in final talks to take 3 percent stake in Sharp

l  HSBC sells U.S. consumer, homeowner debt for USD3.2b

 

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)

Asia Pacific

l  China Puts Focus On Consumers To Drive Growth

l  Australia's Central Bank Holds Rates

l  Australia Retail Sales Rise In January, Spurred By Rate Cuts

USA

l  Service Industries In U.S. Grow At Fastest Pace In A Year

Europe

l  UK Retail Sales Grew At Fastest Rate For Years In February

l  U.K. Services Growth Accelerates As Demand Strengthens

l  Osborne Stands Alone As EU Backs Bonus Cap

l  Euro-Area Services Output Contracts Less Than Estimated

l  EU Opens Way For Easier Budgets After Austerity Backlash

Currencies

l  Dollar Trims Losses As Dow Hits All-Time High

Commodities

l  Brent Oil Lifted By Shut Pipeline, China After 5-Day Fall

l  Gold Pares Gains As Dow's Record Saps Safety Bid