News Bits | 21 August 2013

IDEAS OF THE DAY (SEE SEPARATE REPORTS FOR DETAILS)

l  Results Note: ALAM, DIALOG, KIANJOO, KLK, MAS, PERDANA, SEG, TSH

l  Company Update: STAR

l  On Our Technical Watch: LBS, PANTECH

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Drilling project in Australia to boost Hibiscus petroleum's revenue

l  Bumi Armada optimistic of securing FPSO projects

l  AirAsia X Trims pre-tax loss to RM58.4m in Q2

l  Celcom eyes 35.0% revenue growth from digital content

l  Kulim stopped from acquiring more NBPOL shares

l  Property developer LBS Bina plans to give more dividends

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS       

l  J.C. Penney posts slower sales slide as Bass bets on Revi

l  Barnes & Noble chairman halts plan to buy stores as sales slide

 

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)

Malaysia

l  Retail Sector Recorded Rm88b Sales In 2012

l  Japan Keen To Boost Services Presence In Malaysia

Asia

l  China State Firms's Profit Growth Quickens

l  India Eases Cash-Supply Curbs As Surging Yields Imperil Growth

North America

l  Moody's: Outlook For U.S. States Improves After Five Years

l  Canada Wholesale Sales Fall From Record In Widespread Drop

Europe

l  U.K. Mortgage Lending Hits Highest Since Lehman Collapse

l  Greece Will Need New Bailout, Says Germany's Schaeuble

Currencies

l  Rupee Slumps To Record Low While Dollar Slips

Commodities

l  Brent Slips Towards $109 On Fed Policy Concerns

l  Gold Turns Higher As Dollar Down Ahead Of Fed Minutes