Friday, August 23, 2013

News Bits | 23 August 2013


IDEAS OF THE DAY (SEE SEPARATE REPORTS FOR DETAILS)
l  Results Note:  BENALEC, GAB, MAGNUM, MBMR, NESTLE, PCHEM, PERISAI, PETGAS,  QL, SEB, WASEONG, WCT, YTLPOWR
l  On Our Portfolio: KIANJOO
l  On Our Technical Watch: DAIBOCHI, PADINI
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
l  MSM M’sia 2Q profit soars 75% YoY to RM92.6m
l  icapital.biz to pay special dividend of 9.5 sen
l  Celcom targets single-digit growth in revenue yearly with launch of Escape
l  Sun Life Assurance aims to boost market position
l  DiGi keen on buying companies with low spectrum
l  AMMB to finalise insurance deal by year-end
FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS       
l  Barrick to sell three Australian mines to Gold Fields
l  ICBC to lead China’s biggest banks in posting slower profit gain
 
ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)
Malaysia
l  Malaysia Vehicle Sales Rise In July
l  Bank Negara Global Reserves At RM438.3b
 
Asia
l  China Manufacturing Activity Sees Sharp Rebound
USA
l  US Manufacturing Growth 'At Five-Month High'
l  U.S. Jobless Claims Fell To Five-Year Low Over Past Month
l  Leading Index Signals U.S. Growth To Pick Up Into 2014
l  Consumer Comfort In U.S. Declined Last Week To Two-Month Low
 
Europe
l  Eurozone Growth Hits 26-Month High, Says PMI Survey
 
Currencies
l  Dollar Follows Bond Yields Higher After Data
Commodities
l  Oil Edges Up On Strong China, Euro Zone Data
l  Gold Up After Chinese PMI Data, Downside Risk Seen.
at