News Bits | 30 September 2013

IDEAS OF THE DAY (SEE SEPARATE REPORTS FOR DETAILS)

l  Results Note: CRESNDO

l  Sector Update: Plantation

l  Quick Bites: BAT, BSTEAD, KPJ, MHB

l  On Our Portfolio: Eyes On UMNO Election & Budget 2014

l  On Our Technical Watch: Weekly Technical

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Maybank to name new BII President-director next we

l  Condom manufacturer Karex signs agreement with RHB investment bank for IPO

l  Scientex expands landbank in Iskandar Malaysia

l  Har Len unit to sell land in Sabah for RM184.6m

l  TA Securities next in line for M&A?

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS           

l  Berkshire’s Benjamin Moore seeks third chief in two years

l  ANZ, Singapore's UOB eye Hong Kong's Wing Hang Bank

 

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)

Malaysia

l  Govt Aims To Cut Nation's Uncollected Taxes By Half

Asia

l  Thailand Cuts Growth Outlook

l  China C.Bank To Keep Policy Steady, Push Reforms

l  Shanghai Free-Trade Zone Launched

USA

l  Consumer Spending In U.S. Climbs 0.3% As Incomes Pick Up

l  US Shutdown Looms Amid Political Rifts Over Health Law

Europe

l  German Inflation Remains Unchanged At Three-Month Low

l  Italian Government Bonds Drop On Political Tensions

l  IMF And EU Mission To Greece Takes Breather After Progress

Currencies

l  Dollar Slides On Budget Fears; Carney Lifts Pound

Commodities

l  Crude Ends Session On A Weak Note, Extending Recent Losses

l  Gold Rallies 1 Pct On U.S. Fiscal Worries