News Bits | 2 December 2013

IDEAS OF THE DAY (SEE SEPARATE REPORTS FOR DETAILS)

l        Sector Update: MREIT, Plantation

l        Results Note: AFG, BSTEAD, CENSOF, HUNZA, MASTEEL, MMC, MRCB, MUHIBAH, RHBCAP, SIME, SUNWAY

l        Company Update:  ZHULIAN

l        On Our Radar:  On Our Portfolio

l        On Our Technical Watch:  Monthly Technical Review

l    Economic Viewpoint: Malaysia Loans and Money Supply

 

 NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

l  Counters dropped from syariah list feel the heat

l  MRCB eyes big sum for assets It prefers payment in cash to enhance liquidity

l  Gabungan AQRS Targets RM1.5b in construction order book

l  Bina Puri upbeat on 2014 and target RM2.5b order book by end-2014

l  KKB Engineering's unit awarded RM227.0m contract

l  YFG eyes 30% of RM1.2b projects tendered

 

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS           

l  Petrofac not interested in acquiring Foster Wheeler: source

l  U.S. retail holiday sales up 2.3%, foot traffic declines

l  GrainCorp CEO resigns after USD2.0b ADM takeover blocked

 

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS) 

Asia

l  Japan Consumer Price Rises Pick Up Pace

l  S. Korea Exports Slow As Southeast Asia Demand Declines

l  China Manufacturing Index Beats Estimates As Output Rises

l  India's Economy Grows Faster Than Expected

North America

l  U.S. Retail Sales Up At Start Of Holiday Season

l  Consumers Power Canada Economy To Best Growth In 2 Years

Europe

l  S&P Upgrades Spain's Economic Outlook

l  Greece Raised To Caa3 By Moody’s On Fiscal Progress

l  Eurozone Unemployment Falls For First Time Since 2011

Currencies

l  Dollar Notches Monthly Gain Against Yen

Commodities

l  Brent Falls, Premium To U.S. Oil Narrows

l  Gold Sets Biggest Monthly Loss Since June On Fed Concerns