ECM Libra Investment Research has maintained its 'neutral' review on the plantation sector.

In an investment note today, it said the crude palm oil (CPO) prices would likely remain range-bound into the end of the year with not much catalysts to bring them past RM3,000 per metric tonne.

It said the CPO futures were positive last week by rising up to two per cent.

ECM Libra said the events to watch for in the coming weeks were: September production to potential for stock level decline; ongoing harvesting activities in North America which would be seeing a record crop; and, weather developments in South America that may affect the commencement of planting activities.

Meanwhile, the research house has maintained its 'overweight' review on the oil and gas sector.

It said more specific contracts to be look out for in the near term included topside maintenance jobs that Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd was biding for as well as head platform jobs for Kencana Petroleum Bhd.

Its top picks included SapuraCrest Petroleum Bhd and Dayang.

It said local oil and gas players had a good week with the sector being under the spotlight sector under the Performance Management and Delivery Unit''s Economic Transformation Programme. -- Bernama