NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
l Bank CIMB Niaga posts higher profit
l SC tells MPHB to update valuations
l Petron MalaysiaQ4 earnings fall
l Kumpulan Darul Ehsan to Acquire Equity Interest in Kumpulan Hartanah Selangor
l Petra Energy buys work barge for RM42.3m
l Hibiscus unit gets Norway nod for oil and gas projects
l IWH courting cornerstone investors
FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
l Icahn, others acquire stakes in Herbalife
l Berkshire joins 3G Capital to buy Heinz in USD23.0b deal
ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)
Asia
l Japanese Economy Contracts For Third Straight Quarter
l Bank Of JapanKeeps Policy Steady, Raises Economic Assessment
l South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates For Fourth Month
l India Inflation Rate Dips To Three-Year Low In January
USA
l Jobless Claims In U.S. Fell More Than Forecast Last Week
l Consumer Comfort In U.S. Climbs To Highest Level In A Month
l Senate Democrats Offer Plan To Delay U.S. Spending Cuts
Europe
l Eurozone Recession Deepened At End Of 2012
l German Economy Contracted More Than Forecast In 4Q
l Italian Economy Shrinks Most In Almost Four Years Before Vote
l French GDP Shrinks On Job Cuts, Recession Risk
Currencies
l Dollar Advances As Euro-Zone GDP Disappoints
Commodities
l Oil Rises With US Gasoline Supply Concerns
l Gold Drops To 6-Week Low On Euro Recession Fears