NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

• Hume Cement sells Prai industrial plot for RM39.8m
• Rapid Synergy highlights proposed disposal of landed properties inUMA reply, hits limit down for second straight day
• Atlan's 3Q profit rises 9.5% to RM6.5m, declares four sen dividend
• Fajarbaru's RMAF Butterworth base redevelopment contract sumrevised higher to RM16.3m
• Warisan appointed Malaysia's sole distributor for China GAC AIONEVs

MACRO BITS

• Xi elevates China’s ties with record number of nations to counterUS
• Russia and Iran end SWIFT, start bank transfers in local currency —report
• Unemployment rate fell to 3.3% in November on a steady employment growth (See Economic Viewpoint: Malaysia LabourMarket)
• Anwar to meet Singapore's Lee on Thursday over RTS Link, Johor Singapore special economic zone
• Rafizi: Govt will not arbitrarily impose progressive wage policy
• Encourage domestic tourism to boost economic recovery, say tourism industry players
• Rice prices in Asia poised to stay elevated on tight market
• China credit woes ease as big borrowers reveal payment plans
• Japan's Nov real wages down for 20th straight month
• Yellen says clean energy tax credits will help Americans save money, more work needed
• Fitch no longer expects a US recession, forecasts three rate cuts
• Eurozone facing weak growth, possible recession, ECB's deGuindos says
• BOE official sees ‘exuberance’ as top financial stability risk