Maybank Research Headlines - 9 Feb 2015

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Publish date: Mon, 09 Feb 2015, 10:32 AM

Local News

Berjaya Corporation: To acquire trademark? Berjaya Corp, which is controlled by billionaire Tan Sri Vincent Tan, may acquire the license to use RadioShack's trademark following news that the US electronics retailer had filed for bankruptcy protection last Thursday. (Source: The Edge Financial Daily)

Fututech: Fast track construction plan. Fututech executive chairman Datuk Tee Eng Ho is looking to fast-track the growth of his construction company and be recognized as a premium contractor which executes high-rise buildings. Fututech has entered into a heads of agreement with its major shareholders to commence exclusive negotiations for the proposed acquisition of construction outfits Kerjaya Prospek (M) Sdn Bhd and Permatang Bakti Sdn Bhd for an indicative consideration of MYR380m. (Source: The Star)

LBS Bina Group: LBS plans to transform ZIC. The property developer LBS Bina Group is in no hurry to dispose of its 246-acre Zhuhai International Circuit Ltd (ZIC) which is its only remaining Chinese asset. It will only consider monetizing it after a transformation plan to redesign the plot into a tourist spot – with commercial developments worked in - is approved by the authorities. (Source: The Edge Financial Daily)

Outside Malaysia

U.S: American employers hired 1 million workers in past three months. A 257,000 January increase in employment capped the biggest three-month advance in 17 years and delivered the strongest wage gain since 2008, figures from the Labor Department. The unemployment rate rose to 5.7% from 5.6% as the prospect of finding work lured hundreds of thousands into the labor force. (Source: Bloomberg)

Russia: Foreign reserves fall to lowest since 2009 on euro slide. Russia's international reserves fell to the lowest in almost six years as the weakening euro caused a currency revaluation and the central bank intervened to stem the ruble's depreciation. The value of the stockpile, which includes the central bank's holdings and two sovereign wealth funds, declined USD 9.25b in January to USD 376.2b, the Bank of Russia said. That compares with a USD 33.4b plunge in December, when the central bank tried to arrest the ruble’'s slump to record lows. Russia sold USD 2.3b in market interventions last month, according to central bank data. (Source: Bloomberg)

Greece: Reaffirms bailout rejection before emergency EU meeting. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reaffirmed his government's rejection of the country's international bailout program before an emergency meeting with the euro area's finance ministers. Tsipras vowed to increase the minimum wage, restore the income tax free threshold and halt infrastructure privatizations in a speech that sets him on a collision course with the country's creditors. (Source: Bloomberg)

China: Record trade surplus highlights weak domestic demand. China registered a record trade surplus in January as imports plunged on falling commodity prices and weak domestic demand. Imports fell by the most in more than five years, declining 19.9% YoY, the customs administration in Beijing said. Exports slid 3.3% YoY, leaving a trade surplus of USD 60b. (Source: Bloomberg)

Source: Maybank Research - 9 Feb 2015