Market Review

The FBM KLCI cooled off by -0.1% to 1,590.38 by following two days of gains as investors remained cautious amid mixed regional market performance. Among the index constituents, the top-performing stocks include AXIATA (+2.6%), SIME (+1.2%), PETD (+1.0%), and PCHEM (+0.9%). All sectors ended slightly in the red with minimal losses, except Telecommunication (+0.5%), Transportation (+0.4%) and Consumer (+0.3%). Overall, the braoder market breadth is slightly positive, with 606 gainers outpacing 546 losers.

Economics

China, US: Team up on contact group to handle ‘financial stress’

China’s central bank said a meeting in Shanghai produced an agreement with the US Treasury to appoint contact people to deal with any future “financial stress events,” a rare example of the world’s two biggest economies seeking common ground. “The People’s Bank of China and the US Treasury Department signed an exchange of notes on strengthening China-US financial stability cooperation,” according to the readout from the PBOC about the meetings on August 15-16. It said the countries also “exchanged lists of financial stability contacts.” The agreements will “enable the financial management departments of both sides to maintain timely and smooth communication channels and reduce uncertainty when financial stress events and financial institutions’ operational risks occur.” (Bloomberg)

Malaysia: Govt has no plans to introduce carbon tax in Budget 2025

The government would not introduce carbon tax in the upcoming Budget 2025, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz. The Ministry of Finance as well as the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation are still in the process of discussing the mechanism to implement the tax, Tengku Zafrul said. Carbon tax measures would require at least one year of preparation, he said. (The Edge)

Malaysia: Exports surge 12.3% in July, fastest pace in nearly two years, official data show

Exports in July 2024 surged to RM131.2bn, a 12.3% increase when compared to the same month of 2023, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) said in a statement. Shipments of electrical and electronic products, which account for more than one-third of gross exports, rose 2.6% year-on-year in July. Exports of petroleum products climbed 15.6% while that of palm were 36.3% higher. Gross imports in July were up 25.4% to RM124.7bn. On a month-on-month basis, exports were up 7.6% while imports were 11.6% higher. Trade surplus, however, narrowed 55.1%. (The Edge)

Malaysia: Govt aims for 70% Bumiputera in high-skilled jobs, 30% equity ownership by 2035

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who launched PUTERA 35 on Monday, outlined the government’s goal to boost Bumiputera participation in high-skilled jobs from 61% in 2022 to 70% by 2035. The plan also seeks to raise Bumiputera equity ownership, both by individuals and through Bumiputera- mandated agencies, from 18.4% in 2020 to 30% by 2035. The transformation plan also calls for contributions from government-linked companies (GLCs), government-linked investment companies (GLICs), and private companies to achieve its goals. (The Edge)

Companies

CTOS: Ups its dividend policy payout

CTOS Digital Bhd has upped its dividend policy payout, starting from the financial year ending Dec 31, 2024. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the credit reporting firm said it targets to pay dividends in the range of 60% to 70% (from 60% previously) of its profit attributable to the owners of the company for each financial year on a consolidated basis after considering working capital, maintenance capital and committed capital requirements of the company and its subsidiaries. (The Star)

IJM Corp: Bags RM561m contracts to build data centres and industrial manufacturing facility

IJM Corp Bhd has secured two contracts with a combined value of RM561m for the construction of data centres in Johor and an industrial manufacturing facility in Penang. The project was secured through a 50:50 joint venture between IJM Corp’s construction unit, IJM Construction Sdn Bhd, and Woh Hup Malaysia Sdn Bhd. This means IJM Corp’s share of the contract is valued at RM254m. Separately, IJM Construction has independently secured an RM307m contract for the construction of a new electrical and electronics (E&E) manufacturing and warehousing facility in Batu Kawan, Penang. (The Edge)

Kerjaya Prospek: Secures RM275m construction contract in Pulau Pinang

Kerjaya Prospek Group Bhd said on Monday that it had secured an RM275.3m contract for the construction and completion of a building in Bandar Tanjung Pinang, Pulau Pinang. The contract, deemed as a current related party transaction, was awarded to Kerjaya Prospek’s wholly owned subsidiary, Kerjaya Prospek (M) Sdn Bhd, from Persada Mentari Sdn Bhd, the group showed in a bourse filing. The project is scheduled for completion within 38 months. (The Edge)

EcoFirst: Acquire 4.5-acre land in Kajang for RM35m for mixed development

EcoFirst Consolidated Bhd said it is acquiring a 4.51-acre piece of freehold land in Kajang for RM35m to undertake a mixed development. The development will include serviced apartments, small office home office, small office virtual office, and shop offices, the property developer said in a bourse filing on Monday. The project is estimated to have a gross development value of RM380.9m. EcoFirst said it is purchasing the land from Soils & Foundations Sdn Bhd by using internally generated funds and bank borrowings. (The Edge)

Technology: Malaysia aims to draw in RM300bn of green investment by 2030

Malaysia is targeting to attract up to RM300bn of green investment by 2030, said the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) on Monday. “It is important to achieve the investment of RM300bn by 2030, so that we can get to net zero by 2050," Zafrul said at a press conference on green investment strategy. He added that RE accounted for about 60% of green investment up to 2019, while EVs contributed 58% from 2020 to 2023. (The Edge)

Source: Mercury Securities Research - 20 Aug 2024