Review & Outlook

With the FBM KLCI already at a near two-year high, short-term overbought technical momentum is evident which should force the index to pause for profit-taking breather. The presence of strong buying momentum and positive local market catalysts will be crucial to ensure the current uptrend momentum sustain, while positive external sentiment, mostly due to strong Big Tech earnings in the US, will need to stay buoyant, but persistently elevated inflation could risk increased volatility on global markets.

Immediate resistance for the index will be at 1,580, with stronger upside hurdles seen at 1,600 and then 1,620. Immediate uptrend supports will be at 1,549, 1,540 and 1,518, which are the respective rising 30-day, 50-day and 100-day moving averages, with stronger support at 1,500.

As for stock picks this week, construction and semiconductor lower liners are likely to attract bargain hunters looking for rotational plays, as trading momentum remains robust in the immediate term.

News Bites

• Malaysia's producer price index has increased by 1.6% YoY in March 2024, compared with 0.3% in February.

• Malayan Banking Bhd has obtained a summary judgement at the High Court here against ACE Credit (M) Sdn Bhd, ACE Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd, and the company directors Datuk Choong Chee Meng and Chang Ai Nee, for defaulting on a RM46.5mn loan given to them by the bank.

• Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd is investigating allegations of unethical recruitment practices made against the sub-agents of SOS Manpower Service, its appointed agent to recruit Nepalese foreign workers for its subsidiary KL-Kepong Rubber Products Sdn Bhd.

• Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd is slated to raise prices for 22 of its products starting 1 July 2024, according to the Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia.

• Genting Malaysia Bhd and Berjaya Corporation Bhd have denied any involvement in the Forest City casino discussions.

• KPJ Healthcare Bhd, through its premier educational institution KPJ Healthcare University, has entered into a MoU on 26 April 2024 with Trusx Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a global digital health organisation, as an initiative to revolutionise healthcare.

• D&O Green Technologies Bhd is optimistic of an at least 10.0% revenue growth this year and plans to build another facility in anticipation of significant growth over the next decade.

• The Employees Provident Fund has emerged as the second largest shareholder of aero-engine components manufacturer Sam Engineering & Equipment (M) Bhd after it bought one block of 45.1mn shares or a 6.7% stake on 16 April 2024.

• Capital A Bhd chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said the corporate exercise to merge AirAsia's airline businesses under AirAsia X Bhd is apparently sufficient to offset all of the RM8.7bn negative equity in the group.

• KUB Malaysia Bhd has extended the deadline for its mandatory general offer for Central Cables Bhd a second time to 20 May 2024 from 30 April 2024.

• Microlink Solutions Bhd has secured a contract worth RM56.5mn to implement and maintain a new core banking system for Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Bhd.

• KNM Group Bhd said it is seeking court sanction for a new scheme of arrangement with its creditors.

• Gadang Holdings Bhd has secured a contract from TM Technology Services Sdn Bhd worth RM280.0mn.

• YNH Property Bhd has remedied the "technical default" involving its sukuk programme that led to a downgrade of the company's rating by MARC Ratings recently, and assured that it will maintain compliance to prevent further technical defaults.

• MAA Group Bhd has agreed to sell its entire 58.0% stake in Turiya Bhd for RM52.9mn to Khidmat Kejora Sdn Bhd and Neo Pixel Sdn Bhd.

• Majuperak Holdings Bhd has inked a memorandum of understanding with Shizen International Inc to explore the development of a solar photovoltaic project to expand Perak's clean energy technology usage.

• Unisem (M) Bhd 1QFY24 net profit down by 14.0% YoY to RM8.5mn, dragged by a lower gross profit margin, foreign exchange losses, and lower income from scrap sales.

• Profits at China's industrial firms rose 4.3% in the first quarter from a year earlier, slower than a 10.2% rise in the first two months.

• China passed a law on Friday strengthening its trade defence capabilities as the US and the European Union take aim at Beijing over excess industrial capacity.

• The US core PCE rose 2.8% YoY in March 2024.

Source: TA Research - 29 Apr 2024