Review & Outlook

The strong rebound on the FBM KLCI last week to a fresh one-month high has reversed short-term technical momentum into bullish mode, which augur well for further gains in the near-term. Nevertheless, further improvement in buying interest and positive market breadth will be key to sustain recovery momentum ahead, with increasing optimism for two interest rate cuts before the year-end by the US Federal Reserve to also boost investor sentiment.

Immediate index resistance remained at the early June high of 1,622, with the May high of 1,632 and 1,640 acting as tougher upside hurdles, while immediate supports are at 1,600, 1,593 and 1,570, which are the respective 30-day, 50-day and 100-day moving average levels.

As for stock picks this week, selective construction, rubber glove and technology related counters should attract investors looking for longerterm recovery potential ahead.

News Bites

• Bank Negara Malaysia's international reserves slipped 0.3% to US$113.8bn by June 28 from a fortnight earlier.

• Malayan Banking Bhd plans to double assets in Vietnam to US$2bn by 2027 and become the country's top foreign bank for syndicated loans, to capitalise on a booming economy.

• Southern Cable Group Bhd has secured a RM99.6mn contract extension to supply underground power cables and conductors of various sizes to utility giant Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

• FGV Holdings Bhd has submitted a petition to the US Customs and Border Protection for the modification of the Withhold Release Order on palm oil and palm oil products produced by the group.

• NTT DATA Japan Corp is extending the closing date of its unconditional mandatory takeover offer of RM1.08 per share for GHL Systems Bhd from July 9 to July 23.

• The takeover bid by the children of businessman Tan Sri Robert Tan Hua Choon for Eurospan Holdings Bhd has closed, with the offerors increasing their stake in the furniture maker to 74%.

• Volcano Bhd will invest over RM100mn in the next two to three years to expand and upgrade its operations in Thailand and Malaysia.

• Pestech International Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary Pestech Sdn Bhd and Syarikat SESCO Bhd have opted for annulment of the notification of award for the Entinggan project after taking into consideration economic factors.

• Computer Forms (Malaysia) Bhd does not anticipate any significant financial or operational impact on the group from the recent fire outbreak at its wholly-owned subsidiary's factory here.

• Tex Cycle Technology Bhd has proposed to transfer its listing from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia.

• HB Global Ltd's former executive chairman, Keh Chuan Seng, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder in the frozen food manufacturer after he offloaded 15.7mn shares or a 2.0% stake in the group.

• TechStore Bhd, an enterprise IT services firm, has filed for an initial public offering on the ACE Market to raise funds for expansion, including adding staff and buying new hardware and software.

• US job growth slowed marginally to 206,000 in June, but a rise in the unemployment rate to more than a 2-1/2-year high of 4.1% and moderation in wage gains pointed to an easing of labour market conditions.

Source: TA Research - 9 Jul 2024