Review & Outlook

Stocks rebounded on Tuesday, led by construction, property and oil & gas heavyweights as investors returned to bargain hunt following the previous day's profit-taking correction. The FBM KLCI rose 7.61 points to close at 1,629.68, after moving between early low of 1,625.23 and high of 1,632.5, as gainers led losers 685 to 458 on turnover of 5.12bn shares worth RM3.59bn.

The local market should stay range bound pending fresh domestic leads to provide further boost, with data centre and infrastructure plays likely persisting to highlight interest in the construction, property and logistics sectors. Immediate index resistance remains at the recent high of 1,638, with 1,640 and 1,660 as tougher upside hurdles, while immediate supports are at 1,614, 1,605 and 1,580, the respectively rising 30-day, 50-day and 100-day moving average levels.

A breakout confirmation on SKP Resources above the upper Bollinger band (RM1.30) would boost upside momentum towards the 23.6%FR (RM1.41), with next major resistance seen at the 2/2/23 high (RM1.64), while uptrend supports from the rising 50-day ma (RM1.17) and 100-day ma (RM1.03) cushion downside. Unisem need convincing breakout above the 123.6%FP (RM4.30) to extend uptrend towards the 138.2%FP (RM4.55) and 150%FP (RM4.76) ahead, with the 100-day ma (RM3.84) and 200-day ma (RM3.52) providing strong supports.

News Bites

• YTL Corporation Bhd's subsidiary, YTL Cement Bhd, has entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement with 98 Holdings Pte Ltd for the proposed acquisition of shares in NSL Ltd for S$227.6mn in cash.

• Careplus Group Berhad's wholly-owned subsidiary had obtained full approval on the development order from the Rembau District Council for the construction of a new energy vehicles manufacturing and/or assembly hub on a vacant industrial development land located in Chembong, Negeri Sembilan.

• Trading in GHL Systems Bhd shares is set to be suspended next week after NTT Data Japan Corp secured 98.8% of GHL's shares at the close of the Japanese group's takeover offer for the payments services provider.

• Tropicana Corp Bhd has signed a sale and purchase agreement with IOI Mall Damansara Sdn Bhd for the sale of Tropicana Gardens Mall for RM680mn.

• Uzma Bhd's Thai unit has secured a RM19mn contract to provide infill well preparation services for offshore platforms.

• CelcomDigi Bhd has completed its upgrades in Penang and surpassed the halfway point countrywide, putting it ahead of schedule in building Malaysia's leading digital network.

• AirAsia has expanded its operations in Malaysia to the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport with two domestic destinations namely Kuching, Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah starting from Aug 30, 2024.

• DPS Resources Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with Mutiara Mahajuta Sdn Bhd for the development of a 170-acre land in Mukim of Sungai Siput, Daerah Alor Gajah, State of Melaka.

• T7 Global Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary has secured a contract from PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd for the provision of low-cost jack-up drilling rig.

• Varia Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary Teguh Maju Sdn Bhd has secured a RM555mn contract from Best Metro Builder Sdn Bhd for the supply of labour, materials and equipment for the upgrading works of a sewage treatment plant and constructing a sewerage pipeline in Pulau Pinang.

• Advancecon Holdings Bhd's indirect 51%-owned subsidiary Spring Energy Sdn Bhd has entered into a mining services agreement with Imerys Minerals Malaysia Sdn Bhd to carry out mining works at Gunung Terundum in the Simpang Pulai/Keramat Pulai area.

• Axis Real Estate Investment Trust recorded a higher net profit of RM38.95mn in 2Q24 compared with RM34.72mn in the same period last year.

• US home sales dropped 5.4% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.89mn units, the lowest level since December, while the median existing home price soared 4.1% YoY to an all-time high of US$426,900.

Source: TA Research - 24 Jul 2024