(theedgemarkets.com / March 08, 2021 18:55 pm +08)
KUALA LUMPUR (March 8): Crane maker Favelle Favco Bhd (FFB) said it has received orders for the supply of offshore and tower cranes amounting to RM101.4 million from six clients.
In a bourse filing today, the group said its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Favelle Favco Cranes (M) Sdn Bhd and Favelle Favco Cranes Pty Ltd, have secured the orders since Dec 1, 2020.
The six clients are DESB Marine Services Sdn Bhd, Resolution Rigging Services Pty Ltd, PT Megatama Internal, Offshore Oil Engineering Co Ltd, Thai Nippon Steel Engineering & Construction Co Ltd, and Saipem SPA.
The six contracts — which are expected to contribute positively to the earnings and net assets of the group for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2021 and beyond — are estimated to be delivered between the second quarter of 2021 and the second quarter of 2022.
"The contracts do not have any impact on the share capital and shareholding structure of FFB.
"The board of directors of FFB is of the opinion that the acceptance of the above contracts is in the best interest of FFB," said the group.
Shares of FFB closed two sen or 0.93% higher at RM2.18, bringing its market capitalisation to RM488.2 million.
MIDF upgrades O&G sector to 'positive' on higher oil prices
(theedgemarkets.com / March 11, 2021 12:52 pm +08)
KUALA LUMPUR (March 11): MIDF Research has upgraded the oil and gas sector to "positive" as it sees the upstream and downstream sub-segments will benefit from the recent oil price rally.
Its analyst Noor Athila Mohd Razali said in a note today that the higher oil prices would benefit the sub-segments in terms of potential new contract awards, rising product prices and spread for downstream industry players.
“Despite the absence of revision in exploration and production (E&P) capital expenditure spending from the oil majors, we opine that the recovery narrative for the sector remains on track given that a more selected spending approach will result in a more sustained recovery and significant uptick in activities within the oil and gas sector is expected to take place in the second half of 2021.
In terms of dividend play, she recommended Favelle Favco Bhd (buy, TP: RM3) and Petronas Gas Bhd (buy, TP:RM17.90) as these companies have been registering not only stable recurring income but also consistent dividend payout for the past three years.
The Fed could be a catalyst for bonds, and that could drive growth stocks in week ahead
(PUBLISHED FRI, MAR 12 20215:26 PM EST)
~ The bond market is once more the wild card for the stock market. It could rein in any gains in tech or growth stocks if yields continue to rise in the week ahead.
~ The Federal Reserve meets Tuesday and Wednesday. While it’s not expected to take any action, it could be a catalyst for a move in yields.
~ Value and cyclicals could continue to lead the market, as investors bet the vaccine rollout and fiscal stimulus will help the economy’s reopening.
Bonds could be volatile in the week ahead. If yields go higher, that could make it difficult for big tech and other growth stocks to gain traction.
Rising bond yields have been challenging growth stocks. Names like Apple, Tesla, and Amazon have been lagging as investors move to cyclical groups that do well in an economic recovery. Even so, the S&P 500 and the Dow both closed at record highs Friday, while the Nasdaq Composite was lower.
The Nasdaq, home to big tech, did gain 3% in the past week, but it is down 5.5% over the last month.
The bond market in the coming week will likely take its cues from the Federal Reserve, which meets Tuesday and Wednesday.
The central bank is expected to give a nod to much better growth. Bond pros are also watching to see whether Fed officials will tweak their interest rate outlook, which now does not include any rate hikes through 2023.
Fed ahead
“The markets have way too high expectations around what the Fed is going to do or say,” said Gregory Peters, head of multi-sector and strategy at PGIM Fixed Income. “I think the message is going to be consistent.”
He said Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is likely to sound dovish and is unlikely to give any time frames on when the central bank will change its bond-buying program or other policy.
Bond yields, which move opposite price, have been rising on an improving outlook for the economy.
That trade also showed up in the stock market, with the Dow up 4% for the week to end Friday at a record 32,778. Consumer discretionary stocks, which include retail, were among the best performers, up 5.7%, boosted by optimism that individuals will spend their $1,400 stimulus checks.
Yields were higher Friday after President Joe Biden said all adults would be eligible for a vaccine by May 1. The 10-year Treasury yield touched a high of 1.642% — its highest level in more than a year.
It is the key rate to watch since it affects mortgages and other consumer and business loans.
“The economy is going to be unbelievably strong this year — deficit spending, reopening, vaccines,” said Peters of PGIM.
“It looks like for next year, all the numbers are being revised higher,” he said. “So this thing could have some sustainable growth, so I think there’s going to be pressure on rates moving higher.”
Bond yields rose sharply over the past month. The rapid pace of the move has made stocks jittery as investors adjust to higher rates. The 10-year Treasury yield was at 1.16% on Feb. 12.
Growth vs. cyclicals
Over the last month, energy stocks have risen nearly 20%, financial stocks are up 10.2%, and industrials are up 7%. The S&P technology sector is down 5.4% over the last month, and communications services, which includes internet names was up 0.8%.
Higher rates are a challenge for tech and other growth stocks because those shares are expensive and have high price-earnings ratios.
“When rates are very low, valuations don’t matter to people,” said Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Global Advisors.
“If rates are low, there’s no penalty,” he said. “If rates start to go up, people become much more sensitive to valuations, and that’s what we’ve seen here.”
Scott Redler, partner with T3live.com, follows short-term stock market technicals and trades many of the growth stocks. Lately, however, he’s found himself sitting in many value names and cyclicals.
Dow futures rise as stocks point to strong open on Monday
(PUBLISHED SUN, MAR 14 20216:02 PM EDTUPDATED SUN, MAR 14 20217:42 PM EDT)
U.S. stock futures moved higher in overnight trading and pointed to gains at the open on Monday, continuing last week’s rally that led the Dow and S&P 500 to record highs.
Dow futures rose 120 points. S&P 500 futures gained 0.25% and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.2%.
Stocks rose last week with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 4% and the S&P 500 gaining 2.6%. The S&P 500 and the Dow both closed at record highs Friday.
The Nasdaq Composite advanced 3% last week, despite a sell-off on Friday spurred by rising interest rates. The jump in bond yields has challenged growth stocks in recent weeks and sent investors into cyclical pockets of the market. The Nasdaq is up less than 1% this month, while the Dow and S&P are up 6% and 3.5%, respectively.
The U.S. 10-year Treasury hit its highest level in more than a year on Friday. The benchmark Treasury note reached 1.642%, its highest level since February 2020.
The small-cap benchmark Russell 2000 surged more than 7% last week as investors rotated into smaller stocks that benefit from a sharp economic comeback.
Last week, investors cheered the $1.9 trillion stimulus package that President Joe Biden signed into law. The IRS started processing $1,400 direct payments on Friday and checks started hitting bank accounts over the weekend. The bill will also put nearly $20 billion into Covid-19 vaccinations and $350 billion into state, local and tribal government relief.
Investors will be gearing up for Tuesday and Wednesday’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting where the Federal Reserve will deliver its decision on interest rates. The bond market in the coming week will likely take its cues from the Federal Reserve.
The central bank is expected to acknowledge much better growth in the economy. Bond pros are also watching to see whether Fed officials will tweak their interest rate outlook, which now does not include any rate hikes through 2023.
Goldman Sachs chief economist David Kostin told clients on Sunday that he expects interest rates to continue to rise in the coming months and investors will have to “continually grapple with the anxiety about economic overheating and Fed tightening.”
On the vaccine front, Biden announced last week that he would direct states to make all adults eligible for the vaccine by May 1. Biden also set a goal for Americans to be able to gather in person with their friends and loved ones in small groups to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Oil drops more than 7% in worst day since September
(PUBLISHED THU, MAR 18 20211:37 AM EDTUPDATED THU, MAR 18 20212:40 PM EDT)
Oil prices sunk for a fifth day running on Thursday on a stronger dollar, a further increase in U.S. crude and fuel inventories and the weight of the ever-present COVID-19 pandemic.
Brent crude slid 6.94% to settle at $63.28 per barrel. U.S. oil settled 7.12%, or $4.60, lower at $60 per barrel, after shedding 0.3% in the previous session. Both contracts are down 6% over the past five days.
“Short-term developments - stuttering vaccine rollouts and the build in U.S. oil inventories - are driving sentiment, but the longer-term oil outlook is still encouraging,” said PVM Oil Associates analyst Tamas Varga.
“Yesterday’s U.S. Federal Reserve meeting provided a boost to equities ... U.S. economic growth has been revised upwards while unemployment is expected to decline.”
A sharp rise in the value of the dollar after the Fed meeting has also driven the oil sell-off.
Government data on Wednesday showed U.S. crude inventories have risen for four straight weeks after severe cold weather forced shutdowns at refineries in the south. An industry report estimating a decline had raised hopes of a halt to the gains.
U.S. crude inventories rose by 2.4 million barrels last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday, a day after the American Petroleum Institute (API) estimated there had been a 1 million barrel decline.
Varga added the market would be waiting for U.S. manufacturing data next week for further indications on the health of the world’s largest economy.
“Lower crude demand from Asian buyers as a result of upcoming refinery maintenance and probably higher prices is also something not helping crude at the moment,” said UBS commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo.
A slowdown in some vaccination programmes and the prospect of more restrictions to control the coronavirus have tempered expectations for a recovery in fuel use.
Britain said on Thursday that global supply bumps meant its vaccine rollout would be slower than hoped in the coming weeks but it expects deliveries to increase from May.
A number of European countries have halted use of the AstraZeneca shot because of concerns about possible side effects, though the World Health Organization said Europe should continue to use the vaccine.
This book is the result of the author's many years of experience and observation throughout his 26 years in the stockbroking industry. It was written for general public to learn to invest based on facts and not on fantasies or hearsay....
limkokthye
6,039 posts
Posted by limkokthye > 2021-03-08 20:38 | Report Abuse
just buy at 0.94