Bursa kukuh seiring pasaran serantau

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Sept - Harga-harga saham di Bursa Malaysia ditutup kukuh hari ini, dirangsang oleh kegiatan membeli saham murah dan juga seiring dengan trend serantau, kata para peniaga.

Mereka berkata yang sentimen serantau meningkat berikutan lantunan semula di pasaran AS, dicetuskan oleh beberapa berita mengenai pengambilalihan korporat.

Pada penutup, Indeks Komposit FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur naik 2.26 mata kepada 1,208.21 selepas dibuka 2.42 mata lebih tinggi pada 1,208.37.

Indeks FBMEmas menokok 19.66 mata kepada 8,137.72, FBM Top 100 mengukuh 18.62 mata kepada 7,927.54, FBM70 melonjak 33.89 mata kepada 8,048.95 dan FBM ACE Index mengembang 46.53 mata kepada 4,023.91.

Indeks Teknologi naik 0.08 mata kepada 16.36, Indeks Kewangan lebih tinggi 39.57 mata kepada 9,974.11, Indeks Perladangan menambah 0.99 mata kepada 5,910.13 dan Indeks Perusahaan menokok 3.13 mata kepada 2,648.42.

Saham-saham untung mengatasi saham rugi dengan 369 berbalas 239 sementara 265 kaunter tidak berubah dan 385 tidak diniagakan.

Jumlah dagangan mengukuh kepada 594.587 juta saham bernilai RM720.739 juta daripada 454.117 juta saham bernilai RM605.403 juta semalam.

Mendahului saham yang untung termasuklah British American Tobacco, yang menambah 34 sen kepada RM44.94, HAIO naik 27 sen kepada RM5.69 dan KFC meningkat 20 sen kepada RM7.60.

Di Pasaran Utama, jumlah dagangan melonjak kepada 527.654 juta saham bernilai RM795.882 juta daripada 416.577 juta saham bernilai RM595.463 juta pada hari Isnin.

Jumlah dagangan di Pasaran ACE pula menambah kepada 43.906 juta saham bernilai RM8.038 juta daripada 20.852 juta saham bernilai RM5.445 juta sementara waran pula menokok kepada 16.615 juta unit bernilai RM3.918 juta daripada 14.104 juta unit bernilai RM3.367 juta.

Produk pengguna menguasai 41.268 juta saham yang diniagakan di Pasaran Utama, produk perusahaan 131.777 juta, pembinaan 30.424 juta, urus niaga dan perkhidmatan 171.991 juta, teknologi 15.056 juta, infrastruktur 5.819 juta, kewangan 48.533 juta, perhotelan 2.197 juta, hartanah 71.19 juta, perladangan 7.788 juta, perlombongan 10,000, REIT 1.556 juta dan dana tertutup 40,000.

- Bernama

SEMAKIN PULIH

Pertumbuhan negara yang terjejas teruk akibat kemelesetan ekonomi dunia kini menunjukkan tanda-tanda pemulihan positif .

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata, kesan itu adalah hasil tindakan proaktif yang diambil kerajaan dalam menyokong pertumbuhan ekonomi dan dapat dilihat melalui peningkatan permintaan domestik.

Perdana Menteri yang juga Menteri Kewangan berkata, pengukuhan sektor luaran penting untuk meletakkan negara kembali ke landasan pertumbuhan lebih baik.

Perdana Menteri berkata demikian selepas sesi taklimat oleh Lembaga Pengarah Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) tentang ekonomi Malaysia dan sektor kewangan di BNM. Turut hadir Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah dan Gabenor BNM, Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

petikan utusan

30/9/09

Asia Roundup: Stocks higher as heavy buying sets in

HONG KONG: Asian markets gained yesterday as bargain-hunters moved in the day after a heavy sell-off, with sentiment boosted by a rally on Wall Street.

Wall Street shares gained 1.28 per cent overnight to snap a three-day losing streak, boosted by a pick-up in merger and acquisition activity.

Investors also awaited the release of data, including US consumer confidence figures, later Tuesday.

TOKYO: Up 0.91 per cent. The Nikkei-225 gained 90.68 points to 10,100.20.

Investors were closely monitoring foreign exchange movements as the dollar rose to 90.01 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade from 89.58 in New York late Monday, when it had earlier sunk to 88.25.

SYDNEY: Up 1.62 per cent. The S&P/ASX 200 put on 75.7 points to 4,753.1 "We had a good lead from Wall Street overnight and have got consumer confidence data coming out in the US tonight which should be fairly positive considering the good run in the market in July and August," said an analyst.

SHANGHAI: Down 0.33 per cent. The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, was down 8.98 points to 2,754.54. Investors fear securities regulators may quicken the pace of initial public offerings for the new index, which will soak up liquidity in the market, dealers said.

SEOUL: Up 0.87 per cent. The KOSPI ended up 14.50 points at 1,690.05. Banks, technology companies and auto firms led gains after recent weakness.

TAIPEI:Up 2.0 per cent. The weighted index rose 145.37 points to 7,429.98. The market was boosted by big caps focusing on flat panels and semiconductors after Taipei said it may ease controls on high-tech investments in China by local companies while allowing further Chinese investments here.Alibaba.com - The largest database of products & suppliers from China

BANGKOK: Up 0.90 per cent. The Stock Exchange of Thailand gained 6.41 points to close at 715.29.

JAKARTA: Up 1.92 per cent. The Jakarta Composite Index gained 46.01 points to 2,443.83.

MANILA: Up 0.81 per cent. The composite index gained 22.67 points to 2,807.32.

WELLINGTON: Up 0.77 per cent. The NZX-50 rose 24.22 points to 3,155.39.

MUMBAI: Up 0.96 per cent. The 30-share Sensex index rose 159.91 points to 16,852.91. - AFP

Saham murah rangsang pasaran

HARGA saham di Bursa Malaysia ditutup kukuh semalam dirangsang oleh kegiatan membeli saham murah dan juga seiring dengan aliran serantau.

Peniaga berkata, sentimen serantau meningkat berikutan lantunan semula di pasaran Amerika Syarikat (AS) yang dicetuskan oleh beberapa berita mengenai pengambilalihan korporat.

Pada penutup, Indeks Komposit FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur naik 2.26 mata kepada 1,208.21 selepas dibuka 2.42 mata lebih tinggi pada 1,208.37.

“Kegiatan belian semalam meningkat dengan ketara, didorong oleh berita dari AS dan juga seiring dengan pasaran serantau," kata penganalisis TA Securities, Stephen Soo.

Beliau menjangkakan yang paras sokongan dalam lingkungan 1,200 sementara halangan pada 1,220.

Indeks FBMEmas menokok 19.66 mata kepada 8,137.72, FBM Top 100 mengukuh 18.62 mata kepada 7,927.54, FBM70 melonjak 33.89 mata kepada 8,048.95 dan FBM ACE Index mengembang 46.53 mata kepada 4,023.91.

Indeks Teknologi naik 0.08 mata kepada 16.36, Indeks Kewangan lebih tinggi 39.57 mata kepada 9,974.11, Indeks Perladangan menambah 0.99 mata kepada 5,910.13 dan Indeks Perusahaan menokok 3.13 mata kepada 2,648.42.

Saham untung mengatasi saham rugi dengan 369 berbalas 239 sementara 265 kaunter tidak berubah dan 385 tidak diniagakan.

Jumlah dagangan mengukuh kepada 594.587 juta saham bernilai RM720.739 juta daripada 454.117 juta saham bernilai RM605.403 juta, kelmarin.

Mendahului saham yang untung termasuklah British American Tobacco, yang menambah 34 sen kepada RM44.94, HAIO naik 27 sen kepada RM5.69 dan KFC meningkat 20 sen kepada RM7.60.

Antara yang aktif, KNM kekal pada 76 sen sementara Land & General melonjak 3.5 sen kepada 41.5 sen dan TA Enterprise menokok sembilan sen kepada RM1.48.

Bagi saham berwajaran tinggi, Sime Darby menambah satu sen kepada RM8.53 sementara IOI Corp susut tiga sen kepada RM5.20.

PPB mengukuh dua sen kepada RM15.94 dan KLK naik 10 sen kepada RM13.88 manakala MISC susut 10 sen kepada RM8.90.

Maybank dan Tenaga Nasional, masing-masing meningkat tiga sen kepada RM6.68 dan RM8.21 sementara CIMB Group mengembang empat sen kepada RM11.14 dan DiGi lebih tinggi 20 sen kepada RM21.50.

Di Pasaran Utama, jumlah dagangan melonjak kepada 527.654 juta saham bernilai RM795.882 juta daripada 416.577 juta saham bernilai RM595.463 juta kelmarin.

Jumlah dagangan di Pasaran ACE pula menambah kepada 43.906 juta saham bernilai RM8.038 juta daripada 20.852 juta saham bernilai RM5.445 juta sementara waran pula menokok kepada 16.615 juta unit bernilai RM3.918 juta daripada 14.104 juta unit bernilai RM3.367 juta.

Produk pengguna menguasai 41.268 juta saham yang diniagakan di Pasaran Utama, produk perusahaan 131.777 juta, pembinaan 30.424 juta, urus niaga dan perkhidmatan 171.991 juta, teknologi 15.056 juta, infrastruktur 5.819 juta, kewangan 48.533 juta, perhotelan 2.197 juta, hartanah 71.19 juta, perladangan 7.788 juta, perlombongan 10,000, REIT 1.556 juta dan dana tertutup 40,000. - Bernama

Ringgit declines against greenback

RINGGIT

THE ringgit closed lower against the greenback yesterday due to month-end related US dollar demand, dealers said.

At 5pm, the ringgit declined to 3.4810/4850 against the greenback from 3.4780/4820 at Monday's closing.

The dealers said bidding interest from foreign banks and month-end corporate interest provided support for the US dollar.

"A positive catalyst for the ringgit is still far-off, with the flow for now, skewed towards US dollar bids," a dealer said.

The dealer also said the ringgit is likely to decline further due to a comment by the European Central Bank president, that the commitment of US policy makers to a strong US dollar, is important in keeping currency markets and the global economy stable.

Compared with the Singapore dollar, the local unit declined to 2.4554/4599 from 2.4471/4533 but rose against the Japanese yen to 3.8786/8852 from 3.8886/8944.

The ringgit appreciated against the British pound to 5.5219/5303 from 5.5318/5399 as well as against the euro to 5.0781/0857 from 5.0869/0938.

INTERBANK RATES

SHORT-TERM rates closed steady yesterday as Bank Negara Malaysia intervened in the money market to absorb surplus funds, dealers said.

The overnight rate was fixed at 1.92 per cent while the one-week, two-week and three-week rates were at 1.95, 1.97 and 1.99 per cent respectively.

Total liquidity in the conventional system was reduced to RM20.23 billion from an earlier estimate of RM26.61 billion, while Islamic funds dropped to RM7.35 billion from an earlier estimate of RM9.69 billion.

Bank Negara carried out four conventional and four Al-Wadiah tenders as well as a repo tender and two commodity murabahah tenders this morning. The central bank later issued a conventional tender for RM20.20 billion of one-day money and an Al-Wadiah tender for RM7.3 billion of one-day money.

KLIBOR

THE three-month Kuala Lumpur Interbank Offered Rate (Klibor) futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed untraded yesterday, with all contracts remaining at Monday's settlement prices.

October 2009, November 2009, December 2009 and March 2010 were unchanged at 97.81, 97.80, 97.80 and 97.63 respectively.

The underlying three-month Klibor was fixed at 2.14 per cent.

The five-year Malaysian Government Securities (MGS) futures were also untraded. - Bernama

Malaysia GDP growth forecast likely to be raised

MALAYSIA is likely to revise upwards its economic growth forecast for this year at the upcoming national budget, Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz said.

"We expect that it would be an improved outcome compared with the earlier projection," she told reporters on the sidelines of the Forbes Global CEO conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The government's current projection is for an economic contraction of between 4 per cent and 5 per cent.

"Fiscal stimulus and aggressive financing are two critical elements supporting the recovery that we are seeing," she said, adding that she is confident that economic growth would turn positive in the fourth quarter.

The country's gross domestic product contracted at a slower pace of 3.9 per cent in the second quarter of this year compared with a 6.2 per cent contraction in the first quarter.

Meanwhile, inflation is also seen improving, and is likely to come in at between 1 per cent and 2 per cent later in the year, Zeti said.

Malaysia's current interest rate level is supportive of growth, she added.

"We're not a central bank that adopts an inflation-targetting framework. We had predicted that inflation would decline during the course of this year and we have been validated. Temporarily it (inflation) is negative ... and we expect, going later into this year, that inflation will be in the region of 1 per cent to 2 per cent," she said.

Najib to announce major Mideast investment in Malaysia today

Written by Ellina Badr
Wednesday, 30 September 2009 00:03

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said on Sept 29 he will make a "major announcement" on a Middle East investment in Malaysia today, as the country tries to bring in foreign capital amid this year's nosedive in foreign direct investment.

"FDIs were at an all-time high in 2008, with 73.4% of a total US$18.1 billion (RM63 billion) manufacturing project investments approved made up of foreign investments.

"But FDIs have nosedived this year, so we are trying to attract capital from capital surplus countries, like the Middle East," Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said at the Forbes CEO conference here last night.

He added that on his recent break to the south of France, he had struck relationships with Middle Eastern investors, who frequented the holiday destination.

"It's all about building relationships," Najib said in a dialogue session with Forbes chairman and CEO, and editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, Steve Forbes.

Asked by Forbes to reveal the identity of the Middle East investor, Najib said even his cabinet had not been informed of it yet.

Najib said Malaysia was also very keen on attracting investments from India, China, and its traditional Western trading partners as well.

On the government's plans to transform the economy into a high-income model, he said industries like pharmaceuticals, aerospace and renewable energy would "fit in" the new model that would have customisable incentives.

On the various economic regions, Najib said on the Iskandar region in particular, the government was currently discussing with Singapore, with the Singaporean prime minister having agreed in principle, for the two countries to collaborate on an iconic investment in Johor.

He said the "free and easy" movement of people, goods and services between Singapore and Malaysia would make Iskandar "really boom".

He also said the country's medical tourism industry here lacked specialists and it was key to train and bring back home Malaysian specialists who were practising overseas.

Najib also said the government was approving the establishment of two mega Islamic banks here, each with a paid-up capital of US$1 billion.

Commenting on the government's approval of two aluminium smelters in Sarawak, he said the government did not mind either way if the smelters decided to merge or operate separately.

Meanwhile, on free trade and regional cooperation, Najib said the country was still "quite keen" to complete a free trade agreement with the US, but sensed that the Obama administration was not ready to indicate its position on the matter.

Drop in consumer confidence weighs on Wall Street

Written by Agencies
Wednesday, 30 September 2009 07:44

NEW YORK: US stocks closed lower on Tuesday, Sept 28 after a surprise drop in consumer confidence weighed on investors' sentiment,according to wire reports.

The Dow Jones industrials fell 47.16 points, or 0.5%, to 9,742.20, giving up about a third of Monday's 124-point gain. The S&P 500 index slipped 2.38 points, or 0.2% to 1,060.60, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 6.70 points, or 0.3%, to 2,124.04.

Stocks slid after the Conference Board said its consumer confidence index fell in September. Economists had been expecting a reading of 57; instead it came in at 53.1.

Despite the decline, the major indexes are likely to end September and the third quarter of 2009 with gains. Historically, September is the worst month of the year for stocks.

US consumers are still worried about losing their jobs. Many analysts warn a turnaround in the economy won't hold if consumers don't start picking up spending and employers add jobs.

The report offset early enthusiasm over an increase in home prices.

Stocks broke a three-day losing streak on Monday after news of several big acquisitions signaled to investors that corporate America is feeling more confident about the economy and willing to take on more risk through mergers and acquisitions.

"You had these M&A deals make people feel better about growth prospects and valuations," said Nick Kalivas, vice president of financial research and senior equity index analyst at MF Global. "We don't have any follow-through M&A today and the market really lacks a forward catalyst."

With economic reports still mixed, some investors are hesitant to keep buying and extend the market's nearly seven-month advance, or at least keep it going at the same fervid pace. The benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index has gained 56.8% since hitting a 12-year low in March. - Agencies

Stocks to watch: BCorp, Gamuda, Sunway Holdings, Ramunia

Written by Loong Tse Min
Wednesday, 30 September 2009 08:02

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian investors will have to look at the domestic front for leads on Wednesday, Sept 30 after the disappointing close on Wall Street where the surprise drop in consumer confidence pushed the key indices into the red.

The Dow Jones industrials fell 0.5%, to 9,742.20, giving up about a third of Monday's 124-point gain. The S&P 500 index slipped 0.2% to 1,060.60 and the Nasdaq composite index fell 0.3% to 2,124.04.

US stocks slid after the Conference Board said its consumer confidence index fell in September. Economists had been expecting a reading of 57; instead it came in at 53.1.

At the home front, there is a lot of fresh news for investors to ponder upon. For one, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will make a "major announcement" on a Middle East investment in Malaysia today, as the country tries to bring in foreign capital amid this year's nosedive in foreign direct investment.

"FDIs were at an all-time high in 2008, with 73.4% of a total US$18.1 billion (RM63 billion) manufacturing project investments approved made up of foreign investments.

Stocks to watch include Berjaya Corp, Sime Darby, Ramunia, Gamuda and Sunway Holdings.

BCorp proposed a corporate exercise involving the injection of two units - Singer(M) Sdn Bhd and 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn Bhd - under a new holding company Berjaya Retail Bhd (B-Retail) which will then be listed. BCorp would spin off Singer to B-retail which would then acquire 7-Eleven for RM600 million.

Sime Darby announced a plan for RM4.5 billion Islamic debt notes to finance its working capital requirements and also future investments and if required, refinance debt obligations.

Sime Darby is taking over Ramunia, which net loss narrowed to RM25.59 million in the third quarter (3Q) ended July 31, 2009 from a net loss of RM215.21 million in 3Q08. Ramunia attributed the loss to diminishing order book and lower project margins to cover expenses.

GAMUDA BHD []'s net profit fell 38.3% to RM43.29 million in the fourth quarter ended July 31 compared with RM70.2 million a year ago due to sharply higher operating expenses.

Gamuda said on Tuesday, Sept 29 that revenue however rose 10.68% to RM942.24 million from RM851.3 million. Earnings per share were 2.16 sen compared with 3.50 sen.

CONSTRUCTION [] player Sunway Holdings' unit Sunway Construction Sdn Bhd secured a RM147.36 million construction project from Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd for a 16-storey, three-star hotel and an 11-storey office tower.

Corrugated cardboard maker and resort property developer, KYM Holdings has reduced the par value of its shares to 50 sen per share from RM1 per share effective Sept 29.

The company had hit the headlines in June for the sale of a 16.5 ha site in Manjung, Perak to Brazil's Vale International SA - a global mining giant. KYM is planning to use the proceeds of RM40.6 million from the par value reduction to create a reserve for the issuance warrants and for the setting off and elimination of accumulated losses.

Chinese-language newspaper publisher, MCIL has announced that national pension fund, Employees Provident Fund Board has on Sept 18 acquired 84.7 million shares or 5.03% in the stock.

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Di mana tahap kewangan anda

Fri 11 Sep 2009
Posted by Irfan Khairi under Tip Kewangan

Baru-baru ini slot Radio saya telah bertukar dari rancangan “Yo!” kepada “Irfan on Air”. Irfan on Air berkonsep seperti blog anda baca ini, menyampaikan tip perniagaan, kewangan dan juga motivasi cara santai dan insyaallah happening! Saya juga membuka talian telefon untuk pendengar radio24 berkongsikan pengalaman, tip atau pun soalan bersama saya

Semalam di Radio24, program “Irfan on Air” (Setiap hari Khamis 2.15pm) saya kongsikan mengenai 4 tahap kewangan seseorang itu.

Berikut adalah 4 tahap tersebut…

#1: Kewangan tidak selamat (Finacially not secure)

Keadaan ini adalah apabila jika anda tidak mempunyai simpanan pun. Dalam erti kata lain, sekiranya ada pun simpanan anda hanya mampu menyara hidup anda dan keluarga selama sebulan sahaja. Sekiranya anda hilang kerja esok, sebulan sahaja anda dapat hidup dengan wang simpanan yang ada.

Tahap ini amat tidak selamat bagi sesiapapun. Boleh diumpamakan sebagai kais pagi-makan pagi… kais petang makan petang. Zaman modern ini, seumpama kais bulan ni, makan bulan ni… kais bulan depan, makan bulan depan

Masalahnya, ramai antara kita berada dalam keadaan yang tidak selamat ini…

#2: Kewangan Selamat (Financially secure)

Ini adalah pilihan yang lebih baik. Ertinya, umpamanya sekiranya anda berhenti kerja (atau dinberhentikan ) anda mempunyai simpanan untuk menyara hidup anda dan keluarga anda selama 6 bulan. Sekiranya anda berada dalam tahap ini, tahniah! keran tidak ramai yang berada di sini.

6 bulan adalah jangka waktu yang logik untuk seseorang itu mendapatkan kerja lain atau memulakan perniagaan untuk menyambung pendapatan sara hidup. matlamat utama anda sekiranya anda berada di tahap #1 adalah untuk mencapai tahap ini… cukupkan simpanan anda untuk menyara 6 bulan hidup anda dan keluarga- tanpa perlu kerja!

#3: Bebas kewangan / Mandiri kewangan (Financially Free)

Ini adalah matlamat bagi ramai antara kita. Tetapi, yang mencapainya adalah amat sedikit. Ertinya sekiranya anda berada di tahap ini adalah- anda bebas untuk membuat pilihan untuk bekerja ataupun tidak! Anda mempunyai simpanan atau pun aliran pendapatan secara automatik yang cukup untuk menyara hidup anda sekeluarga sampai bila-bila!

Tahap ini, anda tidak perlu kerja lagi (atau menjalankan perniagaan). namun begitu, ramai yang berada di tahap ini, masih lagi meneruskan karier atau perniagaan kerana berasa seronok melakukannya. Bukan kerana terpaksa, tetapi dengan sukarela…

Tips untuk mencapai keadaan ini adalah fikirkan aliran pendapatan berganda secara automatik, contoh seperti menyewa rumah, membina perniagaan yang dikendalikan secara automatik (perniagaan Internet) atau membina perniagaan yang dikendalikan oleh orang lain (mungkin pengurus).

#4: Tahap Kaya Giler (… ya.. memang saya sebut kaya Giler di radio!) atau Ultra Rich

Tahap ini lagi la sedikit yang capai… teramat sedikit. Mereka ini jenis yang mempunyai wang yang banyak sehingga tak terpakai wang yang dimiliki. Boleh derma beratus ribu ringgit atau berjuta… (kita nak dapat beratus ribu pun payah ) nama nama seperti Tan Sri Mokhtar Bukhari, Tan Sri Daim Zainuddin, mendiang Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong dan Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan.

Itulah 4 tahap kekayaan yang saya kongsikan di “Irfan on Air”. Sekiranya anda ikuti semalam, saya juga kongsikan teknik dan strategi bagaimana hendak meningkatkan tahap anda dari 1-2-3-dan-4. Insyaallah saya akan konsikan pada hari lain. Buat masa ini, kita faham dulu kedudukan kewangan kita…

Soalan cepu gangsa untuk hari Jumaat ini…

Anda berada dalam kedudukan yang mana?

*Tak perlu jawap di sini pun takpe. Just jawap dalam hati… yang penting kita sedar kedudukan kewangan kita dan berusaha untuk tingkatkan ke tahap yang seterusnya

Khidmat perundangan kewangan Islam kini semakin penting: Zeti

KHIDMAT perundangan dalam kewangan Islam akan menjadi lebih penting berikutan kecekapan dan kemajuan industri itu, kata Gabenor Bank Negara Malaysia, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz. Beliau menegaskan, ini berikutan kekuatan kewangan Islam semasa krisis kewangan global berlaku, yang berjaya menambah minat, menerusi peningkatan tahap inovasi, skala dan bertambah kompleks transaksi yang juga semakin meningkat.

"Kerangka perundangan yang baik dalam kewangan Islam akan meningkatkan keyakinan awam terhadapnya, dan menawarkan platform yang membolehkan pengamal membangunkan produk kewangan yang kompleks dan inovatif bagi memenuhi permintaan pengguna yang pelbagai," katanya.

Zeti berkata demikian dalam ucaptamanya pada Seminar Keempat Lembaga Perkhidmatan Kewangan Islam (IFSB) mengenai Isu-isu Perundangan dalam Industri Perkhidmatan Kewangan Islam, di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

Zeti juga berkata, kerangka kerja perundangan yang kukuh akan menawarkan mekanisme untuk penyelesaian pertikaian yang mengambil kira ciri berlainan bagi transaksi kewangan Islam.

"Di sinilah industri perkhidmatan perundangan memainkan peranan penting dalam menawarkan penyelesaian perundangan.

“Justeru, ia menawarkan jambatan yang penting antara ruang lingkup perundangan dan Syariah, yang membolehkan pengoperasian prinsip syariah dalam amalan kewangan Islam dilaksanakan secara sah," katanya.

Ini katanya, penting dalam menyediakan dokumentasi transaksi pembiayaan Islam bagi mengelak kekaburan serta tidak konsisten dan mengelak risiko dokumen perundangan dianggap tidak sah oleh mahkamah.

Asian markets fall as yen rises

Written by Surin Murugiah
Tuesday, 29 September 2009 00:14

KUALA LUMPUR: Asian markets skidded on Sept 28 after Japan’s Nikkei 225 tumbled to its lowest level in two months as the yen appreciated to an eight-month high against the US dollar following reports that Japanese officials did not have any plans to stem the currency’s rise.

The rising yen piled pressure on the export-heavy Japanese stock exchange as a stronger currency makes exports less competitive.

However, the yen lost some ground later in the day as the country’s Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii toned down his earlier statement on the possibility of a stronger Japanese currency and clarified that his statements were being distorted.

According to a Reuters report, Fujii was reported to have said that the root of the problem of the yen's rise against the US dollar was in the US policy and that markets would correct themselves.

On Sept 28, the yen traded as high as 88.24 per dollar, its highest since January when it spiked to a 13-year high of 87.10.

Apart from the yen worries, the weak US housing data last week did little to restore confidence in the dollar. European markets traded in negative territory on Sept 28 on concerns of weaker-than-expected US economic recovery and commodity prices continued their slide, keeping investors on the sidelines.

Crude palm oil (CPO) futures took a tumble on Sept 28 after Godrej International Ltd’s influential director Dorab Mistry said the price for the commodity should ease to RM1,900 per tonne for demand to rebound. Godrej is one of the biggest buyers of palm oil in India.

CPO for third-month delivery fell RM83 per tonne to RM2,103 on Sept 28.

Meanwhile, crude oil prices slipped as declines in Asian equities sparked worries of a slowdown in the recovery of demand for fuel. Crude oil fell 43 cents per barrel to US$65.59 (RM228.25) as at 6.20pm on Sept 28.

In regional markets, the Nikkei slumped 2.5% to 10,009.52 points; the Shanghai Composite Index lost 2.65% to 2,763.52, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 2.07% to 20,588.41, the Singapore Straits Times Index slipped 1.26% to 2,629.25, the South Korean Kospi was down 0.94% to 1,675.55 and Taiwan's Taiex Index gave up 0.83% to 7,284.61.

On the local front, the FBM KLCI fell the most in a single day since Aug 17, losing 0.94% or 11.44 points to 1,205.95.

Turnover was 557.89 million shares valued at RM772.79 million. Losers beat gainers 471 to 181, while 220 counters traded unchanged.

MIDF Research Sdn Bhd head of research Zulkifli Hamzah said the global sentiment towards equity was currently a bit fragile, and Malaysia was no exception.

He said the local market had been partly weighed down by the trend in Wall Street and regional markets.

“After the strong gain in recent months, it is to be expected that the market will take a breather. Such an expectation is so pervasive, globally, that it has become somewhat self-fulfilling.

“Timing-wise, the onset of October is also keeping most investors edgy as it is the month of big market crashes. However, we do not foresee a repetition of last year’s October. Asian markets are still attracting global liquidity,” he said.

Zulkifli said the markets in Asia had been riding on strong macroeconomic numbers, especially on production and exports, adding that the concern now was whether the momentum was sustainable.

He said the market was living up to the old adage of selling on news, and as far as MIDF was concerned, any weakness would be an opportunity to accumulate.

“We don’t expect the 1,000 threshold to be broken because it means a retracement of more than 20%, which is by definition a bear market trend. The consensus appears to be a 5% correction, which is about 1,150,” Zulkifli said.

Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (Maybank IB) said the FBM KLCI could be under selling pressure this week if it rallied.

Resistance areas of 1,217 and 1,248 will cap market gains, while the support areas for the FBM KLCI are located at 1,196 and 1,213, it said.

“The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost about 155 points last week and there could be more weakness in the Asia-Pacific region,” Maybank IB said in a note on Sept 28.

On Bursa Malaysia on Sept 28, PLANTATION [] and finance stocks fell, with KL Kepong Bhd, BURSA MALAYSIA BHD [] and GENTING BHD [] among the major losers.

KL Kepong slumped 20 sen to RM13.78, while Bursa and Genting lost 19 sen each to RM8.08 and RM6.49. LAFARGE MALAYAN CEMENT BHD [] was the top loser, falling 23 sen to RM6.05.

Among plantations, FAR EAST HOLDINGS BHD [] fell 15 sen to RM6.15, IOI CORPORATION BHD [] was down 11 sen to RM5.23, BATU KAWAN BHD [] lost 10 sen to RM9.20 and KULIM (M) BHD [] slipped four sen to RM7.36.

In the finance sector, RHB CAPITAL BHD [] lost 15 sen to RM5.10; PUBLIC BANK BHD [], EON CAPITAL BHD [] and CIMB Group Bhd gave up six sen each to RM10.20, RM5.39 and RM11.10, respectively, while MALAYAN BANKING BHD [] eased three sen to RM6.65.

Other losers included MISC BHD [], S P Setia Bhd, Pos Malaysia Holdings Bhd, PETRONAS DAGANGAN BHD [] and KLCC PROPERTY HOLDINGS BHD [].

Among gainers, SINORA INDUSTRIES BHD [] and LOH & LOH CORPORATION BHD [] added 30 sen each to 91.5 sen and RM4.50; Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd rose 18 sen to RM12.70 and ALAM MARITIM RESOURCES BHD [] was up 16 sen to RM1.97.

KNM GROUP BHD [] was the most actively traded counter with 32.54 million shares done. The stock declined 2.5 sen to 76 sen. Other top-volume stocks included SAAG CONSOLIDATED (M) BHD [], AIRASIA BHD [], UEM LAND HOLDINGS BHD [] and OILCORP BHD [].

Wall Street snaps 3-day losing streak

Written by Reuters
Tuesday, 29 September 2009 06:59

NEW YORK: US stocks rallied on Monday, Sept 28 snapping a three-day losing streak, as a spurt of corporate takeovers in the TECHNOLOGY [] and health-care sectors fueled optimism about share values, according to Reuters.

Mergers and acquisitions are typically viewed as bullish as it suggests companies are more optimistic about the business outlook.

A number of deals were announced and investors bet more could follow. Xerox Corp agreed to buy Affiliated Computer Services Inc, and Abbott Laboratories said it would pay US$6.6 billion for Solvay's drug unit.

"It's always a positive sign when you see companies putting money to work, whether they buy other companies, invest in new plants, (or) buy back their own stock," said Tim Smalls, head of U.S. stock trading at brokerage firm Execution LLC in Greenwich, Connecticut.

"With depressed stock prices, like we've had over the past year and a half, a lot of companies will find it cheaper to buy a company than to grow that same type of company organically. It's a more effective way to put money to work sometimes."

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 124.17 points, or 1.28 percent, to end at 9,789.36. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 18.60 points, or 1.78 percent, to 1,062.98. The Nasdaq Composite Index shot up 39.82 points, or 1.90 percent, to 2,130.74.

With Monday's gains, the Dow Jones industrial average held an advance of about 16 percent in the quarter so far, which would make it the index's best such period since the fourth quarter of 1998.

But the end of the third quarter on Wednesday may spur volatility as fund managers engage in what is known as "window dressing" -- when they sell laggards in favor of outperformers to spruce up portfolios at quarter's end.

In the last three sessions, the S&P 500 had declined more than 2 percent after rallying nearly 60 percent from the 12-year closing low of early March.

Abbott climbed 2.6 percent to US$48.58, while Affiliated Computer advanced 14 percent to US$53.86.

Xerox, which valued the cash-and-stock deal for Affiliated at an initial US$6.4 billion, sank 14.5 percent to US$7.68.

Other deals on Monday included U.S. diversified health-care company Johnson & Johnson's purchase of an 18 percent stake in biotech firm Crucell for 302 million euros (US$444 million) as part of a flu vaccine development deal, the Dutch company said on Monday.

The pharmaceuticals index climbed 1.3 percent.

Crucell fell 6.6 percent to US$22.13 on Nasdaq, but J&J, a Dow component, was up 1.1 percent at US$61.27 on the New York Stock Exchange. - Reuters

BNM, HKMA sign MoU on cooperation

Written by The Edge Financial DCaily
Monday, 28 September 2009 22:08

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the development of the financial services industry, particularly in the area of Islamic finance.

In a joint statement on Sept 28, the central banks said under a long-term strategic partnership, they agreed to further strengthen cooperation in key areas such as capacity building and human capital development and facilitating and promoting the development of an effective financial market infrastructure through the exchange of information and experience in developing legal, regulatory and supervisory frameworks for Islamic finance.

It will also involve promoting cross-border financial activities through exploring harmonisation of standards and documentation relating to Islamic finance transactions and promoting the consistent application of Islamic financial contracts for cross-border transactions.

“The signing of this MoU marks the beginning of a new area of cooperation between the HKMA and BNM,” said HKMA chief executive Joseph Yam. “It reflects our joint commitment to further develop the Islamic finance industry and paves the way for future initiatives that will benefit both Malaysia and Hong Kong.”

BNM governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said: “This effort which extends the cooperation in the area of Islamic finance will provide further opportunities for increased economic and financial flows between Hong Kong and Malaysia.”

Bank Negara, HKMA sign pact on financial services

BANK Negara Malaysia and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in developing the financial services industry, particularly in Islamic finance.

Both parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in several key areas such as capacity building and human capital development.

They will also work together in promoting and developing market infrastructure and in promoting cross-border financial activities through harmonisation of standards relating to Islamic finance transactions.

KL shares lower on profit-taking

Malaysian shares ended lower yesterday on profit-taking as investors cashed in on heavyweights following the downtrend in the US market, said dealers.

At close, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index shed 11.44 points to 1,205.95 after opening 0.57 of a point easier at 1,216.82.

SJ Securities analyst Phua Kwee Hock said the market was undergoing a small correction and did not expect it to fall below 1,184 level. "The market may see a support level at 1,193 and resistance level at 1,212. This profit-taking is more of a global thing," he said.

Phua said the local market tracks the US market which went on a selling mode recently when the US Federal Reserve made a cautious stance on the country's economic recovery.

Phua said the market would remain soft until mid-October ahead of the Budget 2010 to be tabled October 23.

The FBMEmas fell 75.97 points to 8,118.06, the FBM Top 100 slid 76.92 points to 7,908.92, the FBM70 lost 85.27 points to 8,015.06 and the FBM ACE Index dwindled 50.17 points to 4,023.91. The Technology Index shed 0.05 of a point to 16.28, the Finance Index slipped 67.67 points to 9,934.54, the Plantation Index slid 83.85 points to 5,909.14 and the Industrial Index was 21.8 points lower at 2,645.29.

Losers led gainers 469 to 145 with 183 counters unchanged and 461 untraded.

Top losers included KLK, which shed 24 sen to RM13.74, LMCement lost 23 sen to RM6.05 and SP Setia fell 20 sen to RM4.

Among actives, KNM lost 2.5 sen to 76 sen, SAAG slipped half a sen to 23 sen while Jadi Imaging gained half a sen to 21 sen.

Losers among the heavyweights included plantation companies such as Sime Darby, which fell six sen to RM8.52, IOI Corp shed 14 sen to RM5.20 and PPB Group declined 10 sen to RM15.92.

As for the banking sector, Maybank lost two sen to RM6.66, CIMB Group and Public Bank slid six sen each to RM11.10 and RM10.20, respectively, and RHB Capital lost 15 sen to RM5.10.

Tenaga Nasional fell two sen to RM8.18, Axiata eased three sen to RM3.14 and Genting fell 19 sen to RM9.

The FBM KLCI futures ended lower, on the back of a similar trend in the cash market, a dealer said.

The September 2009 contract fell 16.5 points to 1,205, October 2009 dropped 15.5 points to 1,207.0, December 2009 declined 17.5 points to 1,204.5 and March 2010 was 14 points lower at 1,204.5. Turnover was higher at 16,876 lots compared with 13,670 lots last Friday and open interests perked to 20,343 contracts from 17,923 contracts previously. - Bernama

Asia Roundup: Down on US weakness, strong yen

HONG KONG: Asian markets fell yesterday after further weakness on Wall Street Friday triggered fresh doubts over the pace of economic recovery and a strong yen stoked fears for Japanese exporters.

Weighing on the region was a third consecutive fall on Wall Street Friday, after the Commerce Department said orders for US durable goods fell 2.4 per cent, showing surprising weakness in the manufacturing sector.

TOKYO: Down 2.50 per cent. The Nikkei-225 index dropped 256.46 points to 10,009.52. "The yen's strength weighed on the market as it reduces exporter earnings," said Kazuhiro Takahashi, equity information chief at Daiwa Securities SMBC.

SYDNEY: Down 0.76 per cent. The S&P/ASX 200 dropped 35.9 points to close at 4,677.4. The Australian market fell in line with stocks in Asia following a weak lead from the United States, analysts said.

SHANGHAI: Down 2.65 per cent. The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, was down 75.32 points to 2,763.53 The official Securities Times, citing an unnamed "authoritative" source, reported yesterday that the Nasdaq-style ChiNext board would be launched in Shenzhen at the end of October.

SEOUL: Down 0.94 per cent. The KOSPI ended down 15.93 points at 1,675.55.

Hyundai Motor lost 4.3 per cent to 110,500 won, Kia Motors dropped 4.7 per cent to 18,300 and KB Financial Group dropped two per cent to 58,300. Steelmakers declined on supply and price concerns.

TAIPEI: Down 0.83 per cent. The index fell 60.61 points to 7,284.61.

"The market is watching closely how US high-tech firms will report their earnings for the third quarter. It will provide an important indication for local electronic stocks," an analyst said.

BANGKOK: Down 1.76 per cent. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index fell 12.69 points to close at 708.88.

JAKARTA: Down 1.91 per cent. The Jakarta Composite Index lost 46.75 points to 2,397.82.

MANILA: Down 1.30 per cent. The composite index gave up 36.69 points to 2,784.65. Investors braced for the economic fallout from the worst flooding in Manila in over 40 years, dealers said.

WELLINGTON: Up 0.64 per cent. The NZX-50 index gained 19.92 points to 3,131.17. - AFP

Current account deficit falls in second quarter

WASHINGTON: The US current account deficit fell 5.5 per cent in the second quarter to its lowest level in more than seven years, the Commerce Department said yesterday. 

The current account gap stood at US$98.8 billion (US$1 = RM3.50) in the April-June period, the smallest deficit since the fourth quarter of 2001. 

Most analysts had expected a better reading of US$92 billion. The second quarter decline in the current account followed a revised first-quarter number of US$104.5 billion. — AFP

Key index stays above 1,200 points

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended higher yesterday with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM KLCI) staying above the 1,200-point level, on continuing positive sentiment amid sharp gains in US stocks, dealers said. 

They said renewed optimism over the global economy boosted shares on Wall Street yesterday.

However, continued profit-taking narrowed overall gains with investors cashing in on their profits ahead of the Hari Raya holidays.

"Oil and gas stocks had a particularly strong run-up on hopes of rising job orders from Gorgon LNG project (in Australia)," the dealer added.

OSK technical analyst Shin Kao Jack said the bourse was likely to extend gains in coming days as it was far from overbought.

The FBM KLCI closed 5.51 points higher at 1,212.98 after opening 1.69 points higher at 1,209.16. 

The FBMEmas gained 43.47 points to 8,157.2, the FBM Top 100 increased 40.39 points to 7,951.77, the FBM70 added 57.76 points to 8,045.57 while the FBM ACE index increased 36.61 points to 4,072.26. 

The Technology Index rose 0.1 point to 16.34, the Finance Index advanced 37.26 points to 9,875.4, the Plantation Index advanced 13.43 points to 5,922.41 and the Industrial Index was 19 points higher at 2,664.33. 

Advancers led decliners by 396 to 211 while 259 counters were unchanged and 389 others untraded.

Turnover was higher at 807.879 million shares worth RM1.345 billion from 613.785 million shares worth RM1.008 billion.

Halex Holdings, a company involved in the horticulture and healthcare disposables business, made its debut on Bursa Malaysia yesterday. The counter, which opened at 82 sen, with a 4 sen premium over its offer price, continued its uptrend to close at 94 sen. 

Among actives, KNM Group rose 3 sen to 77.5 sen, Multi-Purpose Holdings slipped 7 sen to RM1.88 and Multi Sports Holdings rose 3.5 sen to 53.5 sen. As for the heavyweights, MISC rose 20 sen to RM9.19, British American Tobacco gained 14 sen to RM45.02, CIMB Group Holdings rose 10 sen to RM11.18 and Genting gained 25 sen to RM6.98. 

FBM KLCI futures sustained its uptrend at the close yesterday following sharp gains on US stocks and renewed optimism of a global economic recovery, dealers said. 

September 2009 rose 7 points to 1,218, December 2009 gained 7.5 points to 1,217, December 2009 increased 9 points to 1,217 and March 2010 rose 7 points to 1,211. Turnover rose to 4,768 lots from 2,602.

Open interests, however, fell to 16,589 contracts from 16,780 yesterday. - Bernama, AFP

Stocks to watch: Media Prima, NSTP, auto, Kencana

Written by Joseph Chin 
Thursday, 17 September 2009 07:42 

KUALA LUMPUR: Wall Street gave Asian investors another reason to pick up equities on Sept 17 after US stocks rose to fresh 2009 highs in a broad-based rally following economic data that suggested a stronger-than-anticipated global recovery.

US industrial output advanced for a second consecutive month in August. The Dow Jones industrial average advanced 1.12% to 9,791.71. The broader S&P 500 Index was up 1.53% at 1,068.76. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 1.45% at 2,133.15.

Stocks to watch include The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd (NSTP) and MEDIA PRIMA BHD [], auto companies, Kencana, Kumpulan Jetson and Mah Sing.

Nomura Securities has upgraded Malaysian banks' earnings, underpinned by an economic recovery and lower-than-expected credit costs and non-performing loans (NPLs).

The major shareholders of both NSTP and Media Prima Bhd have agreed to the privatisation of the former, sources said. The deal would see NSTP getting one Media Prima share for every NSTP share held, in addition with warrants and loan stocks. For more read The Edge FinancialDaily today.

Auto stocks, including Proton, rallied on expectations the government would provide more incentives for the local car makers under the National Automotive Policy.

KENCANA PETROLEUM BHD [] subsidiary Kencana HL Sdn Bhd secured a RM90 million three-year service contract from an oil company for the provision of offshore CONSTRUCTION [] services to the client's production platforms located offshore Peninsular Malaysia.

Kumpulan Jetson's share price fell sharply yesterday after BURSA MALAYSIA BHD [] issued an unusual market activity (UMA) query to the company.

The stock fell 13 sen or almost 7% to its intra-day low of RM1.80 but soon after recovered slightly to close at RM1.84, down nine sen or 4.66% from the previous day’s close. Over 4.6 million shares were traded during the day between RM1.80 and RM2.09.

MAH SING GROUP BHD [] is acquiring two parcels of prime freehold industrial land in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, measuring about 52,245 sq metres (12.91 acres) from Flextronics TECHNOLOGY [] (Shah Alam) Sdn Bhd at RM37.79 per sq ft for a total of RM21.25 million cash.

Wall Street rises for 3rd day on economic optimism

Written by Reuters 
Thursday, 17 September 2009 06:48 

NEW YORK: Stocks rose for a third day on Wednesday, Sept 16 hitting fresh 2009 highs in a broad-based rally following economic data that suggested a stronger-than-anticipated global recovery, according to Reuters.

Energy and manufacturing companies were among the strongest, benefiting from data indicating improved industrial demand and a falling dollar, which makes American exports more competitive in world markets.

Shares of multinational companies gained, including General Electric Co, up 6.3 percent at US$17, while shares of Exxon Mobil Corp rose 1.2 percent to US$70.34. Financial companies also were top gainers, with the S&P financial index up 3.4 percent.

U.S. industrial output advanced for a second consecutive month in August, while a government report showed a bigger-than-expected drop in crude inventories last week, indicating higher demand.

The economic data added to optimism about a recovery, a day after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the recession was "very likely" over.

"This is a shot in the arm for recovery. This is what we're looking for," Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private bank in Chicago, said.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 108.30 points, or 1.12 percent, at 9,791.71. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 16.13 points, or 1.53 percent, at 1,068.76. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 30.51 points, or 1.45 percent, at 2,133.15.

The benchmark S&P index is now up 58 percent since hitting 12-year lows in early March and is up 18 percent since the start of the year. The dollar, meanwhile, fell near one-year lows against a basket of currencies.

"The dollar continues to get pounded. That translates into higher commodity stocks, and industrials continue to be a beneficiary," of the dollar's weakness, said Michael James, senior trader at regional investment bank Wedbush Morgan in Los Angeles.

Adding to the positive tone was the latest sign that merger and acquisition activity was picking up. Adobe Systems Inc said it plans to pay US$1.8 billion for Omniture Inc, whose software analyzes Web traffic. Adobe, the maker of Photoshop and Acrobat software, is looking to turn around declining sales.

Adobe was down 6.4 percent at US$33.35, while Omniture advanced 26.3 percent to US$21.88.

Shares of healthcare companies advanced after Democrat Senator Max Baucus said his healthcare overhaul plan can pass the Senate. A healthcare company index was up 2.2 percent.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, oil futures rose 2.2 percent to US$72.51 a barrel. December gold in New York hit 18-month highs, finishing at US$1,020.20 an ounce on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Mining company Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc gained 1.2 percent to US$72.15. - Reuters

Laos tawar potensi pelaburan pelbagai sektor

WALAUPUN pelaburan Malaysia di Laos ketika ini adalah kecil berbanding di negara Asean lain, negara itu menawarkan potensi yang besar dalam sektor perlombongan, pembinaan, pelancongan, kuasa hidro, pertanian dan pendidikan. 

Presiden Persatuan Malaysia-Laos, Zulkiflee Abdullah, berkata pelabur Malaysia boleh meraih peluang yang wujud dari pelbagai projek kerajaan Laos untuk meningkatkan ekonomi negara itu. 

“Ekonomi negara itu kini mulai bergerak dengan pembinaan lebih banyak jalan raya dan projek infrastruktur,” kata Zulkiflee yang juga adalah Ketua Eksekutif International Commercial Bank. 

Beliau berkata, walaupun pasaran domestik Laos kecil kerana mempunyai bilangan penduduk hanya enam juta orang, ia menawarkan peluang yang besar dalam sektor seperti perlombongan dan loji kuasa. 

“Satu lagi sektor ialah perhotelan kerana bilangan bilik di negara itu tidak mencukupi semasa musim kemuncak. Dengan adanya lebih banyak penerbangan antarabangsa ke negara ini dan pendedahan negara itu kepada dunia luar, lebih ramai ahli perniagaan dan pelancong datang ke negara ini,” kata Zulkiflee di Vientiane. 

Zulkiflee berkata, pelabur Malaysia boleh juga meraih potensi dalam sektor pertanian, terutama getah dan sawit, pengiklanan, percetakan dan pendidikan, yang sebahagian besarnya dalam program teknikal dan menggunakan bahasa Inggeris. - Bernama

Inflasi Januari-Ogos 1.3 pera

Oleh Azli Ayob
azliayob@bharian.com.my

KADAR inflasi di Malaysia berada pada paras 1.3 peratus dalam tempoh Januari hingga Ogos lalu. 

Pengukurnya, Indeks Harga Pengguna (IHP) meningkat kepada 111.8 mata dalam tempoh itu daripada 110.4 mata. 

Pada asas bulanan, IHP pada bulan lalu turun 2.4 peratus berbanding Ogos tahun lalu, manakala berbanding bulan sebelumnya ia meningkat 0.2 peratus. 

Penurunan IHP bulan lalu berbanding Ogos tahun lalu itu disebabkan oleh perubahan harga minyak petrol dan diesel mulai Jun 2008. 

Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob menegaskan, kenaikan IHP sebanyak 0.2 peratus pada Ogos berbanding Julai itu adalah satu kenaikan kecil berbanding dengan persepsi umum yang menyatakan harga barang telah meningkat dengan ketara. 

“Kajian yang dibuat menunjukkan kenaikan hanya 0.2 peratus dan ia hanya mewakili kenaikan bagi beberapa barangan yang tertentu saja. Ini memberikan gambaran yang sebenarnya mengenai kenaikan harga barangan di pasaran,” katanya pada sidang media mengumumkan IHP bagi Ogos 2009 di Kuala Lumpur, semalam. 

Kenaikan IHP bulan ke bulan sebanyak 0.2 peratus pada Ogos itu disebabkan oleh peningkatan dalam indeks kumpulan perkhidmatan rekreasi dan kebudayaan (+0.2 peratus); makanan dan minuman bukan alkohol (+0.2 peratus); pendidikan (+0.2 peratus); perumahan, air, elektrik, gas dan bahan api lain; hiasan, perkakasan dan penyelenggaraan isi rumah; kesihatan; pengangkutan; restoran dan hotel dan pelbagai barangan dan perkhidmatan masing-masing meningkat sebanyak 0.1 peratus. 

Sebaliknya, penurunan indeks dapat diperhatikan dalam kumpulan pakaian dan kasut iaitu sebanyak 0.3 peratus. 

Dua kumpulan utama lain, minuman alkohol dan tembakau serta komunikasi masing-masing kekal tidak berubah pada 130.3 dan 96.3. 

Ismail berkata, kenaikan harga barangan bagi tahun ini dijangka masih terkawal kerana tiada kenaikan harga minyak diesel yang digunakan dengan banyak dalam sektor pengangkutan. 

“Kenaikan harga barang akan berlaku jika harga diesel naik. Jika harga petrol yang meningkat tiada kenaikan harga barangan,” katanya.

Sentimen pasaran kekal positif

HARGA saham di Bursa Malaysia mengakhiri sesi semalam dengan Indeks Komposit Kuala Lumpur FTSE Bursa Malaysia (FBM KLCI) kekal melebihi paras 1,200 mata, dengan sentimen positif berterusan semasa kenaikan ketara saham Amerika Syarikat (AS). 

Peniaga berkata, keyakinan terhadap ekonomi dunia merangsang saham di Wall Street, kelmarin. 

Bagaimanapun, kegiatan pengambilan untung berterusan mengurangkan kenaikan keseluruhan dengan pelabur mencari untung mendahului cuti Hari Raya. 

FBM KLCI ditutup 5.51 mata lebih tinggi pada 1,212.98 selepas dibuka 1.69 mata lebih tinggi pada 1,209.16. 

FBMEmas menokok 43.47 mata kepada 8,157.2, FBM Top 100 meningkat 40.39 mata kepada 7,951.77, FBM70 menambah 57.76 mata kepada 8,045.57 manakala indeks FBM ACE naik 36.61 mata kepada 4,072.26. 

Indeks Teknologi meningkat 0.1 mata kepada 16.34, Indeks Kewangan menokok 37.261 mata kepada 9,875.4, Indeks Perladangan naik 13.43 mata kepada 5,922.41 manakala Indeks Perusahaan menambah 19 mata kepada 2,664.33. 

Saham untung mengatasi rugi pada 396 berbanding 211 manakala 259 kaunter tidak berubah dan 389 lagi tidak didagangkan. 

Jumlah dagangan lebih tinggi pada 807.879 juta saham bernilai RM1.345 bilion daripada 613.785 juta saham bernilai RM1.008 bilion, kelmarin. 

Halex Holdings, syarikat yang terbabit dalam perniagaan hortikultur dan produk bagi penjagaan kesihatan, mula disenaraikan di Bursa Malaysia, semalam. 

Saham berkenaan yang dibuka pada 82 sen, dengan empat sen premium berbanding harga tawaran, meneruskan aliran menaik untuk ditutup pada 94 sen. 

Antara saham aktif, KNM Group naik tiga sen kepada 77.5 sen, Multi-Purpose Holdings susut tujuh sen kepada RM1.88 dan Multi Sports Holdings meningkat 3.5 sen kepada 53.5 sen. 

Bagi saham wajaran tinggi, MISC menokok 20 sen kepada RM9.19, British American Tobacco untung 14 sen kepada RM45.02, CIMB Group Holdings menambah 10 sen kepada RM11.18 dan Genting meningkat 25 sen kepada RM6.98. 

Jumlah dagangan Pasaran utama meningkat kepada 724.41 juta saham bernilai RM1.326 bilion daripada 540.991 juta saham bernilai RM990.532 juta sebelumnya. 

Jumlah dagangan pasaran ACE meningkat kepada 50.774 juta saham bernilai RM11.388 juta daripada 46.012 juta saham bernilai RM10.788 juta kelmarin. 

Dagangan dalam waran menambah kepada 27.913 juta bernilai RM6.341 juta daripada 22.484 juta unit bernilai RM5.106 juta sebelumnya. 

Barangan pengguna menguasai 53.05 juta saham yang didagangkan di Pasaran Utama, barangan perusahaan 249.7 juta, pembinaan 54.5 juta, dagangan dan perkhidmatan 216.5 juta, teknologi 7.1 juta, infrastruktur 11.7 juta, kewangan 49.2 juta, hotel 978,600 juta, hartanah 66.6 juta, perladangan 12.7 juta, perlombongan 4,000, REIT 2.04 juta, dan tertutup/dana 32,000. - Bernama

GEC2009 akan bantu usahawan kembangkan perniagaan

KUALA LUMPUR 16 Sept. - Kongres Usahawan Global 2009 (GEC2009) pada 19 November di Kuala Lumpur, akan menghimpunkan usahawan berjaya dan baharu meningkat dalam satu platform, untuk mempelajari sesama sendiri untuk mengembangkan bisnes.

GEC2009 pertama itu yang bertemakan "mengembangkan Bisnes Anda - Model Pertumbuhan Baharu dan Strategi". Ia dianjurkan oleh Organisasi Usahawan (EO), sebuah rangkaian global yang dinamik yang dianggotai lebih 7,300 pemilik perniagaan di 42 negara.

Pengerusi Penganjur, Vijay Tirathrai berkata, GEC2009, "satu acara oleh usahawan untuk usahawan," merupakan sebahagian daripada inisiatif global EO24 EO yang berlangsung dalam tempoh lebih 24 jam di 40 negara secara serentak.

"Kami menjangkakan kira-kira 500 perwakilan, termasuk ahli perniagaan tempatan, menyertai acara itu, menerusi pelancaran laman web rasmi hari ini," katanya pada pelancaran media GEC2009.

Beliau berkata, acara itu akan mewujudkan peluang bermakna seperti perkakasan pemandanan bisnes. Rangkaian global dan akses kepada sumber-sumber pembelanjaran antarabangsa.

"Antara bidang utama yang akan ditangani oleh penceramah terkemuka antarabangsa ialah strategi pertumbuhan, membangunkan pertumbuhan berkekalan menerusi pemerolehan modal, penglibatan dalam talian, pemacu teknologi bahari dan lebih banyak kandungan berorientasikan keputusan," kata Vijay. - BERNAMA

Kita di tangga keempat paling suka berbelanja

KUALA LUMPUR 16 Sept. - Kajian Visa Travel Smart mendapati pengembara Malaysia berada dalam senarai lima teratas gemar berbelanja barangan bebas cukai di Asia Pasifik dengan purata kos perbelanjaan AS$195 (RM678) seorang.

Malaysia berada di tempat keempat iaitu di bawah Korea, AS$358 (RM1,245.84) yang mendapat tempat pertama diikuti China, AS$333 (RM1,158.84) dan Hong Kong sebanyak AS$224 (RM779.52) seorang.

Kajian itu dilakukan terhadap 2,226 pengembara dari seluruh rantau Asia Pasifik.

Penilaian tabiat mengembara yang dilakukan terhadap pengembara menunjukkan pengembara Korea dan China membelanjakan lebih banyak wang mereka kepada barangan bebas cukai dengan masing-masing membelanjakan AS$358 (RM 1,245.84) dan AS$333 (RM1,158.84).

Jumlah perbelanjaan tersebut lebih AS$100 (RM 348) daripada purata perbelanjaan di rantau Asia.

Pengurus Visa (Malaysia), Stuart Tomlinson berkata, membeli-belah barangan bebas cukai dapat memberi nilai wang yang lebih daripada jenama antarabangsa dan juga produk-produk eksklusif lain.

Katanya, ia bukan satu perkara yang mengejutkan apabila pengembara China dan Korea yang dikenali pencinta jenama di rantau Asia Pasifik mengambil peluang tersebut.

Jelasnya, sebanyak 43 peratus responden kajian berkata, mereka mengunjungi kedai bebas cukai sewaktu perjalanan terakhir mereka.

Pembayaran secara kad kredit pula, menurut Tomlinson, pengembara Australia dan New Zealand paling banyak menggunakan kad kredit diikuti Korea dan China.

''Kemudahan pembayaran secara kad kredit di mana-mana mendorong para pengembara memilih kaedah pembayaran tersebut.

''Pembayaran tunai menyukarkan proses tukaran wang asing,'' katanya.

Menurut Tomlinson, lokasi kedai bebas cukai iaitu di lapangan terbang dan di pusat bandar memberi kemudahan untuk para pengembara membeli-belah barangan berjenama sekali gus dapat berjimat.

Potensi besar bagi pelabur Malaysia di Laos

VIENTIANE 16 Sept. - Walaupun pelaburan Malaysia di Laos kecil berbanding pelaburan negara ASEAN yang lain, wujud potensi yang besar di dalam sektor perlombongan, pembinaan, pelancongan, kuasa hidro, pertanian dan pendidikan.

Presiden Persatuan Malaysia-Laos Zulkiflee Abdullah berkata, para pelabur Malaysia boleh meraih peluang yang wujud dari pelbagai projek kerajaan Laos untuk meningkatkan ekonomi negara itu.

"Projek yang dilancarkan kini mulai bergerak dengan pembinaan lebih banyak jalan raya dan projek infrastruktur," kata Zulkiflee. Beliau juga Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif International Commercial Bank.

Sambil pasaran domestik Laos kecil kerana mempunyai bilangan penduduk hanya enam juta orang, katanya ada antara sektor berkenaan besar seperti perlombongan dan loji kuasa.

"Salah satu sektor berkenaan ialah industri hotel kerana bilangan bilik tidak mencukupi semasa musim kemuncak. Dengan adanya lebih banyak penerbangan antarabangsa ke negara ini dan pendedahan negara itu kepada dunia luar, lebih ramai ahli perniagaan dan pelancong datang ke negera ini," kata Zulkiflee di sini.

Menurut Kedutaan Besar Malaysia di Laos, dari 2000 hingga 2008, pelaburan terkumpul keseluruhan Malaysia di Laos mencecah AS$135.3 juta di dalam 33 projek, yang sebahagian besarnya di dalam sektor niaga tani, perlombongan, hotel, tekstil dan tenunan pakaian, perbankan, industri kayu, perkhidmatan dan perdagangan.

Antara pelabur besar Malaysia ialah Gamuda, yang membina projek kuasa hidro Nam Theun 1 untuk menjana kuasa 450 megawatt di tengah Laos dan Mega First Corporation yang memajukan Projek Kuasa Hidro Don Sahong di Daerah Khong, di wilayah Champasak. - Bernama

Harga saham naik FBM KLCI lebihi 1,200 mata

KUALA LUMPUR 16 Sept - Harga saham di Bursa Malaysia mengakhiri sesi hari ini dengan Indeks Komposit Kuala Lumpur FTSE Bursa Malaysia (FBM KLCI) kekal melebihi paras 1,200 mata, dengan sentimen positif berterusan semasa kenaikan ketara saham AS, kata para peniaga.

Mereka berkata keyakinan terhadap ekonomi dunia merangsang saham di Wall Street semalam.

Bagaimanapun, kegiatan pengambilan untung berterusan mengurangkan kenaikan keseluruhan dengan pelabur mencari untung mendahului cuti Hari Raya.

FBM KLCI ditutup 5.51 mata lebih tinggi pada 1,212.98 selepas dibuka 1.69 mata lebh tinggi pada 1,209.16.

Indeks Teknologi meningkat 0.1 mata kepada 16.34, Indeks Kewangan menokok 37.261 mata kepada 9,875.4, Indeks Perladangan naik 13.43 mata kepada 5,922.41 manakala Indeks Perusahaan menambah 19 mata kepada 2,664.33.

Saham untung mengatasi rugi pada 396 berbanding 211 manakala 259 kaunter tidak berubah dan 389 lagi tidak didagangkan.

Jumlah dagangan lebih tinggi pada 807.879 juta saham bernilai RM1.345 bilion daripada 613.785 juta saham bernilai RM1.008 bilion semalam.

Halex Holdings, syarikat yang terlibat dalam perniagaan hortikultur dan produk bagi penjagaan kesihatan, mula disenaraikan di Bursa Malaysia hari ini.

Saham berkenaan yang dibuka pada 82 sen, dengan empat sen premium berbanding harga tawaran, meneruskan aliran menaik untuk ditutup pada 94 sen. 

Antara saham aktif, KNM Group naik tiga sen kepada 77.5 sen, Multi-Purpose Holdings susut tujuh sen kepada RM1.88 dan Multi Sports Holdings meningkat 3.5 sen kepada 53.5 sen.

Jumlah dagangan Pasaran utama meningkat kepada 724.41 juta saham bernilai RM1.326 bilion daripada 540.991 juta saham bernilai RM990.532 juta sebelumnya.

Jumlah dagangan pasaran ACE meningkat kepada 50.774 juta saham bernilai RM11.388 juta daripada 46.012 juta saham bernilai RM10.788 juta semalam.

Dagangan dalam waran menambah kepada 27.913 juta bernilai RM6.341 juta daripada 22.484 juta unit bernilai RM5.106 juta semalam.

Barangan pengguna menguasai 53.05 juta saham yang didagangkan di Pasaran Utama, barangan perusahaan 249.7 juta, pembinaan 54.5 juta, dagangan dan perkhidmatan 216.5 juta, teknologi 7.1 juta, infrastruktur 11.7 juta, kewangan 49.2 juta, hotel 978,600 juta, hartanah 66.6 juta, perladangan 12.7 juta, perlombongan 4,000, REIT 2.04 juta, dan tertutup/dana 32,000. - Bernama

Wall Street hits 2009 highs, led by materials

Written by Reuters 
Wednesday, 16 September 2009 06:52 

NEW YORK: Stocks rose on Tuesday, Sept 15 to 2009 highs after stronger manufacturing and retail sales data boosted commodity prices and shares of materials companies, according to Reuters.

Tuesday's gains lifted the S&P 500 above the 1,050 level for the first time since early October.

The improvement in retail sales in August reassured investors about a rebound in U.S. economic demand. A rise in the government's Producer Price Index signaled increased consumption of raw materials.

Metals prices rose, sending shares of aluminum company Alcoa up 8.1 percent to US$13.99, while steelmaker AK Steel rose 5.7 percent to US$23.11 and US Steel gained 4.8 percent to US$48.98.

The Reuters-Jefferies CRB index of commodity prices jumped 2.2 percent for its biggest gain in more than a month, while the S&P materials sector added 2.3 percent.

The rise in producer prices and a report showing stronger New York state manufacturing suggested demand is building for raw materials.

"To make things, you need stuff that comes from the ground, at least at the beginning of a recovery from recession," said Kim Caughey, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 56.61 points, or 0.59 percent, to close at 9,683.41. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 3.29 points, or 0.31 percent, to 1,052.63. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 10.86 points, or 0.52 percent, to 2,102.64.

Comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that the recession was probably at an end also favored basic materials companies, Caughey said.

Bernanke, speaking on the one-year anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, said the recession "is very likely over."

A stronger-than-expected rise in retail sales notwithstanding, shares of retailers got hit by disappointing results from Best Buy Co Inc and Kroger Co, both of which reported quarterly profits below expectations.

Shares of electronics store Best Buy fell 5.2 percent to US$38.32 while grocer Kroger slid 7.5 percent to US$20.46. The S&P Retail index was down 0.14 percent.

Shares of General Electric jumped 4.2 percent to US$16, helped by an upwardly revised price target from Bernstein Research.

The conglomerate's sharp rebound -- of about 140 percent from its 2009 closing low -- could be a harbinger of more gains for the broader stock market in the months ahead, said Richard Ross, global technical strategist at Auerbach Grayson.

After the closing bell, Adobe Systems Inc announced a US$1.8 billion deal to buy business software maker Omniture Inc in an effort to counter falling sales from its Photoshop and Acrobat programs. - Reuters

FBM KLCI lonjak lepasi 1,200 mata

PENANDA aras utama pasaran saham tempatan, Indeks FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) melonjak melepasi paras 1,200 mata semalam, buat kali pertama dalam tempoh 16 bulan berikutan pemulihan sentimen serantau setelah wujud pelbagai petunjuk positif yang kukuh berhubung berakhirnya kegawatan ekonomi global.

FBM KLCI dibuka pada 1,190.87 mata, peningkatan 0.48 mata pagi semalam, sebelum bergerak dalam jajaran turun-naik yang tinggi sehingga tengah hari.

Ia melonjak tinggi pada sesi dagangan sebelah petang untuk ditutup pada paras 1,202.07 mata, iaitu tertinggi sejak 24 Jun tahun lalu.

Mengulas prestasi itu, Pengurus Kanan Pelaburan Institusi Inter-Pacific Sdn Bhd, Deti Affendi Kadir, berkata keputusan kewangan yang lebih baik syarikat di kebanyakan negara utama utama pada suku kedua baru-baru ini, menunjukkan fasa penurunan aliran perniagaan sudah berakhir.

“Persekitaran perniagaan global ternyata lebih baik pada separuh kedua lalu. Keyakinan pelabur dan peniaga yang semakin meningkat turut menyaksikan aktiviti korporat seperti pengambilalihan dan penggabungan semakin rancak dilaksanakan, justeru, memberikan kesan positif kepada pasaran,” katanya.

Namun, katanya, masih ramai lagi pelabur yang masih ragu-ragu mengenai pemulihan itu dapat dikekalkan susulan peningkatan jumlah pengangguran yang mungkin menjejaskan perbelanjaan pengguna.

Bagaimanapun, Deti menjelaskan, perkara berkenaan mungkin dapat dibendung setelah sebahagian besar Menteri Kewangan Negara Kumpulan 20 (G20) mengulangi komitmen masing-masing untuk menyuntik satu pakej rangsangan berjumlah AS$5 trilion.

Semalam agensi berita antarabangsa melaporkan, suntikan dalam bentuk fiskal dan monetari itu akan dibuat secara berterusan sehingga ekonomi kembali pulih dan berupaya mencatat peningkatan positif.

Naib Presiden Persatuan Remisier Bumiputera (Pribumi), Zainal Ariffin Osman, pula berkata keputusan korporat sebahagian syarikat tempatan pada suku kedua tahun ini juga menunjukkan petanda bahawa ekonomi negara bakal pulih seawal pada suku keempat tahun ini.

“Sebahagian besar syarikat sudah berupaya mencatatkan untung bersih. Agak mengejutkan apabila lima sektor utama seperti kewangan, perladangan, media dan automotif tempatan mulai menunjukkan peningkatan.

“Berdasarkan petunjuk seperti keuntungan bersih dan pendapatan syarikat, ternyata Malaysia sudah mulai keluar daripada kegawatan,” katanya.

Zainal berkata, aliran peningkatan pasaran saham tempatan yang bermula April lalu juga menunjukkan keyakinan pelabur dan peniaga terhadap ekonomi negara semakin meningkat.

“Pasaran saham adalah petunjuk sensitif pergerakan ekonomi dan perniagaan. Ia bergerak antara enam hingga tujuh bulan lebih awal sebelum berlaku peningkatan ekonomi. Berdasarkan keadaan itu, kita boleh menjangka ekonomi akan meningkat semula pada suku keempat tahun ini,” katanya.

Bagaimanapun, Zainal berkata, dalam jangka pendek, pasaran saham tempatan akan terus dipengaruhi pergerakan pasaran serantau dan aliran berita di peringkat antarabangsa.

“Momentum belian yang menyokong peningkatan pasaran tempatan dijangka berterusan dipengaruhi pergerakan bursa serantau, dengan paras halangan semasa bagi FBM KLCI adalah 1,220 mata, manakala paras sokongan pula adalah 1,190 mata,” katanya.

My comment about Unit trust

Salam,
AKu copy paste keratan2 akhbar berkenaan pelaburan Unit Trust. Predicted saham akan naik in few week. so kalau nak tahu....email me to matrixum515@gmail.com. Thanks

KWSP raih pendapatan pelaburan RM4.8 bilion

Oleh Ahmad Fiesal Othman
fsal@bharian.com.my

KUMPULAN Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) meraih pendapatan pelaburan sebanyak RM4.8 bilion dalam tempoh suku kedua berakhir 30 Jun lalu, iaitu peningkatan 46.64 peratus berbanding RM3.27 bilion diraihnya pada suku pertama.

Ketua Eksekutifnya, Tan Sri Azlan Zainol, berkata pendapatan pelaburan lebih tinggi itu hasil peningkatan prestasi dalam pelaburan ekuiti susulan keadaan pasaran global serta domestik yang semakin baik.

Beliau berkata, dalam suku kedua itu, indeks ekuiti global utama mula menunjukkan tanda akan pulih dari kemelesetan, terutama di negara di mana KWSP melabur.

“Walaupun masih terlalu awal untuk berasa selesa, jika arah aliran ini berterusan atau sekurang-kurangnya kekal pada tahap semasa, KWSP yakin sejumlah besar peruntukan susut nilai pelaburan ekuiti yang telah dibuat KWSP pada 2008 akan dapat diraih semula,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

Dalam tempoh suku kedua lalu, ekuiti mencatatkan peningkatan tertinggi dari segi sumbangan kepada pendapatan KWSP dengan mencatatkan pulangan RM1.74 bilion, meningkat tujuh kali ganda berbanding RM239.55 juta pada suku pertama.

Bagaimanapun, pinjaman dan bon adalah penyumbang pendapatan tertinggi dengan pulangan RM1.81 bilion kepada keseluruhan pendapatan pelaburan KWSP dalam tempoh kajian berbanding RM1.78 bilion pada suku sebelumnya.

KWSP mengekalkan profil berisiko rendah dengan meneruskan dasar yang mana sebahagian besar pinjaman dan bon dilaburkan dalam syarikat bergred tinggi dengan penarafan kredit AAA atau AA.

Sekuriti Kerajaan Malaysia juga adalah satu daripada penyumbang tertinggi kepada pendapatan pelaburan KWSP dalam tempoh kajian dengan peningkatan RM83 juta kepada RM1.11 bilion berbanding suku sebelumnya.

Sementara itu, Instrumen Pasaran Wang mencatatkan pendapatan RM94.27 juta, menurun 21.51 peratus berbanding RM120.11 juta pada suku sebelumnya.

Pelaburan hartanah menyumbang RM20.81 juta, meningkat sedikit berbanding RM20.63 juta yang dicatatkan pada suku sebelumnya.

Azlan berkata, walaupun sudah ada tanda menunjukkan pasaran global semakin stabil, masih terlalu awal untuk membuat jangkaan bagaimana ia akan memberi kesan terhadap pelaburan KWSP untuk baki tahun ini.

Beliau berkata, KWSP sentiasa berwaspada bahawa keadaan boleh berubah pada bila-bila masa dan setiap keputusan mesti dibuat dengan berhati-hati demi menjaga kepentingan ahli KWSP.

“Bagaimanapun, sebagai pelabur jangka panjang dan pemegang amanah kepada lebih RM350 bilion dana persaraan, KWSP akan terus mengambil langkah proaktif demi meningkatkan nilai simpanan ahli dan pada masa sama mengekalkan pendekatan berkhemah,” katanya.

Malaysian shares tipped to gain next week

Malaysian share prices are expected to make gains next week amid strong market sentiment in the US and China, analysts said yesterday.

“If China and Hong Kong do not correct further, based on the positive economic signals from the US, Malaysian stocks look to gain next week,” said Stephen Soo, a technical analyst with local brokerage TA Securities.

“Earlier this week, we saw a correction in (the) local market as a result of dips in the US but it was holding steady by midweek following better economic numbers from China,” he added.

“A concern now is the low trading volume which really needs to increase in order to stabilise the market and to see a greater basis for positive sentiment.”

He tipped the key index to trade in a range of 1,156-1,196 points.

For the week to September 4, the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index lost 15.0 points, or 1.29 per cent, to close at 1,178.74. -- AFP

Lifetime achievement award for Nazir

DATUK Seri Nazir Razak, group chief executive of CIMB Group, Malaysia's second biggest banking group, won the prestigious "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his contribution to the Asian banking and finance industry.

The award, previously won by Public Bank's Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow among others, was given by FinanceAsia, an industry magazine, at an event in Hong Kong which was attended by over 500 bankers from Asia.

"It's extraordinary of us to be recognising someone at a very young age of 42 for his lifetime achievement, but that is the true reflection of the success and leadership Nazir has demonstrated over the years," Lara Wozniak, Editor of FinanceAsia, said in a statement released by CIMB.

Nazir dedicated the award to his wife Datin Seri Azlina Aziz, his lifetime partner who has been his "constant source of strength and impartial advice" throughout his 20-year career.

Nazir joined CIMB in September 1989 as an entry-level executive and worked up the ranks until he was appointed CEO in June 1999.

Under his leadership, CIMB transformed itself from being the top Malaysian merchant bank into a Southeast Asian universal bank with assets of over RM220 billion (US$78 billion) and a market capitalisation of about RM36 billion (US$10 billion).
Posted by Nuang at 2:01:00 PM
RInggit likely to rise next week
Published: 2009/09/05

The ringgit is likely to trade firmer against the US dollar next week on steady commercial demand for the local currency, dealers said.

Further support could come should Bursa Malaysia continue to move upward, one of them said.

This week, the ringgit's movement mainly followed the performance of Malaysian and regional stock markets.

On a week by week comparison, the ringgit was lower against the US dollar at 3.5230/5280 compared with 3.5200/5250 previously.

It also eased against the Singapore dollar to 2.4465/4520 from 2.4453/4512, the Japanese yen to 3.7959/7017 from 3.7439/7512 and the British pound to 5.7608/7707 from 5.7478/7570.

However, the local unit rose against the euro to 5.0308/0383 from 5.0537/0615. -- Bernama