KUALA LUMPUR: The KLCI continued to see thin trade at midday Thursday while investors across the region continued to remain cautious.

Among companies that are scheduled to report on their quarterly earnings today are MAS and TMI.

At 12.30pm, the KLCI was down 0.04% to 896.13 while Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.18% to 1,613.86.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.99% to 7,535.39, Shanghai’s A share index was down 0.32% to 2,199.56 while Seoul’s Kospi Index gained 0.43% to 1,071.71.

At Bursa Malaysia, 121 counters were up, 203 were down and 189 others were unchanged. There were 148.18 million shares traded with a total value of RM202.523 million.
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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 (Bernama) — The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is likely to trade in line with the expected softer underlying cash market, dealers said.

The dealers said both markets are expected to be in thin trading as most players would be on the sidelines, awaiting the outcome of the Bank Negara Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Meeting on Feb 24.

The dealers said the focus was on whether there would be other monetary policy approaches to spur economic activities.

According to the dealers, the players are also awaiting the latest fourth quarter 2008 gross domestic product (GDP) figure scheduled to release on Feb 27 by the central bank.

On a Friday-to-Friday basis, spot month February 2009 decreased 32.5 points to 878.0 while March 2009 slipped 31.5 points to 874.0, June 2009 declined 29.5 points to 856.50 and September 2009 fell 28.0 to 842.5.

Volume rose to 31,906 lots from 23,883 lots last week while open interests stood at 22,841 contracts versus 22,923 previously.

On the cash market, the underlying KLCI fell 20.13 points to 889.71 from 909.84 last week.

– BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR: The KLCI is expected to be range-bound Friday in the absence of positive news flows.

Major East Asian bourses were down on news that the three-month average for worldwide billings for semiconductor equipment slumped 54% or US$592.20 million in January compared to a year ago.

According to an industry report, the three-month average of worldwide bookings in January was US$285.60 million, which is 75% less than orders posted in January last year.

According to a report by HwangDBS Vickers Research Sdn Bhd, the KLCI was expected to “extend its sideways performance with a slight downward bias today”.

At 10.15am, the KLCI was 0.68% lower at 893.43 while across the Causeway, Singapore’s Straits Times Index was down 1.35% to 1,607.35.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 declined 1.35% to 7,455.40, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slumped 2.05% to 12,756.78, Shanghai’s A share index fell 0.52% to 2,215.45 and Seoul’s Kospi Index slipped 2.94% to 1,074.56.
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KUALA LUMPUR: BCHB and Sime were amongst counters that were up at midday while F&N continued to extend its losses.

Major East Asian indices were mixed as investors pondered a US government plan to help homeowners in repaying their loans and prevent more foreclosures.

At 12.30pm, the KLCI was up 0.46% to 899.39.

At Bursa Malaysia, 141 counters were up, 200 were down while 165 others were traded unchanged. There were 167.19 million shares traded with a total value of RM293.43 million.

The top loser continued to be F&N, which was RM1.30 lower at RM7.70. BCHB was up 25 sen to RM6.70, Sime gained 10 sen to RM5.70, IOI Corp down 4 sen to RM3.68, Shell rose 15 sen to RM9.00 while Puncak was 10 sen higher at RM2.92.

Nestle was down 25 sen to RM27.50 and Carlsberg fell 18 sen to RM3.62.

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KUALA LUMPUR: The KLCI was up in Thursday morning trade as the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 0.04% in Wednesday’s trade.

However, F&N fell on news that its bottling and distribution contracts with The Coca Cola Company will not be renewed next January.

At 10.15am, the KLCI was up 0.18% to 896.83 while across the Causeway, Singapore’s Straits Times Index was 1.50% lower to 1,626.23.

Amongst major East Asian indices, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 was up 0.50% to 7,572.37 while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 1.31% to 12,845.16.

Shanghai’s A share index rose 0.62% to 2,223.62 and Seoul’s Kospi Index fell 1.45% to 1,097.03.

At Bursa Malaysia, 85 counters were up, 128 were down and 121 others were traded unchanged. There were 76.78 million shares traded with a total value of RM108.30 million.

F&N fell 80 sen to RM8.20. AmResearch Sdn Bhd research head Benny Chew said in a report that if F&N is unsuccessful with in obtaining new contracts with Coca Cola, this will have a negative impact for the financial year ending September 30, 2010 (FY10) and FY11.

Meanwhile, BCHB gained 10 sen to RM6.55, Puncak rose 8 sen to RM2.90, Aeon was 6 sen higher to RM3.64, BAT gained 25 sen to RM44.00 while Lafarge was up 8 sen to RM3.94.

Analysts believe the KLCI would continue to see some upward movement and steady trade today. (more…)

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The Malaysian stock market on Friday snapped the modest two-day losing streak that saw it ease 9 points or 1 percent along the way. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index broke through resistance at 900 points on Friday - but now investors fear that the market could hand those gains right back at the opening of trade on Monday.

The global forecast for the Asian markets is modestly negative, although analysts say that the passage of the U.S. economic stimulus package could offset some of the losses - but concerns over the health of the financial sector are expected to keep markets in the red. Weak economic and corporate data add to the overall negative sentiment. The European markets finished firmly in positive territory, while their U.S. counterparts all ended below the unchanged line - and the Asian markets are tipped more towards the latter group.

The KLCI finished sharply higher on Friday, thanks to considerable gains from the financial sector. The plantation stocks also posted significant gains, and the industrial issues ended the session slightly higher.

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The Malaysian stock market on Wednesday saw an end to the three-day winning streak that had it gather more than 25 points or 3 percent along the way. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index on Wednesday fell through support at 900 points - one day after cracking that level, and now investors are hopeful that the market could regain that plateau again on Thursday.

The global forecast for the Asian markets is steady with a touch of upside, with some optimism coming from the reported agreement on the U.S. economic stimulus plan by members of Congress. But that optimism is likely to be offset by weaker than expected economic news and disappointing corporate results. The European markets were mixed overnight, while the U.S. markets posted slight gains - and the same is forecast for the Asian bourses.

The KLCI finished modestly lower on Wednesday, as gains from earlier in the session were erased by a late surge of profit taking. The financial stocks and the plantations finished with significant declines, while the industrials posted only a slight decline.

For the day, the index eased 6.45 points or 0.71 percent to close at 897.07 after trading between 894.63 and 899.88. Volume was 313.431 million shares worth 433.459 million ringgit. There were 233 decliners and 188 gainers, with 204 stocks finishing unchanged.

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COME July 6, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) will replace the KLCI as the benchmark index for Bursa Malaysia.

Compared with the KLCI which has 100 constituents, the new index will have 30 stocks, based on market cap with a minimum free float of 15% and 10% annual turnover of free float shares.

The components stocks of FBM KLCI will be determined in June and will be reviewed twice a year (June and December).

Broadly speaking, five big sectors – finance, plantations, power, telecommunications and gaming – will make up over 80% of FBM KLCI’s weightings. Seven sectors – building materials, construction, hotels, insurance, property, timber and technology – will not be featured in the FBM KLCI. And there will be reduced weightage on industrial products (6% to 2%) and transportation (10% to 6%).

According to CIMB Investment Research Head Terence Wong, the biggest winners in terms of a jump in sector weightings are finance (from 24% to 32%), gaming (5% to 9%) and power (5% to 9%).

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KUALA LUMPUR: The KLCI and major indices in the East Asian region were up at midday Thursday as China announced it will widen measures to bolster the economy.

The KLCI gained 0.05% to 877.24 while across the Causeway, Singapore’s Straits Times Index was 0.60% higher at 1,717.71. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.385 to 8,069.55 while Seoul’s Kospi Index was 0.67% higher at 1,203.43.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 2.69% to 13,414.70 and Shanghai’s A share index was up 1.77% on the news of the stimulus package.
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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Bernama) — The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed mixed on Thursday, taking the cue from the easier cash market, dealers said.

At close, February 2009 increased 1.5 points to settle at 877.0, March 2009 rose half a point to 871.5, June 2009 was unchanged at 852.0 and September 2009 declined 2.5 points to 837.5.

The day’s volume increased to 4,597 lots from yesterday’s 4,251 lots while open interests also increased to 20,849 contracts from 20,228 contracts previously.

The underlying KLCI ended the day 3.15 points higher at 879.95.

– BERNAMA

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