KUALA LUMPUR (March 8): Malaysian stocks could be in for further profit taking on Thursday as the European debt crisis continues to take centre stage in global financial markets .
Key regional markets fell on Wednesday as investors were kept vigilant on the status of Greece’s debt relief scheme. The FBM KLCI fell 0.95% or 15.08 points to finish at 1574.83 points, the biggest one-day decline this year. However, year-to-date, it is up 3%. FBM KLCI futures closed seven points down to 1575.5.
Private holders of Greek government bonds have until Thursday night to voluntarily swap their bonds for new ones. The bond swap is vital to help Greece to obtain bailout funds, without which the country may default on its debt obligations this month. A default could have a negative impact on global financial markets.
Weakness across major importing countries in Europe, and China has already been reflected in Malaysia’s latest trade numbers.
Malaysia’s January exports grew at slower year-on-year pace of 0.4 % as shipments of electrical and electronic and commodity-based products to China and Europe declined. This compares to December 2011’s export growth of 6.1%
Stocks on watch on Thursday are PADINI HOLDINGS BHD [], SILVER BIRD GROUP BHD [], Pelikan International Corporation Bhd and WINSUN TECHNOLOGIES BHD []. Other stocks which could see trading interest are SYARIKAT TAKAFUL MALAYSIA BHD [] and Brahim’s Holdings Bhd.
AmResearch Sdn Bhd initiated coverage on Padini, an apparel maker with a Buy call and target price of RM1.80. Padini shares closed unchanged at RM1.48 on Wednesday. The stock had earlier traded to a fresh intraday high of RM1.49.
The research house said Padini’s market capitalisation, which is approaching RM1billion, will improve the stock’s visibility among institutional funds. Despite its strong share price performance, Padini’s valuation is undemanding in anticipation of the firm’s earnings growth, according to the research firm.
Bread manufacturer Silver Bird was the third most actively traded stock on Wednesday on speculation that Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Tan Ang Meng may be roped in to lead Silver Bird.
This follows news of alleged financial irregularities at the bread manufacturer. However,Tan has denied the speculation. Silver Bird shares rose 4.5 sen to finish at 23 sen.
Pelikan plans to reward its shareholders with one treasury share for evey 50 existing shares held for FY ended Dec 31, 2011. The board also recommended a final cash dividend of one sen per share single tier dividend.
Industrial automation systems entity Winsun Technologies Bhd secured a letter of intent from Ningbo Shanghao which has indicated its intention to buy from Winsun 60,000 tonnes of iron ore a month for a duration of two (2) years. Winsun shares closed 0.5 sen higher at 17 sen.
Brahim’s whose shares closed 8% higher at RM1.23, announced that it had fixed the issue price for its 17.9 million new placement shares at RM1.10. This translates into gross proceeds of close to RM20 million should all the new securities placed out.
Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Bhd could also draw interest after its managing director Datuk Hassan Kamil indicated the Islamic insurer’s plans to further grow earnings in key market Indonesia for the long term. The stock rose seven sen or 3.3% to close at RM2.18.