KUALA LUMPUR (March 27) : Plantation stocks could be a highlight for Malaysian stocks on Wednesday as investors weigh the effects of pre-election sentiment in the country against world economic growth concerns.
Malaysian crude palm oil (CPO) futures rose to a fresh high of RM3,485 a tonne on Tuesday in anticipation of declining oil palm output against higher demand for the commodity.
As plantation firms make up about a fifth of the FBM KLCI’s weightage, improving sentiments on CPO prices could give a lift to the stock market gauge.
However, analysts said “shrinking volume and cautious sentiment” in the stock market ahead of the country’s general election may curb the FBM KLCI’s advance.
The FBM KLCI of 30 stocks rose 5.12 points to close at 1,588.1 on Tuesday.
Stocks to watch on Wednesday include plantation stocks, Supercomnet Technologies Bhd, TDM Bhd and Poh Kong Holdings Bhd. Other counters which could see trading interest are UMW Holdings Bhd, Star Publications (M) Bhd and Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMSB).
Supercomnet Technologies Bhd, whose share price fell on Tuesday after surging on Monday, stated Mohd Nazifuddin Mohd Najib was not taking up the option to purchase an 18.66% stake in the company.
TDM Bhd has proposed a final dividend of 18.5 sen per share, tax exempt for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2011.
Poh Kong, a jeweller, said its net profit rose 31% to RM12.43 million in the second quarter ended Jan 31, 2012 from RM9.52 million a year earlier as the jeweller raked in higher sales against the backdrop of rising gold prices.
RHB Research Institute has revised upwards its earnings forecast for UMW by between 0.8% and 1% for financial years ending Dec 31, 2012 to 2014, besides raising its target price for the stock from RM6.70 to RM7.30.
Star Publications’ shares will go ex-dividend on Wednesday. The company dad declared a second interim dividend of nine sen a share for financial year ended Dec 31, 2011.
CMSB and Rio Tinto plc have called off plans to jointly establish an aluminium smelter in Sarawak as electricity-supply details for the project could not be finalised.