Malaysia Morning News For March 13

Malaysia records highest inflow
The Malaysian equity market has recorded the highest inflow of foreign funds among Southeast Asian countries so far this year, driven by the country’s strong economic outlook.
— New Straits Times

Malaysian banks face risk on commercial real estate loans -Moody’s
Malaysian banks face risks on their commercial real estate loans in 2018, although their overall asset quality is expected to remain stable on improving macroeconomic conditions and slower formation of new nonperforming loans, Moody’s said in a report.
— Reuters

Foreign funds sell RM299.1mil of Malaysian shares
Foreign funds reduced their exposure in Malaysian equities last week, ending the three straight weeks of foreign buying after a dramatic week of events coming from the US, according to MIDF Research.
— The Star Online

Malaysia will become deficit country without GST, says Najib
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak said Malaysia will become a country with deficit without collecting RM45 billion in revenue through the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
— The Malaysian Reserve

Cryptocurrency traders await Bank Negara guidelines on digital coin ATMs
Malaysia may have seen its first digital coin auto teller machine in 2016, before the global cryptocurrency craze peaked at end-2017, but the number has not grown beyond one because, as one operator sees it, the operation of such a facility currently falls under a grey area of the country’s existing laws.
— The Sun Daily

FSS industry growing fast in Malaysia
The global financial shared services (FSS) sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in Malaysia, offering a wealth of employment opportunities and international exposure.
— The Star Online

Malaysian firms see opportunities in PH
Malaysian companies have expressed interest to participate in the country’s infrastructure projects, particularly the planned new Manila airport, the mixed-use development of the New Clark City, and the construction of a world-class stadium for the SEA Games 2019 in Clark.
— Manila Bulletin

OCBC could gain $608m after Great Eastern Malaysia sale
OCBC’s 87.8%-owned Great Eastern Holdings (GEH) must reduce its stake in Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) (GELM) from 100% to 70% to comply with the limit on foreign ownership for insurers operating in Malaysia.
— Singapore Business Review

UMW’s nearly RM1b offers for stakes in Perodua, MBM Resources are unattractive: analysts
UMW Holdings Bhd’s nearly RM1 billion bid to gain control of Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) and MBM Resources Bhd may be scuppered by the issue of pricing.
— New Straits Times

BAuto registers 46% rise in pre-tax profit
Bermaz Auto Bhd’s (BAuto) pre-tax profit for the third quarter ended Jan 31 rose 46.9% to RM57.2 million from RM39 million a year ago, mainly from increased sales volume from the new CX-5 model and higher share of profit contribution from its associate company, Mazda Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
— The Sun Daily

Empowering entrepreneurs
AT THE impressionable age of 18, how does one choose a path that can lead to starting one’s own business?
— The Star Online

It takes two to start a trade war
With US President Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric of inward-looking trade policies now coming into play in the form of import tariffs, it raises the question of whether these are telling signs of a brewing trade war.
— The Sun Daily

Ho Hup, Kosma team up for RM180m Kuantan project
Ho Hup Construction Co Bhd, its wholly owned subsidiary Ho Hup Ventures (Kuantan) Sdn Bhd and Koperasi Serbausaha Makmur Bhd (Kosma) have entered into a joint venture agreement for the proposed development of a parcel of freehold commercial land in Kuantan, Pahang, with an estimated gross development value of RM180 million.
— The Sun Daily

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