MONEY MASTER

The term Abenomics, referring to the economic policies advocated by Shinzo Abe since the December 2012 general election, which elected Abe to his second term as Prime Minister of Japan. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan Abe's bold strategy is to tackle the stagnant economic climate in Japan that has lasted for 20 years and was overtaken by China in 2010 as the world's second largest. Abe tells voters that the strong economic medicine he has pursued for more than three years is Japan’s last chance to remain a world power, framing his policies as a matter of national security. After early promise, progress has stalled. WHAT HAPPENED TO JAPAN? Before we look at the current situation, it is important to understand the background that Japan was in....since the real estate and stock market bubble burst in the early 1990s, companies have focused on cutting debt and shifting manufacturing overseas. Wages stagnated and consumers reined in spending, leading to what was ...

Maintain our neutral call with target price (TP) of RM2.36 Yesterday, AirAsia announced its 2QFY16 preliminary operating statistics, delivering strong load factor at 85.5% (1QFY16 at 85.6%). Its traffic volume saw a 12.2% YoY growth to 16.8bn revenue-passenger-kilometres (RPKs) on the back of increased in passengers carried by 12.2% YoY. However, the operational numbers was flat QoQ. AirAsia is scheduled to release its 2QFY16 results and passenger yield data on 29th August 2016. We maintain our Neutral call on AirAsia, with target price of RM2.36 , pegged on 8x FY17F EPS. Our target price is based on enlarged share capital, including the proposed share placement to Tune Live Sdn Bhd. Malaysia (MAA) operating statistics . Malaysia AirAsia (MAA) increased in passengers’ carried by +10.0% YoY to 6.55m, though its seat capacity was flat YoY (+1.4%) at 7.54m. Available-seat-kilometres (ASK) increased by +9.8% YoY to 10.0bn and revenue-passenger-kilometres (RPK) increased by +18.6% ...

Maintain Outperform with unchanged SOTP-derived TP of RM1.80.  WCT Holdings WCT Holdings Berhad , via its joint-venture with KKB Engineering Berhad, secured one of the Pan Borneo packages worth RM1.29bn. This job win, which is the Group’s first in FY16, is expected to take 51 months from now to complete. WCT owns 30% of the JV, with the remaining owned by KKB Engineering Berhad. As such, its net stake of c.RM390m is within our replenishment rate of RM2bn p.a. for the Group. This job win is estimated to raise the Group’s outstanding orderbook to RM4.8bn. ensuring earnings visibly for the next few years. Maintain Outperform with SOP-derived TP of RM1.80. RM1.29bn Pan Borneo Package . The scope of works, among others includes upgrading of Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak which involving Phase 1, spanning from Sungai Arip Bridge to Bintulu Airport junction. The works are including piling works, civil works which includes demolition & site clearance, earthworks, geotechni...

Goldman Sachs Group Inc is being accused in a lawsuit of selling out a client to curry favor with Prime Minister Najib Razak at a time when the bank has already been under scrutiny by regulators over its fundraising for the embattled 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). Goldman and former managing director Tim Leissner allegedly betrayed their duties as financial adviser of EON Capital Bhd, which was taken over by Hong Leong Bank Bhd. for $1.7 billion in May 2011. Goldman used EON’s confidential information to help the bank buy EON on the cheap knowing that Najib’s brother served as a board member and another brother chaired the investment firm advising the bank, Primus Pacific Partners 1 LP said in the complaint. (Source: Bloomberg) Spokesman for Goldman said lawsuit as "misguided" Primus Pacific, EON’s biggest shareholder after buying a stake of more than 20 percent in 2008, unsuccessfully sued twice to block the sale, arguing that Hong Leong’s takeover price ...

1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) has made a media statement, saying that  its audited financial statements for 2013 and 2014 shouldn’t be relied on after U.S. prosecutors said more than $3.5 billion was misappropriated from the fund during a period that included those years. "Whilst the Board  remains confident that no wrongdoing has been committed by 1MDB and that the past audited financial statements continue to show a true and fair view of the company’s affairs at the relevant points in time, the Board has decided that, as a precautionary measure, the 2013 and 2014 audited financial statements of 1MDB should no longer be relied on by any party, pending final and conclusive determination by a court of law of certain alleged facts, as described in the Complaint." 1MDB also said its auditor Deloitte LLP is resigning and the company is seeking a replacement, according to an e-mailed statement on Tuesday.  It didn’t give a reason for the departure but said that D...

Maintain Market Perform with marginally increased target price (TP) of RM8.80 1H16 NP came in within expectations .  As expected, an interim DPS of 17.0 sen was declared. Fluctuation in Ringgit, China’s economic slowdown, BREXIT as well as the expectations of a gradual rise in US interest rate will continue to cast a long shadow over market sentiment; hence, suppressing trading sentiment. Our FY16E/FY17E NPs have been tweaked by +2% following house-keeping purposes. Maintain MP with TP marginally increased to RM8.80 (from RM8.56). Within expectations . BURSA reported 2Q16 net profit (NP) of RM49.5m (-1% QoQ; 0% YoY), bringing 1H16 NP to RM99.4m (+3%) which made up 53% and 48% of our and the consensus’ full-year estimates, respectively. As expected, an interim DPS of 17.0 sen (representing 92% of dividend payout ratio) was declared under the quarter reviewed. YoY, 1H16 operating revenue increased by 3% with better performance in stable revenue (+6%) superseding the m...

Maintain our Outperform call with an unchanged target price (TP) of RM8.50 Our recent meeting with Kossan’s management reaffirmed our belief that Group’s expansion plans and operational improvements are on track.  We believe our Outperform recommendation for Kossan will be supported by i) continuous improvements in productivity and efficiencies through R&D initiatives, reflected through its growing margins over the years (from 7.6% in 1QFY12 to 12.4% in 1QFY16 - Figure 1), ii) diverse product range, and iii) most of the additional capacities for new products contribute by FY18 onwards. Widening product mix . Under immense competition, Kossan continues to improve their products to differentiate themselves. For instance, they introduced and patented its latest “accelerator free” nitrile glove, which minimizes latex protein and chemical allergies. We are also positive on other new innovative offerings which are expected to be launched by end-2016. Continuou...

Reaffirmed Outperform with target price (TP) of RM1.90 SapuraKencana Petroleum’s (SAKP) wholly-owned subsidiary SapuraKencana Mexicana S.A.P.I. de C.V. has been awarded a USD113m (c.RM461m) contract by Pemex Exploración y Producción for an approximate 8-9 months duration.  The award is for the procurement and construction of a 36-inch by 18km sour gas pipeline (KMZ – 76) from platform E – KU – A2 to Platform CA – AJ – 1(J4) in Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico.  We are pleased with this announcement as the award underpins the Group’s progress in Mexico, having first initiated its local operations in May 2015. Aside from providing contract replenishment and moreover enhancing earnings visibility to the Group, the contract concedes that SAKP’s execution capabilities are intact and is poised for more jobs in the region going forward. Our Outperform recommendation on SAKP is thus reaffirmed, with a TP of RM1.90 based on our blended SOP valuation. Contract de...

Microsoft has seen its share price surged recently, especially with its recent earnings announcement that saw it beat the analysts' estimates. It appears that the company is on track for growth and profitability. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella refocused the company’s core strategy from devices and services, redefining it as a productivity platform for a “mobile-first, cloud-first-world.” In other words, Nadella explained that the company’s strategy is focused on empowering people to become more productive by delivering a cloud that connects all devices. IMPRESSIVE EARNINGS RESULTS AND SHARE PRICE RECENTLY Microsoft stock has traded between $39.72 and $56.85 per share over the past 52 weeks and has gained almost 20% in stock value over the past year, with a market capitalization of $432.39 billion. Only Alphabet (Google) and Apple actually beat Microsoft on that front. The company reported that its earnings increased 11% to $0.69 per share and its revenue rose two percent to $...

The FBM KLCI gained 8.62 points or 0.5%, tracking Asian shares' rise as the ringgit strengthened with crude oil. At the 5pm closing bell, the KLCI settled at 1,654.84 points while the ringgit strengthened to 3.9967 against the US dollar. The KLCI and ringgit gained as Asian shares recovered from the immediate impact of the UK's European Union exit (Brexit) decision. In China, the Shanghai Composite rose 1.91%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.27% and Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 0.6%. Reuters reported that Hong Kong stocks climbed on Monday for a third straight session of gains, as higher commodity prices and hopes of more stimulus measures from Beijing boosted resources shares, and investors built up positions amid ample liquidity in the market. Oil prices rose on Monday following comments from the Saudi energy minister that the market was heading towards balance, although signs of slowing demand in Asia weighed. Brent crude futures were trading at ...

FBM KLCI open higher today by 2.57 points or 0.16% to 1,648.79 as at 9.17am.  The market saw a relatively low volume of about 81.3 million shares changed hands at the time of writing, most likely due to a shorter trading days in the country with the Raya Holiday. Air Asia X was the most actively traded counter and it has risen by 2.63% to 39 sen with 9.1 million shares being traded.  Dutch Lady was the top gainer so far with the milk counter risen by 50 sen to RM58.98 with a volume of 100. Heineken was at the other end of the table, leading the decliner for the day so far with a loss of 22 sen or 1.42% to RM15.24. 

A forex report by AmBank said that it expects the USD/MYR to trade a tighter range of 3.968 to 4.078 on shorter trading days due to Hari Raya holidays, gridlock formation in oil prices and depreciation pressure on CNY. Ringgit Last week, USD/MYR broke key supports of 50- and 100-day MA to close below 4.00 level. It was impressive follow a rather downtrend after the Brexit but the pair has rebounded strongly after that. The currency pair was the second best performing currency with a 2.30% gain against US dollar due to declining 1-month volatility, reduced expectation of higher US rates and declining cross SGD/MYR below psychological level of 3.00.  This week, we envisage the pair to trade in a tighter range of 3.968 to 4.078 on shorter trading days due to Hari Raya holidays, gridlock formation in oil prices and depreciation pressure on CNY. Chart wise, RSI continued to head south, and along with widening MACD gap, it suggests that the currency pair is likel...