The Bank of Russia unexpectedly maintained its key interest rate at a record-high 21% , defying analysts’ expectations of another significant hike as inflation remains stubbornly elevated. The decision marks a shift toward a more measured approach in balancing economic growth and price stability. Key Details Inflation Concerns: Annual inflation climbed to 8.9% in November, well above the central bank’s 4% target , with inflation expectations reaching 13.9% in December. Policy Rationale: The central bank cited the significant tightening of monetary conditions after October’s 200-basis point hike as sufficient to resume disinflationary processes. Governor Elvira Nabiullina emphasized avoiding both economic overheating and severe slowdowns. Economic Overheating: Elevated government spending on the war in Ukraine and social programs, coupled with labor shortages and rising wages, have fueled strong domestic demand, exacerbating price pressures...
EcoWorld, IOI Corp, E&O, Sime Darby, Superlon, Ranhill, George Kent
Eco World Development Group Bhd
The Group's third quarter net profit was almost 5x higher at RM44.58 million, compared with the RM9.39 million it recorded a year earlier.
The group attributed the higher earnings for the quarter ended July 31 (3QFY16) to higher sales from launched projects during the quarter. Revenue rose almost 60% to RM727.34 million from RM454.28 million.
For the first nine months of the FY16, net profit was about four times higher at RM99.93 million, compared with RM24.26 million it netted in the same period of FY15. Revenue rose 76% to RM1.81 billion from RM1.03 billion.
IOI Corp Bhd
Operations of IOI Corp Bhd at Rotterdam port have been blocked by greenpeace activists, accusing the group of forest destruction and child labour according to a report by Reuters.
Ten activists are blocking IOI, one of the world's biggest producers and traders of palm oil, from accessing its refinery, and the Greenpeace ship Esperanza is preventing oil from being unloaded from incoming tankers, Greenpeace said.
In April, the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil withdrew IOI's 'sustainability certification' after allegations the company had illegally chopped down rainforests in Indonesia and planted palm crops on peatland.
But the body announced in August that IOI had satisfied conditions for the suspension to be lifted, a move that has sparked sharp criticism from environmental groups.
Eastern & Oriental Bhd and Sime Darby Bhd
According to the filing with Bursa today, Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O) saw Sime Darby Bhd reducing their stake in the company by 5.5% to RM323.3 million from RM342.2 million.
On June 3, the conglomerate announced that it was disposing of the 10% stake in E&O — comprising 125.98 million shares at RM2.60 each and 48.8 million convertible warrants at 30 sen each — to Paramount Spring Sdn Bhd.
In a filing today, Sime Darby said it is lowering the disposal price of the shares to RM2.45 each, but the disposal price of the convertible warrants stays at 30 sen each.
Paramount Spring is a private investment vehicle of E&O group managing director Datuk Seri Terry Tham Ka Hon. It was reported then that the disposal would result in Tham upping his stake in E&O from 11% to 21%.
The new price better reflects the current outlook of the property sector according to Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh, Sime Darby's president and group chief executive.
Superlon Holdings Bhd
Superlon Holdings Bhd's first quarter net profit jumped 57% to RM6.05 million from RM3.86 million a year earlier, due to favourable exchange rate movements, growth in margin from growth in sales volume, and lower material costs.
Revenue for the quarter ended July 31 climbed 16% to RM25.63 million from RM22.11 million.
The group, which had just paid a 2.5 sen interim dividend on Aug 4, did not propose any further payout.
Ranhill Holdings Bhd
Ranhill Holdings Bhd has proposed to sell to Singapore-listed SIIC Environment Holdings Ltd a 60% stake in Ranhill Water (Hong Kong) Ltd (RWHK) for 273.9 million renminbi (RM169.11 million).
According to its bourse filing, Ranhill said it has, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary Ranhill Water Technologies (Cayman) Ltd (RWT Cayman), which is the holding company of RWHK, signed a sale and purchase agreement with SIIC and Asia Wisdom Investments Ltd, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of SIIC for the proposed divestment.
As part of the terms, RWHK will undertake an internal restructuring prior to the completion of the divestment, by transferring its 51% interest in Ranhill International Trade (Hong Kong) Investment Ltd and its 100% interest in Ranhill Venture (Hong Kong) Ltd to RWT Cayman.
Following the internal restructuring, RWHK, together with its remaining subsidiaries and joint venture, will be the assets involved in the proposed divestment.
George Kent (M) Bhd
George Kent (M) Bhd’s net profit soared 142% to RM20.51 million or 5.5 sen per share for the second quarter ended July 31, 2016 (2QFY17), from RM8.47 million or 2.3 sen per share a year earlier.
Revenue jumped 44% to RM164.77 million, from RM114.66 million, the group said in a statement today.
It declared an interim single-tier dividend of 3 sen per share for the year.
George Kent said the jump in earnings was mainly contributed by higher contributions from its engineering and metering divisions.
The engineering division recorded a 120% increase in profit, driven by steady progress of ongoing construction projects, while the metering division saw a 24% improvement in profit, due to higher sales.
For the first half of the financial year (1HFY17), net profit almost doubled to RM35.52 million, from RM18.34 million; while revenue rose 66% to RM287.73 million, from RM173.69 million.
George Kent chairman Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock said the group is on track for another record yearly performance for FY17.
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