MONEY MASTER

Press Metal shares fell more than 6% as aluminium prices dropped to a three-month low, driven by easing Middle East tensions and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The move signals a broader shift in the commodity cycle as supply risks unwind. The aluminium story is shifting from supply disruption to normalisation and that changes everything. What’s Happening Aluminium prices falling Down to ~US$3,122/tonne (3-month low) Supply concerns easing as shipping routes reopen Press Metal hit hard Share price dropped ~6–7% Highly sensitive to aluminium price movements Previously benefited from war-driven rally Strong earnings supported by higher prices Stock still up ~10% since Iran conflict began What’s Really Changing This is not just a price drop, it’s a  cycle transition : Before →  Geopolitical supply shock  (prices pushed higher) Now →  Supply normalisation  (prices easing) As Hormuz reopens, the market is moving away from scarcity pricing. Key Takeaway The ke...

  Shares of  Tanco Holdings  plunged sharply after a temporary price floor was removed, triggering a renewed wave of selling pressure. Sharp Sell-Off Resumes The stock fell as much as  40% intraday to 12 sen , its lowest level in nearly  29 months , before recovering slightly. Last traded:  14.5 sen Volume:  284 million shares traded Among the  most active counters on Bursa Malaysia Key trigger:  The lapse of an  exchange-imposed lower-limit floor , which had briefly stabilised the stock. From High Flyer to Collapse Tanco’s recent volatility has been extreme: +600% rally since 2024 Peak market cap:  >RM10 billion (June 2026) Current market cap:  ~RM889 million More than 90% value wiped out in days , marking one of the sharpest reversals in recent Bursa history. What Caused the Volatility? Several factors contributed to the sharp swings: Speculative momentum-driven rally Exchange queries on  unusual trading activity Rapi...

Shares of  MBSB Bhd  fell to a one-month low after the group reported FY2025 results that missed both house and consensus estimates. The stock dropped as much as 8% to 70 sen, erasing gains built over the past month. Market capitalisation stands at approximately RM5.8 billion. What Went Wrong According to  BIMB Securities : FY2025 net profit fell 31% YoY to RM280 million Results met only 69% of forecasts Fund-based income declined 18% Credit cost rose to 55 bps (from 37 bps) Gross impaired loans ratio increased to 6.3% The earnings drag came from weaker operating income and higher impairment charges. While non-fund income surged nearly 76%, supported by government scheme funds and investment gains, it was insufficient to offset pressure from financing income and credit provisions. Cost-to-income ratio also rose to 57.9%. Money Master Take This is less about one weak quarter and more about asset quality direction. 1. Credit Quality Deterioration Is the Core Issue The rise ...

Quick Summary Sunway Construction’s FY2025 net profit beat consensus by over 20% Shares climbed to a  new all-time high of RM6.57 Strong  data centre pipeline driving upside momentum 12 out of 15 analysts maintain a  ‘Buy’ recommendation Stock Surges on Strong Earnings Shares of  Sunway Construction Group Bhd  jumped to a record high on Tuesday after delivering  FY2025 earnings more than 20% above market expectations . Intraday high:  RM6.57 (+4%) Market cap:  RM8.6 billion YTD gain (2026): +14% Analysts swiftly raised earnings forecasts and target prices following the results. Data Centres: The Main Growth Engine The builder continues to benefit from Malaysia’s booming  data centre construction wave , driven by demand for: Advanced computing Artificial intelligence infrastructure According to Hong Leong Investment Bank: SunCon targets  RM6 billion in new job wins  this year Ongoing tenders could provide  further upside , espec...

 Gamuda Bhd’s share price slid to a  five-month low  on Thursday morning after the company reported a  muted first-quarter performance  for FY2026. Shares Down Nearly 6% As of 10:19am: The stock fell  30 sen (-5.9%)  to  RM4.83 Market value stood at  RM28.5 billion Trading volume hit  15.57 million shares Earnings: Profit Up, Revenue Down Gamuda posted a  5% increase in net profit  for the quarter ended Oct 31, 2025: Net profit:  RM215.13 million (vs RM205.39 million a year earlier) Revenue:  RM3.84 billion (down from RM4.14 billion, -7.2%) The profit growth was driven mainly by: Stronger domestic construction contributions Property development gains in Vietnam Dividend Maintained The group declared an  interim dividend of 5 sen per share , unchanged from the same period last year.

PETRONAS Chemicals Group Bhd sank to its lowest level since April after reporting another quarterly loss, with analysts cautioning that the petrochemical giant faces a longer and more painful downturn ahead. The latest quarter’s core net loss — excluding exceptional items — was the company’s largest since its 2010 listing, prompting consensus forecasts to now price in a full-year loss for PChem. Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) said the sector remains under heavy pressure due to China’s aggressive capacity expansion and sluggish downstream demand, a combination that continues to depress pricing across key product chains. PChem plunged as much as 13% intraday to RM2.83 before closing 10% lower at RM2.92 on Monday, with over 34 million shares traded. The counter has shed nearly 40% year-to-date, cutting its market value to about RM23 billion. Broker sentiment remains overwhelmingly bearish: 12 sells, four holds, and just three buys, Bloomberg data show. HLIB is the most bearish among 21...

  Malaysia Positions Johor as the Next Data Centre Capital Khazanah Nasional’s infrastructure arm,  UEM Group Bhd , is gearing up to unlock its extensive land holdings in Johor to support Malaysia’s accelerating data centre build-out. Managing director  Datuk Amran Hafiz Affifudin  said UEM will supply clean energy and industrial land as demand surges from hyperscalers and multinational cloud players. Johor has rapidly become the country’s data centre hotspot, attracting  RM164.45 billion  in investments as of 2Q and projected to host  60% of Malaysia’s total data centre capacity by 2030 . UEM Sunrise — one of Johor’s largest landowners with  4,600 acres  — is in the final stages of preparing the  40-acre Gerbang Nusajaya Industrial Park , designed to run on renewable energy. Major Green Power Investments to Support Future Loads UEM’s clean energy arm  UEM Lestra  will soon break ground on a  1GW hybrid solar plant , backe...

Shares of  Synergy House Bhd  slid sharply on Thursday after the furniture exporter posted a  75% collapse in quarterly earnings , underscoring the deepening impact of US tariffs on Malaysian furniture makers. The results came in  well below expectations , according to Tradeview Research, the only research house covering the counter. The firm noted that order recovery — especially in the B2B segment — has been significantly slower than anticipated, while tariff pressures have lasted longer than initially projected. Stock Hits Three-Month Low Synergy House fell as much as  12%  to  33.5 sen , the lowest level in three months, before stabilising at  34 sen . Trading volume exceeded  1.1 million shares , valuing the company at  RM170 million  at the last traded price. Tariffs to Keep Squeezing Margins Tradeview cautioned that even though festive demand may help lift the coming quarter, the  near-term outlook remains challenging . ...

  Shares Hit New All-Time Low Bermaz Auto Bhd (KL:BAUTO) slid to a record low on Friday after reporting quarterly earnings that badly missed expectations, triggering a wave of analyst downgrades. The stock fell as much as 9% to 61.5 sen before paring slightly to 62.5 sen at 10am, with nearly 10 million shares traded. Year to date, Bermaz has lost around 60% of its market value, wiping out over RM1 billion in capitalisation. Quarterly Earnings Shock Net profit in the most recent quarter came in at just 5% of consensus full-year forecasts, forcing analysts to sharply revise down estimates. The poor showing prompted two more research houses to cut their recommendations to “sell,” bringing the tally to eight sell calls, six hold, and only two buys. Public Investment Bank noted that Malaysia’s non-national passenger vehicle segment is under pressure from weaker consumer confidence, higher costs due to fuel subsidy rationalisation, and inflationary headwinds. Competitive Pressure from Ch...

Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (KL:CMSB) climbed to a six-week high after electricity was reconnected to its phosphate plant, ending more than two years of outage and clearing a major operational hurdle. Key Developments Power restoration:  Removes a key overhang, allowing uninterrupted commissioning progress at the phosphate facility. Phosphate division outlook:  Expected to be CMSB’s medium-term earnings driver once the arbitration dispute with Syarikat Sesco Bhd is resolved and commercialisation begins. Earnings contribution:  MBSB Research projects positive contributions from FY2026, with long-term gross profit potential of  RM150 million . Market Reaction Share price:  Rose as much as 8% to RM1.29 (highest since July 28), before closing at RM1.21. Trading volume:  13.8 million shares traded — more than double the 90-day moving average. Market cap:  RM1.32 billion at closing price. Analyst calls:  Both MBSB and Maybank IB maintain  ‘buy’  ra...

  Key Takeaways: CMSB (KL:CMSB)  surged nearly  8% to RM1.29 , its highest level since July 28, after electricity was restored to its phosphate plant. The stock is on track for its  third straight day of gains , with trading volume approaching 6 million shares by 9:30 am. Power reconnection enables completion of testing and commissioning activities at the Samalaju phosphate facility, a key step toward eventual commercialisation. Market Reaction Investors welcomed the development as a potential turning point for CMSB’s long-delayed phosphate operations. The reconnection resolves a critical bottleneck after more than  two years of supply disruption  due to a dispute with Sarawak utility firm Sesco. Investment Implications Positive sentiment driver:  Restoration of power improves visibility for commercial operations and earnings contribution from the phosphate division. Risk factor:  Arbitration proceedings with Sesco remain unresolved, meaning legal...

 Market Snapshot Malaysian technology counters surged on Monday, tracking a regional rally as dovish signals from the US Federal Reserve lifted optimism for a September rate cut. Bursa Malaysia Technology Index:  +2%, highest since  Feb 24, 2025 . Malaysian Pacific Industries (MPI):  Jumped as much as  9% to RM27.74 , despite lingering earnings concerns. The move comes as capital inflows into Asia intensified, with investors positioning for potential monetary easing in the US. Drivers of the Rally Fed Pivot Hopes: Fed Chair  Jerome Powell’s  Jackson Hole remarks — that the outlook “may warrant adjusting the policy stance” — reinforced bets for a  25bps September rate cut . Lower rates reduce funding costs for capital-intensive tech firms and support growth-sector valuations. Wall Street Lead: Sentiment was buoyed by strong gains in the  Magnificent Seven  (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Broadcom, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia) last Friday. AI-relate...

A sharp earnings miss and persistent demand weakness have cast a long shadow over Amway Malaysia Holdings Bhd, with analysts turning increasingly cautious as structural headwinds mount.  Earnings Disappointment Raises Red Flags Amway Malaysia’s latest quarterly report delivered a stark message to the market: profitability remains under pressure. For the first half of FY2025, the company reported net income amounting to less than  28% of full-year consensus estimates , missing expectations and prompting  two out of three analysts  to downgrade the stock to a  sell  rating. This marks a continuation of its earnings slide, with  Q2 FY2025 becoming the 10th consecutive quarter  of year-on-year revenue contraction — a clear sign that the company is still grappling with demand erosion. “Sales will likely stay muted due to weak consumer sentiment, especially for premium direct-selling products,” said BIMB Securities, maintaining its bearish stance. ...

  Earnings Miss Sends Shares to Two-Month Low Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (KL:CMSB) saw its stock plunge as much as  7% to RM1.10 , its lowest since June 24, after releasing a weaker-than-expected second-quarter result. As of 9.30am, the counter was trading at  RM1.13 , giving the company a  market cap of RM1.2 billion , with  4.5 million shares traded . Despite rebounding from April’s lows, the stock has now dipped below its  year-to-date starting level . 1H Profit Falls Short — But Not a Full-Year Write-Off Yet The group’s  net profit for 1H25 only made up one-third  of consensus full-year estimates, missing analyst expectations. However, some see potential for a rebound in the second half, particularly if: Construction activity picks up  with the drier weather Phosphate plant commissioning proceeds as planned “We expect more robust construction activities and the commissioning of its phosphate plant to positively impact earnings in 2H,” — ...

Profit Trails Consensus; Analysts Turn Cautious Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (KL:F&N) shares dropped nearly 3% to RM27.90, a two-month low, after its third-quarter net profit came in at only  68% of consensus full-year estimates , prompting analysts to temper expectations. The miss has ended the stock’s streak of unanimous ‘buy’ calls, with  CIMB Securities downgrading to ‘hold’  citing muted earnings prospects and stretched valuations after a six-month rally. Key Factors Driving Sentiment Earnings Miss:  Weaker international sales dragged results below forecasts. Valuation Concerns:  Recent price gains have priced in its defensive business model. Guidance:  Analysts expect a “flattish” 4Q on softer exports despite stronger Malaysian margins. Stock Performance Price:  Fell 72 sen to RM27.90, lowest since June 11. Year-to-Date:  Up ~15% since February, outperforming the broader market amid tariff headwinds. Analyst Views Split Five of six re...

  Market Reaction Ekovest Bhd (KL:EKOVEST) and Knusford Bhd (KL:KNUSFOR) shares slid sharply on Tuesday after their proposed  RM450 million merger  fell through following the third extended deadline. Ekovest:  Closed down  7.95% at 40.5 sen , with a market cap of  RM1.2 billion . Knusford:  Dropped  17.7% to 51 sen , valuing the company at  RM50.82 million . Ekovest was the  second most traded stock on Bursa Malaysia , with  104.44 million shares exchanged , more than nine times its 90-day average. Knusford’s trading volume surged to  5.55 million shares , 33 times higher than usual. Merger Falls Through Both companies confirmed they were “unable to reach an agreement on the transaction value and key terms.” While the deal has lapsed, they left the door open for future discussions if conditions improve. The merger, first announced in  October 2023 , would have seen Knusford acquire  Ekovest Construction Sdn Bhd  ...

  Stock Performance CCK Consolidated Holdings Bhd (KL:CCK) fell over 10% to RM1.25 , its lowest level in  nine months . Market capitalization now stands at RM819 million . Earnings Miss Triggers Sell-Off Q4 and full-year results failed to meet market expectations , sparking a sharp decline in investor confidence. Weaker-than-expected financial performance  in its  poultry farming operations  likely contributed to the decline. Investor Sentiment & Market Reaction The sharp 15 sen drop  reflects growing concerns over  earnings pressure in the poultry industry . Investors are waiting for  further details on what caused the earnings miss  and whether CCK has  strategic plans for recovery . Summary: CCK shares plunged over 10% to RM1.25, hitting a nine-month low. Q4 and full-year earnings missed expectations, triggering a sell-off. Investors are cautious as they await further updates on the company’s outlook.

Shares of Pentamaster Corp Bhd fell nearly 7% to RM3.73 on Friday after the automated test equipment firm reported a significant decline in quarterly profit. Net profit for the latest quarter was nearly halved, pushing the stock’s market capitalization down to RM2.74 billion with 249,100 shares traded early in the day. RHB Research maintained its “buy” rating with a target price of RM5.95, though Pentamaster’s 9MFY2024 core net profit came in below projections, meeting only 67% of RHB’s and 70% of consensus estimates. The automotive segment was heavily affected by US and European tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, contributing to weaker sales. However, 3QFY2024 pre-tax profit margin improved to 9.7% due to higher-margin projects, despite a decline in factory automation solutions (FAS) margin from rising material costs. Looking ahead, RHB noted that ATE (automated test equipment) sales may remain soft into the first half of 2025 due to macroeconomic pressures. Still, growth is ex...