MONEY MASTER

Earnings Snapshot Petronas Dagangan Bhd (KL:PETDAG)  posted a  3.9% YoY decline in 2QFY2025 net profit  to  RM265.5 million , as retail weakness overshadowed growth in its commercial and convenience businesses. Net Profit:  RM265.5m (–3.9% YoY) Revenue:  RM9.07b (–7.9% YoY) Dividend:  22 sen/share (vs. 20 sen last year), bringing  1H25 payout to 42 sen/share  (vs. 38 sen last year) 1H25 Results:  Net profit  +11.3% YoY to RM559m , despite revenue falling  5.6% to RM18.16b Shares gained  0.5% to RM22.92  by midday Monday, valuing PETDAG at  RM22.8 billion . YTD, the stock has risen  18.6% , outperforming the broader Bursa benchmark. Segmental Performance Retail:  Weaker gross profit, hit by: Less favourable  MOPS (Mean of Platts Singapore)  pricing trends. Softer demand for diesel & Mogas. Normalisation of travel patterns (boosted in Q1 by festive holidays). Commercial:  Higher profit,...

  Total Fund Commitments : The total committed funds in Malaysia’s  private equity (PE)  and  venture capital (VC)  sectors stood at  RM24.7 billion  by the end of  2024 . PE : RM18.01 billion VC : RM6.7 billion Investment Focus : PE Investments : Primarily directed at growth-stage opportunities (83.82%), with early-stage investments accounting for 16.18%. VC Investments : Focused on growth-stage (44.60%), followed by early-stage (35.98%) and startup-stage (13.44%) opportunities. Investor Breakdown : PE : Corporate investors led with 40.91%, followed by individuals and family offices (16.77%) and financial institutions (13.27%). VC : Government agencies and investment companies (35.99%), sovereign wealth funds (20.15%), and individuals and family offices (19.55%) were the top funding sources. Sector-Specific Investments : VC : The  wholesale and retail trade sector  attracted the highest VC investments at  13.65% , followed by ...

Penang has once again asserted its dominance as Malaysia’s top exporter, achieving a remarkable RM177.99 billion in export value from January to May 2024, according to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade). Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, the chairman of Matrade, highlighted Penang’s significant contribution to the nation’s exports, noting that it accounted for 30.5% or RM434.74 billion of Malaysia’s total exports in 2023. Key Export Sectors and Investment Highlights Penang’s robust export growth has been driven by key sectors including: Integrated circuits Valves and other tubes Aircraft fittings and spare parts Tin and non-alloys In terms of investments, Penang led the nation with an investment value of RM71.9 billion in 2023, supporting 415 projects and creating 20,701 job opportunities, as per data from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida). National Export Performance Malaysia’s exports have consistently exceeded RM1 trillion for th...

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Monday: Legal Actions and Allegations South Malaysia Industries Bhd (SMI) : Substantial shareholder Mah Sau Cheong is suing Techbase Industries Bhd (TECHBASE) and YB Ventures Bhd (YB) over alleged share manipulation. Mah claims the actions of Techbase and YB Ventures have adversely affected all SMI shareholders. Project Developments and Agreements Ekovest Bhd (EKOVEST) : Concluded its role as the project delivery partner for the River of Life project in January 2015. The company was responsible for horizontal coordination among 42 agencies. Citaglobal Bhd (CITAGLB) : Entered into a joint development framework agreement with Shanghai SUS Environment Co Ltd to develop waste-to-energy projects in Pahang. The joint special purpose vehicle will see Citaglobal holding a 49% stake and SUS Environment holding 51%. Advancecon Holdings Bhd (ADVCON) : Partnered with the Perak government to develop, ...

Malaysia is emerging as a promising regional hub for carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), a critical component of sustainable practices in the oil and gas sector, as outlined in the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). According to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank, Malaysia's strategic initiatives in CCUS are set to significantly enhance its position in the region. Key Highlights: National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR): Malaysia aims to establish three CCUS hubs by 2030, with a combined storage capacity of up to 15 million tonnes per annum (mTpa), equivalent to about 300,000 barrels per day (bpd). Identified CCUS Sites: Malaysia has identified 16 depleted fields suitable for CCUS, offering an estimated storage capacity of 46 trillion cubic feet. These include 11 offshore fields in Sabah and Sarawak, and five in peninsular Malaysia, including Terengganu and Pahang. CCUS Legislation: A CCUS bill, set to be tabled in Parliament in November and expected to conclude i...

Johor Plantations Group Bhd (KL) is exploring alternative revenue sources from its unutilised land, diversifying beyond traditional plantation uses. According to managing director Mohd Faris Adli Shukery, the company is considering converting unused land for energy purposes to boost revenue. Key Highlights/Takeaways Exploring Solar Ventures: Johor Plantations plans to lease unutilised land for large-scale solar (LSS) projects. The company owns 56,000 hectares of plantation land and is evaluating the optimal scheme for solar power generation. Maybank Investment Bank Bhd estimates that LSS could generate up to 54 times more operating profits per hectare compared to oil palm. Financial Performance: For the financial year ended December 31, 2023 (FY2023), the company saw a 66.2% drop in net profit to RM167.31 million, due to lower delivery volumes from adverse weather and lower crude palm oil prices. In the first quarter of 2024, net profit more than doubled to RM49.97 million, with revenu...