KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed higher, buoyed by Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) decision to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75 per cent, alongside positive cues from Wall Street. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 19.30 points, or 1.19 per cent, to 1,635.86 from Wednesday’s close of 1,616.56. The benchmark index opened 6.72 points higher at 1,623.28, and fluctuated between an intraday high of 1,642.44 and a low of 1,622.62 during the trading session. However, market breadth was negative, with losers outnumbering gainers 723 to 497, while 466 counters were unchanged, 1,075 untraded and 10 suspended. Turnover rose to 3.74 billion units valued at RM3.61 billion compared with yesterday’s 2.81 billion units valued at RM2.57 billion.
Upgrade outperform with an unchanged target price (TP) of RM1.31 DRB-Hicom (DRB) reported a net loss of RM309.6m in 2QFY17 (2QFY16: net profit of RM3.9m). Cumulatively, its 1HFY17 net loss was RM478.9m. Excluding one-off loss on re-measurement of previously held equity interest in Pos Malaysia of RM130.2m as well as forex loss on borrowings and payables of RM98.3m, the core net loss for 1HFY17 was RM250.4m. It was below our and market expectations, making up 57% and more than 100% of full-year loss estimates. Its revenue for 2QFY17 increased by 5.7% QoQ to RM2.6bn, on the back of higher sales volume for Proton (+5.1%). Given a sharp fall of 27% in DRB’s share price since October, our unchanged TP of RM1.31 suggests a potential upside of 34%. We see the completion of its foreign strategic partner exercise as near term catalyst. Hence, we upgrade our call on DRB to Outperform . Automotive division. DRB’s automotive division recorded 2Q17 pre-tax ...