<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): MIDF Research has initiated coverage on LPI Capital Bhd at RM14.87 with a “Neutral” rating and target price of RM13.18, pegging the stock to a forward PER of 19.1x on FY15F EPS of 69.2 sen.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a note Friday, the research house said the forward PE multiple of 19.1x is a premium compared to the sector’s average of 15.4x.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“We believe this is justified based on LPI’s: (i) solid and proven track record, (ii) prudent underwriting practice, (iii) strong agency network and relationship with Public Bank, and (iv) strong CAR of close to 300%</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“Our Neutral rating is premised on the defensive qualities of the stock have been priced-in while the share price has already surged +20% since late January this year after its announcement of 1-for-2 bonus issue to boost its liquidity.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“We expect dividend payouts of close to 70% of its PAT for FY15 and FY16. This will translate into a decent dividend yield of 3.4% for both FY15 and FY16,” it said.</p></div>


KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): MIDF Research has initiated coverage on LPI Capital Bhd at RM14.87 with a “Neutral” rating and target price of RM13.18, pegging the stock to a forward PER of 19.1x on FY15F EPS of 69.2 sen.

In a note Friday, the research house said the forward PE multiple of 19....

MIDF Research starts coverage on LPI Capital, target RM13.18  

Dubai Airports Chief Operating Officer (COO), Majed Al Joker announced that Dubai International Airport (DXB) will resume normal operations within 24 hours, signifying a return to its full capacity and regular schedule.

Dubai International Airport set to resume full operations within 24 hours

The remains of the late Tan Sri Joseph Kurup arrived at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport here at 11.20pm on a commercial flight.

The flight which was initially scheduled at 9.15am on Thursday was cancelled due to ash clouds from Mount Ruang’s volcanic eruption in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, engulfing the air space.

Remains of late Joseph Kurup arrive in Kota Kinabalu on Thursday night

FE Green Pet (M) Sdn Bhd’s new high-tech recycling factory is expected to make Melaka a green investment destination and complement the economic growth strategy in the state, said Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

He said with an investment totalling approximately RM958 million, the plant on 14 hectares of land is projected to be completed by 2Q 2025, creating almost 500 jobs.

RM958 mil high-tech recycling factory puts Melaka on green investors map — Ab Rauf

The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed lower for the fifth consecutive day, said palm oil trader David Ng.

He said the weaker soybean oil market and lower crude oil prices continue to pile pressure on prices.

CPO futures end lower for 5th consecutive trading day

The US dollar's dominant reserve currency status is likely to endure partly because even the most talked about alternative the Chinese yuan falls short as a credible challenger, Morgan Stanley said in a report on Thursday.

Rivalry with China, Russia's war in Ukraine, wrangling in Washington over the US debt ceiling and rising debt levels have put the dollar's status as the world's dominant currency under scrutiny in recent years.

Dollar's dominant reserve currency status to endure, says Morgan Stanley

Wall Street's main stock indexes gained on Thursday as investors cheered upbeat earnings across several sectors, while advancing megacap growth stocks were amongst the biggest boosts.

Megacap growth stock Meta Platforms outpaced peers and gained 2.7% after Bernstein raised its price target to US$590, a sixth such hike on the stock this week.

Wall St ticks up on megacaps, earnings boost

Goldman Sachs Group Inc President John Waldron warned that out-of-control spending could expose the US to serious risk in the event of a political crisis.

Goldman’s Waldron sounds alarm over US debt jolt to markets

The head of the International Monetary Fund warned the US that the global economy is closely watching interest rates and industrial policies given the potential spillovers from the world’s biggest economy and reserve currency.

“All eyes are on the US,” Kristalina Georgieva said in an interview on Bloomberg’s Surveillance on Thursday.

IMF boss says ‘all eyes’ on US amid risks to global economy

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday:

Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiT...

HeiTech Padu, Axiata, AmanahRaya REIT, AmFirst REIT, RHB Bank, 7-Eleven Malaysia, MBSB, Awantec, MAA Group, UMediC, Systech, Pansar, Auro, Kimlun and AWC

Swiss state prosecutors are seeking long prison terms for two men accused of embezzling US$1.8 billion from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) — Saudi-Swiss businessman Tarek Obaid and his Swiss-British business partner Patrick Mahony, the AFP reported.

Swiss prosecutors seek long jail terms for duo in US$1.8bil 1MDB fraud — report

<p>The Federal Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) over the Court of Appeal’s decision last year that decided that non-paying members in a residential area (RA) could raise the boom gates at the entrance to the housing area themselves without the security guards' assistance.</p>


Federal Court dismisses MBPJ’s appeal on residents' boom gate operation

<p>Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiTech Padu Bhd, just one month after acquiring a 15.9% stake via a private vehicle in the company.</p>


Amid controversy over govt contracts, Farhash ceases to be HeiTech Padu substantial shareholder after one month

<p>Elon Musk said some of the severance packages sent to former Tesla Inc employees as part of its biggest-ever workforce reduction were too low.</p>


Musk apologises for ‘incorrectly low’ Tesla severance packages

<p>Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB) has recommended a final dividend of 3.5 sen for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2023 (FY2023).</p>

<p>This would equate to a payout of RM287.78 million, based on the bank’s share base of 8.22 billion shares as at end-December 2023, according to MBSB’s bourse filing on Thursday.</p>


MBSB proposes 3.5 sen dividend for FY2023

<p>Digital payment and financial technology provider Ant International is going to establish what it calls a new digital business centre in Malaysia, creating more than 500 job opportunities in the first year, with more hirings in the next four years until 2028.</p>


Ant International to set up new business centre in Malaysia, creating over 500 jobs

<p>Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s wholly-owned Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) will hold its inaugural auction of renewable energy certificates (RECs) on June 25 to support Malaysia’s energy transition plans and corporates’ net-zero aspirations.</p>


Bursa to hold auction of maiden RE certificates on June 25

<p>When Iraq fired dozens of Scud missiles on Israel in early 1991, the US implored then prime minister Yitzhak Shamir not to respond. Shamir said he had to act. After days of late-night calls, high-level visits and long Cabinet meetings, Israel stood down and the US led a 42-nation alliance that defeated Iraq in what became the Gulf War.</p>


Israel caught between hitting Iran and heeding allies

<p>Bursa Malaysia continued its upbeat momentum to end higher for the second straight day on Thursday, due to an improvement in sentiment and a resurgence in bargain-hunting following the recent downturn, said an analyst.</p>


Bursa closes higher on improved sentiment, bargain hunting

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): IT services firm Systech Bhd said on Thursday that shareholders have approved several proposals, including an acquisition and bonus shares issue.</p>


Systech gets shareholders’ nod for acquisition, bonus shares issue

<p>The Malaysian Bar argued in court that its challenge against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's conditional discharge is not academic as it may determine the fate of the Yayasan Akalbudi graft case.</p>


Malaysian Bar: Legal challenge against AG's decision to drop charges against Zahid is not academic

<p>The concessionaire of the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) highway believes the project remains viable and will continue to pursue its realisation.&nbsp;</p>


PJD Link concessionaire says project remains viable, studying realignment

<p>RHB Bank, Malaysia’s fourth-largest bank by assets, said on Thursday it views sustainable financing as presenting more opportunities than challenges, rather than affecting its overall profit from financing activities.</p>


RHB sees opportunities in sustainability finance, aims to provide RM50 bil by 2026

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): AwanBiru Technology Bhd (Awantec) said trading in its shares will be suspended from April 26, after the group failed to submit its regularisation plan to the regulators for approval within the stipulated timeframe.</p>


Awantec faces trading suspension from April 26 after failing to submit regularisation plan

<p>After spending over two years in court due to a suit from Empire Holdings Ltd, MAA Group Bhd, its major shareholder Tunku Datuk Yaacob Khyra and Turiya Bhd have been dropped as parties in the suit over MAA’s purchase of Turiya shares from a Bahrain-based bank. &nbsp;</p>


MAA Group exits legal bout over 2021 Turiya share acquisition under settlement deal

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Malaysian civil society group Bersih, or the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, has slammed the deputy public prosecutor (DPP)’s office, which&nbsp;falls under the&nbsp;Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), for not objecting to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s application to bar the media from covering his judicial review application, as he sought to be placed under house arrest for the duration of his jail sentence.</p>


Bersih slams AGC for not objecting to media ban in Najib’s house arrest bid

<p>Malaysia needs to restructure the whole ecosystem of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes, so that it can effectively meet the industry’s requirements, said Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai.</p>


Revamp needed for TVET ecosystem to reduce mismatch, says FMM president

<p>Economists at Citigroup Inc&nbsp;are going out on a limb by wagering that virtually everyone on Wall Street is wrong about the US Federal Reserve (Fed).</p>

<p>After&nbsp;three straight months&nbsp;of slightly faster-than-expected inflation readings, rivals at Bank of America Corp, Goldman Sachs Group, Morgan Stanley, and other banks have dialled back their forecasts for interest-rate cuts this year. Chair Jerome Powell lent support to those moves on Tuesday, when he&nbsp;signalled&nbsp;that policymakers are in no hurry to ease policy.&nbsp;</p>


Citi says Wall Street wrong to slash Fed rate-cut bets

<p>Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC posted a 9% rise in first-quarter net profit on Thursday that beat market expectations as it rides a wave of demand for semiconductors used in artificial intelligence applications.</p>


TSMC's first quarter profit rises 9%, beats forecasts

<p>Australia brought 23 companies seeking investment in maritime decarbonisation and renewable energy (RE) sectors to Malaysia as part of the Australia-Southeast Asia Business Exchange programme.</p>


Australia brings 23 firms looking to invest in maritime decarbonisation, RE sectors in Malaysia

<p>Malaysia’s current tallest building, the Merdeka 118 tower, has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification in the LEED v2009 Core and Shell rating system, marking it as the first megatall building in the country to achieve it, according to a press statement on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>
