The Edge Markets April 23, 2015

The Edge Markets

WCT prices rights issue at RM1, warrants at RM2.08
April 23, 2015 11:34:09 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): WCT Holdings Bhd has fixed the issue price of its proposed rights issue at RM1 per rights share. It has also fixed the exercise price of its proposed warrants at RM2.08 per warrant (warrant E). In a filing with Bursa ... ...

China, Europe and U.S. business activity disappoints in April
April 23, 2015 11:32:28 pm
LONDON/SYDNEY/NEW YORK/BENGALURU/TOKYO/SHANGHAI (April 23): Business activity weakened in China and Japan in April and growth slowed in Europe and the U.S., suggesting the global economy may be less robust than policymakers are predicting. ... ...

Dutch expert suspended after showing MH17 victim photos
April 23, 2015 11:24:46 pm
(April 23): A Dutch expert helping to identify victims from last year's MH17 airliner crash in Ukraine has been suspended after showing photographs of the dead at a public lecture, police said today. "He has been suspended from his work and... ...

Deutsche Bank fined record $2.5 bln in rate rigging inquiry
April 23, 2015 11:24:43 pm
LONDON/NEW YORK/FRANKFURT/WASHINGTON (April 23): U.S. and British regulators fined Deutsche Bank $2.5 billion and its British subsidiary pleaded guilty to criminal wire fraud on Thursday as it became the eighth financial group to settle allegation......

Cliq Energy's RM433m Kazakhstan oil asset buy is "fair and reasonable", says Deloitte
April 23, 2015 11:20:48 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Cliq Energy Bhd's proposed acquisition of a 51% equity interest in a special purpose vehicle to be incorporated in Kazakhstan from Phystech Firm LLP (Psytech) for US$117.3 million (equivalent to RM433.4 million) is "fair and......

Volcano Calbuco still erupting in Chile, some flights cancelled
April 23, 2015 11:15:54 pm
SANTIAGO (April 23): Volcano Calbuco in southern Chile that erupted unexpectedly on Wednesday was still pouring ash into the sky on Thursday, forcing the cancellation of flights from nearby towns in both Chile and neighboring Argentina. The... ...

Tiger Synergy fixes private placement price at 20 sen per share
April 23, 2015 11:04:52 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Tiger Synergy Bhd has fixed the issue price of its 10 million new shares, being the first tranche of its private placement, at an issue price of 20 sen per placement share. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia today, Tig... ...

Atrium REIT net income down 23.6%, declares 1.7 sen DPU
April 23, 2015 10:28:20 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Atrium Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) has declared a distribution per unit for the first financial quarter ended March 31, 2015 (1QFY15) of 1.70 sen, down 22.7% from the 2.20 sen recorded in the previous corresponding......

Oil prices rise more than $1 on Middle East tension
April 23, 2015 10:16:05 pm
LONDON/SINGAPORE (April 23): Brent crude oil rose more than a dollar to above $64 a barrel on Thursday, on heightened concerns over the security of Middle East supplies as a civil war escalated in Yemen. Warplanes from a Saudi-led co... ...

IDB arm to lead manage 300 bln CFA franc sukuk programme for Ivory Coast
April 23, 2015 10:02:09 pm
DUBAI (April 23): The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), an arm of the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank, said it would lead manage a 300 billion CFA franc ($480 million) Islamic bond programme for Ivory Coast......

Robert Downey Jr walks out of TV interview as questions turn personal
April 23, 2015 09:53:53 pm
LONDON (April 23): Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jr walked out of a British television interview about his latest film, after he was pressed on his past problems with drugs and alcohol. The 50-year old, who reprises his role as Tony Stark/I... ...

U.S. jobless claims edge up; trend signals firmer labor market
April 23, 2015 09:49:51 pm
WASHINGTON (April 23): The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits rose last week for a third straight week, but the underlying trend continued to point to a solidly improving labor market. Initial claims for state unempl... ...

EU leaders to pledge rescue for migrants, but no fix for problem
April 23, 2015 09:44:00 pm
BRUSSELS/ROME/BERLIN (April 23): European Union leaders will effectively reverse a cutback in rescue operations the Mediterranean on Thursday to try to prevent record numbers of people drowning, as they try to flee war and poverty in the Middle Ea......

AirAsia leases aircraft to Indian subsidiary for US$1.92m
April 23, 2015 09:38:20 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): AirAsia Bhd has entered into an agreement to lease its Airbus A320-200 aircraft with the serial number MSN 4070 to AirAsia (India) Pte Ltd for US$1.92 million (RM6.98 million), reported Bernama. AirAsia (fu... ...

MAS' engineering and maintenance unit eyes JV with OEMs for expansion
April 23, 2015 09:32:28 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Malaysian Aerospace Engineering Sdn Bhd (MAE) is looking at joint ventures (JVs) with original equipment manufacturers in the next five years to expand its business. MAE managing director Azhari Mohd Dahlan told rep... ...

China's smartphone makers bet on cricket, Bollywood to conquer India
April 23, 2015 09:19:18 pm
MUMBAI (April 23): China's smartphone makers are drafting in cricket teams and Bollywood stars to conquer India, their largest overseas market and a key testing ground for their international expansion, as they try to rebrand as more than just sel......

Gold edges above three-week low on soft dollar, shares
April 23, 2015 09:15:33 pm
LONDON/SINGAPORE (April 23): Gold edged above a three-week low on Thursday, as the dollar and shares eased, following its biggest drop in over a month after strong U.S. housing data stoked expectations the Federal Reserve could raise interest rate......

Oil prices rise on Middle East tension
April 23, 2015 09:11:54 pm
LONDON/SINGAPORE (April 23): Brent crude oil rose above $63 a barrel on Thursday on heightened concerns over the security of Middle East supplies, as a civil war escalated in Yemen. Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition struck targets... ...

U.S. jobless claims rise for third straight week
April 23, 2015 09:00:54 pm
WASHINGTON (April 23): The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits rose last week for a third straight week, but the underlying trend continued to point to a solidly improving labor market. Initial claims for state unempl... ...

Shares sag after sub-par PMIs, waning Greece fears buoy euro
April 23, 2015 08:58:45 pm
LONDON (April 23): World shares weathered soft readings on Chinese and Japanese manufacturing which served to recharge expectations of more policy stimulus there, though lacklustre euro zone data soured the mood on Thursday.   European stoc... ...

Kiwi sinks on central bank comments, dollar steady
April 23, 2015 08:48:45 pm
LONDON (April 23): The New Zealand dollar was the biggest mover on major currency markets on Thursday, sinking 1.5 percent after a senior central banker pointed to the need for lower, not higher, interest rates. The U.S. dollar continued to... ...

Icon Offshore says remand of CEO and COO is for three days
April 23, 2015 08:45:01 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Offshore supply vessel provider Icon Offshore Bhd told Bursa Malaysia today that the remand of its chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Jamal Yusof and chief operating officer (COO) Rahman Yusof is for three days. In re... ...

Malaysia’s growth bright despite Fitch downgrade risk, says Bank Negara
April 23, 2015 08:37:15 pm
(April 23): Malaysia's growth prospects are bright despite its credit ratings remaining under pressure from a cut by Fitch Ratings, said Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz. The international rating agency had last month ... ...

European shares fall after PMI surveys, Ericsson down 12 pct
April 23, 2015 08:32:07 pm
LONDON (April 23): European shares slipped on Thursday, with Germany's DAX index underperforming following a disappointing purchasing managers' survey, while weak results from Ericsson hit technology stocks. Another survey showing factory a... ...

Utusan sells stake in associate firm to cash in RM31.8m
April 23, 2015 08:23:51 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd is disposing its 40% stake in Swan Malaysia Sendirian Bhd (Swan) to Germany-based Schwan-STABILO Schwanhäußer Finanzholding GMBH (Schwan) for RM31.8 million, resulting in a gain of RM3.62 milli......

Futures down after disappointing euro zone, China data
April 23, 2015 08:16:01 pm
(April 23): U.S. stock index futures fell on Thursday as investors digested results from tech heavyweights, disappointing economic data from the euro zone and China, and ahead of weekly U.S. jobless claims figures. European shares fell afte... ...

Maxis reduces prepaid tablet prices up to 50%
April 23, 2015 08:10:59 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Maxis Bhd is reducing up to 50% of its prices for prepaid tablet plan effective May 1, 2015. Maxis (fundamental: 1.15; valuation: 1.1) said the price of its ‘Hotlink Tablet Plan Simpack’ will be reduced by 50% from ... ...

Nazir: 1MDB declines invite to Invest Malaysia
April 23, 2015 08:05:18 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): CIMB Group Holdings Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak said he was "disappointed" that 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) had declined to participate in Invest Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 2015, a forum where foreign invest... ...

WZ Satu registers 2Q net profit of RM5.11 mil
April 23, 2015 07:55:31 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): WZ Satu Bhd registered net profit of RM5.11 million for the second financial quarter ended Feb 28, 2015 (2QFY15), with its mining and engineering businesses contributing to the bulk of earnings. Meanwhile, revenue c... ...

TAS Offshore 3QFY15 earnings shrink 93.5% on-year
April 23, 2015 07:46:04 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Ship builder TAS Offshore Bhd saw its third financial quarter ended Feb 28, 2015 (3QFY15) net profit fall 93.5% on-year to RM676,000, from RM10.46 million a year ago, which drove its earnings per share (EPS) down to 0.38 s......

Dr M doubts Malaysia will be a developed nation by 2020
April 23, 2015 07:31:31 pm
(April 23): Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia would probably not be a developed country by 2020, even if it managed to become a high-income nation, as raising incomes alone did not amount to achieving a developed status. "It is n... ...

SP Setia fixes new shares at RM3.10 under 3rd dividend reinvestment plan
April 23, 2015 07:24:21 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Property player S P Setia Bhd has fixed the price of its new shares to be issued in relation to its third dividend reinvestment plan (3rd DRP) at RM3.10 per share. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, S P Setia (fundame... ...

NorthCape re-emerges as substantial shareholder in Top Glove
April 23, 2015 07:20:16 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): NorthCape Capital Pty Ltd has re-emerged as a substantial shareholder in Top Glove Corporation Bhd, after ceasing to be a substantial shareholder in the glove manufacturer in February this year. In a filing with Bursa... ...

No meeting with Najib, no invitation either, says Dr M
April 23, 2015 07:16:15 pm
(April 23): Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad signalled a point of no return in his ties with Datuk Seri Najib Razak when he said he would not meet the Prime Minister to discuss his criticism against the latter. Najib also had n... ...

Procter & Gamble's sales fall for fifth straight quarter
April 23, 2015 07:15:19 pm
(Apr 23): Procter & Gamble Co's sales fell for the fifth quarter in a row, hurt by a stronger dollar and lower demand for its beauty, hair and personal care products. Net income attributable to P&G fell to $2.15 billion, or 75 cents... ...

Muhibbah expects RM1b Rapid tender outcome in 2H or next year
April 23, 2015 07:14:23 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd expects the outcome of its tender for RM1 billion worth of jobs in Petronas' Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development (Rapid) to be known in the second half this year or next year. ... ...

Most shed gains; Thai index falls on foreign selling
April 23, 2015 07:13:28 pm
BANGKOK (Apr 23): Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended lower on Thursday, with Thai shares giving up early gains due to foreign-led selling but a rate-cut hope and bargain hunting in a reporting season lifted some stocks. Thai key SET i... ...

Shares, euro sag after euro zone PMIs disappoint
April 23, 2015 07:09:29 pm
LONDON (Apr 23): World shares weathered soft readings on Chinese and Japanese manufacturing on Thursday which served to recharge expectations of more policy stimulus there, though lacklustre euro zone data was less well received. European s... ...

Takaso sees 3.68% state cross off-market
April 23, 2015 06:56:10 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Takaso Resources Bhd saw 7.5 million shares or a 3.68% stake in the company traded off-market today for RM3.75 million. According to Bloomberg data, the shares were moved in two blocks (3.75 million shares ... ...

Karex expects to acquire at least one company in the next 12 months
April 23, 2015 06:56:08 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Condom manufacturer Karex Bhd, which is on the lookout for merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities in an effort to build its own-brand business, expects to acquire at least one company "that will provide releva... ...

GHL to provide payment facilitator services to CIMB
April 23, 2015 06:52:00 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): GHL Systems Bhd has signed an agreement to provide payment facilitator or third party acquisition (TPA) services to CIMB Bank Bhd. Under the agreement, GHL will seek to acquire between 3,000 and 4,000 merchants on beh... ...

China's 2015/16 sugar output seen below 10.5 mln T, down y/y - Wilmar
April 23, 2015 06:48:30 pm
SYDNEY (Apr 23): China's sugar output in 2015/16 is expected to drop below the 10.5 million tonnes estimated for the current season, Wilmar International Ltd said, which could prompt buyers to ramp up imports of the sweetener to meet demand at hom......

Palm edges lower on prospect of higher output
April 23, 2015 06:43:36 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Malaysian palm oil futures ended lower on Thursday on the prospect of another month of strong crude palm production in the world's second-largest grower, although hopes for firm export demand provided some support. Th... ...

Scanwolf initiates investigative review on discovering operation irregularities
April 23, 2015 06:32:04 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Scanwolf Corp Bhd, which is involved in property development as well as the design and manufacturing of plastic extrusions, said today that it has appointed PKF Covenant to conduct an investigative review on the group... ...

Pavilion REIT 1QFY15 distributable income up 6.7% to RM62.34m
April 23, 2015 06:24:13 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Pavilion Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) saw its first financial quarter ended Mar 31, 2015 (1QFY15) distributable income rise 6.7% on-year to RM62.34 million from RM58.43 million, in tandem with its single digit top lin......

Europe, China business activity disappoint in April
April 23, 2015 06:11:10 pm
LONDON/SYDNEY (Apr 23): Business activity slowed more than any forecaster expected in the euro zone this month while manufacturing in Asia's top two economies hit the brakes, suggesting the global recovery path is less clear than policymakers are ......

Zeti: Malaysia's growth prospects bright despite Fitch downgrade risk
April 23, 2015 06:08:23 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Malaysia's growth prospects are bright despite its credit ratings remaining under pressure from a cut by Fitch Ratings, said Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz. The international rating agen... ...

Khazanah hopes to expand its overseas investments
April 23, 2015 05:53:46 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Kahzanah Nasional Bhd's managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar said that the national investment company is looking to expand its investments overseas in the future. "With all our overseas offices in place, we will s... ...

KLCI extends loss amid weaker China, Japan data
April 23, 2015 05:45:46 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): The FBM KLCI extended losses as profit taking continued amid less optimistic economic data from China, Japan and Europe. The KLCI closed 8.69 points or 0.47% lower at 1,846.08 points at 5pm as counters like R... ...

GLCs on track to 'graduate' from transformation programme, says Najib
April 23, 2015 05:45:35 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has declared that government-linked companies (GLCs) are on track to successfully "graduate" from the 10-year GLC Transformation Programme this year. Among the GLCs included are T... ...

Gold around 3-week lows on dollar strength, U.S. data
April 23, 2015 05:35:21 pm
LONDON (Apr 23): Gold held just above a three-week low on Thursday, following its biggest drop in over a month, as the dollar rose following strong U.S. housing data that stoked expectations the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates soon.... ...

GLCs on track to "graduate" from transformation programme, says PM Najib
April 23, 2015 05:32:39 pm
GLCs on track to "graduate" from transformation programme, says PM Najib ...

Malaysia's Malakoff to close institutional tranche of IPO on Friday -IFR
April 23, 2015 05:31:43 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Malaysia's largest independent power producer Malakoff Corporation Bhd plans to close the institutional tranche of its 2.74 billion ringgit ($756 million) initial public offer as early as Friday on strong response, IFR repor......

iflix raises US$30m for service expansion
April 23, 2015 05:27:51 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Internet TV service provider iflix, which is under the Catcha Group, has raised US$30 million (RM108.47 million) in a funding round led by regional strategic investors, Catcha Group and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Com......

Ringgit tracks Asian currencies lower on U.S. housing, China PMI
April 23, 2015 05:19:42 pm
(Apr 23): Malaysia’s ringgit fell along with other Asian currencies as U.S. housing data bolstered the dollar and a Chinese manufacturing index dropped to a 12-month low. The ringgit weakened on speculation a jump in existing U.S. homes sal... ...

Oil prices steady, U.S. inventories counter supply concern
April 23, 2015 05:19:41 pm
LONDON (Apr 23): Oil prices steadied on Thursday as news of another steep rise in U.S. crude inventories countered concerns over the security of Middle East supplies due to an escalating conflict in Yemen. Saudi-led coalition warplanes bomb... ...

GPlus still can’t submit its audited financial statements to Bursa
April 23, 2015 05:05:50 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Golden Plus Holdings Bhd (GPlus) said it is unable to release its audited financial statements (AFS) to Bursa Malaysia for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2014, by next Thursday (Apr 30). According to the property de... ...

Host Malaysia avoids Chinese ire over disputed sea at ASEAN summit
April 23, 2015 04:58:09 pm
KUALA LUMPUR/MANILA (Apr 23): Malaysia is steering clear of criticising China's actions in the South China Sea at a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders next week, a draft end-statement seen by Reuters shows, despite a push by the Philippines to den......

Petrobras Corruption Scandal Finally Has Price Tag: $2.1 Billion
April 23, 2015 04:55:14 pm
(Apr 23): Brazil’s national oil company said a graft scandal cost it 6.2 billion reais ($2.1 billion) after a five- month internal debate that shut off access to bond markets, cost the chief executive her job and destabilized the country’s politic......

European shares fall after business surveys disappoint
April 23, 2015 04:33:46 pm
LONDON (Apr 23): European shares gave up early gains on Thursday after a survey showed growth in Germany's private sector slowed and French business activity barely grew in April. Another survey showing factory activity in China, the world'... ...

Shares, euro sag after euro zone PMIs disappoint
April 23, 2015 04:33:12 pm
LONDON (Apr 23): World shares weathered soft readings on Chinese and Japanese manufacturing on Thursday that merely drove expectations of more policy stimulus there, though lacklustre euro zone data was less well received. European stock ma... ...

Asking Malaysian government to change leader not seditious, says Dr M
April 23, 2015 04:26:39 pm
(April 23): Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said Putrajaya's use of the Sedition Act to maintain Barisan Nasional's hold on power was not a good move, following criticism over recent amendments to the colonial-era law that made it more dracon... ...

Zeti signals no need for Malaysian rate cut in near future
April 23, 2015 04:21:33 pm
(Apr 23): Malaysian central bank Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz signaled she sees no need for an interest-rate cut in the near future, barring the threat of a “fundamental” downturn in the economy. “We are on a steady growth path,” Zeti s... ...

China aluminum supply set to worsen glut as export taxes removed
April 23, 2015 04:15:49 pm
(Apr 23): China, the world’s largest aluminum producer, may worsen a global glut of the metal as the government scrapped export taxes for some products. The removal of fees to ship certain aluminum products may encourage further exports fro... ...

Press Metal shares fall 4% on lower aluminium prices
April 23, 2015 04:14:05 pm
Press Metal shares fall 4% on lower aluminium prices   ...

Malaysia's Khazanah plans first tranche of $275 mln sukuk in May
April 23, 2015 04:13:02 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Malaysia's Khazanah Nasional plans to issue the first tranche of a 1 billion ringgit ($275.63 million) sukuk as early as May, the sovereign wealth fund's managing director said on Thursday. The amount for the f... ...

Growth in euro zone business activity crimped by slowing orders-PMI
April 23, 2015 04:08:36 pm
(Apr 23): Euro zone private sector business growth was weaker than forecast this month on slowing new orders in the region, dragged down largely by faltering activity in France, a survey showed on Thursday. That news comes despite a big fal... ...

Most rebound with Asia; Thai index up on rate cut hopes
April 23, 2015 04:03:31 pm
BANGKOK (Apr 23): Most Southeast Asian stock markets rebounded on Thursday amid gains in the broader Asia markets while the Thai benchmark bounced off a near two-week low as rate cut hopes lifted financial, property and dividend-yielding shares....

Kiwi sinks on central bank comments, dollar gains
April 23, 2015 04:03:31 pm
LONDON (Apr 23): The New Zealand dollar was by far the biggest mover on major currency markets on Thursday, sinking 1.5 percent after a senior central banker pointed to the need for lower, not higher, interest rates. The dollar was back on ... ...

Mah Sing confident of reaching RM3.43b sales target for 2015
April 23, 2015 03:59:34 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Mah Sing Group Bhd is confident of achieving its sales target of RM3.43 billion for FY15 as it believes it has the right product mix, with attractive pricing, in the right locations. But as at Apr 22, Mah Sing (fundam... ...

Daiwa to reboot Asian expansion with stakes in brokerages
April 23, 2015 03:51:52 pm
(Apr 23): Daiwa Securities Group Inc. is seeking to buy stakes in Asian brokerages as Japan’s second-biggest securities firm resumes an expansion in the region after an earlier effort faltered. Teaming up with peers in Asia will help the co... ...

Aluminum leads metals lower as China manufacturing contracts
April 23, 2015 03:43:30 pm
(Apr 23): Aluminum fell the most in almost a month as most industrial metals retreated after a gauge of manufacturing strength slid to a 12-month low in China, the world’s biggest consumer. Aluminum lost as much as 1.2 percent, the biggest ... ...

Cost of Galaxy's battle against iPhone on the rise
April 23, 2015 03:43:13 pm
SEOUL (Apr 23): Samsung Electronics has pulled out all the stops on its new Galaxy smartphones, but their modest prices compared to the latest iPhones throw an uneasy spotlight on the long-term cost of fighting Apple's premium branding. The... ...

Oil prices edge lower on rising US inventories
April 23, 2015 03:39:40 pm
SINGAPORE (Apr 23): Oil prices fell slightly on Thursday as rising U.S. crude inventories due to robust shale production outweighed concerns over renewed air strikes in Yemen. Saudi-led coalition warplanes continued bombing Yemen on Wednesd... ...

TOCOM ends at over 3-week high on weak yen
April 23, 2015 03:34:42 pm
TOKYO (Apr 23): Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures rose for a third straight session on Thursday to end at their highest in three-and-a-half weeks as market participants continued to pile up positions on the back of a weaker yen, while moves by top ru......

1MDB’s proposal for RM12.6 billion smelter in Sarawak falls through
April 23, 2015 03:29:39 pm
(April 23): The proposal for troubled investment firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) to set up an RM12.6 billion aluminium smelter in Sarawak's Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) in Bintulu has fallen through. The Sarawak state a... ...

Najib must step down over 1MDB’s ‘disappeared’ funds, says Dr M
April 23, 2015 03:27:01 pm
(April 23): 1Malaysia Development Bhd's (1MDB) debt of RM42 billion has "disappeared" and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib's inability to explain the matter disqualifies him from leading the country, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Moh... ...

Malaysia committed to cut oil revenue dependence -Wahid
April 23, 2015 02:49:18 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar said Malaysia had continued its effort to reduce national dependence on crude oil revenue, amid lower prices of the commodity. Wahid, wh... ...

No dividends for EcoWorld shareholders for the next 2-3 years
April 23, 2015 02:38:17 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Eco World Development Bhd will not propose any dividend for its shareholders for the next two to three years as it is still in a growth phase, its chief financial officer Datuk Heah Kok Boon said. He said the p... ...

Palm edges lower on prospect of higher output
April 23, 2015 02:36:55 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Malaysian palm oil futures edged lower on Thursday on the prospect of another month of strong crude palm production in the world's second-largest grower, although hopes for firm export demand capped losses, keeping prices in......

Asia shares notch new peaks, weather China news
April 23, 2015 02:25:42 pm
SYDNEY (Apr 23): Asian shares weathered a soft reading on Chinese manufacturing on Thursday as it only whetted expectations for more policy stimulus there, while a sharp rise in British and German bond yields rippled through global debt markets....

Global semicon market projected to grow by 4.9% this year, says WSTS
April 23, 2015 02:25:41 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): The global semiconductor market is forecast to grow 4.9% this year from the previously estimated 3.4%, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS). However, the worldwide estimate for 2016 growth has ... ...

Khazanah MD says 'too early to tell' if MAS revamp will be successful
April 23, 2015 02:18:28 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Malaysian state-owned investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar said it was still "too early to tell" if loss-making Malaysian Airline System (MAS) would be successfully turned aroun... ...

GST studied in detail prior to implementation, Najib tells investors
April 23, 2015 02:11:57 pm
(Apr 23): The goods and services tax (GST), which is the key part of the biggest series of tax reforms in the history of the country, went through rigorous and detailed study before it was implemented, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today. “Mo... ...

Eco World International expects 2H listing
April 23, 2015 02:03:26 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 22): Eco World Development Bhd (EcoWorld) is looking at a second half listing for its special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Eco World International (EWI). EcoWorld's chief financial officer Datuk Heah Kok Boon said t... ...

'Look beyond the immediate term' in managing M'sian economy - Bank Negara
April 23, 2015 01:57:27 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Bank Negara Malaysia Governer Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz told politicians to "look beyond the immediate term" in managing the country's economy and financial systems. Zeti assessment of national risk required ... ...

Firm dollar, weak China factory activity hurt Asia FX
April 23, 2015 01:48:29 pm
SINGAPORE (Apr 23): Most emerging Asian currencies slid on Thursday as the dollar broadly gained on solid U.S. data and as disappointing Chinese manufacturing activity underscored concerns over a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy.... ...

FY15 to be a year of stabilisation for Nestle
April 23, 2015 01:39:21 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): The financial year ending Dec 31, 2015 (FY15) will be a year of stabilisation for Nestle(M) Bhd, according to its managing director Alois Hofbauer. “FY15 will be a year of stabilisation for us, so in terms of capital ... ...

WZ Satu eyes doubling of net profit for FY15
April 23, 2015 01:38:25 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): WZ Satu Bhd is hoping to see its net profit double for its financial year ending August 31, 2015, compared to a year ago. The group posted a substantial jump in net profit to RM11.68 million for the 16-month consolida... ...

Ireka eyes equal contribution from construction, property
April 23, 2015 01:29:35 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Ireka Corp Bhd is eyeing equal revenue contribution from its construction and property segments in the next two years. Ireka (fundamental: 0.2; valuation: 0.9) group managing director Lai Voon Hon said the firm... ...

Cyberattackers change tactic to infiltrate networks, says Symantec
April 23, 2015 01:28:08 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Cyberattackers are infiltrating networks and evading detection by hijacking the infrastructure of major corporations and using it against them, according to Symantec’s Internet Securiry Threat Report (ISTR). In a stat... ...

Eco World to list Malaysia's first property SPAC in second half of 2015
April 23, 2015 01:16:09 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Malaysian property developer Eco World Development Group Bhd said on Thursday the planned listing of 1.5 billion ringgit ($415 million) special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) is on track for the second half of this year.......

Indonesia global Sukuk outperform Malaysia as fifth sale planned
April 23, 2015 01:12:39 pm
(Apr 23): Dollar sukuk issued by Indonesia are outperforming those of Malaysia, boding well for the government’s plan to tap the global market for a fifth year. Indonesia’s existing notes maturing in 2018 through to 2024, which are rated th... ...

Aluminum leads metals lower as China manufacturing contracts
April 23, 2015 01:12:36 pm
(Apr 23): Aluminum fell the most in almost a month as most industrial metals retreated after a gauge of manufacturing strength slid to a 12-month low in China, the world’s biggest consumer. Aluminum lost as much as 1.2 percent, the biggest ... ...

Vsolar, LCTH, Tanco, APFT, Geshen, Ewein
April 23, 2015 01:11:22 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): theedgemarkets.com has highlighted six stocks with momentum at afternoon market close today. All six stocks show positive momentum. The stocks are: ...

KLCI remains in negative zone as bears stay in charge
April 23, 2015 01:09:36 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): The FBM KLCI remained in negative territory at the midday break today as decliners led gainers at the local bourse, indicating that bears were still in control. At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI fell 3.58 points to 1,85... ...

Sony raises earnings a second time as Hirai revamp fuels growth
April 23, 2015 12:58:27 pm
(Apr 23): Sony Corp. raised its profit outlook a second time since February as Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai’s revamp stokes earnings from games and financial services. Operating income more than doubled to 68 billion yen ($567 millio... ...

Bank Negara Malaysia Governer Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz's speech at Invest Malaysia 2015
April 23, 2015 12:49:38 pm
It gives me great pleasure to be here at Invest Malaysia 2015. This event takes place at a time of major transformative change in the world, the region and in our country. These changes include the more inter-connected, integrated and inter... ...

Dollar regains footing, Kiwi falls on RBNZ comments
April 23, 2015 12:39:17 pm
TOKYO/SYDNEY (Apr 23): The U.S. dollar held firm on Thursday after strong U.S. housing data helped to lift U.S. bond yields while the New Zealand dollar fell more than one percent following dovish central bank comments. The dollar's index a... ...

Malaysia's EPF to offer Islamic investment option by 2017 -PM Najib
April 23, 2015 12:34:08 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Malaysia's $160 billion state pension fund will offer an Islamic investment option to its members by 2017 which would create the world's largest sharia-compliant fund of its kind, Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Th... ...

Oil prices hold steady as Yemen bombing continues
April 23, 2015 12:33:56 pm
SINGAPORE (Apr 23): Oil prices held steady on Thursday as renewed fighting in Yemen countered worries over rising U.S. crude inventories due to still-robust shale production. Saudi-led coalition warplanes continued bombing Yemen on W... ...

Is 1MDB’s US$1.1 billion still in Singapore bank, DAP asks Najib
April 23, 2015 12:29:39 pm
(Apr 23): Datuk Seri Najib Razak must confirm whether 1Malaysia Development Berhad's (1MDB) US$1.1 billion still exists in BSI Bank Limited in Singapore, a DAP MP said today, after it was revealed that the troubled state firm gave false sta... ...

I’m not lonely, says Najib in dig at Dr M
April 23, 2015 12:21:23 pm
(Apr 23): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today said he does not feel lonely, in a jab at his arch critic, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who recently said he was alone in telling the truth about problems with Najib's a... ...

No dividend for next 2–3 years, says EcoWorld
April 23, 2015 12:16:32 pm
No dividend for next 2–3 years, says EcoWorld ...

TMC climbs 5% on higher net profit
April 23, 2015 12:11:16 pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): TMC Life Sciences Bhd, controlled by Singapore billionaire Peter Lim, climbed as much as 3.5 sen or 5% after the healthcare services provider reported higher third quarter net profit from a year earlier. At 11.... ...

Zeti urges politicians to look beyond the 'immediate term' in terms of managing the economy, financial systems
April 23, 2015 12:09:45 pm
Zeti urges politicians to look beyond the "immediate term" in terms of managing the economy, financial systems ...

The success of MAS restructuring plan too early to tell yet, says Khazanah MD
April 23, 2015 12:08:37 pm
The success of MAS restructuring plan too early to tell yet, says Khazanah MD ...

Malaysia is in an 'improving' fiscal position, says Zeti
April 23, 2015 12:03:58 pm
Malaysia is in an "improving" fiscal position, says Zeti ...

China factory activity disappoints again, hopes pinned on US and Europe
April 23, 2015 12:03:49 pm
(Apr 23): Manufacturing activity in Asia's top two economic powerhouses slowed further in April, a disappointing outcome that calls for yet more stimulus and puts pressure on the United States and Europe to do more of the heavy lifting to drive gl......

Samsung to plough $9 bln more into S.Korea chip plant -MoneyToday
April 23, 2015 11:54:54 am
SEOUL (Apr 23): Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is set to spend at least another 10 trillion won ($9.2 billion) to boost capacity at a new South Korean chip plant, a 64 percent increase over announced investment plans, domestic online news service Mone......

1MDB declined invitation to participate in InvestMsia, said CIMB's Nazir Razak
April 23, 2015 11:43:04 am
1MDB was invited to participate in InvestMalaysia but it declined, CIMB's Nazir Razak told reporters on sidelines of InvestMalaysia. ...

China manufacturing gauge drops to lowest level in 12 months
April 23, 2015 11:33:48 am
(Apr 23): A Chinese manufacturing gauge fell to a 12- month low in April, suggesting government efforts to cushion a slowdown are yet to revive the nation’s factories. The preliminary Purchasing Managers’ Index from HSBC Holdings Plc... ...

Ringgit tracks Asian currencies lower on U.S. housing, China PMI
April 23, 2015 11:33:43 am
(Apr 23): Malaysia’s ringgit fell along with other Asian currencies as U.S. housing data bolstered the dollar and a Chinese manufacturing index dropped to a 12-month low. The ringgit weakened on speculation a jump in existing U.S. homes sal... ...

China fines Mercedes $56.5 mln for price fixing
April 23, 2015 11:31:39 am
SHANGHAI (Apr 23): A local pricing regulator in China said on Thursday it has fined Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz 350 million yuan ($56.49 million) for price fixing. The regulator said the luxury German carmaker had "pressured" dealers to set ... ...

PM affirms EPF withdrawal at age 55 retained
April 23, 2015 11:14:06 am
KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 23): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today affirmed that Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members will still be able to retain their rights to withdraw savings at the age of 55. "I want to assure the rakyat that... ...

Strong U.S. housing data keeps gold below $1,200
April 23, 2015 11:01:04 am
SINGAPORE (Apr 23): Gold was stuck below $1,200 an ounce on Thursday, following its biggest drop in over a month, as strong U.S. housing data stoked expectations the Federal Reserve would soon hike interest rates. Spot gold was flat at $1,1... ...

China April flash HSBC PMI contracts to one-year low
April 23, 2015 10:57:05 am
SHANGHAI (Apr 23): China's factory activity contracted at its fastest pace in a year in April, a private survey showed, suggesting that economic conditions are still deteriorating despite increasingly aggressive policy easing by the central bank....

Insider Asia’s Stock Of The Day: Apollo Food Holdings
April 23, 2015 10:44:07 am
Apollo Food Holdings Bhd Apollo (Fundamental: 1.45/3, Valuation: 1.4/3) is expected to see a turnaround in its financial performance after raw material prices declined from record high levels. Apollo i... ...

Asia weathers soft China survey on stimulus hopes
April 23, 2015 10:42:53 am
SYDNEY (Apr 23): Asian shares were weathering a soft reading on Chinese manufacturing on Thursday as it only whetted expectations for more policy stimulus there, while a sharp rise in British and German bond yields rippled through global debt mark......

Stocks With Momentum: Managepay System
April 23, 2015 10:37:40 am
Managepay System Bhd (-ve) Managepay (MPay) (Fundamental: 1.5/3, Valuation: 0.6/3) offers end-to-end solutions for the electronic payment solutions industry. In 2012, the company shifted its business strategy from an... ...

Stocks With Momentum: Vsolar Group
April 23, 2015 10:35:50 am
Vsolar Group Bhd (+ve) Vsolar’s (Fundamental: 0.6/3, Valuation: 0/3) shares surged 7% yesterday, closing at a record high of 38 sen, following an announcement on Tuesday that it had entered into a collaboration agreement (C... ...

Palm oil to retest support at 2,145 ringgit
April 23, 2015 10:35:33 am
SINGAPORE (Apr 23): Palm oil may retest a support at 2,145 ringgit per tonne, as indicated by a rising wedge and a Fibonacci retracement analysis. The pattern has completed, as all of its five component waves have unfolded. The Fibonacci re... ...

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's speech at Invest Malaysia 2015
April 23, 2015 10:30:42 am
It is my pleasure to welcome you today to Invest Malaysia 2015. This is our eleventh year, and I am glad to see so many thought leaders, key capital market players, and top executives gathered here for an annual two day conference that has ... ...

Stocks With Momentum: Eden Inc
April 23, 2015 10:29:39 am
Eden Inc Bhd (-ve) Share prices for Eden (Fundamental: 0.35/3, Valuation: 0.9/3) rebounded strongly, by 37.8% to 31 sen, this month from its one-year low. Prices fell through the better part of 2014 on the back of three con... ...

MIDF Research maintains Positive on semiconductor sector
April 23, 2015 10:26:41 am
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): MIDF Research has maintained its “Positive” stance on the semiconductor sector and said semiconductor players are more cost-conscious leading to a more competitive product pricing. In a note today, the research hous... ...

Focus of PPB’s integrated business is on consumer products
April 23, 2015 10:25:31 am
PPB Group Bhd (April 22, RM15.84) Initiate neutral with a target price (TP) of RM15.30: PPB Group has an array of core businesses under the “consumer products” category. On the local bourse, it is listed as one of the ... ...

KLCI pares loss as regional markets trend higher
April 23, 2015 10:25:26 am
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): The FBM KLCI pared some of its losses at mid-morning today in line with the positive uptrend at most regional markets. At 10am, the FBM KLCI was down 1.58 points to 1,853.19. The index had earlier dipped to a... ...

NCB Holdings may post stronger y-o-y and q-o-q net profit for 1Q
April 23, 2015 10:23:37 am
NCB Holdings Bhd (April 22, RM2.75) Maintain buy and a target price of RM3: In the first quarter of financial year ending Dec 31, 2015 (1QFY15), container throughput at Northport staged a strong recovery with a growth ... ...

IJM on track to develop Phase 2 of The Light project
April 23, 2015 10:18:03 am
IJM Corp Bhd (April 22, RM7.40) Maintain outperform with lower target price (TP) of RM7.93 from RM8: IJM Corp Bhd announced that it had acquired a 50% stake in Aura Hebat Sdn Bhd (AHSB). AHSB is the joint-venture compa... ...

UMWOG facing headwind
April 23, 2015 10:16:38 am
UMW Oil & Gas Corp Bhd (April 22, RM2.33) Maintain sell with a lower target price (TP) of RM1.60 from RM2: The lower charter rates, intense competition and UMW Oil & Gas Corp’s (UMWOG) untimely contract renewal... ...

Matrix Concepts expanding beyond Klang Valley
April 23, 2015 10:16:16 am
Matrix Concepts Holdings Bhd (April 22, RM3.10) Maintain buy with an unchanged target price (TP) of RM3.30: Matrix Concepts Holdings Bhd has announced a proposed acquisition of a 5.8-acre (2.347ha) piece of land cum ap... ...

Komtar’s makeover will boost Only World revenue
April 23, 2015 10:14:31 am
Only World Group Bhd (April 22, RM2.33) Maintain add with a higher target price (TP) of RM3.02: In a recent group meeting that we organised between fund managers and Only World Group Bhd’s (OWG) management, we learnt t... ...

MARC downgrades IJM Corp’s long-term rating outlook
April 23, 2015 10:09:19 am
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd (MARC) has downgraded its outlook on IJM Corp Bhd’s RM1 billion commercial paper/medium-term notes programme (CP/MTN), while affirming the ratings of MARC-1/AA- on the programme. In a statement yesterday, th......

‘Private investment to slow in 2015’
April 23, 2015 10:07:23 am
KUALA LUMPUR: The pace of private investment in Malaysia is set to slow this year, with declines in the property and oil and gas (O&G) sectors, Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (Maybank IB) said. Chief economist Suhaimi Ilias said business l... ...

Foreign economic models may not be best choice for Malaysia
April 23, 2015 10:03:11 am
KUALA LUMPUR: Adopting foreign economic models may not be the best choice for Malaysia, former Malaysian and Hong Kong central banker Tan Sri Andrew Sheng said. “Life is about diversity. It is better that we get many countries coming up wit... ...

CIMB Niaga 1Q net profit down 24.55% on higher provisions, operating costs
April 23, 2015 10:03:00 am
KUALA LUMPUR: CIMB Group Holdings Bhd’s 97.94%-owned Indonesian unit PT Bank CIMB Niaga Tbk saw its net profit for the first quarter ended March (1QFY15) fall 24.55% to 82.72 billion rupiah (RM23.09 million) or 3.29 rupiah per share from 1.16 tril......

March CPI signals price pressure rebound
April 23, 2015 10:02:17 am
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s inflation as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), which increased 0.9% year-on-year (y-o-y) in March 2015 from a year earlier, is in line with consensus forecasts and signals a rebound in price pressures after three......

Bursa 1Q net profit up 4.23% on higher revenue
April 23, 2015 10:01:03 am
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 (1QFY15), climbed 4.23% to RM47.06 million or 8.8 sen per share from RM45.15 million or 8.5 sen per share a year ago on the back of higher operating revenue....

Search underway for new Ambank Group MD
April 23, 2015 10:01:00 am
KUALA LUMPUR: Priority will be given to local candidates to lead AMMB Holdings Bhd (AmBank Group) as it continues to search for a new managing director (MD) following Ashok Ramamurthy’s departure, said the group’s founder and chairman Tan Sri Azma......

MNRB gets BNM nod for retakaful business
April 23, 2015 09:59:00 am
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian reinsurance player MNRB Holdings Bhd has received the nod from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to set up a general and family Islamic reinsurance or retakaful business. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, MNRB (fun... ...

AmProp to buy 62 apartments in Tokyo’s Court Annex Roppongi for RM63.3m
April 23, 2015 09:56:52 am
KUALA LUMPUR: Amcorp Properties Bhd (AmProp), the property arm of Amcorp Group Bhd, is acquiring 62 apartment units in a mixed use building known as Court Annex Roppongi in Tokyo, Japan for ¥2.06 billion (RM63.3 million). The announcement c... ...

MRCB exits Nu Sentral for RM119.78m
April 23, 2015 09:56:01 am
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) is disposing of its entire 51% stake in Nu Sentral Sdn Bhd (NSSB) to joint-venture (JV) partner Pelaburan Hartanah Bhd (PHB) for RM119.78 million cash. NSSB, currently a 51:49 JV between MRC... ...

IWC to buy freehold Johor land for RM629m development
April 23, 2015 09:55:42 am
KUALA LUMPUR: Iskandar Waterfront City Bhd (IWC) plans to acquire three adjoining parcels of freehold land in Johor Baru, which measures a collective 67.5 acres (27.3ha) for RM156 million or RM53 per sq ft for a proposed mixed development with a g......

Former Inix CEO gets 45 months in jail
April 23, 2015 09:54:01 am
KUALA LUMPUR: Inix Technologies Holdings Bhd’s (Inix) former chief executive officer Jimmy Tok Soon Guan has been sentenced to 45 months in jail for providing false information in the company’s prospectus and for submitting false statements to Bur......

Icon falls in active trade after MACC remands CEO & COO
April 23, 2015 09:11:49 am
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Shares of Icon Offshore Bhd fell in active trade this morning after The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission  remanded the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Jamal Yusof and his brother, chief operating officer (CO......

Asian shares near fresh peaks, China PMI looms
April 23, 2015 08:40:40 am
SYDNEY (April 23): Asian shares were flirting with fresh highs on Thursday, while a sharp rise in British and German bond yields rippled through sovereign debt markets globally. An early hurdle looms in the shape of the preliminary HSBC Chi... ...

MACC remands Icon Offshore CEO and COO
April 23, 2015 08:39:45 am
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has remanded Icon Offshore Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Jamal Yusof and his brother, chief operating officer (COO) Rahman Yusof, to “facilitate and assist [in] investigations” c... ...

Evergreen share price gaining momentum, says HLIB Research
April 23, 2015 08:30:51 am
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Hong Leong IB Research has a “Buy” rating on Evergreen Fibreboard Bhd with an institutional target price of RM1.47 and said the company’s share price was gradually gaining upside momentum and poised for “Ascending Triangle......

BIMB Securities maintains Buy on Econpile, ups target to RM1.27
April 23, 2015 08:20:10 am
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): BIMB Securities Research has maintained its “Buy” rating on Econpile Holdings Bhd at RM107 with a higher target price of RM1.27 (from RM1.24) after Econpile said that it had received a Letter of Award from TWY Development ......

Continued Weakness in Commodity Markets May Signal Long Term Easing of Prices – World Bank report
April 23, 2015 08:10:29 am
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): Well-supplied markets are continuing to drive down prices of commodities, across the board, according to a World Bank report. In the latest issue of its Commodity Markets Outlook (CMO) released yesterday, the World ... ...

KLCI may stage mild rebound but gains seen limited
April 23, 2015 07:25:30 am
KUALA LUMPUR (April 23): The FBM KLCI may stage a mild rebound today in line with global markets that drifted higher overnight but gains are seen limited given the lack of fresh local catalysts and cautious investor sentiment at Bursa Malaysia....

Stocks end stronger as investors look beyond mixed earnings
April 23, 2015 07:11:28 am
(April 23): U.S. stocks ended stronger on Wednesday as Visa's potential expansion into China and talk of a turnaround at McDonald's helped investors look beyond a mixed bag of quarterly earnings. All of the 10 major S&P 500 sectors rose... ...

Shares climb on earnings; U.S. Treasuries fall
April 23, 2015 07:11:13 am
NEW YORK (April 23): Stocks in major markets drifted higher on Wednesday as investors took an optimistic view of the latest batch of U.S. corporate earnings, while U.S. Treasury prices declined after home sales data added to anticipation of a rate......