MarketWatch: Investors hoping equities can sustain their recent bounce this week will carefully watch the US Federal Reserve's mid-week policy meeting for signs the central bank may slow the path of interest rate hikes. Investors will also deal with a flood of corporate earnings reports, with results from big names in a range of sectors that will point to whether the outlook for fourth-quarter earnings was overly pessimistic. - Reuters
* Asian stocks gained early on Monday, relieved after seeing Wall Street rally overnight on the back of a sharp rise in crude oil prices. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares ex-Japan nudged up 0.2%, putting further distance between a four-year low plumbed last week. - Reuters
Top foreign stories
Lagarde has second IMF term sewn up: Christine Lagarde has a second term at the helm of the International Monetary Fund sewn up just days after nominations opened, despite facing possible trial in France. The former French finance minister used the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos to announce her candidacy and secure instant support from global movers and shakers. - Reuters
Iran marks comeback with talks to buy 160 European planes: Iran unveiled an expanded shopping list for more than 160 European planes - including 8 superjumbos - and dangled another big order in front of Boeing at Tehran's first major post-sanctions business gathering on Sunday. - Reuters
Johnson Controls in advanced talks to acquire Tyco: Johnson Controls Inc, a US manufacturer of car batteries and heating and ventilation equipment, is in advanced talks to buy fire protection and security company Tyco International Plc, sources said. A deal between Johnson Controls and Tyco would provide the clearest indication yet that the recent market volatility has not derailed strategic mergers from advancing. - Reuters
Top local stories
O&G firms appeal to financial institutions for support: UMW Oil & Gas Corp Bhd president Rohaizad Darus said there could be a win-win solution if banks were to allow local oil and gas companies restructure their debts by converting their short-term debts into long-term obligations. It is learnt that the collapse in oil prices has prompted some banks to require early repayment of loans made to some local O&G companies, or stop lending entirely to the industry in order to reduce risks of asset deterioration. - StarBiz
IHH makes foray into Myanmar: IHH Healthcare Bhd
, via indirect subsidiary Parkway Healthcare Indo-China Pte Ltd, has held a groundbreaking ceremony for a US$70mil, 250-bed hospital in Yangon, Myanmar. The new hospital, Parkway Yangon, is Parkway Pantai’s first hospital in Myanmar, IHH said.
Bargains for value investors in technology sector: The technology industry, which operates in a cyclical segment of the economy, will continue to be growth-driven and it will also be supported by pockets of value plays, say analysts. - StarBiz
Economy structurally sound, says Eco World's Lieu: Eco World Development Group Bhd chairman Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin is confident that Malaysia is structurally sound despite the unprecedented fall in oil prices. Kicking off the first StarLIVE Business Series: Power Talks at Menara Star over the weekend, he said the country today was in a strong position to weather these circumstances. - StarBiz
Malaysian banks in Indonesia to gain from BI rate cut: The interest rate cut by Bank Indonesia (BI) last week and anticipated further rate cuts could be a game changer for Malaysian banks in Indonesia. The banks could see an uplift in their loan growth and earnings amid a challenging economic environment following weaker commodity prices and slower economic growth. - StarBiz
Bintulu port tariff revision in sight: Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mior Ahmad Baiti Mior Lub said the company’s application to the federal authorities for an upward revision of Bintulu Port's containerised and general cargo tariffs is in the final stages of approval. - StarBiz
Salim Group-linked firm buys 6.7% stake in CAB Cakaran: An entity linked to Indonesia’s Salim Group has emerged as a substantial shareholder of CAB Cakaran Bhd after it bought a 6.69% stake in the integrated poultry company via an off market transaction on Jan 20. - StarBiz
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