MarketWatch: Wall Street will fixate on a wave of US economic data this week, crested by payrolls data on Friday that could sway expectations about the timing of future interest rate hikes and spark volatility in record-high stock prices. Fresh data about employment and consumer confidence could help investors solidify expectations for a December interest rate hike from the US Federal Reserve, or lend weight to a minority of strategists predicting a rate rise as early as next month. - Reuters
Energy
Oil prices fell early on Monday as output from Iraq rose and as Iran said it would only cooperate in upcoming producer talks to freeze output if fellow exporters recognised its right to fully regain market share. Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were trading at US$49.54 per barrel at 0043 GMT, down 38 cents from their previous close.
Top foreign stories
Germany's economy minister: US-EU free trade talks have failed: Germany's Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Sunday that talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a free trade deal being negotiated by the United States and the European Union, had essentially failed. "The negotiations with the USA have de facto failed because we Europeans did not want to subject ourselves to American demands," he said. - Reuters
Billionaire Warren Buffett-backed China BYD forecasts up to 91% profit rise: Chinese automaker BYD Co Ltd, backed by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc, on Sunday predicted an up to 91% profit increase in the first nine months of the year, as government policies drive green car sales. - Reuters
Top local stories
AirAsia’s monetisation plan: The board of AirAsia Bhd is expected to decide on the sale of a stake in its leasing unit this week. If the board gives the green light, it would mark the start of AirAsia’s quest to monetise its ancillary businesses related to its core airline business. - StarBiz
Petronas’ US$8.5bil gas plan in Canada gets boost: Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) proposed C$11bil (US$8.5bil) liquefied natural gas export plant in Canada is getting a boost as an aboriginal community signals openness to the project amid speculation that the location may be changed. - Bloomberg
Analysts say ‘worst is over’ for Wilmar: Most analysts are expecting a slow recovery for both PPB Group Bhd
and Wilmar International Ltd by the year-end, after the substantial setback seen in the first half of 2016. They opined that the worst was over for Wilmar. - StarBiz
What are new shareholders' plan to turn around WEC? A market observer says there is potential in WEC. The question is what will the new shareholders do to turn around the fortunes of the company. While it is unclear at this stage what value-added elements the new shareholders can bring to the table, there could be a change in the business direction of WEC, the observer says. - StarBiz
Good times ahead for Dancomech: After three consecutive years of lower net profit, Dancomech Holdings Bhd’s second-quarter results, which saw the company posting a net profit of RM4.38mil on a revenue of RM18.19mil, could be the start of a reversal of its fortunes. - StarBiz
Autumn statement to give Brexit clarity: The coming Autumn statement - second only to the budget in importance and a major event in the Treasury calendar - will provide some pointers that may impact the British pound, says British High Commissioner to Malaysia Vicki Treadell. - StarBiz
Astaka Padu in JV to develop township in Pengerang: Astaka Padu Sdn Bhd will soon be developing an integrated township on a 146.90ha piece of land in Pengerang in a joint venture with Saling Syabas Sdn Bhd. - StarBiz
Asia File has no plans to sell Muda Holdings stake: Asia File Corp Bhd doesn’t plan for now to sell its stake in Muda Holdings Bhd. The group holds a direct 2.05% interest, while its wholly-owned unit Lim and Khoo Sdn Bhd has a 17.97% stake. - StarBiz
Honeywell: Malaysia is playing catch-up in MRO segment: Multinational technology and manufacturing company Honeywell, which is a big player in civil and military avionics, said Malaysia has had a late start in the maintenance, repair and over- haul (MRO) segment, and is now playing catch-up with countries like Singapore, which has a bigger that market. - Edge FD
Company results announcements on Monday (August 29)
* AirAsia Q2
* UMW Holdings Q2
* Supermax Q4
* Vivocom Q2
* Sunway Q2
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