Versus the CI

BSA: AN analyst expects BSA International Bhd to be able to increase, if not at least maintain, its export markets which accounts for almost 80% of its sales. This aluminium alloy wheels manufacturer and supplier also exports to the major automotive markets including Britain, US, Canada and Australia. The company was also well ahead of its competitors in its preparation for Afta while other autopart makers scrambled to beef up efficiency and productivity, the analyst added. In Malaysia, BSA is believed to be negotiating for a tie-up with a major non-national company while in China, it is also planning to form a joint-venture with a partner in anticipation of securing an original equipment manufacturer contract in the country. 

Mesiniaga: Mesiniaga Bhd's balanced mix of clients from the public and private sectors as well as its revenue mix would help cushion the impact of an economic slowdown. An analyst said the company was already well positioned to exploit the opportunities in the private sector, which could start spending aggressively anytime. The ongoing consolidation in the financial industry also means more IT spending while IT spending in the manufacturing sector was expected to pick up when there was clearer visibility, the analyst said. The last major spending in the manufacturing sector was when these companies upgraded their IT systems in preparation for the Y2K bug. The analyst also likes Mesiniaga's focus on value-added services, especially the profitable maintenance business. 

EON Capital: CONTRARY to perception that EON Capital Bhd relies mainly on hire purchase business, OSK Research Investment said the bank's hire purchase was just marginally higher at 33% of total loans compared with Hong Leong Bank Bhd's 30%, AMMB Holdings Bhd 29% and Public Bank Bhd's 24%. Meanwhile, EON Capital's loans to the property sector accounted for 26% of its total loans, it said. In terms of asset quality, EON Capital has the second lower non-performing loan (NPL) ratio among the major banks with gross NPL at 7.1% and net NPL at 4.9%. The agreement between Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EON) and Proton on the distribution on Proton cars also means that EON Capital would continue to obtain referrals from EON. 

Bintulu Port: ALTHOUGH Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd (BPHB) might lower its port charges to boost Petroliam Nasional Bhd's (Petronas) competitiveness as a global player in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, an analyst did not think the cut would be material as BPHB would still have to bear the costs of upgrading and improving the port facilities. Bintulu Port charges RM800,000 per tanker carrying LNG to the export market, which Petronas said was the highest rate in the world. Bintulu Port earned about RM320mil a year from the 400 LNG export shipments. According to the analyst, BPHB's other divisions such as container, bulk and liquid throughputs were still operating at a loss. 

Mesiniaga: MESINIAGA Bhd's balanced mix of clients from the public and private sectors as well as its revenue mix would help cushion the impact of an economic slowdown. An analyst said the company was already well positioned to exploit the opportunities in the private sector, which could start spending aggressively anytime. The ongoing consolidation in the financial industry also means more IT spending while IT spending in the manufacturing sector was expected to pick up when there was clearer visibility, the analyst said. The last major spending in the manufacturing sector was when these companies upgraded their IT systems in preparation for the Y2K bug. The analyst also likes Mesiniaga's focus on value-added services, especially the profitable maintenance business. 

EON Capital: CONTRARY to perception that EON Capital Bhd relies mainly on hire purchase business, OSK Research Investment said the bank's hire purchase was just marginally higher at 33% of total loans compared with Hong Leong Bank Bhd's 30%, AMMB Holdings Bhd 29% and Public Bank Bhd's 24%. Meanwhile, EON Capital's loans to the property sector accounted for 26% of its total loans, it said. In terms of asset quality, EON Capital has the second lower non-performing loan (NPL) ratio among the major banks with gross NPL at 7.1% and net NPL at 4.9%. The agreement between Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EON) and Proton on the distribution on Proton cars also means that EON Capital would continue to obtain referrals from EON. 

Bintulu Port: ALTHOUGH Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd (BPHB) might lower its port charges to boost Petroliam Nasional Bhd's (Petronas) competitiveness as a global player in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, an analyst did not think the cut would be material as BPHB would still have to bear the costs of upgrading and improving the port facilities. Bintulu Port charges RM800,000 per tanker carrying LNG to the export market, which Petronas said was the highest rate in the world. Bintulu Port earned about RM320mil a year from the 400 LNG export shipments. According to the analyst, BPHB's other divisions such as container, bulk and liquid throughputs were still operating at a loss.