MarketWatch: Investors who have pushed the US stock market higher over the past month will be taking their cues about the pace of future interest-rate hikes next week from the Federal Reserve. Should the Fed give any hints it will get more aggressive on rate hikes than the market projects, it could blunt the momentum for stocks. - Reuters
Top foreign stories
Japan January core machinery orders rise 15%: Japan's core machinery orders rose a more-than-expected 15% in January from the previous month, Cabinet Office data showed on Monday, in a sign that rising business investment could support economic growth. The rise in core orders was much stronger than economists' median estimate for a 3.0 percent increase. - Reuters
China's Anbang to acquire Strategic Hotels for US$6.5b: China's Anbang Insurance Group has agreed to acquire Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc for around US$6.5 billion, as the owner of New York's iconic Waldorf Astoria expands its US hotel portfolio, a person briefed on the matter said. - Reuters
AT&T, Starwood, Marriott working on Cuba deals ahead of Obama visit: At least three major U.S. companies, AT&T Inc, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc and Marriott International Inc, are seeking to complete deals in Cuba as President Barack Obama prepares to visit Havana, a person familiar with the discussions said. - Reuters
Top local stories
Axiata keen to buy towers from Pakistan operator: Regional telecommunications firm Axiata Group Bhd
is looking to buy over the signal-tower operations of one of Pakistan’s largest telecoms operators. Sources say Pakistan Mobile Communications Ltd, or Mobilink, has submitted a proposal to sell and lease back its signal towers to edotco Group
Sdn Bhd, Axiata’s tower services arm. - StarBiz
Diversification pays off for PPB: The PPB Group Bhd's venture into neighbouring markets for access to quicker growth for its core business segments has paid off over the years and this has clearly delivered both value and growth to its shareholders. - StarBiz
Texchem to open 33 new food outlets: Texchem Corp Bhd will invest RM20mil in 33 new food outlets - 11 Yoshinoya, 11 Hanamaru and 11 Sushi King - in the country this year. The new outlets will raise the number of Sushi King outlets in the country to 110 by end of 2016. - Starbiz
Scomi Engineering building RM57m plant in Brazil: Scomi Engineering Bhd’s manufacturing facility in Sao Paulo, Brazil is expected to strengthen the group’s position in the market. The 50 million real (RM56.8mil) facility will manufacture monorail trains, including rolling stock and bogies. - Bernama
Foreign labour freeze to hurt palm oil sector: The freeze on intake of foreign workers will stifle the palm oil sector in Malaysia, said an Olam International Ltd commodity trader
Ranveer Singh Chauhan. Shortage of labour was currently among the biggest challenges facing the industry in the country, he said. - StarBiz
Thong Guan continues expansion: Thong Guan Industries Bhd is spending RM25mil-RM30mil in 2016 to add new production lines and equipment for its research and development (R&D) centre at the present site in Sungai Petani, Kedah. - StarBiz
Unsold residential units to rise in 2016: Property develop- ers are expected to see more unsold residential units in 2016, as launches over the past two years are expected to come on stream, amid a slowdown in demand. - StarBiz
Reach Energy aims to complete QA by third quarter: Reach Energy Bhd managing director Shahul Hamid Mohd Ismail foresees a bumpy journey ahead for the special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) to secure its qualifying asset (QA). However he says the company aims to secure its QA by the third quarter this year. - Edge FD
Teo Guan Lee in expansion mode: Teo Guan Lee Corp Bhd, the maker of the well- known “Kiki Lala” brand of baby apparel, is in an expansion mode, but has ruled out acquiring another garment company. - Edge FD
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