The FBM KLCI was in the midst of a pullback, declining for the third session as investors were staying on the sidelines ahead of the re-tabling of Budget 2023. Also, investors may continue to monitor the geopolitical tensions as the European Union aims to adopt a new package of sanctions against Russia this week, as well as the US President Biden’s visit to Ukraine. On the local front, earnings reports and the Budget 2023 re-tabling on Friday will remain as the key focus while investors monitor for a series of global economic data.

We continue to like REXIT’s business model leveraging on its core competencies such as its 24x7 secured e-Cover infrastructure, experienced management team, and solid relationship with clients which will ensure a stream of recurring income. Meanwhile, the group is in negotiation with potential new clients for FY24 who will bring new source of revenue for the business in both transactions and subscription basis.

For now, MSC remains committed to gradually improving their daily mining output level. However, we remain cautious that the rising natural gas price may continue to impact bottomline margins. Hence, we expect net margins to stay around midsingle digit over the foreseeable future.

TSH Resources Bhd’s plantation operations spans over 42,000-ha in planted areas across Sabah as well as parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia. Besides, their 67.0%-owned subsidiary; Ekowood International Bhd is operating in 2.0m sqf manufacturing plant located at Gopeng, Perak with production capacity up to 27.0m sqf of engineering hardwood flooring (EHF) per annum.

The FBM KLCI consolidated further last Friday amidst bearish sentiment across the regional markets. However, we believe bargain hunting activities may emerge on the local bourse after a broad-based selldown ahead of the re-tabling of Budget 2023, but the global sentiment could weighed further by renewed concerns over expectations of larger interest rate hikes going forward. This week, investors may keep an eye on the US FOMC minutes, US GDP growth rate (second estimates), Eurozone’s inflation rate, Malaysia’s inflation rate, as well as the re-tabling of Budget 2023.

In line with the ELKDESA’s strategic direction to grow its hire purchase portfolio amidst economic recovery environment, the group increased its hire purchase receivables 19.4% YoY and 7.5% QoQ to RM560.3m. Liabilities wise, the group’s bank borrowings increased by 51.9% YoY to RM198.6m as a result of higher drawdown of block discounting facilities to support the increased hire purchase receivables.

The FBM KLCI slipped into the negative territory after midday break amidst quick profit-taking activities following a four-day rally. As investors parsed through the stronger-than-expected inflation report, global sentiment has again turned slightly weaker in the anticipation of a hawkish tone from the Fed moving forward. While bargain hunting activities may occur amid the reporting season, we believe cautious sentiment on the global front may capped the buying momentum on the local bourse.

The FBM KLCI outperformed the regional markets on the back of final-hour bargain hunting activities as well as the inflow from foreign investors. While Wall Street notched higher overnight, we believe the global sentiment could remain shaky in view of the strong retail data, which might indicate potential interest rate hikes by the US Fed going forward. However, closer to home, investors might be relatively positive prior to the earnings season and the re-tabling of Budget 2023.