Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Global car sales were supposed to rally this year as manufacturers dragged themselves out of the coronavirus mire, but a combination of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s renewed medical emergency shutdown and key component shortages mean a more than 5% contraction is likely, according to a report from Germany’s Center for Automotive Research (CAR AR ). The report said it’s not all bad news for manufacturers. Underlying demand is still strong, and component shortages mean a lack of new vehicles are reaching buyers and prices are strong, generating what amounts to windfall profits. Second-hand vehicles are also in demand. You can forget radar cruise control or plug-in hybrids; availability is the most important feature. CAR said global sales in 2022 will fall to 67.6 million from last year’s 71.3 million. Sales were thought to have bottomed out in 2020 at 68.6 million after diving from 79.9 million in 2019 because … [Read more...] about Global Car Sales To Fall, Spooked By Russian Invasion, China’s Shutdown
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US retail sales show consumer standing firm in face of inflation
- A + A NEW YORK (May 17): US retail sales grew at a solid pace in April, reflecting broad-based gains and suggesting demand for merchandise remains resilient despite rampant inflation. The value of overall retail purchases increased 0.9%, after an upwardly revised 1.4% gain in March, Commerce Department figures showed on Tuesday. Excluding vehicles and gas stations, sales rose 1% last month. The figures are not adjusted for inflation. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists had called for an 1% increase in overall retail sales from a month earlier and a 0.7% jump in the figure excluding autos and gas stations. Treasuries sold off after the report, while stock futures held gains and the dollar remained lower. "While the increase will look less impressive after taking price movements into account, today's data still suggests that the squeeze on household incomes from inflationary pressures isn't yet having a material impact on discretionary … [Read more...] about US retail sales show consumer standing firm in face of inflation
Wall St climbs on gains in banks, strong retail sales data
- A + A NEW YORK/BENGALURU (May 17): US stocks rose on Tuesday, as Citigroup led a surge in bank shares after Berkshire Hathaway revealed a big stake and strong retail sales in April eased some concerns about slowing economic growth. Ten of the 11 major S&P sectors advanced, with financials and technology up 2% each. Microsoft Corp, Apple Inc, Tesla Inc and Nvidia Corp gained between 1.5% and 4.8%, providing the biggest boost to the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. Banks jumped 3.1%, with Citigroup climbing 7.9%, after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a nearly US$3 billion investment in the US lender. "If you have exhausted sellers, there's no one else left to sell ... the market has really been pummeled," said Mimi Duff, senior client advisor at investment advisory firm GenTrust. "So at the very sight of any good news you can get a bounce, but what we are really looking for is some consolidation." US retail sales increased 0.9% in April, as … [Read more...] about Wall St climbs on gains in banks, strong retail sales data
3 Emerging Markets Stocks That Are Secular Winners On Sale
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Every market selloff presents opportunities. The iShares Emerging Markets ETF EEM is down -17% year-to-date. Even though Emerging Markets are notoriously volatile, this region is attractive due to its outsized growth potential. According to Lazard Asset Management , Emerging Market (EM) economies are responsible for about 60% of global growth, yet only represent about 13% of the MSCI All Country World Index ACWI . This gap won’t disappear overnight, but it bodes well for EM’s long-term investment prospects. EM has faster economic growth due to relatively attractive demographics and ongoing urbanization. If you’re a long-term investor, adding emerging markets exposure may also prove timely. Below is a chart of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index compared to the S&P 500 Index, expressed as a ratio. When the line is rising, it means Emerging Markets are outperforming US stocks. When the line is falling, it … [Read more...] about 3 Emerging Markets Stocks That Are Secular Winners On Sale
Biden Turns To Venezuelan Dictator For Oil After Canceling US Lease Sales
The Biden administration is expected to soon announce it would ease sanctions on Venezuelan oil amid the ongoing energy crisis, several media outlets reported. The federal government will ease “some” of the energy sanctions on Venezuela, two senior administration officials told CNN. In addition, U.S. oil corporation Chevron will be allowed to enter into negotiations with Venezuelan state-owned firm PDVSA over potential continued operations in the South American oil-rich nation. As part of the deal, Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro agreed to open talks with opposition leader Juan Guaidó, Reuters reported . “[The U.S. agreed to lift some sanctions] on the basis of ambitious, concrete and irreversible outcomes that empower the Venezuelan people to determine the future in their country through democratic elections,” one official told CNN. (RELATED: Gas Prices Hit All-Time High As White House Turns To Dictators For Help) While the U.S. has pursued an aggressive sanctions … [Read more...] about Biden Turns To Venezuelan Dictator For Oil After Canceling US Lease Sales
Supreme Court dismisses appeal to suspend sales of Hugel’s Botox
Hugel logo The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by the Seoul Regional Office of Food and Drug Safety in an ongoing legal row over the suspension of the sale of Hugel's botulinum toxin products, Hugel said Wednesday. The dismissal came as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on December 2 ordered to revoke the license of four botulax botulinum toxin products manufactured by Hugel for violating certification and shipping regulations. The drug safety authorities said it caught Hugel selling the items in the domestic market without gaining approval, and also ordered Hugel to recall and destroy all the products in circulation. Botulinum toxin is popularly known by the Botox brand name. However, Hugel immediately filed a complaint against the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to suspend the order, arguing that the products were export-only pharmaceuticals, which means that they didn’t have to gain approval from the authority when exporting them. With its complaint, the Seoul … [Read more...] about Supreme Court dismisses appeal to suspend sales of Hugel’s Botox
Dialog posts lower profit for 3QFY22 despite revenue growth, declares 1.3 sen dividend
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): Dialog Group Bhd posted a net profit of RM133.06 million for the third financial quarter ended March 31, 2022 (3QFY22), down 2.3% from RM136.17 million a year earlier, mainly caused by higher project cost. Earnings per share declined to 2.36 sen from 2.41 sen previously. Quarterly revenue, however, jumped 46.5% to RM593.43 million compared with RM405.18 million a year ago, contributed by increased business activities in both home and international operations, the oil and gas company's filing with the bourse on Tuesday (May 17) showed. The company also declared an interim cash dividend payment of 1.3 sen per share, to be paid on June 28, 2022. For the cumulative nine months ended March 31, 2022, Dialog's net profit slipped 3.7% year-on-year to RM389.76 million from RM404.6 million. Cumulative revenue, meanwhile, grew 51% to RM1.64 billion from RM1.09 billion. Dialog said the higher revenue reported by the Malaysian operations for … [Read more...] about Dialog posts lower profit for 3QFY22 despite revenue growth, declares 1.3 sen dividend
Duopharma’s 1Q net profit rises 15% on higher revenue
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): Duopharma Biotech Bhd’s net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 (1QFY22) grew 15.2% to RM20.29 million from RM17.61 million in the same quarter last year, on the back of higher revenue due to increase in sales. The Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine distributor saw its revenue for the quarter under review rise 11.71% to RM185.94 million from RM166.45 million previously, bolstered by higher sales to the consumer healthcare and private ethical sectors. Earnings per share improved to 2.19 sen compared with 1.9 sen a year ago, according to Duopharma’s filing with Bursa Malaysia. Compared to the immediate preceding quarter, Duopharma’s net profit grew 29.11% quarter-on-quarter from RM15.72 million, as revenue went up by 27.84% from RM145.44 million in 4QFY21. In a separate statement, Duopharma Biotech group managing director Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar said earnings in the upcoming quarters will be buoyed by the RM375 million … [Read more...] about Duopharma’s 1Q net profit rises 15% on higher revenue
Malaysia Aviation Group on track to break even in 2023 but faces fuel, forex headwinds
This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on May 9, 2022 - May 15, 2022. Izham: We remain bullish on MAG’s future [and] cautiously optimistic about the environment. (Photo by Suhaimi Yusuf/The Edge) - A + A MALAYSIA Aviation Group Bhd (MAG), which narrowed its full-year net loss for 2021 by 60% over the preceding year, remains on track to achieve break-even in 2023 as part of its Long Term Business Plan 2021-2025 (LTBP 2.0). However, group CEO Captain Izham Ismail warns of headwinds from fuel and foreign exchange (forex) volatility, which could affect the target. MAG, whose wholly-owned subsidiaries include Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB), MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd (MABkargo), FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd and MASwings Sdn Bhd, posted a net loss of RM1.65 billion for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2021 (FY2021), a significant improvement on the year-earlier RM4.1 billion net loss when it was dealing with the effects of a slowdown in the global economy and … [Read more...] about Malaysia Aviation Group on track to break even in 2023 but faces fuel, forex headwinds
PetChem, Dialog, Duopharma, Yong Tai, Caely, DNeX, Reservoir Link, Borneo Oil, Chin Hin and SCIB
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): Here is a brief look at some corporate announcements and news flow on Tuesday (May 17) involving Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (PetChem), Dialog Group Bhd, Duopharma Biotech Bhd, Yong Tai Bhd, Caely Holdings Bhd, Dagang NeXchange Bhd (DNex), Reservoir Link Energy Bhd, Borneo Oil Bhd, Chin Hin Group Bhd and Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (SCIB). Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd ( PetChem ) is acquiring the entire equity interest in leading specialty chemicals group Perstorp Holdings AB from Financière Forêt SARL for a base purchase of €1.538 billion (RM7.018 billion) cash. The acquisition marks the creation of a significant specialty chemicals portfolio, while enhancing its overall earnings, said PetChem, which together with its unit Petronas Chemicals International BV (PCIBV) has entered into a conditional securities purchase agreement with the seller for the proposed acquisition. Under the deal, PCIBV is required to pay a maximum … [Read more...] about PetChem, Dialog, Duopharma, Yong Tai, Caely, DNeX, Reservoir Link, Borneo Oil, Chin Hin and SCIB