Dialog, Halliburtin in RM3.7b oil service deal

Dialog, Halliburtin in RM3.7b oil service deal: KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — Malaysia’s Dialog Group Bhd said it has signed an agreement with Halliburton International Inc for a contract worth US$1.2 billion (RM3.7 billion) aimed at boosting oil output from a mature field in East Malaysia. The agreement aims to boost recoverable reserves in the Bayan Field, located offshore Sarawak, as Malaysia tries ...

Bursa Malaysia Today Market Preview Nov 12

Bursa Malaysia Today Market Preview Nov 12: Last Friday, major US equity indices finally ended its two day losing streak following Obama’s re-election and registered gains of between 0.0% - 0.3% after consumer confidence climbed to a five-year high, which offset concerns about the fiscal cliff negotiations. Back home, the benchmark FBM KLCI should trade upwards towards the immediate resistance level of 1,670 as data released on

7 China stocks facing boom, not doom

7 China stocks facing boom, not doom:
By MarketWatch

HSBC weighed in on China's leadership transition Friday, identifying seven sectors -- and selected individual stocks -- as likely beneficiaries from the nation's new government.

Among them, the research house named: consumption, urbanization, innovation, environment, health care, culture and financial reform.

While the list offered similar investment ideas to those already mentioned by other research brokerages, the bigger standout was HSBC's bullish tone towards China's new administration.

It noted that events over the past week in Beijing suggest the new leadership is poised to deliver positive change, even though the final unveiling of the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee included a lineup that left out two reform-minded candidates.

The research house also said that the handover was an "orderly transition of power," and it praised a key political report presented by departing President Hu Jintao as making the "right noises about the country's direction in the next five years."

HSBC said the 90-minute address delivered to the Party Congress on Nov. 9 -– viewed as influencing the reform agenda for the incoming leadership -- made all the right noises, using the phrase "scientific development" 19 times, "socialism with Chinese characteristics" 79 times and "reform" 84 times. The phase "the people" appeared 145 times. The keywords show Beijing's sensitivity to the need for reforms, HSBC said.

Still, while HSBC praised the open talk about reform, it also cautioned that delivering such reforms won't be easy. In a nod to the challenges ahead, HSBC's outlook for China's economy calls for a slow recovery -- more "U-shaped" than "V-shaped."

It noted an improving backdrop, and that Chinese stocks were "fairly valued" rather than expensive.

Among selected ways to invest in each theme, it laid out its respective picks: Hengan International Group Co. , Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Development Co. , Lenovo Group Ltd. , China Longyuan Power Group Corp. , Sinopharm Group Co. , Youku Tudou Inc. , and China Construction Bank Corp.

-- Chris Oliver
Follow The Tell blog on Twitter @thetellblog

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/7-china-stocks-facing-boom-032900464.html

Health is Wealth Bullbear Stock Investing Notes

FBM KLCI climbs higher

FBM KLCI climbs higher: The FBM KLCI opened higher today, tracking regional markets as investors took cue from bullish sentiments from the overnight Wall Street.

IMF Optimistic About Malaysia's Economy

IMF Optimistic About Malaysia's Economy:

Malaysia will be able to sustain its growth level with its gradual shift from a trade-based economy to a consumption-led one, says the International Monetary Fund

KUALA LUMPUR: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday placed high confidence in Malaysia's economy, saying that the country will be able to sustain its growth level with its gradual shift from a trade-based economy to a consumption-led one.

Its managing director Christine Lagarde was, however, concerned that despite Malaysia's strong initial public offering performance, foreign direct investment levels have not gone back to pre-crisis levels.

The "reasonably" high level of debt-to-gross domestic product ratio needs to be addressed, she said at a media briefing here yesterday.

The IMF chief is in Malaysia as part of her three-nation Asian tour which will also take her to the Philippines and Cambodia.

In her speech at a global public lecture hosted by the Malaysian Economic Association, Lagarde said although Malaysia has held up well so far with growth above 4.5 per cent, it remains in risky territory as with other Asian economies.

Growth will pick up again and Asia will retain its position as a growth leader, expanding two percentage points faster than the world average next year.

She also spoke about how the West could learn from Asia's own brush with the crisis in the 1990s, which has helped make the region's economic foundations safer, sounder and more resilient.

The IMF chief stressed on the need for American and European policy makers to act amid continued severe challenges faced by the advanced economies.

Although Asia has made strides in trade integration, it is still lagging in financial integration as reflected by the 90 per cent of Asean cross-border portfolio investment flows with advanced economies outside Asia, she said.

Greater regional financial integration can boost domestic demand, making it easier for small businesses in countries like Malaysia to gain access to credit and reduce inequality, she added.

Asia has a unique opportunity to get financial integration right and avoid the missteps and excesses of the West.

Lagarde also discounted the possibility of a global recession next year, saying the economy will grow by at least 3.6 per cent as policy makers continue to act.

When asked on Greece at the media briefing, she said a "real fix", not a "quick fix", was needed to help the country return to economic stability and enable it to re-access markets as soon as possible.

The tone of IMF towards Malaysia was one of appreciation yesterday as the fund acknowledged the country's leading role in building a financial firewall to boost its firepower for the 188-member body by US$461 billion, bringing the total lending power to over US$1 trillion.

She also praised Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, saying that her superior economic management has ensured that Malaysia is well protected and able to handle capital flows without being overwhelmed.

The overwhelming turnout was clearly impressed with Lagarde and her clear message of wanting the fund to have a more "engaging" presence in Asia.

FirstEnergy's Third Quarter Earnings Report

FirstEnergy's Third Quarter Earnings Report: FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) announced its results for the most recent quarter on November 8, 2012. FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company that operates through its subsidiaries: OE, CEI, TE, Penn, ATSI ...

Enterprise Multiple = EV / EBITDA

Enterprise Multiple = EV / EBITDA:

What It Is:

Enterprise multiple is a financial indicator used to determine the value of a company. It is equal to a company’s enterprise value divided by its EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation andAmortization).

How It Works/Example:

The enterprise multiple has many uses. In addition to helping investors determine if a company is over- or undervalued, it is also used by analysts to examine companies during the due diligence process that precedes a potential acquisition.

To determine the enterprise multiple, you much first find the company's enterprise value (market capitalization + value of debt, minority interest, and preferred shares - value of cash and cash equivalents). Once you know the company's EV, simply divide by the company's EBITDA.

Enterprise Multiple = EV/EBITDA

A company with a low enterprise multiple is considered to be an attractive takeover candidate (and investment), because it reflects a low price for the value of the company (more company for your dollar).  Enterprise multiples are compared to other companies within the same industry and not across industries in order to obtain an insightful assessment.

Why It Matters:

The enterprise multiple ratio is considered a more accurate barometer of the firm's value than the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio since it discounts various countries taxing policies and takes into account debt and cash on hand. The enterprise multiple provides a more accurate insight into the company as it provides the acquirer with better information about the company's prospects and will prevent the acquirer from overpaying as well as avoid a potentially inferior acquisition.

http://www.investinganswers.com/financial-dictionary/financial-statement-analysis/enterprise-multiple-625

Health is Wealth Bullbear Stock Investing Notes

DJI Heading North or South?

DJI Heading North or South?:

Seeing last week DJI close down by more than 200 point, it reminded me it has been a while that it fluctuated between 13,000 to 13,500. This prompt me to take a look of the chart. My below study appear that, there were two possibility of 50% chances uptrend and 50% downside consolidation. So, will DJI going for much awaited correction soon? Or much awaited breakout? Will this happen before the Presidential Election (Nov 6) or after? From the chart, I included two triangle pattern theory. Ascending Triangle Breakout (green color) and Falling Triangle Correction (red color) and have draw up the zigzag pattern which looks match from this two chart pattern. Which will be the exact match?

Well, from the chart it show that the next important test for support will be (e) 13K (purple dotted line), this will be very critical support for uptrend. If this rebound strong than the market will be good to go beyond 13,600 and if this broken than be ready for downside. If it was going south, how low will it hit this time? 12k? 11k? 10k? 9k? Will this cripple our local mart upside? Let us follow closely this few weeks and hope the bear will not take over the control! 

Good Luck and All The Best!

Murdoch re-elected to BSkyB board as profit climbs

Murdoch re-elected to BSkyB board as profit climbs: LONDON, Nov 1 – James Murdoch was re-elected to the board of BSkyB today, ensuring his family’s media empire retains a direct influence at Britain’s biggest pay-TV company despite being weakened by a phone hacking scandal. James Murdoch (picture), forced to quit as BSkyB chairman in April over his role in the scandal at his father Rupert’s News ...