Malaysia's main market index ends year at all time high

PETALING JAYA: The FBM KLCI finished 2012 with a 10.34% gain to close at an all-time high of 1,688.95 as election concerns, defensive trading and high cash holding continued to dominate the equity scene in Malaysia. For the day, the local bourse was up 7.62 points on volume of RM1.31bil shares.

The KLCI's gains were mostly done in the last 15 minutes of trading on selected key blue chip stocks.

Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd was the biggest gainer of the day, closing RM2.06 to RM24, pushing up the KLCI by 3.39 points while Malayan Banking Bhd rose 12 sen to RM9.02 and nudged the index by 2.25 points. AEON Co (M) Bhd was on the gainers list, up RM1.42 to close at RM14.12.

Nonetheless, the KLCI is still one of the underperformers when compared with its regional peers. It is only ahead of the Shanghai Composite Index, Taiwan and South Korea, which recorded year to date gains of 3.17%, 8.87% and 9.38%, respectively.

Not surprisingly, it was the smaller Ace market counters that hogged the gainers list for the year.

These included Microlink Solutions Bhd with a 308% gain to 51 sen andBorneo Aqua Harvest Bhd with a 118.18% gain to 72 sen.

Among the bigger stocks that did well included KLCC Property Holdings Bhd which gained 99.37% to RM6.28 on plans to form a stapled real estate investment trust (REIT).

KLCC Property's restructuring exercise will involve the company acquiring the remaining 49.5% stake in Midciti Resources Sdn Bhd which owns the Petronas Twin Towers from KLCC Holdings Bhd for RM2.86bil. Following that, KLCC Property will inject three properties into KLCC REIT.

The properties are the Twin Towers, Menara ExxonMobile and Menara 3 Petronas. Thus once the restructuring is completed, KLCC Property shareholders will own shares and units in both KLCC Property and KLCC REIT.

The best performing stock on the Main Market for the year was Bright Packaging Industry Bhd, which was up 230.58% on a year to date basis.

It closed at RM2, which is also its 10-year high, on news that the company may see a change in its board and management.

Bright manufactures aluminium foil packaging materials which are mainly supplied to the tobacco industry. Last week, the company told Bursa Malaysia that four substantial shareholders with a collective stake of 31.2% had requested an EGM to remove existing directors and appoint new ones.

Over in the Ace market, the best performing stock and overall best performing stock for whole of Bursa Malaysia for 2012 was Green Ocean Corp Bhd.- the star online

MPA decommissions Singapore's first port operations control

SINGAPORE - The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) officially decommissioned its Port Operations Control Centre (POCC) at Tanjong Pagar Complex on Friday.

The POCC was Singapore's first port operations control and was in service for 28 years.

The other other current POCCs are at Changi Naval Base and PSA Vista.

Read the press release below for more info:

Following the commissioning of its new Port Operations Control Centre (POCC) at Changi Naval Base in July 2011 and the re-commissioning of its upgraded POCC at PSA Vista in September 2012, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) today officially decommissioned its POCC at Tanjong Pagar Complex (POCC-TPC).

Today's decommissioning of POCC-TPC marks the retirement of Singapore's first POCC after more than 28 years of faithful service in ensuring navigational safety of vessels in the Singapore Strait and Singapore's port waters.

First commissioned on 1 May 1984, POCC-TPC initially used VHF radios to manage vessel traffic in Singapore until the first radar based Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) was installed in 1990. The VTIS allowed POCC officers to see the positions of vessels in real time on a screen and provide navigational assistance to these vessels. In 2000, POCC-TPC was upgraded with a new VTIS that was able to track up to 5,000 vessels.

The decommissioning ceremony was officiated by MPA's Chief Executive, Mr Lam Yi Young, and was attended by POCC officers who served at POCC-TPC over the years, including those who have since retired from service. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lam paid tribute to the pioneers who were instrumental in setting up POCC-TPC and the many POCC officers who faithfully kept watch at POCC-TPC round the clock from 1984 to 2012, ensuring the safety of the thousands of vessels that call at the Port of Singapore each year.

MPA's new POCC at Changi Naval Base and upgraded POCC at PSA Vista are fully operational and manned round the clock to ensure navigational safety of vessels in the Singapore Strait and Singapore's port waters. The two centres are fully integrated to serve as mutual back-up to each other. Each centre is independently equipped and has the capability to assume control of all operational areas in times of an emergency affecting the other centre . - asiaone.com

KLCI ends 11 points higher before Christmas

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI closed the last trading day before Christmas 10.55 points higher to 1,669.4, at times breaching but failing to hold above the 1,670 level. On Bursa Malaysia, losers beat gainers 324 to 279, while 330 stocks were unchanged. Trading was thin as investors stayed on the sidelines in view of the holiday-shortened week, with 620.1 million transactions worth RM801.18mil. The day's gainers included Nestle up RM1.88 to RM61.98, British American Tobacco RM1.44 to RM59.46, and Petronas Gas 60 sen to RM19.70. The losers were Dutch Lady which shed 96 sen to RM45.62, Tasek 16 sen to RM12.70, and Litrak down 15 sen to RM3.95. The most active on Monday were XOX, which has been issued an unusual market activity query by the stock exchange, SP Setia-WB, Karambunai, Tiger Synergy, Asia Media, TH Heavy Engineering, Globaltec, and AirAsia. In the region, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.99% to 9,940.06. Its peers, however, saw gains, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index up 0.16% to 22,541.18, Shanghai's Composite Index 0.27% to 2,159.05, South Korea's Kospi 0.07% to 1,981.82, and Singapore's Straits Times Index 0.16% to 3,168.57. US light crude oil slipped 0.16% to US$88.52 while spot gold rose slightly to US$1,663.25. - star online

New Scania Opticruise

Scania Opticruise has been totally revised including an entirely new gearchanging strategy. You are now offered the unique possibility of choosing between a fully automated version with an automatic clutch and a classic version with a clutch pedal.

The new Scania Opticruise in action
Scania Opticruise, one of the first automated gearchanging systems on the market, has been refined in many steps over the years. The concept of a standard mechanical gearbox remains, but the system has been extensively revised with improved mechanical components and entirely new software.

Improved functionality
The gearchanging strategy has been re-developed to provide improved functionality, comfort and convenience, as well as capacity for future refinements.

Strategy and hill performance
The gearchanging strategy is designed to continually adapt to the environment, taking into account factors such as road inclination, train weight and engine characteristics, as well as the position of the accelerator pedal to match the response to the speed of the pedal movement. Early downchanges are made to maintain speed on hills without wasting fuel. The new Scania Opticruise also features a Power mode that adapts the gear changing strategy for maximum engine performance.

Scania Ecocruise, hill-hold, Scania Retarder and ACC (adaptive cruise control) are fully integrated functionally, if fitted.

Manoeuvring and low-speed driving
Thanks to the electro-hydraulic control of the automatic clutch, high-precision manoeuvring is possible. In exceptional cases the manoeuvring mode provides extra precision. The manoeuvring mode disengages automatically in high range.

To ensure smooth, safe and comfortable driving, neutral is engaged instead of low range when braking from low speed, e.g. for a roundabout or stoplight. Thereafter the system prepares the most suitable gear, which is immediately engaged when the accelerator is depressed.

Load sensing and starting
A Scania vehicle is fitted with load and inclination sensors that are used to automatically adapt the vehicle to the optimal choice of starting gear. No action is required from the driver. Interaction between Scania Opticruise, launch control and clutch protection systems will maximise clutch life.

Rocking
Rocking forward or backward is automatically enabled when needed.
Rocking is possible in forward or reverse gears. The system identifies the need for rocking by comparing the rotation of the drive wheels with that of the front wheels.

Extra smooth rocking is available in manoeuvring mode which can be useful in ultra-slippery conditions.

Remote PTO operation
The gearbox power take-off can be programmed by the bodybuilder for remote operation from outside the vehicle.

Clutch control system
The automatic clutch operates independently of driver skills and is programmed to engage fully already at low engine revs. Clutch actuation is also adapted to the information from the inclination sensor and to the required starting gear. Hence, the engine speed is raised if needed to pull away cleanly.

The clutch is never slipped during gearchanges, only used to disconnect the gearbox from the engine. These functions will effectively protect the clutch and other powertrain components from mechanical abuse.

The hill-hold feature, which engages briefly after depression of the brake pedal when stationary, makes starting even more convenient. The hydro-electric control of the automatic clutch is unique in the industry, offering the benefit of particularly precise clutch actuation - www.scania.com

Kontena exploring JVs in logistics sector

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 18, 2012): Kontena Nasional Bhd is in talks with companies both foreign and local for potential joint ventures (JVs), strategic alliances and partnerships in the logistics sector, said its CEO Hood Osman.

"We will not depend on organic growth alone. After a while, the cost and revenue stream will hit a saturation point. Once you hit a saturation point, there is no growth," he told reporters at a media luncheon here yesterday.

"We need to maintain the margin. So, we need to be imaginative on how to do things."

The third party logistics provider is currently in talks with several parties involved in the warehouse management and distribution, freight forwarding and container haulage for possible JVs, strategic alliances or partnerships.

"There are nearly 2,000 freight forwarders in the country. Most of them are not asset base. If you are able to support with the infrastructure that Kontena Nasional now has, it will be win-win situation for both," said Hood.

Kontena Nasional has set a revenue growth of RM334 million for the current financial year ending Dec 31, 2012, from RM234 million in FY11, driven by organic growth and new businesses.

For FY13, it is targeting a 25% growth in revenue.

"Over the last two years, (revenue) growth has been ranging between 20% and 25%," said Hood.

"We have made good grounds (in 2012). Our margins have improved.

"For FY13, focus will be on streamlining our internal operations and people. If you take a look at the industry at large, the driver (of growth) is from the manufacturing sector and we are moving towards the fast moving consumer goods segment," he said.

The company is expected to clinch two major aeronautical contracts next year, as part of its plan to expand into other sectors.

The contract will be for three years, said Hood but declined to elaborate.

Currently, Kontena Nasional has strong presence in the oil and gas sector as well as a "fair bit" of government work, he added.

 - THE SUNDAYDAILY

Customs net 1,500 tusks from Africa worth RM60m

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 11, 2012): Malaysian customs have seized 24 tonnes of unprocessed elephant tusks worth almost $20 million, the largest haul in the country to date, officials said Tuesday.

Some 1,500 tusks hidden in two containers were discovered by customs officials at the country's main port of Klang, in the western state of Selangor.

The tusks had been hidden within pieces of timber inside the containers, which had originated from the west African nation of Togo.

State customs director Azis Yaacub said in a statement that the cargo had been transferred from one ship to another in Spain and was believed to be headed to China.

"The two containers were found to be filled with sawn timber. Inside the wood there were secret compartments that were filled with elephant tusks," he said.

The haul is worth 60 million ringgit, which amounts to $19.6 million. Officials said that the seizure on December 7 was the fourth in the past year and was larger than the other three combined.

Wildlife trade-monitoring network TRAFFIC has described Malaysia as a major hub for illicit wildlife products.

International trade in elephant ivory was banned in 1990 with rare exceptions, such as auctions of tusks from elephants that have died naturally, or that have been seized from poachers in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.

However, the ivory trade has grown globally since 2004, largely due to demand in China, where it is used in traditional medicine.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, African elephant populations may have been as high as five million in the first part of the 20th century, but their numbers could now be as low as 470,000. – AFP