Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by investmentlink

Who is the main Fiber Optic supplier if HSBB....

investmentlink — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:19:30 +0800

Who is the main Fiber Optic supplier if HSBB project successful launched?

OPCOM?

[addedon]September 7, 2008, 10:58 am[/addedon]Now we've three candidate to catch the billion worth contract!

Lite Kabel Sdn Bhd,
Fujikura Federal Cables Sdn Bhd and
Opcom Holdings Bhd

refer http://stockmarket.tailou.com/viewtopic.php?t=3389

Abolishing of real property gains tax (RPGT)

investmentlink — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:12:12 +0800

Malaysians are waiting for a piece of rumor to become a fact soon. The expectations are running high. And it should become a reality soon judging from the win-win situation that it potentially brings to both the country's economy as well as the investors. It's none other than the expectation of Government in abolishing the RPGT (real property gains tax) which was introduced back in mid-1990s amid a hot property market to curb speculation on house prices.

Sources say it is likely that an announcement on the matter will be made during the Invest Malaysia 2007 conference jointly organised by Bursa Malaysia (KLSE: BURSA, stock-code 1818), RHB Investment Bank and UBS (NYSE: UBS, stock) Securities.

RPGT is a tax on profits from a sale of properties less than five years after they were bought. Only the profit arising from the disposal of a property is subject to RPGT. The tax will be assessed based on a percentage ranging between 5% and 30%, depending on how long the seller has held the property. For Malaysian individuals, there is no RPGT if the property is disposed of after five years. For foreigners, a flat rate of 30% is applicable within five years from the purchase of the property, and 5% on the sixth and subsequent years.

There're even talks of stamp duty on property transactions being waived on top of the abolishment of RPGT. Stamp duty waiver would be the more significant factor given that it is based on the total purchase value. Example: a two-and-a-half-storey house worth about RM 628,000 will attract a stamp duty of RM 12,000 - a small figure percentage-wise, but a large sum in absolute terms.
With property prices in Malaysia being generally cheaper, and with the ringgit still considered a cheap currency, observers feel that any liberalisation in the property sector could see foreigners pumping money into the sector.

Back to main justification that Malaysian government will most likely abolish RPGT is the fact that the rosy economic picture painted is not that promising after all. Historically, stocks bull-run will fill-over directly into property sector - people who made tons of profit from the stock market will have nowhere to park their money but to property, obviously. That was exactly what happened during the 1993 Super-Bull run. People were seen laughing their ways to the bank by buying and selling properties with minimal booking fees. The speculation caused the property prices skyrocketed in an alarming rate that the government introduced the RPGT.

But at current situation, the property market is not attracting the expected demand, if the so-called current bull-run is used as the gauge against the 1993's bull. Needing a shot in the arm desperately, the government needs to see the property sector to take off in great strength if it wants to see the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) to even attract some excitement amongst the voters in preparing for the coming general election. Already the IDR project has all the doubts of success if you were to conduct an interview with person on the street. However, the abolishment of RPGT will definitely boost the property sector and hopefully it will create the wealth the same way before.

Amongst beneficiaries of property companies are players such as:

Sunrise Berhad (KLSE: SUNRISE, stock-code 6165)
E & O Property Development Berhad (KLSE: E&OPROP, stock-code 3468)
Mah Sing Group Berhad (KLSE: MAHSING, stock-code 8583)
SP Setia Berhad (KLSE: SPSETIA, stock-code 8664)
Sunway City Berhad (KLSE: SUNCITY, stock-code 6289)
Glomac Berhad (KLSE: GLOMAC, stock-code 5020)
UEM World Berhad (KLSE: UEMWRLD, stock-code 1775)
TA Enterprise Berhad (KLSE: TA, stock-code 4898)

Market Outlook as at March 6

investmentlink — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 01:19:38 +0800

The KLCI has tested its 100-day SMA at 1097 level yesterday, before rebounding to close at 1111. It is a testimonial to the sharpness of this fall that the KLCI has reached this important mark in a matter of 6 days after making a top. With the RSI deeply into the oversold zone, the stage is set for a technical rebounce in the market. You would also notice that the uptrend line starting from July 2006 may provide some support at the 1075/80 level.

I have also attached the charts for the 12-month period ended March 5, 2007 as well as the 12-month period ended March 5, 1994 . A comparison between the 2 charts raises the interesting question of whether we are currently in a similar stage like January 1994, where the market had corrected sharply after the 1993 bull run and thereafter entered into a period of consolidation that lasted many months. During that period, the market traded in a range marked out by the 50-day SMA and 100-day SMA (or, between 1000 and 1150 level). If the same pattern were to repeat, we can expect a market to trade in the range between 1100 and 1200 for the next few months. You may take advantage of the range-bound market to accumulate near the 1100 level & to sell when it approaches the 1200 level.

KLCI is likely to re-test the medium-term uptrend

investmentlink — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:38:00 +0800

Looking at the chart, I believe that the KLCI is poised to test its medium-test uptrend line at the 1140 level next week. This is a very important support level and if the KLCI were to breach this support, the entire bull run would come to an end. I believe that this support level is likely to hold.

All eyes on the Shanghai Stock Exchange CI

investmentlink — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:29:15 +0800

Many were not aware of the raging bull in the Shanghai stock market until the recent rude awakening. The Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index ('SSECI') has gained nearly 100% in 6 months, from just under 1600 point in August last year to 3000 point in January this year.

We can see that the SSECI's uptrend picked up pace in August last year & went into a parabolic rise from mid-November last year. This sent the SSECI up 60% in just 2 months; from 1850 point from mid-November to hit a high of 3000 point on January 24. Thereafter, the SSECI underwent an orderly correction & dropped about 14% over a 9 days' period to hit a low of just under 2600 point on Feb 6 before recovering. The SSECI has then tested & exceeded its recent high of 3000 point marginally. On February 28, amid concerns that the government might crack down on illegal investments that help drive benchmarks to record level, investors dumped their shares & the SSECI took a sharp 9.2%-plunge.

I believe that there is further correction ahead for the SSECI. The index could have put in a double top reversal. It is likely to test the tentative uptrend line at 2650. If this support is broken, it may drop to the next uptrend line supports at 2200 & then 2000. Any further weakness could continue to unnerve investors' throughout the region.

The main similarity between our KLCI and the SSECI is the sharp rise in the past 2 or 3 months. On the other hand, we must bear in mind that the SSECI has been rising for about 18 months while our KLCI has only broken above its 3-year consolidation pattern about 5 months ago (in October last year). Our stock market has no doubt benefited from the same strong foreign buying like the other markets in this region (including the Shanghai stock market). At some point over the next 1-3 weeks, investors will realize that our market should be treated differently. Only then, will we see a recovery in this market.

Market Outlook as at March 1, 2007

investmentlink — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:33:28 +0800

Yesterday, our market opened with a very sharp drop to a low of 1136.01 (a loss of 101.07 points) but it managed to crawl back & closed at 1196.45 (a loss of 40.63). Losers outnumbered gainers by 916 to 178, with volume traded of 4.0 billion units.

While the numbers are very frightening, we can take some comfort that many stocks had recovered substantially from their lows & were able to close very near their opening price. The net effect is most stocks exhibit a hammer in their respective chart. In Japanese candlestick charting method, a hammer is formed "when a security moves significantly lower after the open, but rallies to close well above the intraday low. The resulting candlestick looks like a square lollipop with a long stick." . If you look at the charts below, you will see that a hammer was also formed in the KLCI. From Chart , you can see that the KLCI has rebounded from its medium-term uptrend line (support at 1120/30). In the sharp fall, a gap was formed . The gap at 1220 & the psychological resistance of 1200 will be the test for our market for today.

Overnight, Wall Street rebounded with Dow Jones industrials rising 52.39, or 0.43 percent, to 12,268.63. The broader stock indicators also managed gains. The Standard & Poor's 500 index climbed 7.78, or 0.56 percent, to 1,406.82, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 8.29, or 0.34 percent, to 2,416.15.

Computer glitch contributed to Dow's rapid fall

investmentlink — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 21:56:44 +0800

NEW YORK - When the Dow Jones industrial average plunged to its low of the session Tuesday, it happened with incredible swiftness - a matter of seconds - because of a computer glitch that kept some trades from being immediately reflected in the index of 30 blue chip stocks.

Dow Jones & Co., the media company which manages the flagship index, said around 2 p.m - just two hours before the New York Stock Exchange was to close - it was discovered computers were not properly calculating trades. The company blamed the problem on the record volume at the NYSE, and switched to a backup computer.

The result was a massive swoon in the index that happened in the seconds it took Dow Jones to switch to its secondary computers.

"The market's extraordinary trading volume caused a delay in the Dow Jones data systems," said Dow Jones spokeswoman Sybille Reitz. "We decided to switch over to the backup system, and the result was a rapid catch-up in the published value of the Dow Jones industrial average."

Spokesmen for the NYSE Group Inc. and Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. could not immediately confirm if all closing share prices were valid. A spokesman for the Big Board said it experienced "intermittent delays and are currently assessing the situation." The Nasdaq said it was "confirming" the closing numbers.

U must know this when CI big drop!

investmentlink — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 01:10:56 +0800

At the end of a market move heavy
volume is usually pure distribution, as stocks go from strong hands into weak hands, from the professionals to the public. It is deceptive to the public who view this heavy volume as the mark of a vibrant, healthy market going through a normal correction, not a top or a bottom.

One Day Reversal: This is a stock movement that often happens at the end of a long-term move. It definite as a one day reversal occurs where the high of the day is higher than the high of the previous day, but the close of the day is below the close of the previous day, and the volume of the current day is higher than the volume of the previous day. This secnario was a screaming "danger signal". This is a danger signal and must be heeded!

Malaysia keeps rates steady, sees sustained growth

investmentlink — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:44:41 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Malaysia's central bank left interest rates unchanged for a seventh straight meeting on Monday, as expected, and economists said its statement indicated no rate cut would be on the cards for a while.

Bank Negara, the central bank, said economic growth was expected to be sustained, driven by healthy global demand and domestic consumption.

"The current level of the overnight policy rate is consistent with the medium-term outlook for growth and inflation," the central bank said in a brief statement after a regular policy meeting.

The key overnight policy rate stands at 3.50 percent.

The ringgit currency <MYR=> was little changed after the rate statement, which was in line with recent comments by the authorities.

Central bank chief Zeti Akhtar Aziz said last week that domestic interest rates were supportive of growth and the economic outlook was favourable -- remarks that, to economists, signalled rates would probably stay put this year.

[addedon]February 26, 2007, 9:45 pm[/addedon]Some Asian economies such as Indonesia and Thailand have lowered rates to spur economic growth as the global economy moderated.

But most economists expect Malaysia to keep rates steady through the year and opt for public spending to shore up the $130 billion economy as exports shifts into lower gear.

Government spending under a five-year, $54 billion development plan is expected to boost the economy ahead of an expected general election and brighten the consumer mood, which has been affected by rising living costs.

"I think Bank Negara's move was in line with ours and the market's expectations," said Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin, senior economist at Bank Islam Malaysia.

"The outlook for CPI is benign, as Bank Negara has said in the statement. I don't expect any move this year to change interest rates, not at all."

Inflation was expected to be relatively benign, helped by lower energy prices and easing inflation in the economies of Malaysia's trading partners, the central bank said.

Malaysia's average inflation was likely to be significantly lower than in 2006, it added.

Inflation averaged 3.6 percent in 2006

[addedon]February 26, 2007, 9:46 pm[/addedon]With inflation expected to decline, Malaysia has room to keep its official interest rate at 3.50 percent, economists say. The central bank has kept rates on hold since a rise in April 2006.

The key rate is at its highest level since it was introduced in 2004 but remains one of the lowest policy rates in Asia.

The government expects economic growth to accelerate to 6.0 percent this year from an estimated 5.8 percent last year, but economists have projected growth of 5.5 percent for 2007, citing a subdued global outlook.

The central bank next meets to discuss policy on April 27. (Additional reporting by Naveen Thukral)

TM & its 3 related CWs poised to go higher

investmentlink — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 23:10:06 +0800

From the Edge Daily, we have this report about TM's good results for FY2006

Telekom Malaysia Bhd posted an impressive set of results for fiscal year ended Dec 31, 2006, recording net profit of RM2.07 billion, up 155% from a year ago, boosted by higher group revenue, better cost and financial management and foreign exchange gain.

It said on Feb 23 group revenue rose 17.6% to RM16.4 billion, driven primarily by the cellular, data services, Internet and multimedia segments. Overseas operations contributed 25% to the group's revenue, up from only 13% in 2005.

It recommended a final dividend of 30 sen per share, bringing the total dividend payout of 2006 to RM1.14 billion, representing 55% of TM's profits.

I believe this good results will likely to push TM's share price above its current resistance of RM11.00, thereby triggering a bullish breakout. In such an event, a technical 'BUY' would be issued and one should act accordingly.

One reader has posted a question about the performance of TM's related CWs, in particular TM-CB. I believe all the CWs of TM are giving the same potentially bullish picture, like its underlying share. If you look at the 3 following charts, you will see that TM-CA & TM-CB have broken out on Friday, albeit closing at their respective breakout level. TM-CC is a tad slower, but I expect it to do the same if TM were to surpass RM11.00 on Monday.

I think that many are concerned about TM-CB since it is expiring on March 16 (less than 20 trading days to go). You may recall that even if a CW is nearing its expiry date, the CW will still go up if the underlying share has a strong move. See the example of Astro-CA & BJToto-CA. In any event, TM-CB is a cash-settled CW & you need not worry about coughing out a large sum to exercise your call option.

Watch TM & its CWs closely tomorrow. Buy them if TM has broken above RM11.00. If you are concerned about the short tenor for TM-CB, then buy TM-CA or TM-CC. Of these 3 CWs, TM-CC has the highest premium of 4.6% (not excessively high) while TM-CB trades at a slight discount and TM-CA at a parity.

Market Outlook as at February 21, 2007 -new record

investmentlink — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:17:53 +0800

Today, the market put in an awesome performance, with the CI gaining 16.13 points to close at 1278.22. With volume traded of 4.7 billion (another record), the market finished the day with gainers outnumbering losers 975 to 131.

A look at the monthly chart below shows that the CI is now at the February 1997 high of 1278/79 level. If the CI can surpass this level, it may revisit the January 1994 high of 1332. However, I believe the 1278/79 level will be a strong resistance & the market may not be able to breakthrough this resistance on the first attempt. A failure to do so could set the stage for a correction of the market's recent sharp run-up.

How much u think 2nd Board can go?

investmentlink — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 21:32:53 +0800

200 point!

Stock Market Speculation Rules

investmentlink — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 22:21:07 +0800

1. Do not overtrade. Maintain a margin of not less than 10 points on stocks quoted under $50 a share, not less than 20 points on tock quoted from $50 to $100 a share, and 20% on stock selling above $100 a share.
2. Limit Losses. Place stops at technical danger points on all trades, and if the location of the danger point is uncertain use a 2-point or 2-point stop, or await a better opportunity.
3. Follow the Trend. Do not buck the trend, and do not hedge. Be either long or short, but no both at the same time.
4. Favor Active Issues. Do not tie ups funds in obscure or inactive stocks, and avoid thin-market issues except in long-pull operations.
5. Buy during Weakness. Buy only after reactions confirming higher support.
6. Sell during Strength. Close out on unusual advances at first sign of hesitation; and sell short only after evidence of distribution with lower support followed by lower top.
7. Distributed Risk. Do not concentrate in one issue, but trade in equal lots of several different issues, aloof which are definitely attractive. Avoid spreading over too many different issues.
8. Protect Profits. Never let a 3-point profit run into loss, and never accept a reaction of over 5 points unless the favorable trend of the stock has been definitely established.
9. Avoid Uncertainty. When the trend is in doubt, stay out. Avoid a trader's market when the ultimate trend is uncertain unless the trade can be protected by a small stop and justifies the risk.
10. Discount Fundamental Outlook. Never ignore fundamental conditions, and always favor the trade wherein fundamental and technical conditions cooperate. Avoid a trade wherein fundamental and technical conditions are opposed, except in cases of imminent liquidation, or overextended short interest.

Mesdaq has a bullish breakout

investmentlink — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:18:55 +0800

In the recent strong market rally, the focus of the market was on Call Warrants and stocks in the property, construction, finance & plantation sectors. The players were not aware that the Mesdaq Board has been having a bullish rally as well.

From the table below, we can see that Mesdaq has broken above the slanting resistance (aa) at the 126 level last week. Yesterday, it may have also broken above the potential long-term downtrend line (AA) at the 129 level. The next resistance for Mesdaq will be the overhead horizontal resistance of 143, 152 & 162.

Commerce-CB, Magnum-CB & KLK-CB- new CWs

investmentlink — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 22:23:45 +0800

Commerce-CB, Magnum-CB & KLK-CB- new CWs issued

Tomorrow, 3 new CWs will be traded. They are Commerce-CB, Magnum-CB & KLK-CB.

The 2 important things to note are as follows:

their price-fixing date was on January 25 (i.e. 9 days prior to their listing), and

their exercise ratio are higher than their existing counterpart.

Since the price-fixing date of January 25, the underlying shares have gained between 7 to 13% (7% for Magnum, 11% for Commerce & 13% for KLK). Obviously, those who subscribed for these CWs earlier would reap the reward of the improvement in the underlying share.

The high exercise ratio of these CWs would improve affordability but an 10-for-1 exercise ratio for a share trading in the RM10-20 bracket and an 4-for-1 exercise ratio for a share trading below RM5.00 is really pushing the limit. Are we likely to see a CW issued one day for Genting with an exercise ratio of 25-for-1? If you cannot afford to buy too many a high priced CW, then you should buy less. After all, one can buy in multiples of 100 units. This lowering of the price of CWs would only induce retail players to throw caution into the wind; the result of which is only too predictable.

I expect the new CWs to trade at premium of about 20%. At that premium and assuming the underlying share prices remained unchanged, Commerce-CA, Magnum-CB & KLK-CB would trade at about RM0.30, RM0.23 & RM0.55, respectively. See Table 2 below, for other possible value for these CWs.

I call it "Selected Bull Run" instead of Bull Run

investmentlink — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 00:43:29 +0800

Why?
This is simple-Only selected stock especially Blue Chip stock keep running run!

The second line & third like shown a little improved only!

& I concluded my opinion that only the foreign funds take about 90% of the daily transaction!

The foreign funds keep trying to pull the local fund to increase the market participant & velocity, but look like they only still watching! Like today another new high of volume in value RM3.7 billion transacted!

By the way, everyday push up the CI, then this is the only way to pull out the interest of local funds & retailer funds!

So...my question is when is the "selected Bull Run" become a "Real Bull Run"?
What is the impact if the selected bull run" die in half way?

Time Tested Classic Trading Rules

investmentlink — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 22:21:20 +0800

The following is an article by Linda Bradford Raschke -- a very successful female trader. She began her professional trading career in 1981 as a market maker in equity options. In addition to running LBRGroup's CTA program, she is the principal trader for the Granat Fund.

I enjoy reading her trading rules. Is long I know, but I read them every now and then.

This is a list of classic trading rules that was given to me while on the trading floor in 1984. A senior trader collected these rules from classic trading literature throughout the twentieth century. They obviously withstand the age-old test of time.

I'm sure most everybody knows these truisms in their hearts, but this list is nicely edited and makes a good read.

Plan your trades. Trade your plan.
Keep records of your trading results.
Keep a positive attitude, no matter how much you lose.
Don't take the market home.
Continually set higher trading goals.
Successful traders buy into bad news and sell into good news.
Successful traders are not afraid to buy high and sell low.
Successful traders have a well-scheduled planned time for studying the markets.
Successful traders isolate themselves from the opinions of others.
Continually strive for patience, perseverance, determination, and rational action.
Limit your losses - use stops!
Never cancel a stop loss order after you have placed it!
Place the stop at the time you make your trade.
Never get into the market because you are anxious because of waiting.
Avoid getting in or out of the market too often.
Losses make the trader studious - not profits. Take advantage of every loss to improve your knowledge of market action.
The most difficult task in speculation is not prediction but self-control. Successful trading is difficult and frustrating. You are the most important element in the equation for success.
Always discipline yourself by following a pre-determined set of rules.
Remember that a bear market will give back in one month what a bull market has taken three months to build.
Don't ever allow a big winning trade to turn into a loser. Stop yourself out if the market moves against you 20% from your peak profit point.
You must have a program, you must know your program, and you must follow your program.
Expect and accept losses gracefully. Those who brood over losses always miss the next opportunity, which more than likely will be profitable.
Split your profits right down the middle and never risk more than 50% of them again in the market.
The key to successful trading is knowing yourself and your stress point.
The difference between winners and losers isn't so much native ability as it is discipline exercised in avoiding mistakes.
In trading as in fencing there are the quick and the dead.
Speech may be silver but silence is golden. Traders with the golden touch do not talk about their success.
Dream big dreams and think tall. Very few people set goals too high. A man becomes what he thinks about all day long.
Accept failure as a step towards victory.
Have you taken a loss? Forget it quickly. Have you taken a profit? Forget it even quicker! Don't let ego and greed inhibit clear thinking and hard work.
One cannot do anything about yesterday. When one door closes, another door opens. The greater opportunity always lies through the open door.
The deepest secret for the trader is to subordinate his will to the will of the market. The market is truth as it reflects all forces that bear upon it. As long as he recognizes this he is safe. When he ignores this, he is lost and doomed.
It's much easier to put on a trade than to take it off.
If a market doesn't do what you think it should do, get out.
Beware of large positions that can control your emotions. Don't be overly aggressive with the market. Treat it gently by allowing your equity to grow steadily rather than in bursts.
Never add to a losing position.
Beware of trying to pick tops or bottoms.
You must believe in yourself and your judgement if you expect to make a living at this game.
In a narrow market there is no sense in trying to anticipate what the next big movement is going to be - up or down.
A loss never bothers me after I take it. I forget it overnight. But being wrong and not taking the loss - that is what does the damage to the pocket book and to the soul.
Never volunteer advice and never brag of your winnings.
Of all speculative blunders, there are few greater than selling what shows a profit and keeping what shows a loss.
Standing aside is a position.
It is better to be more interested in the market's reaction to new information than in the piece of news itself.
If you don't know who you are, the markets are an expensive place to find out.
In the world of money, which is a world shaped by human behavior, nobody has the foggiest notion of what will happen in the future. Mark that word - Nobody! Thus the successful trader does not base moves on what supposedly will happen but reacts instead to what does happen.
Except in unusual circumstances, get in the habit of taking your profit too soon. Don't torment yourself if a trade continues winning without you. Chances are it won't continue long. If it does, console yourself by thinking of all the times when liquidating early reserved gains that you would have otherwise lost.
When the ship starts to sink, don't pray - jump!
Lose your opinion - not your money.
Assimilate into your very bones a set of trading rules that works for you.

Today China Stock Market Drop 4.92% or 144 point!

investmentlink — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:49:11 +0800

Do u think this is the ending bull signal? Will it affect across the countries?

Tonite US fed will announce something that maybe strengthen the USD..danger sign for asia market?

Any comment?

US warns failed Malaysia trade talks

investmentlink — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:50:39 +0800

US warns failed Malaysia trade talks would send negative signal

The United States has warned that the failure of free-trade talks with Malaysia would send a message the two countries were "not open for business", and said next week's round would be critical.

Deputy US Trade Representative Karan Bhatia said that the fifth round of negotiations to be held in the resort city of Kota Kinabalu was a "window of opportunity" as Washington races to seal an agreement before a March deadline.

"The reality of it is we have this limited period of time and this fifth round is a major opportunity to take a step forward," he told a press conference.

However, if no real progress is made, "many would wonder if coming together in the time remaining is feasible," he said.

"I think it would be very difficult to see how then (to proceed), with the time remaining," he added, warning that there would be significant fallout if the two sides failed to strike a deal.

"It would first of all send an unfortunate message that our countries are not open for business," he said.

"It will drive investors elsewhere, I'm concerned, and it will create potential frustrations in the bilateral economic relationship."

Washington wants to conclude negotiations on the free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of March, in time to present the deal to Congress before the president's fast-track Trade Promotion Authority expires on July 1.

However Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz has said she doubts the negotiations will meet the deadline, with talks bogged down in sensitive areas including the services sector, investment and government procurement.

The US is seeking access to lucrative Malaysian state contracts, which favour the country's majority ethnic Malays and indigenous groups, or "bumiputras" as they are known.

Bhatia said Washington had no intention of undermining Malaysia's preferential policies but called for greater transparency in the international tender processs.

"One of the key challenges that have been expressed to us by our companies is ensuring clarity and transparency in those processes," he said.

"We are not looking to undermine the bumiputra preference policies, we have heard the Malaysian government clearly on this and we believe there are some concerns that need to be addressed in the broader tender area."

Opposition to the FTA has been growing among Malaysian activists who say the talks lack transparency and that livelihoods could be damaged by possible concessions to the US.

wii our stock market will be seriously affeted? Let's see!

Do u think CI is over heating?

investmentlink — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:54:55 +0800

pls give ur opinion! Thanks

Yes
No
Reason: if applicable

My purpose is to test the emotional feeling!

If Yes > NO = CI still can continue
If No > Yes = CI going to big correction

The reason is normally a minority ppl can predict the big correction! If everyone think CI is going to big correction, then it would NOT!

If only a minority think it will be, then CI will going to make a big correction!