Kenanga Today : 31 July 2012

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

- BII Net Profit For First Semester 2012 Up 61.0%

- Bank Rakyat's Half Year Profit Soars To RM1.1b

- RedTone returns to the black in 4Q

- Maybank signs five-year partnership with Legoland for retailbanking services

- SP Setia Says 90.0% Of Its Sky PeakResidences Apartments Already Taken

FOREIGN NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

- HSBC takes USD2.0b hit for U.S., UK scandals

- GM signs Man United deal day after marketing executive exit

- Peet’s Seen Tempting Starbucks to Top Richest Java Bid:Real M&A

ECONOMIC NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (MACRO BITS)

Asia

- Japanese Industrial Output In Unexpected Fall

- South Korea Manufacturer Confidence Drops To 3-YearLow

- RBI Says IndiaInflation Risks Significant Even As Growth Slows

Europe

- Spain Recession Deepens, New Austerity To TakeEffect

- Euro Crisis: Geithner And Schaeuble Call For Co-Operation

- Euro-Area Economic Confidence Drops More Than Forecast

- Italy's 10-Year Yields Ease Below 6 % AtAuction

- U.K. Mortgage Approvals Decline To Lowest LevelIn 18 Months

- Swedish GDP Growth Unexpectedly Accelerates On Spending

Currencies

- Dollar Gains Ground As ECB Doubts Creep In

Commodities

- Brent Slips To $106, Economic Worries Trump Lower OPEC Output

- Gold Flat As Investors Focus On Cenbank Meetings

Source: Kenanga