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New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Muhibbah Q1 earnings rise 14pct to RM16mil on stronger concession gains
KUALA LUMPUR: Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd's net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, rose 14 per cent to RM16.17 million from RM14.19 million a year earlier, lifted by higher contributions from its concession business. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the group said this was driven by its airport and road concession operations, which contributed RM22.1 million in pre-tax profit, up 116.7 per cent from RM10.2 million previously. Quarterly revenue, however, declined 2.2 per cent to RM319.96 million from RM327.01 million a year ago. Muhibbah said the dip was due to slightly lower construction activity during the quarter. On a proforma basis, which includes its share of revenue from associates, total revenue rose 4.2 per cent to RM431.3 million from RM413.9 million. Earnings per share rose to 2.22 sen from 1.95 sen a year ago. As at end-March, the group had RM516.7 million in cash and bank balances, down from RM571.2 million at the end of December 2024. Total borrowings stood at RM468.2 million, comprising RM306.6 million in short-term and RM161.6 million in long-term loans. The group's outstanding order book stood at RM1.14 billion as at May 22, spanning construction and cranes projects. Despite global headwinds, including inflation, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical uncertainties, Muhibbah said it will continue to monitor developments and pursue new contracts.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Foreign inflows into Malaysian bonds surge to RM10.2bil in April
KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign net buying of Malaysian bonds surged to RM10.2 billion in April 2025 from RM3.2 billion in March, driven by strong demand for Malaysian Government Securities (MGS) and Government Investment Issues (GII), said RAM Rating Services Bhd (RAM Ratings). In a statement today, RAM Ratings said MGS and GII attracted RM9.7 billion of inflows in April, up from RM3.0 billion in the preceding month. Additionally, the increase in April was supported by Malaysian Treasury Bills (MTB) and Malaysian Islamic Treasury Bills (MITB), which recorded RM480 million in inflows -- a reversal of the RM252 million outflows in the previous month. "The surge in April marks the second consecutive month of net inflows, despite "Liberation Day' tariffs announced on April 2, 2025,' it said. According to RAM Ratings, the Liberation Day tariffs sparked a sharp increase in market turmoil, with the volatility index published by the Chicago Board Options Exchange - often called the "Fear Index' - rising to a high not seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Heightened risk aversion contributed to a weakening of the ringgit against the US dollar in the first week of April, as the local currency swiftly depreciated to 4.50 against the greenback as at April 9 from 4.43 as of end-March. "The 10-year US Treasury (UST) yield soared to a high 4.48 per cent as at April 11 from 4.23 per cent as of end-March. Market jitters, however, soon subsided amid signs of easing US-China trade tensions. The ringgit rose to 4.32 against the US dollar as of end-April while the 10-year UST yield retreated to 4.17 per cent,' it added. RAM Ratings said that adding to yield volatility, Moody's Ratings downgraded the US sovereign credit rating to Aa1 from Aaa on May 16, citing structural fiscal concerns and the unsustainable trajectory of US debt -- this contributed to renewed weakness in US treasuries, triggering another round of repricing of US government debt. "The 10-year UST yield jumped to 4.46 per cent as at May 19 from 4.17 per cent as of end-April, as markets digest the downgrade alongside concerns of reduced foreign appetite for US debt. "The selloff pressure was relatively contained within the US as MGS yields largely trended sideways, with the benchmark 10-year MGS yield sitting at 3.64 per cent as at May 19 from 3.68 per cent as of end-April,' it said. - Bernama
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Foreign investors flock to Malaysian bonds with RM10.2bil inflow in April
KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign investors remained as net buyers of the Malaysian bond, with net inflows surging to RM10.2 billion in April, more than triple the RM3.2 billion recorded in March. According to RAM Ratings Service Bhd (RAM Ratings), the inflows were mainly driven by strong demand for Malaysian Government Securities (MGS) and Government Investment Issues (GII), which collectively drew RM9.7 billion in net foreign investment, up sharply from RM3.0 billion in March. Additionally, it said Malaysian Treasury Bills (MTB) and Islamic Treasury Bills (MITB) attracted RM480 million in net inflows — a notable reversal from the RM252 million net outflow seen in the previous month. RAM Ratings noted that the sweeping set of "reciprocal" tariffs announced at the start of last month sparked a sharp surge in market turmoil, with the volatility index published by the Chicago Board Options Exchange rising to a high not seen since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. "Heightened risk aversion contributed to a weakening of the ringgit against the USD in the first week of April, as the local currency swiftly depreciated to 4.50 against the greenback as of 9 April from 4.43 as of end-March," it said. RAM Ratings said the 10-year US Treasury (UST) yield soared to a high 4.48 per cent as of April 11 from 4.23 per cent as of end-March. Market jitters, however, soon subsided amid signs of easing US-China trade tensions. "The ringgit rose to 4.32 against the US dollar at the end of April while the 10-year UST yield retreated to 4.17 per cent," it said. Meanwhile, RAM Ratings noted that at the May Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the Fed kept the interest rate unchanged at 4.25 per cent 4.5 per cent, citing persistent inflationary pressures and economic uncertainties stemming from recent tariff implementations. The rating agency said market consensus now expects the Fed's first rate cut to come in September, with a 71 per cent probability priced in. Adding further complexity to global yield dynamics, RAM Ratings said Moody's downgraded the US sovereign credit rating from Aaa to Aa1 on 16 May, citing long-term fiscal concerns. "This contributed to renewed weakness in US treasuries, triggering another round of repricing of US government debt. "The 10-year UST yield jumped to 4.46 per cent as of May 19, from 4.17 per cent as of end-April, as markets digest the downgrade alongside concerns of reduced foreign appetite for US debt. "The selloff pressure was relatively contained within the US as MGS yields largely trended sideways, with the benchmark 10-year MGS yield sitting at 3.64 per cent as of 19 May from 3.68 per cent as of end-April," it added.
