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The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Bursa Malaysia lower at midday on renewed US-China tensions
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia was lower at midday, dragged down by renewed tensions between the United States (US) and China, analysts said. According to reports, China hit back at US President Donald Trump's claim it had violated the temporary trade agreement between the two countries, while the European Union said it opposed the president's doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) declined by 4.89 points, 0.32 per cent, to 1,503.46 from last Friday's close of 1,508.35. The benchmark index, which opened 4.37 points higher at 1,512.72, moved between 1,497.42 and 1,514.12 during the morning session. In the broader market, decliners thumped gainers 694 to 225, while 373 counters were unchanged, 1,054 untraded and 15 suspended. Turnover stood at 2.14 billion units worth RM1.14 billion. Meanwhile, Hong Leong Investment Bank said in a note that following the conclusion of a lacklustre May corporate results season, it expects the benchmark index to remain volatile in June after tumbling 2.1 per cent in May (year-to-date: -8.2 per cent). This is as investor sentiment has stayed cautious amid continued foreign net outflows coupled with developments in the political landscape ahead of the Sabah state election (due by end 2025). "Adding to the cautious tone are renewed concerns over a tariff-driven global slowdown and ongoing legal tussles surrounding Trump's trade policies, which could weigh on market confidence and pressure Malaysia's growth and earnings outlook,' it said. Among the heavyweights, QL Resources fell 11 sen to RM4.39, Axiata slid four sen to RM2.01, Press Metal Aluminium was down nine sen to RM4.95, Petronas Chemicals eased six sen to RM3.36, and Sunway dropped 7 sen to RM4.68. Among the most active counters, Harvest Miracle Capital, ACE Market debutant ICT Zone Asia, and Permaju Industries were flat at 18 sen, 20 sen and 1.5 sen respectively, while Tanco Holdings increased one sen to RM1.01 and Eco-Shop Marketing slipped two sen to RM1.24. On the index board, the FBM Emas Index shaved 44.22 points to 11,255.58, the FBMT 100 Index lost 38.95 points to 11,022.05, and the FBM ACE Index fell 65.44 points to 4,485.59. The FBM Emas Shariah Index slid 54.38 points to 11,201.88, while the FBM 70 Index trimmed 69.27 points to 16,132.23. Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index weakened 43.21 points to 17,797.32, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged down 2.05 points to 150.60, and the Energy Index eased 8.58 points to 699.46, but the Plantation Index rose 16.80 points to 7,224.65. - Bernama


The Sun
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Allianz Malaysia starts FY25 on strong note as insurance revenue, gross written premiums and assets grow
PETALING JAYA: Allianz Malaysia Bhd recorded insurance revenue of RM1.53 billion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, an increase of 14.3% over the RM1.34 billion recorded in the same quarter a year ago. Gross written premiums (GWP) for the first three months of the year rose to RM2.01 billion from RM1.90 billion the year before. The group's total assets as at March 31, 2025 stood at RM28.59 billion compared to RM28.49 billion as at Dec 31, 2024. 'We started the year strong, sustaining the momentum from the previous year with both our life and general subsidiaries growing strongly. Going into the second quarter and beyond, we remain focused on driving key initiatives to fulfil the needs of our customers and agents, while staying agile and adaptable in growing the business. We are also constantly striving to be the trusted partner for protecting and growing our customers' most valuable assets,' said Allianz Malaysia CEO Sean Wang. The general insurance subsidiary of the group, Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Bhd, recorded RM978 million in GWP for the quarter in focus, reflecting a 10.6% increase from RM884.6 million a year earlier. The general insurance segment posted insurance revenue of RM862.5 million in the first three months of 2025, an increase of 14.3% from RM754.8 million the year before. Profit before tax (PBT) stood at RM159.7 million, up 20.7% from RM132.3 million recorded the year prior. Allianz General maintained its pole position in the industry with a market share of 14.9%, mainly driven by strong motor and commercial growth. Combined ratio for the first quarter of 2025 improved to 85.8%, compared to 87% in the same quarter last year. 'We saw robust growth in our motor and commercial business over the January to March 2025 period, which strengthened our market leadership and deepened our commitment towards providing the best services to our customers,' said Wang, who is also CEO of Allianz General. The group's life insurance subsidiary, Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia Bhd, saw GWP grow to RM1.03 billion in the first quarter of 2025, from RM1.02 billion a year ago. Annualised new premiums came in at RM213.5 million for the quarter in review, following the RM234.8 million posted in the previous year. PBT rose to RM126.9 million, up 3.8% from RM122.3 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2024. Allianz Life's market share as at March 31, 2025 stood at 11.8%, with the company retaining its number four rank in the industry. 'We put our best foot forward and came out strong in the first three months of the year amid industry challenges. We delivered resilient results as a result of our continuous efforts to provide the best-in-class products and services to our customers,' stated Allianz Life CEO Charles Ong.


Arabian Post
06-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Capital A Targets $200 Million Through Hong Kong Listing Amid Strategic Overhaul
Capital A Berhad, the parent company of budget airline AirAsia, is preparing for a secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, aiming to raise at least $200 million. This move is part of a broader strategy to access deeper pools of capital in Greater China and to support the company's ongoing financial restructuring. The proposed listing follows a series of significant financial maneuvers by Capital A, including a $226 million private placement completed in March 2025. This placement featured a $100 million investment from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, with additional contributions from investors in Singapore and Japan. These funds are intended to bolster the company's capital base and facilitate its exit from Malaysia's financially distressed PN17 classification. Capital A has also secured a $443 million revenue bond, with $200 million provided by Ares Management Corp and Indies Capital Partners. This financing is earmarked for reactivating aircraft grounded during the pandemic and refinancing existing lease liabilities, thereby strengthening the company's balance sheet. The company is undergoing a significant restructuring, including the sale of its aviation business to long-haul affiliate AirAsia X. This consolidation aims to unify short and long-haul operations under a single AirAsia brand, streamlining operations across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia. The merger is expected to create a new listed entity valued at approximately $1.42 billion. Capital A's financial performance has shown signs of recovery, with a net profit of RM2.01 billion reported in the third quarter of 2024, partly due to foreign exchange gains. The company anticipates a return to profitability in 2025, following a loss of $106.5 million in 2024 attributed to one-off forex losses. The Hong Kong listing is seen as a strategic move to tap into the region's revitalized equity markets and attract mainland Chinese investors. Capital A is reportedly close to appointing an international investment bank to advise on the listing structure and process, pending internal reviews and regulatory approvals. CEO Tony Fernandes has emphasized that the company's financial uncertainties are linked to pending milestones rather than underlying business strength. He remains confident in completing the regularization and restructuring efforts by June 2025. As part of its commitment to transparency, Capital A has announced plans to publish internal business targets alongside quarterly results. This initiative aims to provide investors with a clearer picture of the company's financial outlook and progress toward its strategic goals. The company's efforts to exit PN17 status are progressing, with shareholder approval secured for the aviation business disposal and a vote scheduled for May 7 to revoke its distressed classification. Capital A also plans to retain an 18% stake in the resulting AirAsia airline group, focusing on its non-aviation businesses, including logistics firm Teleport and aircraft maintenance company Asia Digital Engineering.