Rounding up top reads from around the web, including articles shared by fellow investors in the Financial Horse Facebook Group.
Attorney-General recuses himself from reviewing CAG chairman Liew Mun Leong’s maid case (Yahoo)
In a statement to the media on Wednesday, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said Lucien Wong recused himself from reviewing the case “for personal reasons” on Saturday, a day after the High Court verdict. The two men do not have a personal relationship, although they both previously held positions at CapitaLand Limited, AGC said.
Liew Mun Leong retires from CAG, other public service and business roles after court’s decision on Parti Liyani case (CNA)
“After much deliberation, I have decided to bring forward my retirement from the various public service and business roles with Changi Airport Group, Surbana Jurong, Temasek Foundation, and Temasek International with immediate effect,” Mr Liew said in a statement to the media.
U.S. Stocks Bounce Back After Tech Selloff (WSJ)
“Things calmed down a lot,” said Fawad Razaqzada, an analyst at ThinkMarkets. “We got the correction we should have had a few weeks ago. Now investors are asking whether they should buy the latest dip.” So far, few investors appear to be betting the latest selloff will be a repeat of March when financial markets plunged as it became clear the coronavirus pandemic would batter the economy. Still, many caution that the economy is struggling to recover, the fate of further household stimulus is unclear, and the coming presidential election is likely to bring increased volatility to markets.
Investors are buying the dip for now, but the market rout is likely not over (CNBC)
- Stocks rallied Wednesday, and the Nasdaq bounced back after its fastest 10% decline ever, as investors looked for bargains among beaten-down tech and momentum names.
- But strategists say it seems more likely the market has not yet hit bottom, and stocks could be in a choppy mode for a while, as investors focus on the election and the economy.
- Historically, the market has been a weak performer in September, and stocks could stay under pressure for awhile even there are rallies.
China Life Singapore to hire 500 consultants in next five years (Straits Times)
China Life Insurance (Singapore) will soon be able to serve individual customers directly as it aims to hire at least 500 consultants in the next five years. The insurer, which currently sells its products through financial companies and banks, will recruit these consultants in various entry- and senior-level positions from Oct 1. This will take place through its Agency Channel, which it launched on Monday (Sept 7).
Heated Parliament debates, but did they shed light on key national issues? (CNA)
“What was a bit difficult was the balance between empirical data and the points of principle – when the opposition wanted to go with hard data, often, the government ministers responded with points of principle. I am sure that there will be other times when the government ministers want to go with hard data, and the ones raising the issues are going to points of principle,” she said.
Singapore stock watch: UOB, Keppel, Sembcorp, CapitaLand Mall Trust, UG Healthcare (Straits Times)
UOB: The bank on Wednesday said it plans to issue US$600 million of 1.75 per cent subordinated notes due in 2031 and callable in 2026. The notes are intended to qualify as Tier 2 regulatory capital of UOB. The counter dropped $0.08 or 0.4 per cent to finish Tuesday at $19.45.
Keppel Corp: The conglomerate on Tuesday night said it will issue eight billion yen (S$103.5 million) worth of five-year notes, carrying a coupon of 0.88 per cent per annum. Keppel shares closed at flat at $4.34 before the announcement.
Sembcorp Industries (SCI): Its shares will begin trading excluding their entitlements on Wednesday. As Sembcorp Marine (SMM) shares had closed at $0.193 on Tuesday, SCI’s stock could reasonably be expected to fall from its close at $1.91 the same day. That being said, SCI also looks more attractive now without SMM weighing it down, especially when evaluated against some of its peers.
CapitaLand Mall Trust (CMT): The real estate investment trust has obtained a $200 million sustainability-linked loan from UOB, converted from a revolving credit facility. CMT units finished Tuesday at $1.97, down $0.01 or 0.5 per cent, before the announcement.
UG Healthcare: The glove maker has started work on a new manufacturing facility in Malaysia that will boost its production capacity by 1.2 billion pieces of gloves per annum, it said after market close on Tuesday. Shares of Catalist-listed UG Healthcare rose $0.10 or 4.1 per cent to end the day at $2.55.
Sunningdale Tech: Fund manager Quarz Capital Asia is now deemed a substantial shareholder of mainboard-listed Sunningdale, with the purchase of 4,600 shares via a market transaction bumping its shareholding up to 5.001 per cent. Sunningdale shares lost $0.01 or 0.8 per cent to close at $1.23 on Tuesday, before the bourse filing.
Wing Tai Holdings: The mainboard-listed property and lifestyle company on Tuesday evening proposed to repurchase up to $85 million worth of several series of notes, at prices ranging from 102.55 to 106 per cent of the principal amounts. The stock closed at $1.79, up $0.04 or 2.3 per cent.
SK Jewellery Group: The offeror for the Catalist-listed jeweller’s shares has received irrevocable undertakings to accept its voluntary conditional cash offer, from shareholders representing more than 90 per cent of the company’s shares. SK Jewellery gained 0.1 cent or 0.7 per cent to end at 14.9 cents, before the announcement.
Temasek’s 1-year shareholder return turns negative, more uncertainty ahead with Covid-19 (Straits Times)
The one-year shareholder return of Singapore’s investment company, Temasek, fell into negative territory in its latest financial year, with its net portfolio value taking a dip from last year’s record high as well. Temasek’s net portfolio was valued at $306 billion as at March 31, 2020, 2.2 per cent lower than last year’s record $313 billion, it said in its annual review on Tuesday (Sept 8).
DBS says worst over for earnings of Singapore-listed companies (Straits Times)
Despite deep cuts in the latest quarterly earnings of Singapore-listed companies and trusts, the worst is now behind them, said DBS Group Research in a market strategy report on Monday (Sept 7).
The second-quarter results season had suffered the full impact of global Covid-19 lockdowns, with a sharp 14.9 per cent cut in forecast earnings in financial year 2020 for stocks under DBS’ coverage.
Investor interest is likely to pick up for travel or leisure stocks, lifted by progress in Covid-19 vaccine candidates that are under third-phase trials, noted DBS analysts Yeo Kee Yan and Janice Chua.
Tiffany sues LVMH for reneging on US$16 billion deal as France steps in (CNA)
Tiffany & Co sued LVMH on Wednesday after the French luxury goods giant told the U.S. jeweler it could not complete a US$16 billion deal to acquire it because of a French government request and the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. LVMH, led by billionaire Bernard Arnault, said its board had received a letter from the French foreign ministry asking it to delay the acquisition until Jan. 6, 2021, given the threat of additional U.S. tariffs against French products.
Indonesia stocks slump on Jakarta’s plans to reinstate virus curbs (Business Times)
Indonesia’s main stock index slumped to its intraday lowest in more than two months on Thursday after the governor of Jakarta said he would reinstate social distancing restrictions due to a rise in coronavirus infections.
US-China showdown over big data to leave decades-long impact (Straits Times)
A report that China is planning to overhaul its domestic computer chip industry helped trigger a stock rout last week that shaved about US$100 billion (S$136 billion) off a key semiconductor index. Under discussion now in the US is whether to restrict Chinese access to data on everything from smart refrigerators to exercise monitors, moves that business leaders from Silicon Valley to Shenzhen worry could lead to a decoupling of the entire global economy. “All of this is fundamentally an attack on the internet itself,” said Andrew Sullivan, president of the Internet Society, which advocates for open networks across the world.
Taiwan appears determined to create an anti-Beijing alliance as Chinese state media warns of potential sanctions against US (CNN)
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen wants to create an alliance to defend “freedom, safety, human rights and democracy” in Asia, as the self-ruled island faces renewed pressure from neighboring China.
Oil prices edge up off three-month lows, but demand concerns persist (Reuters)
Oil futures on Wednesday clawed back some of the losses they sustained in the previous session, but a rebound in COVID-19 cases in some countries undermined hopes for a steady recovery in global demand.
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