No posting tommorow. Will be on leave on Friday.

Thursday 26 March 2009.

DAILY MARKET REPORT.

Wednesday Markets Closing Prices.


KLCI 878.81.
DJIA 7,749.81 up 89.84 or 1.17%.
Crude Oil US$52.77.
May FCPO RM2,002.
Ringgit 3.6260.


LOCAL NEWS.

BNM Governor Zeti warned of significant economic contraction in 1H 2009 but expect the stimulus measures undertaken will lead to an improvement in 2H of 2009.

BNM maintained the 2009 GDP forecast of between -1% to 1%.

BNM also expects gross exports to fall 25.3% and imports to drop 21.2% this year.

BNM will introduce more measures to enable financial institution to withstands shocks.

BNM says global economy not likely to expand in 2009.

Corporate Debt Restructuring Commitee to be revived by the government.

Khairy, Shahrizat and Rosnah won the respectives UMNO wings election.

Ahmad Pardas Senin of the UEM Group Bhd to retire on 1 July 2009.


WORLD NEWS.

US open to idea from China but sees Dollar reserves status staying.

US new home sales climbed 4.7% for the first time in seven months in February as

prices tumbled but there is an official figure of 14 million units of empty housing units or 1 in 9 homes. The ratio of houses for sale to houses sold dropped to 12.2 from January's 12.9.

Durable goods orders unexpectedly climbed in January, but demand in the prior month was revised down deeply, an adjustment countering the idea of a rebound in the slumping manufacturing sector.

Japan's exports dropped 49% in February 2009, showing the vulnerability of the world's second largest economy.

U.K. Prime Minister Brown says protectionism is one of the main risks of global economy.


For further inquiries please call:-
Kamel Bin Mohd Yusoh.
Institutional Dealer.
Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd.
013-6306544 or 03-21634549/50.
March 25, 2009.