Market Watch

Dodge Dorland of Landor & Fuest Capital Managers says the S&P 500 may test 1,345 this week, and the market will see more headwinds after seeing above market expectation earnings in the last few quarters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vincent Khoo, Head of Research at UOB Kay Hian, tells what is the critical point that will force US to tighten its monetary policy and the implications on Malaysia. He believes share prices of ETP-related stocks like Gamuda, MMC and MRCB still have upside. On Sarawak, he says if the opposition makes significant inroads, the market would reach negatively to the change on Monday. If Barisan Nasional...

Tim Mulholland of China-America Capital Company says President Obama is putting salt in the wound of the Republicans but a compromise will have to be reached in the eleventh hour. Due to rising inflation and loose monetary policy, it is realistic to expect that gold prices will breach $1,600 an ounce. The Fed will be in a dilemma whether to tighten monetary policy. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

TA Research Head Kaladher Govindan says can't fault lack of announcements at Invest Malaysia as news has been released periodically. Expects more announcements to come in future. He also named assets he'd be watching most closely, as part of Khazanah's divestment plans, such as EON Cap and Axiata amongst others. 2nd Capital Market Masterplan looks good, elaborates why he's quite positive about it....

Betty Yeoh, Programme manager at AWAM  (All Women Action Society) talks about sexual harassment in Malaysia, and the delays in the introduction of relevant legislation to protect victims. She talks about how prevalent sexual harassment is in Malaysia; Some of the more common circumstances under which sexual harassment occurs; Her views on whether those that walk the corridors of power aren&rs...

Dr. Michael A. Yoshikami, President & Chief Investment Strategist at YCMNET Advisors in California says US markets haven't been affected much by Japan's troubles from an economic standpoint. He's a big believer in commodities but makes sense to take profits now in response to Goldman Sachs reports. Recommended where to reallocate those funds/profits to. Agrees with IEA that above $100 a barrel...

Next View Sdn Bhd Chief Market Strategist Benny Lee sees crude palm oil price supported by wide spread with soyoil despite bearish sentiment over palm oil stocks being at the highest level since December. Soyoil has volatile trading patterns, but continued uptrend, charts show may increase a little bit more. Though  sharp pull back in crude oil prices from $113 to $109 yesterday, decline hasn...

OSK Research Analyst Eing Kar Mei tells us why she thinks the offer price for Mamee-Double Decker (M) Bhd is fair and attractive and explains why the Neutral call on the stock. With consumer-driven companies facing rising raw material prices, as long as they have strong balance sheets, not difficult to privatise. However, also need to take a look at shareholding structure.  Mamee-Double Decke...

Dodge O. Dorland, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Landor & Fuest Capital Managers in New York is not really satisfied with the 'worthwhile compromise' in the United States though the Federal Government is open for business. Negotiations could have begun earlier but were not possible politically. He also talked about how it would affect talks over raising the debt ceiling in July. Bigg...

Chris Eng of OSK Research explains how the Mitsui purchase fits into Khazanah's long term strategy and indicates good potential in healthcare in this region. With expertise from Japan's healthcare; one of best in world, lower cost than United States, local entities could learn from them about retirement care, age care and medical devices. For hospitals under Integrated Healthcare, it's business as...

Phillip Futures Investment Analyst Ker Chung Yang in Singapore talked about why corn stocks are falling to the lowest level in a decade - due to strong export demand, increasing use of ethanol and steady buying by domestic livestock users. Growing middle class in Asia are switching to protein-rich diet, hence rising demand for corn as livestock feed, while ethanol is becoming more economically via...

Dr Michael A. Yoshikami, President & Chief Investment Strategist at YCMNET Advisors in California says Fed Reserve tightening isn't necessarily a bad thing for stocks. More optimistic about gold rather than silver, as central banks translate currency reserves into gold. Expects gold to hit $2,000 an ounce within the next five years a return of 14-15%. He explains why he favours technology and...

Malcolm Polley of Stewart Capital Advisors gives his expectations for ISM non-manufacturing index data for March, whether rising food prices will significantly crimp consumer spending, earnings forecast for second quarter, and what happens if QE2 ends in the second quarter. Also he says a federal shutdown is possible if there is a prolonged impasse in Congress on budget cuts. If thi...

Dodge Dorland of Landor & Fuest Capital Managers expects the second round of quantitative easing to fall below its original target and US may experience a stagflation and we may see a pullback in May. Sectors that could see upside are in resources, industrial and oil-related while losers would be airlines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OSK Research Head Chris Eng expects short term volatility in the FBM KLCI, but the market performance should be stronger in the second half of the year. His strategy would be to buy big caps, and small defensive stocks. He also discussed announcements anticipated during Invest Malaysia this month, the M&A theme, and talk of ESSO and property companies being privatised. Rather than focus on Sar...

Chicago-based China-America Capital Company Managing Director Tim Mulholland feels the US economy could be turning the corner, but don't read too much into it as unemployment is still well above 8%. For Q2 2011, he'll be into large caps, especially energy, dividend-paying stocks and commodity producers like Alcoa as he likes aluminium stocks quite a bit. It'll be a long arduous process for Protuga...

Dr Michael A. Yoshikami, President & Chief Investment Strategist at YCMNET Advisors in California gave his views on Jim Rogers' comments on fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Nuclear continues to be important, as there are not many alternatives, solar energy is still inefficient. Expects major revision in how nuclear is regulated, and to safety procedures. After more investigations n regulation...

Maybank IB Research Analyst Mohshin Aziz discussed the basis for his target price of RM8 for this stock, which falls between the low of RM5.70 target price by another research house and high of RM10 target price by CIMB Research. He also talked about the generous margins in this industry, and how PetChem and other petrochemical players are stepping in due to supply shortfall as a result of Japan's...

Next View Sdn Bhd Chief Market Strategist Benny Lee expects crude palm oil (CPO) futures to rebound in the near term due to steep drop in prices in the past one month. As market is slightly oversold below averages, price would realign to averages. Market has factored in March data, as well as Feb data. CPO March exports expected to remain same as last month. Gold, crude oil have formed a bearish r...

Michael McCarthy, Chief Market Strategist at CMC Markets, Sydney says Australia Federal Government faces a difficult situation over the proposed carbon tax: though there is broad electoral support for climate change, govt is caught between this and difficulties of nuts and bolts of agreement. Carbon tax start date slated for July 2012. Markets are asking who will it apply to; at the moment, focus...

Maybank IB Research Group Chief Economist Suhaimi Ilias thinks Bank Negara is unlikely to raise rates in May though Feb CPI surprised on the upside at 2.9%. As Bank Negara has been ahead of the curve in raising interest rates, next rate hike expected in Sept or Nov. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Darryl Guppy, CEO of Guppy Traders.com says Japan's Nikkei 225 is not in good shape, testing support at 9,000. If it falls below 9,000, Nikkei's downside target from 7,500 to 7,000. Meanwhile, oil can fall towards $94 and still be on a long term uptrend. When the price of oil goes above $100, the trend changes, the price becomes much more volatile. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Group MD and Founder of Supermax Corp Bhd, Dato Seri Stanley Thai is of the view that latex is overspeculated, and talked about latex prices over the last 10 years. As a result of volatility in oil prices, cost of synthetic nitrile materials are rising, even so, manufacturers' margins for synthetic nitrile still pretty good. Margins would be squeezed, especially for nitrile glove producers. He hop...

Dodge O. Dorland, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Landor & Fuest Capital Managers in New York talks about the protests in London. It is likely to feel impact of cuts next month. London will have to deal with the short term to get to the other side. He also explains why QE3  in the States is not likely. For upcoming US March employment figures on Friday, he expects non-farm payrol...

Lee Cheng Hooi, Equity Markets Head of Retail Research at Maybank IB Research is of the view that Bank Negara is clamping down on certain areas of concern like credit cards and housing loans. Banking stocks remain sluggish in the short term, like most of the key market stocks for now. He foresees trading next week to be range bound and lacklustre. For the next three months, he is cautiously optimi...