4.000 target UMW Toyota hybrid cars

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd aims to sell hybrid cars to 4,000 units this year compared to just 200 units last year.
Its president, Ismet Suki, said the 20-fold increase following the government's move to exempt import taxes and excise duties on cars involved until December 31, 2011 as announced in Budget 2011 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in October last year.
Consequently, the government hopes that the government extend the tax exemption to boost hybrid and electric car market locally. "UMW Toyota hopes the government will continue this initiative as it will encourage the development of green technology, thus helping to create a more sustainable automotive industry, especially in the context of car production environmentally friendly in line objective of making Malaysia a hub for green technologies, "he said after introducing the model Toyota Vios 1.5G Limited in Seri Kembangan yesterday. Ismet said so far, May this year, UMW Toyota has sold 980 units of hybrid cars which 800 units are model Prius, while 180 units Lexus CT200h. "Of the targeted 4,000 units sales this year, 2,500 units expected to be donated while the rest Lexus Prius model CT200h," he said. For the overall sales target of Toyota vehicles this year, he said he continues to maintain the original target of 90,000 units driven the total industry volume (TIV), which remained strong despite the global automotive sector is interrupted following the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last March. He said the Vios which contributes one-third of total Toyota sales of 94.000 units a year ago, is expected to be the largest contributor with a target of 30.000 units this year. "We have sold 12,000 units and is confident of achieving the target Vios 30,000 units through the introduction of Limited Vios 1.5G," he said. Meanwhile, the Vios 1.5G Limited, targeted to young people on the street is priced at RM89 including insurance begins, 600 per unit. Comes with a Metallic Silver color, Coal Black, White, Medium Silver Metallic, and new colors Deep Amethyst Mica Metallic, it will show the front of the more interesting with a new grille and Aerokit designed.

Improved financial performance Tradewinds

Tradewinds (M) Bhd, a related company which controls 60 percent of farm supply and 50 per cent of national sugar supply is expected to record a better financial performance this year. Its chairman, Datuk Syed Abdul Jabbar Shahabudin said the expectation is based on many factors, including increased productivity and price high crude palm oil, the forward purchase rice at competitive prices and projected increases in exports of sugar.

"Tradewinds will add three more palm oil processing plant involving an investment of RM120 million, with the first building in Kuala Suai, Miri, Sarawak this year.
"In addition to rice mill upgrade, we will also add two storage warehouses of sugar this year, which as a whole suggests 2011 as another good year to the Tradewinds," he said after the group's Annual General Meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Present managing director Bakry Hamzah and Tradewinds Plantation Bhd chief executive, Chan Seng Fatt. The group recorded its highest pre-tax profit amounted to RM825.546 million in the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to RM349.225 million in the previous year on the income of RM5.575 billion . Syed Abdul Jabbar, said the proposed acquisition of the entire interest in Mardec Ltd by Prisma Spectrum Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tradewinds Plantation, of the Semi Bayu Sdn Bhd, is expected to be finalized in the third quarter of this year and will start contributing to the group's net profit as early as the fourth quarter this year. He said, for a start Mardec expected to contribute about RM20 million to RM30 million net profit a year Tradewinds Plantations. Meanwhile, Bakry said they will focus better to improve the rice harvest this year in addition to receiving adequate security of supply from abroad, particularly from Vietnam and Thailand. of rice country, he said enough. Malaysia, he raised the country's rice reserves to 292,000 tons from 92.000 tons during the Asian financial crisis of the past. The amount is enough to cover an emergency supply for six months. Tradewinds in December last year took over 54 per cent stake in Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas). The amount of rice sold BERNAS grow by 1.6 percent to 1.33 million tonnes last year, compared with 31.1 tonnes the previous year. Tradewinds is dominated by Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary recorded a profit before tax RM183.949 million in the first financial quarter ended March 31, 2011, increased 34.7 percent compared to RM136.537 million the same quarter the previous year. It is derived from income rose to RM1.461 billion from RM1.299 billion.

The share price of CPO rose RM1.48

Share prices of CPO Malaysia Holdings Bhd (MSM Holdings) jumped up 42 per cent to RM1.48 or RM4.98 per share on its maiden trading day at the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia, making it among the initial public offering (IPO) the best performance in terms of price increase in more than three years.
FELDA sugar business wing of shares of Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd, which opened at RM4.45 per unit yesterday morning, up 95 cents or 27.14 per cent compared to the reference price of RM3.50 per share IPO price that is offered to institutional investors.
It then jumped to the highest level of RM4.98 by end of day the afternoon trading session and remained high before closing at RM4.89 per share, up RM1.39 or 39.71 per cent. CPO Holdings is also the most actively traded counters on Bursa Malaysia yesterday with a total of 101 million shares worth RM464 million transacted, thereby making it a market leader. Dealers said IPO premiums exceeding RM1 on the first day of trading is complicated witnessed in recent years and the last big jump when the premiums are re-listing of Sime Darby Bhd in November 2007 increased RM2.10 per share and Deleum Bhd in June 2007 with an increase of RM1.43 per unit. Meanwhile, the MSM Holdings chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad to review the developments, said a very pleased with the warm welcome given to the company's stock investors was. He said it was a good start and it shows investors are very confident of the prospects of the company. "This is a good start. We hope it will survive not only today but for next time, "he told reporters after the inaugural listing of the company in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Also present were Director General of FELDA, Datuk Dzulkifli Abdul Wahab; Group President and Chief Executive of the Global Group FELDA Datuk Sabri Ahmad and President and Chief Executive of the MSM Holdings, Chua Say Sin. Mohd Isa, who is also Chairman of Felda said it will manage the business as possible to ensure the company's stock is getting the attention of investors. CPO Holdings IPO on Bursa Malaysia involves 255.64 million ordinary shares with 21.09 million shares allocated to institutional investors. Listing of the mo-dal generate RM796 million through the sale of 227.53 million shares to domestic and international institutional investors and RM95 million from the sale of 28.12 million shares to retail investors. Based on the offer price of RM3.50 per unit to institutional investors, capital markets MSM Holdings reached RM2.46 billion during the listing. On the FELDA schemes after listing MSM Holdings, Mohd Isa said, it depends on the time and specific strategies and instructions from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also responsible for the FELDA . He said Felda always ready to see some of his and his company has the potential to be listed on Bursa Malaysia. In addition, Mohd Isa said the Felda also received hundreds of business proposals from outside parties. "For the biomass alone, we received over 50 proposals, "he said. However, he said, it will examine first before deciding to venture into new business. Mohd Isa said, FELDA is also offered to develop thousands of hectares of land in other countries such as Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Myanmar, Suriname, Sierra Leone and Indonesia. He said he is currently at the end of the study to reclaim about 20,000 hectares in Myanmar. He said, now has 853,000 Felda land in Malaysia.

World central bank wary of the financial crisis risks

BANK world's leading center issued a warning to investors to be willing to accept smaller profit margins due to actions of the bank refuses a loan fund in preparation to avoid another financial crisis. They are also advised banks around the world about the need to raise interest rates to ensure inflation under control.

Bank for International Settlements (BIS) said the new rules for banks saw their capital buffers increase gradually in order to provide returns that can be expected and smaller.
However, the BIS, the main organization to monitor other major central banks, said in its annual report that the bank managers and shareholders perform the modification, as expected. He said that interest rates may go up because of global monetary policy is needed in order to withstand strict inflation pressure and avoid the risk of financial stability. General Manager of the bank, Jaime Caruana, said the global financial crisis that occurred in 2008-2009 still haunt the world, but there are signs that the return of excessive risk-taking happen again. He warned that the threat of unsustainable public debt , commodity and energy prices are soaring and inflation is already threatening many countries. "Although encouraged investors to take risks is part of crisis management, but there is a possibility of some event, they will cross more than they should," he said. He said, the problem more fiscal appear on the European countries owe in large scale, such as Portugal, Greece and Ireland, the other major economies also need to carefully and quickly improve their position in order to avoid another global crisis. "I see a need to increase the monetary policy appropriate level, "he told reporters in Basel, Switzerland. Globally, short-term interest rates have shown a negative reading with sharply since last year. Raise interest rates to reasonable levels to reduce excessive risk-taking incentives and support necessary restructuring and adjustment in the balance sheet.

MAS proposes less fuel efficient cargo flight

malaysia Airlines (MAS) plans to reduce the load capacity of its flights on the third and fourth quarters of this year to reduce operating costs if the price of jet fuel continues to rise, said Managing Director and Chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Sri Azmil Zahruddin Raja Abdul Aziz said. "If we know note the tension in the Middle East and fuel prices go up, we may not increase flight capacity as before.

"One thing we will do is reduce a bit and could see more reduction in capacity in the third and fourth quarters of this year, compared to the second quarter.
"At current jet fuel prices, we can not increase flight capacity," he said after the annual general meeting (AGM), the national carrier in Kelana Jaya yesterday. 's first financial quarter and saw Airlines has increased its flight capacity by 11 percent compared to before. Tengku Azmil said, to reduce costs due to rising fuel prices, Malaysia Airlines hedge fuel prices jetnya 25 percent for this year, at U.S. $ 130. Meanwhile, the chairman Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid, who was asked in relation to a research note Maybank Investment Bank suggested that MAS be taken private, said they consider all the options and business as long as it benefits the group in the future. "What we can do is highlight the options available, but it is the right of shareholders to decide," he said. Khazanah Nasional Bhd is the largest shareholder controls about 69 per cent stake in MAS, while the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) was 11 percent. Maybank IB in a research note issued from the MAS proposed listing on Bursa Malaysia and instead consider a list of Firefly, MAS Engineering, MASkargo and well as terminal services. The research firm considers issuing from the list of Bursa Malaysia Airlines is not an unusual idea and instead enable MAS to get higher ratings when the intention was reinstated later. MAS recorded a net loss of RM242.339 million in the first financial quarter ended March 31 compared RM310.047 million net profit in the same quarter the previous year.

TOYOTA 3S open in Ayer Keroh

COMPANY Second Automobile Sdn Bhd (Perodua) will open a sales, service and spare parts (3S), in Malacca next month, said managing director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh. He said the company is finalizing the land deal with the state government to open the center in Ayer Keroh.

"The state government has previously offered land in Autocity, Malacca but because the place was still new, we think it does not correspond to our interests.

We chose the area near the Crocodile Farm, Ayer Keroh, as a hypermarket is expected to be built there. We are confident it can attract people, "he said at a media briefing in conjunction with the Eco-Challenge NISSAN 2011, Malacca, yesterday. He declined to state the construction cost is expected 3S end of next year's operations. Currently managing 16 TOYOTA 3S center in the country. In other developments, Aminar Rashid said the company would receive a warm welcome to the new version of the Myvi. "Up to June 24, we received roughly 12,000 Myvi reservations and expect the end of July, about 2.000 to 3.000 new Myvi will be on the road, "he said. Aminar Rashid explained, the tsunami in Japan affect its operations and cause delays in the new Myvi delivery to customers. However, he said the company maintains sales target of 195,000 units and the new Myvi is expected to contribute 50 percent of its sales.

Mercedes-Benz sales rose two-digit bay

MERCEDES-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd expects sales of the model circulation in the country will increase by double-digit this year compared to last year, due to better market environment during the quarter.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Roland S Folger, said for five months until May this year, sales of passenger vehicles segment model for increased 13 percent to 2.208 units, compared to 1.959 units for the same period last year.

For the commercial vehicle segment, he said, sales rose 21.9 percent to 78 units versus 64 units, while Mitsubishi Fuso truck is added 42.6 percent to 810 units from 568 units. "We are aiming to increase sales this year, driven higher demand for luxury passenger vehicles. With a waiting list of between three and six months depending on the model, it illustrates the strong demand for Mercedes-Benz vehicles this year, "he said. He was speaking at an exclusive interview after the 100 days leading Mercedes-Benz Malaysia since 1 March to replace Peter Honegg now undertake the task as a Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz India. Last year, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia recorded sales growth of 28.2 percent or 5.003 units of passenger vehicles segment, which recorded the highest achievements of the German vehicle manufacturers.

Analysis: U.S. economy influences the performance of GDP

in recent years, external economic indicators have started to show a less favorable outlook.
Is the latest statistics from the United States (U.S.), which shows total employment in the plantation sector is not created, the user quite quickly which is 54.000 in May compared with 232,000 recorded during the previous month.
in adition the us unemployment rate also showed an increase of 0.1% to 9.1% in may.
.this fear is based on the fact that the U.S. is one of Malaysia's largest trading partner. In addition, the relationship between the U.S. and Malaysia for the growth of Gross Domestic Product ( GDP) remains high at 86.9 percent. It means that the performance of the GDP of both countries have a strong positive relationship. If, in the U.S. economy experienced a decline, likely our economy will move towards the same, and vice versa. This argument is supported on export growth electrical and electronic (E & E), which became the largest export countries contracted four per cent in April compared to the same month the previous year due to declining exports to the U.S.. Thus, it is very important for our country to ensure the internal or domestic economy will continue to generate economic activity as a stronghold resistance to the overall economic performance. However, there are some shortcomings that need to be solved in order to achieve the aspiration. For example, statistics on Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) shows the number of priority projects in the first quarter of 2011 was 589, or a decrease of 64.5 per cent over the period the same period last year. Based on the breakdown by categories, sectors such as infrastructure, residential and non-residential contracted 70.5 percent, 66.5 percent and 63.1 percent from a year earlier. In addition, many government development expenditure related to infrastructure development is also decreasing 12 percent in the first quarter of 2011. As a result, output growth for the construction sector experienced a decline of 3.8 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared to 5.6 per cent recorded during the fourth quarter of 2010. In addition, the delay in implementation of construction projects can also impact on the economy. academic studies have shown some delay in the implementation of the project and others, who do not carefully plan by the contractor, the construction of weak management, lack of experience, lack the financial resources, the problem of sub-contractors, shortage of raw materials and labor. In an effort to rationalize government subsidies , domestic demand, particularly private sector expenditure is also experiencing a period of adjustment thus increasing the risk of a slowdown in private spending. Should the issue be given attention by all parties to ensure the construction sector growth is not retarded and could be a catalyst for sustainability of the country. This is due to the network with other sectors such as manufacturing, financial and professional services. Through the multiplier effect, economic growth, particularly the domestic sector will be more robust if the smooth running of the contract can be increased to a level more efficient. - The writer is Economic Analyst at Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd ( MARC)