AIG raises HK$1.49b by selling remaining PICC P&C shares

American International Group has raised about HK$1.49 billion (S$261.34 million) by selling its remaining shares in Chinese insurer PICC Property and Casualty Co Ltd, IFR reported.

AIG sold 111 million shares at HK$13.46 each after marketing the deal at a floor price of HK$13.39. The shares ended Friday at HK$13.46.

AIG bought PICC P&C shares ahead of the Chinese insurers'Hong Kong IPO in 2003 and has been steadily selling down its shares over the past two years.

Including the latest sale, the US insurer has raised about US$2.8 billion, according to Reuters calculations.

AIG did not respond to Reuters' request for comment, while PICC P&C could not be reached.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Singapore shares open 1.13% higher on Monday after weak US job data

SINGAPORE stocks opened 1.13 per cent higher on Monday, with the Straits Times Index adding 31.63 points to 2,835.55 as at 9am.

This followed weaker-than-expected US August jobs data released on Friday, which reports have said will reduce the odds for a US rate hike this month.

In Singapore, about 50.1 million shares worth S$73.4 million in total changed hands. Gainers almost tripled losers at 98 to 32.

Top stocks by value traded were Singtel, DBS and Singapore Exchange.

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Stocks to watch: Vallianz, Jasper, CIT, Nico Steel

THE following companies made material announcements before the opening of Monday's market:

Vallianz Holdings has requested for a halt in the trading of its shares, before the opening of Monday's market, citing "pending release of announcement".

Last week, Vallianz said that certain entities within the group have recently received letters from the interim judicial managers (IJMs) of Swiber Holdings and Swiber Offshore Construction (SOC), requesting payments totalling about US$63.5 million, which the IJMs claim to be funds owed to Swiber and SOC.

Vallianz has declined to make such payments, and said it is awaiting a response from the IJMs, and will make further announcements when appropriate.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Seoul: Won edges up ahead of US August non-farm payrolls report

The South Korean won inched up early on Friday in cautious trade ahead of the much-awaited August US non-farm payrolls report later in the day - which could give a clearer view on a potential Fed rate hike.

The won was quoted at 1,119.1 as of 0155 GMT, up 0.3 per cent compared with Thursday's close of 1,122.1.

News that a gauge of US national factory activity fell in August for the first time in six months added to the tentative mood.

"The dollar weakened broadly on the weak factory data but cautious investor environment is keeping the won from extending gains," said Jeong My-young, a foreign exchange analyst at Samsung Futures.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Hot stock: Telcos fall on potential entry of 4th operator

SINGAPORE'S telcos fell on Friday after three firms formally submitted their bids to take part in an airwaves auction that could lead to the nation's fourth telco.

By 9.15am, Singtel was down seven cents to S$3.90 or 1.8 per cent; StarHub was down 15 cents to S$3.48, or 4.1 per cent; M1 was down 16 cents to S$2.50, or 6 per cent.

All three were among the top 10 stocks by value traded.

The contenders are newly formed company airYotta Pte Ltd; fibre broadband services provider MyRepublic; and TPG Telecom, a provider of telco services in Australia.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Malaysia: Shares open higher

MALAYSIA share prices opened higher on Friday with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index up 4.050 points to 1674.600.

Volume was 19.81 million lots worth RM8.65 million.

Gainers outnumbered glosers 73 to 32.

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Australia, NZ dollars inch higher on positive economic news

The Australian and New Zealand dollars edged higher on Thursday as investors focussed on the positives in domestic economic data, though their longer-term direction remained at the mercy of a looming US jobs report.

The Australian dollar crawled ahead to US$0.7538 , from US$0.7520 late Wednesday, but was still down slightly for the week. Support lies around US$0.7490 with resistance at US$0.7580.

Australia's economic data proved a mixed bag but there were enough signs of improvement in business investment to keep the currency underpinned.

While business spending fell 5.4 per cent in the second quarter, firms upgraded their plans for the 2016/17 financial year in a promising sign of a long-awaited pick-up outside of mining.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Taiwan: Stocks dip to over one-week low; financial shares drop

Taiwan stocks fell on Thursday, tracking declines in overseas markets, with selling led by heavyweights in the financial sector.

Shares in Mega Financial Holding Co Ltd, which closed down for nine in 10 trading sessions, slipped 1.9 per cent early in the trade, following its chairman's resignation on Wednesday.

Shiu Kuang Si resigned from all his positions at the Taiwanese financial firm after its banking unit was fined last month for breach of anti-money laundering regulations in New York.

As of 0225 GMT, the main Taiex index dropped as much as 0.9 per cent to 8,980.21, to hit the lowest since August 22. The bourse closed down 0.5 per cent in the previous session.

The electronics subindex lost 0.5 per cent, while the financials subindex sank 1.1 per cent.

The Taiwan dollar firmed NT$0.013 to T$31.713 per US dollar.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Singapore shares open 0.1% up on Thursday

SINGAPORE stocks opened 0.1 per cent higher on Thursday, with the Straits Times Index advancing 2.11 points to 2,822.7 as at 9.01am.

Markets are in wait-and-see mode ahead of US jobs data to be released on Friday night, Asia time.

In Singapore, about 50.7 million shares worth S$90.4 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$1.78. The field was evenly matched, with as many gainers as losers at 53 each.

The most actively traded counter was Noble, which fell S$0.002 to S$0.117 with 5.8 million shares changing hands.

Other actives included Golden Agri-Resources and Charisma Energy.

Top stocks by value traded were Singtel, DBS, Jardine Matheson, Keppel Corp and OCBC.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Asia: Markets mostly down but Tokyo soars on weak yen

Tokyo stocks resumed a rally on Wednesday as the yen fell against the dollar on US interest rate talk but most other Asian markets struggled as investors were spooked by the prospects of higher borrowing costs in the world's top economy.

Dollar demand has intensified since Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen on Friday hinted at a possible hike as data point to continued economic improvement.

Figures showing US consumer confidence at its highest level in almost a year provided further evidence of a brighter outlook.

On Tuesday vice chairman Stanley Fischer told Bloomberg TV that any movement in rates was dependent on data, adding that "employment is very close to full employment".Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Seoul: Won, stocks tread water; major economies' data awaited

The South Korean won and shares made only small moves early on Wednesday, with many investors staying on the sidelines as views on how soon US interest rates will rise changing often.

The won stood at 1,116.7 as of 0214 GMT, up 0.3 per cent from Tuesday's close of 1,119.9.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) was down 0.3 per cent at 2,034.60 points.

Jung Sung-yoon, a foreign exchange analyst at Hyundai Futures, expects moves could get sharper as economic indicators from major economies including the US and China come out in the near future.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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South Korea's July factory output rebounds, focus turns to trade

South Korea's industrial output unexpectedly grew in July but the improvement was mainly due to temporary factors, spurring investors to hone in on trade data out on Thursday for further clues on the health of the economy.

In monthly terms, industrial output rose 1.4 per cent in July on a seasonally adjusted basis as production of electronic components and cars boosted activity, data showed on Wednesday.

The median forecast in a Reuters survey of analysts was for output to decline 0.6 per cent from June. June's reading was revised down to minus 0.4 per cent from minus 0.2 per cent estimated earlier.

"We think the bounces in confidence and in IP growth are noise rather than signal and that IP growth remains essentially flat and services are growing around 3 per cent," said Tim Condon, economist at ING. "If IP and services remain at their July level in the remainder of the quarter, we estimate third-quarter growth at 3.0 per cent."Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Singapore shares open 0.2% down on Wednesday

SINGAPORE stocks opened 0.2 per cent lower on Wednesday, with the Straits Times Index losing 5.1 points to 2,823.29 as at 9am.

This came after US stocks fell the night before and the dollar rose amid rate hike worries.

About 50.8 million shares worth S$106.3 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$2.09 per share.

Gainers outnumbered losers 53 to 47, or about nine up for every eight down.

The most actively traded counter was Noble Group.

Top five stocks by value traded were Singtel, UOB, DBS, OCBC and ComfortDelGro.

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Tokyo: Shares edge lower as soft data offsets weak yen

Tokyo shares ended slightly lower on Tuesday as tepid data and profit-taking from the previous day's sharp jump offset a weaker yen.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.07 per cent, or 12.13 points, to close at 16,725.36, while the broader Topix index of all first-section shares ticked down 0.03 per cent, or 0.43 point, to 1,312.81.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Australia shares bounce on Wall Street, financials lead; NZ stocks up

Australian shares bounced on Tuesday, supported by overnight strength on Wall Street and upbeat US consumer spending data, with gains in the financial sector leading the way.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 28.2 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 5497.6 by 0245 GMT, after hitting its lowest in over a month in the previous session due to concerns of a near-term US interest rate hike.

But strong US consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, lifted the mood.

Investors are now turning their attention to US payroll data later on Friday to gauge if the Federal Reserve might be in a position to raise rates before year-end.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Oil prices rise as US dollar retreats from two-week high

Oil futures edged up on Tuesday as the US dollar erased earlier gains, but doubts that producers would be able to agree to an output freeze continued to drag on prices.

International Brent crude oil futures were trading at US$49.34 per barrel at 0125 GMT, up 8 US cents from their previous close.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 15 US cents at US$47.13 a barrel.

The US dollar retreated from Monday's two-week high as investors looked ahead to jobs data this week that Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley Fischer has said will be important to whether the US central bank raises interest rates soon.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Asia: Most markets slump, Tokyo soars on US rate talk

Japanese stocks rallied on a weaker yen but other Asian markets retreated Monday after Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen hinted at a US interest rate hike by the end of the year.

In a much-anticipated speech Friday Yellen said a pick-up in the world's top economy and an improvement in the jobs market meant "the case for an increase in the federal funds rate has strengthened in recent months".

While there is speculation rates could rise as early as next month, most experts had said that is unlikely and that December or February would be safer bets.

Yellen did not give a timeframe during her speech at the annual Jackson Hole symposium of global central bankers, but Fed vice chairman Stanley Fischer later said September was a possibility.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Australia: Shares at 1-month low on US rate rise concerns

Australian stocks fell for a third straight session on Monday to their lowest in over a month as sentiment was dampened by comments from top US Fed officials raising the possibility of an interest rate hike this year.

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.4 per cent as of 0232 GMT. The benchmark lost 0.5 per cent last Friday.

Fed chair Janet Yellen told a global monetary policy conference last Friday that the case for a rate increase had grown stronger, but she did not indicate when the Fed might hike rates.

However, Fed vice chair Stanley Fischer suggested a move could come at the central bank's September policy meeting if the economy was doing well.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Hong Kong, Shanghai: Stocks open down after Yellen rate hike hint

Shares fell in the first few minutes of trade in Hong Kong Monday after Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen suggested US interest rates could be lifted before the end of the year.

The Hang Seng Index slipped 0.16 per cent, or 36.28 points, to 22,873.26.

And the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.06 per cent, or 1.85 points, to 3,068.46, while the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, slipped 0.07 per cent, or 1.41 points, to 2,021.68.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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Taiwan: Stocks fall on weaker overseas markets, technical selling in TSMC

Taiwan stocks fell on Monday tracking weakness in overseas markets and on technical selling in heavyweight chipmaker TSMC.

Most Asian shares slipped in early trade on Monday after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen indicated a possible rate hike in the US later this year.

As of 0244 GMT, the main TAIEX index fell 0.7 per cent to 9,070.84, after closing up 0.2 per cent in the previous session.

The electronics subindex fell 0.7 per cent, but the financials subindex gained 0.1 per cent.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

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