KUALA LUMPUR: The spotlight could be on companies with recent corporate announcements including Ranhill Utilities, Carlsberg Malaysia, Heineken Malaysia, Farm Fresh, MST Golf, Dialog and Samchem, said Apex Research.

Ranhill Utilities Bhd‘s 2Q23 net profit surged 72.22% to RM12.06 million.

Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd posted a slightly lower net profit of RM88.24 million in 2Q23.

Heineken Malaysia Bhd’s 2Q23 net profit rose 5.11% to RM90.47 million.

Abrdn plc has emerged as Farm Fresh Bhd’s substantial shareholder after the purchase of 93.84 million shares or a 5.013% stake.

MST Golf Group Bhd recorded a net profit of RM5.44 million on revenue of RM75.94 million for 2Q23.

Dialog Group Bhd’s 4QFY23 net profit increased by 7.21% to RM126.78 million.

Samchem Holdings Bhd’s 2Q23 net profit fell 70% to RM5.4 million.

The US market plunged overnight led by banking stocks after Fitch warned that it may downgrade credit rating of dozens of banks.

Earlier, European markets also declined after higher wage data in the UK, retail sales and industrial production in China were below expectation and Russia hiked its interest rates to stabilise its currency.

On the local market, the FBM KLCI was flat after adding 3.28 points or 0.23% to 1460.28 points.

“Following the state elections which saw status quo, the FBM KLCI could remain sideways below the resistance of 1,465 points in search of new direction,” said Apex.