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The Star FBM KLCI slips into negative territory KUALA LUMPUR: Despite opening firmer in the morning, Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KL Composite Index (FBM KLCI) gave up early gains as it slipped into the red in the absence of fresh leads.     US firms invited to invest in Malaysia SAN FRANCISCO: American firms are welcome to further invest in Malaysia, especially in technology-driven industries, that can help boost the country's growth in line with the government's drive to move up the high-income economy ladder by 2020. China sees rise in output, retail sales, prices SHANGHAI: China's economic recovery gained momentum in November as industrial output, retail sales and investment all showed solid growth and consumer prices saw their first increase in 10 months. Limited upside on lack of positive leads KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices on Bursa Malaysia are expected to continue their range bound trading today as window dressing activities remain elusive due to lack of strong positive leads. Oil dips below US$70 per barrel NEW YORK: Natural gas prices surged 8 percent Thursday as the U.S. reported supplies dropped for the first time in nine months, yet the price of crude fell for the seventh straight day. US stocks up as trade deficit narrows in Oct NEW YORK: Stock indexes rose Thursday as a jump in exports offset concerns about an increase in weekly unemployment claims. Yahoo adds another touch of Twitter to search SUNNYVALE, California: Yahoo is including more Twitter messages in its search results to give people a better sense about what's happening on the Web. One year after US$50bil Madoff fraud many questions unanswered When you call anyone you want to talk to the person, not a machine IMAGINE yourself being the 27th caller in a queue waiting to talk to a customer relations or call centre representative for a service you want changed or cancelled. How would you react? Poll: Rich Malaysians survived financial turmoil unscathed KUALA LUMPUR: The net worth of affluent Malaysians for the second half of the year increased 55% compared with the advance of 35% in the first half, according to a survey by the HSBC Affluent Asian Tracker. The Star still has biggest circulation in peninsula PETALING JAYA: The Star maintained its top spot among English newspapers in Peninsular Malaysia in terms of circulation, according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) report for the 12 months ended June 30. Manufacturing and electricity help turn IPI around KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s factories posted their first growth in over a year with the manufacturing and electricity indices lifting the industrial production index (IPI) up 0.7% in October from a year ago. Palm oil buyers waiting to see if price will fall PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s palm oil stocks in November stood at 1.934 million tonnes, reflecting only a marginal decrease from 1.974 million tonnes, the highest level year-to-date, recorded in October. Public Bank, Bursa Malaysia win excellence award KUALA LUMPUR: The Overall Excellence Award under the Malaysian Corporate Governance (MCG) Index 2009 went to Public Bank Bhd and Bursa Malaysia Bhd. PAAB plans better offer to Selangor water concessionaires PETALING JAYA: With the ball now in its court, Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) plans to make an offer it deems “more palatable” to Selangor’s water concessionaires next week, said chief executive officer Ahmad Faizal Abdul Rahman. Penang’s Rice Miller Weld Quay to take off next year GEORGE TOWN: Penang’s RM250mil Rice Miller Weld Quay mixed development project is set to kick off next year after receiving the go-ahead from local authorities on Dec 1. What must the board do to manage talent? PREVIOUSLY, I have discussed succession planning in terms of leadership and differentiated between three types of leaders: captains, navigators and shipbuilders. KUB appoints Halim chairman PETALING JAYA: KUB Malaysia Bhd has appointed Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Samad chairman effective Dec 10 to replace Datuk Nordin Baharuddin who retired yesterday. Malaysia's MOL AccessPortal to acquire 100% of Friendster KUALA LUMPUR: MOL Global Pte Ltd is acquiring the entire equity in social networking website operator Friendster Inc, creating an entity with a combined annual revenue exceeding US$110mil upon the completion of the acquisition exercise. MyEG will set up 40 e-services centres to boost business PETALING JAYA: Electronic government services provider MY E.G. Services Bhd (MyEG) expects to increase its share of online road tax and auto insurance renewal business to 20% from 15% currently when it opens e-service centres in east Malaysia in the first quarter of next year. Nestle to replace Parkson in FBM KLCI PETALING JAYA: FTSE Group, the index company, and Bursa Malaysia Bhd announced that Nestle (M) Bhd would replace Parkson Holdings Bhd in the 30-counter strong FTSE Bursa Malaysia KL Composite Index. Bursa to de-list Idaman Unggul PETALING JAYA: Bursa Malaysia has decided to disallow Idaman Unggul Bhd’s appeal and will de-list the securities of the company after due consideration of all the facts and circumstances of the matter. Better earnings ahead for Maybank PETALING JAYA: Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) is expected to chart better earnings for its financial years 2010 (FY10) and 2011(FY11), underpinned by improvement in net interest margins (NIMs) and higher contributions from subsidiaries in Indonesia and Pakistan. SP Setia net profit down 25% in Q4 on slower sales PETALING JAYA: SP Setia Bhd’s net profit fell 25% to RM56.9mil in the final quarter ended Oct 31 without the one-time gain that boosted its income in the previous corresponding period. Astro gains from Malay market PETALING JAYA: Astro All Asia Networks plc’s impressive earnings for the third quarter ended Oct 31 were the result of getting new customers from the Malay market and the RM12 hike in its sports package price beginning August. More ExxonMobil jobs in the pipeline PETALING JAYA: The oil and gas sector is poised for some exciting developments with ExxonMobil’s award of contracts for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Papua New Guinea. NZ signals earlier rate hike WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s central bank signalled yesterday that it could start raising rates as early as April next year, bringing forward an end to record low interest rates. China property prices surge HONG KONG: China’s property prices climbed last month at the fastest pace since July 2008, adding to concern that record lending may create asset bubbles in the world’s fastest growing major economy. Australian jobs rise for 3rd month SYDNEY: Australian employment surged past all expectations in November while the jobless rate surprised by falling to 5.7%, an unambiguous sign of strength that argues for further increases in interest rates next year.

The Malaysian Mail First National Geographic store in KL KUALA LUMPUR: National Geographic will be opening their third store worldwide and its first in Kuala Lumpur at Lot 10 shopping centre in the first quarter of 2010.. The store in Malaysia is after its two flagship stores in London and Singapore.. The National Geographic Store in Malaysia is the partnership between Natural Adventure Sdn Bhd and Barcelona-based Worldwide Retail Store SL.. Natural Adventure Sdn Bhd is a subsidiary of YTL Corporation Berhad.     US firms welcome to invest SAN FRANCISCO: American firms are welcome to further invest in Malaysia, especially in technology-driven industries, that can help boost the country's growth in line with the government's drive to move up the high-income economy ladder by 2020.. Malaysian Industrial Development Authority chairman Tan Sri Dr Sulaiman Mahbob said over the years American investors in Malaysia had continued to show their strong confidence and commitment to their investments in the country. Astro B.yond launched Euro markets end higher LONDON: European stock markets surged into positive territory.. The London FTSE 1OO index rose 0.78 per cent to close at 5,244.37 points while in Paris the CAC 40 gained 1.09 per cent to 3,798.38.. The Frankfurt Dax added 1.08 per cent to finish at 5,709.02 points.. There were gains of 0.67 per cent in Milan and 0.46 per cent in Madrid. Wall Street stocks rise NEW YORK: Wall Street stocks notched gains yesterday.. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 68.78 points (0.67 per cent) to close at 10,405.83.. The tech-dominated Nasdaq composite advanced 7.13 points (0.33 per cent) to 2,190.86 and the Standard & Poor's 500 broad-market index rose 6.40 points (0.58 per cent) to end at 1,102.35. Advanced economies should keep rates low NEW YORK: Advanced economies should maintain loose monetary policies and extralow interest rates for "some time" to ensure a global economic recovery stays on track, a top IMF official said yesterday.. "With generalised inflationary pressures absent in most advanced economies at this time, monetary policy can most likely remain accommodative for some time, especially in many advanced economies," said John Lipsky, deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund. China on recovery path SHANGHAI: China's economic recovery gained momentum in November as industrial output, retail sales and investment all showed solid growth and consumer prices saw their first increase in 10 months.. The consumer price index climbed 0.6 per cent over a year earlier last month as prices for energy, property and many commodities rose, the National Statistics Bureau reported. EU to plot strategy     The Edge Malaysia Tan Chong Motor set to invest US$15m in Vietnam KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd has received Vietnam's go-ahead to set up a subsidiary that will manufacture and assemble buses, trucks and cars. The company's total investment is expected .... Tanjong 3Q net profit up 83% to RM177.7m KUALA LUMPUR: Power-gaming company Tanjong plc posted net profit of RM177.76 million in its third quarter ended Oct 31, compared with RM97.13 million a year ago as earnings were boosted by the oversea.... An Binh Bank to sell another 5% stake to Maybank HANOI: Vietnam's An Binh Bank, 15 percent owned by Malayan Banking Bhd, said it would sell another 5% for US$19.3 million to Maybank this month, according to Reuters.Partly private ABBank said in a st.... Asian markets end on firmer note Shares on most Asian markets traded on a steadier footing on Friday. Sentiment had been weak for the better part of the week as investors grappled with growing concerns over mounting debt at governmen.... Public Bank's Teh: Excellent corporate governance essential to good results KUALA LUMPUR: Excellent corporate governance is essential to good business performance as well as ensures that the interest of investors and all other stakeholders are well taken care of, said Tan Sri.... #Update*: Khazanah sells 2% stake in Tenaga KUALA LUMPUR:Maybank Investment Bank Bhd has placed out 86.75 million existing shares in Tenaga Nasional Bhd at RM8.10 per share, on behalf of Khazanah Nasional Bhd.. The investment bank said on Frida.... #Update* Astro aims for 500,000 HDTV subscribers KUALA LUMPUR: Astro All Asia Networks is aiming to get 500,000 of its current subscribers to take up its high-definition television (HDTV) services, or ASTRO B.yond, by end-2010, Astro TV chief execut.... FBM KLCI slips into the red KUALA LUMPUR:  The benchmark FBM KLCI slipped into the red at the midday break on Friday, Dec 11 in quiet trade as volume declined due to lack of fresh positive leads to attract investors. Genting, C.... #Flash* Petra Energy's 25% stake done off market KUALA LUMPUR: Petra Energy Bhd's 25% stake or 48.8 million shares were transacted in an off-market deal on Friday, Dec 11.According to Bloomberg data, the shares were crossed at RM1.91 for a total of .... Tune Talk's value-for-money mobile phone at RM109 KUALA LUMPUR: Tune Talk Sdn Bhd has unveiled a value-for-money mobile phone -- Tune Talk Phone -- that retails at RM109 as it sees to provide greater convenience and affordability to subscribers.The c....