Disclaimer: This research should be used purely for informational purposes and is my own personal opinion. I bear no responsibility to whatever investment decisions taken by anyone with regards to this research.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) today advanced by 0.1% at 1,372 points, compared to an unchanged market yesterday (1,370 points). Top gainers are Petronas Dagangan (+RM0.5), Nestle (+RM0.5), MISC (+RM0.5) and British American Tobacco (+RM0.3). 

The market today advanced slightly up as global markets rallied today and yesterday with the expectations that the US will reopen its economy back, with the FED also continuing its monetary easing. The Dow Jones was up by 1.5% (24,134 points) to breach the 24,000 level, while the DAX index (German stock market index) was up 3.1%. Regional markets in Asia was also up with Hang Seng Index advancing by 1.2% (24,576 points) as the Hong Kong leadership looks to reopen the economy with declining rates of Covid-19 infections, and the PSE (Philippines stock market index) advancing by 2.3% with the assurance from the central bank of Philippines that further monetary easing is still on the table to combat Covid-19 impact to the economy.

For this week, there are several key data points that are coming out globally which will examine the severity of the Covid-19 recession in the advanced economies. This includes data on Europe’s Consumer Confidence, Industrial Confidence, and Economic Sentiment Indicator, United States’s GDP Price Index, and the FED’s decision on interest rates. All of these key data will point towards the impact of the Covid-19 on current conditions. 

For the Malaysian companies I am keeping track with a Buy call, most of them are still up. The best performing companies in terms of share price are Lotte Chemical Titan (26.3%), Padini (12.3%) and Bermaz Auto (12.0%). To date, the portfolio of companies I am keeping track on have moderated to 3.9% return (27 April 2019: 4.6%). You can have a look at the companies I am keeping track on in the Google Excel sheet here or the table below.