'Market overreaction presents opportunities'

The local stock market overreaction over the upcoming 13th General Election (GE13) would present buying opportunities
for investors, says MIDF Research.

Yesterday, the FBM KLCI reacted negatively to market talk that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak may soon seek consent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the dissolution of Parliament as early as this week.

If it turns out to be true, the GE13 will most probably be held by March 2013, MIDF said.

However, it said, investors may have overemphasised on the election consequence as the research house views the likeliest of results is that the status quo would remain.

"Hence, this presents an opportunity to investors with risk tolerance and who share a similar view," it said in a research note today.

Read more: Read more...

Malaysian stocks set for worst drop in 16 months on election jitters

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21, 2013): Malaysia's benchmark stock index fell more than 2% on Monday and appeared headed for its worst single-day drop in more than 16 months as worries over the country's upcoming election sparked selling across the board.

The FBI KLCI was down as much as 2.3% at 1,638.27 points by early afternoon, its biggest one-session loss since falling 2.5% on Sept 26, 2011, and bucking slight gains in other Southeast Asian stock markets.

A steady drip of headlines in local media about the election and speculation of a poll date late in March is fuelling the selling, said Kaladher Govindan, head of research at TA Securities, a local brokerage. The election must be called by the end of April.

Read more...