The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s (TM) pre-tax profit in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2009 rose 57.67 per cent to RM217.761 million from a pre-tax loss of RM138.116 million in the same quarter last year.

Revenue in the third quarter saw an increase of RM39.065 million or 1.89 per cent from RM2.062 billion in the preceding quarter, mainly due to higher revenue from data services, internet and multimedia, other telecommunication related services and non-telecommunication related services net of declining voice of revenue.

Meanwhile, the group’s profit after tax and minority interests (Patami) increased by 208 per cent to RM179.1 million when compared to a loss of RM165.8 million in the corresponding quarter of 2008.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — The UMW Group announced a pre-tax profit of RM288.2 million for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2009, a 55.4 per cent growth from the pre-tax profit of RM185.5 million in the second quarter.

The third quarter figure however was a decline when compared with the pre-tax profit of RM353.8 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of last year.

The international conglomerate, with its core businesses in the automotive, equipment, manufacturing and engineering and oil and gas sectors, attributed the improved performance in the third quarter from the second quarter to higher profit contribution from several associated companies.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 - AirAsia Bhd today recorded a pre-tax profit of RM136.26 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30 this year compared to a pre-tax loss of RM504.328 million in the same quarter of 2008.

Revenue was slightly better at RM739.668 million from RM707.909 million, the company said in its filing to Bursa Malaysia here today.

For the nine months ended Sept 30, the company registered pre-tax profit of RM398.538 million on the back of a turnover of RM2.285 billion.

UPDATE 1

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — The country’s economy experienced an improved contraction of 1.2 per cent from 3.9 per cent in the second quarter due to positive growth in domestic demand and “stabilisation of external demand.”

Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz (picture) explained that the increase in domestic demand is due to the stronger private consumption and higher public sector spending.

All of the economic sector also recorded improved performance except for agriculture.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended broadly lower today after selective buying in bluechip counters failed to lift  market sentiment and as investors opted to remain sidelined ahead of the weekend, said a dealer.

At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM KLCI) shed 2.29 points to 1,274.36. It had opened 0.99 of a point lower at 1,275.66.

The FBM Emas Index slipped 17.46 points to 8,504.86, the FBM Top 100 declined 16.31 points to 8,310.7 and the FBM 70 fell 21.54 points to 8,237.32. The FBM ACE increased 49.02 points to 4,436.62.