theSun | THURSDAY NOVEMBER 27 2008 21

business news Hang Seng

13,369.45
S&P/ASX200
3,540
TSEC
4,271.80
KLCI
856.37
STI
1,711.13
KOSPI
1,029.78
Nikkei
8,213.22
490.85 83.4 5.31 3.81 57.88 46.46 110.71

RHB Capital’s net

profit up 58%
KUALA LUMPUR: RHB Capital Berhad re-
Pensonic posts 6.5% KL market summary
INDICES
FBMEMAS
COMPOSITE
NOVEMBER 26, 2008

5,629.99
856.37
CHANGE
-34.70
-3.81

growth despite slowdown

corded a profit before taxation of RM1,160.5
million for the nine months ended Sept 30,
2008, up 33% when compared to RM870.8
million recorded in the previous year cor-
responding period.
The strong overall financial performance
was attributed to continued growth in net
interest income and lower loan loss allow-
ances as bad debt recoveries improved.
Net profit rose by 58% or RM312.1 million
to RM851.8 million compared with the same
period in 2007.
The repurchase of the minority interest in
RHB Bank Berhad in July last year provided
the additional boost to the net profits of the
group.
Net interest income increased by 6%
or RM88.5 million to RM1,644.1 million for
the first nine months of 2008 on the back
of a healthy 10.2% increase in loans and
advances.
Income from the Islamic Banking business
was lower at RM200.4 million for the nine
months period, a decline of RM38.1 million
or 16% as compared to RM238.5 million
recorded in the same period of 2007.
The decline was due to a one-off capital
market transaction gain recorded in 2007 of
RM70 million. Excluding the one-off capital
market gain recorded in 2007, the group’s
Islamic Banking business grew by approxi-
mately 19%.
For the quarter ended Sept 30, 2008, the
group recorded a profit before taxation of
RM488.7 million, 35% higher as compared
to RM361.9 million recorded in the preceding
quarter ended June 30, 2008.
by Opalyn Mok
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: The Pensonic
Group posted a 6.5% growth in
revenue for the financial year
ended May 31, 2008, chalking up
RM321.6 million compared with
RM302.1 million for the previous
year.
It recorded a net profit of
RM1.1 million on the back of 1.9%
and 18.9% increases in domestic
and export market segment
turnover respectively for the year
ended May 31, 2008 compared
with the preceding year.
Group managing director and
chief executive officer Dixon
Chew said the positive growth
was achieved despite the eco-
nomic downturn.
“This shows that the group
has a solid and stable base of
income from the rising usage and
acceptance of Pensonic brand
products among consumers,”
he said at the Pensonic Holdings
Bhd’s annual general meeting.
He said Pensonic has moved
INDUSTRIAL 2,052.52 -13.79
CONSUMER PROD 274.89 -0.49
INDUSTRIAL PROD 67.25 -0.20
CONSTRUCTION 152.66 UNCH
TRADING/SERVICES 119.88 -0.39
FINANCE 6,532.62 -71.01
forward with a more diversified The group has also introduced
PROPERTIES 508.81 -5.21
PLANTATIONS 3,761.46 +23.27
business portfolio, covering a the compact fluorescent lamp MINING 255.33 UNCH
wider product range and more which saves up to 80% in energy FBMSHA 5,815.13 -34.14
countries to minimise business consumption. FBM2BRD 4,009.27 -294.93
TECHNOLOGY 13.11 +0.04
risk. “The item contributed
“In fact, we have ventured RM600,000 in sales for the last
TURNOVER VALUE
into two new ranges of product, quarter and it is forecast that its
363.041mil RM598.272mil
personal robotics and energy sales will reach RM3 million for
saving lamps,” he said. this financial year,” Chew said.
Chew said the group introduced
its first robotics product, “Pleo-the
He said the group is consoli-
dating and streamlining its prod- Prices end lower
dinosaur”, to the domestic market uct range by promoting products
on Monday in Kuala Lumpur. with higher profit margins. BURSA Malaysia ended lower yesterday, led
by the fall in the finance and property indices,
“Pleo was designed by Ugobe “We also successfully increase
to replicate the character of a the selling prices of our electrical dealers said.
They said the fall was, however, capped by
baby Camarasaurus, a dinosaur,” appliances to commensurate
he said. with the enhancement in quality mild gains in the plantation stocks.
A dealer said the lacklustre market was
Pensonic has the exclusive and brand value since the first
right to distribute the high-profile quarter of this current financial also dampened by the overnight mixed per-
formance on Wall Street.
product in five countries, Malay- year,” he said.
sia, the Philippines, Indonesia, As a result, the group’s do- The benchmark KLCI fell 3.81 points to
Singapore and Thailand. mestic sales for the first quarter close at 856.37.
Pleo, which weighs 1.58kg ended Aug 31, 2008 hit RM55.8 OSK Research, in its report, said given the
and stands at 19.5cm and comes million, which was an increase of lack of positive news, it expected the market
in only one colour, green, is being 25% compared to RM44.6 million to stay range-bound.
sold at RM1,699 per unit. in the same period last year. Ramunia declined 69 sen to 61 sen after
The group forecasts that the The Pensonic group declared MISC decided to abort the reverse takeover.
revenue contribution from this a final dividend of RM1.25 per MISC shares, however, added 15 sen to
product may hit RM10 million for share less tax for the financial RM8.40. – Bernama
the financial year 2009. year ended May 31, 2008.