Malaysia Hot Stocks - Factors to watch

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Reuters) - Here are news stories that may affect the Malaysian stock market on Monday.

MALAYSIA AIRPORTS AIMS TO DOUBLE PROFITS BY 2013 - PAPER

- Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB.KL) aims to more than double profits by 2013, Managing Director Bashir Ahmad told the Business Times in an interview.

The company's strategy over the next five years focuses on growing commercial revenue, containing costs and raising service levels, Bashir said in the interview, published on Saturday.

ALAM MARITIM CLOSE TO WINNING BIG CONTRACT - THE EDGE

- Malaysian oil-services firm Alam Maritim Resources Bhd (ALMT.KL) has close to securing a contract worth up to 1 billion ringgit ($313.3 million) from state oil company Petronas, the Edge said on Saturdday, quoting unnamed sources.

Under the contract, Alam Maritim would carry out underwater maintenance of offshore oil facilities and provide support-vessel services over three years, with an option to extend for two more years, the business weekly said.

KL KEPONG LOOKS TO BUY OUT LADANG - THE EDGE

- Malaysian palm-oil firm Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLKK.KL) is looking at buying out the rest of smaller local palm-oil company Ladang Perbadanan-Fima Bhd LPFB.KL, the Edge said.

KL Kepong owns 15.4 percent of Ladang, which has three plam-oil estates in Perak state, and is negotiating to buy another 31.9 percent stake at 4.20 ringgit per share, it said, noting this would trigger a mandatory bid for the entire firm.

MALAYSIA'S CENTRAL BANK DAMPENS RATE CUT TALK

- Malaysia's central bank on Friday dampened talk of an interest rate cut in the near term, saying current rates are adequate to keep the economy motoring along.

For full story, please double click on [ID:nSP167480]

PALM OIL SOARS ABOVE 4,000 RINGGIT FOR FIRST TIME

- Malaysian palm oil surged above 4,000 ringgit a tonne for the first time on Friday as crude oil's surge to a record and buoyant export demand triggered a fresh wave of buying by funds and speculators.

For full story, please double click on [ID:nKLR1144597]

UEM WORLD SEES 13 PCT 2008 REVENUE GROWTH

- Malaysian conglomerate UEM World Bhd UEMW.KL expects its revenue to grow by 13 percent in 2008, the company said on Friday. Its return on equity for 2008 is forecast at 13 percent, the company told the stock exchange.

BERJAYA CORP SAYS TO DISTRIBUTE MAZDA CARS IN MALAYSIA

- Conglomerate Berjaya Corp (BGRO.KL) has signed a deal with Japan's Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) to distribute Mazda cars in Malaysia, Berjaya Corp said on Friday. MUHIBBAH ENGINEERING EYES DOUBLE DIGIT PROFIT RISE

- Builder Muhibbah Engineering (MUHI.KL) expects double-digit growth in net profit and revenue in the 2008 financial year, Business Times reported on Monday quoting the firm's managing director Mac Ngan Boon.

INDIA'S BANK OF BARODA TO SET UP BANK IN MALAYSIA

- Indian lender Bank of Baroda (BOB.BO) and two other Indian banks will set up a bank in Malaysia in 2009, Business Times reported on Monday quoting Bank of Baroda's chairman A.K. Khandelwal.

Bank of Baroda will partner Punjab National Bank (PNBK.BO) and Andhra Bank in the venture, the paper said.

AIRASIA'S INDONESIA, THAI ASSOCIATES TO BE PROFITABLE BY 2009

- Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia's (AIRA.KL) associate firms in Indonesia and Thailand are expected to be profitable by 2009, AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes was quoted on Monday as saying by The Malaysian Reserve.

GLOBAL TRADER EUROPE'S PROBLEMS TO HIT MALAYSIAN FIRMS

- At least nine firms listed on Bursa Malaysia (BMYS.KL) have been adversely affected by the forced selling of stocks that are pledged to Global Trader Europe Ltd in return for a leveraged line of credit, The Edge Financial Daily reported on Monday citing unnamed sources.

(Reporting by Mark Bendeich and Liau Y-Sing)