Malaysia Hot Stocks - Factors to watch

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Here are news stories that may affect the Malaysian stock market on Friday:

BERJAYA LAND SAYS TO DEVELOP DONG NAI PROVINCE IN VIETNAM

- Developer Berjaya Land Bhd (BLAD.KL) said it would develop about 600 hectares of land in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam into a mixed residential, commercial, financial and administrative centre. The firm said more financial details on the project, about 30 km from Ho Chi Minh City, would follow a study.

SUMATEC WINS $64 MLN DRILLING-RIG LEASING CONTRACT

- Sumatec Resources (SUTR.KL) said on Thursday its subsidiary IRoilrigs Middle East Ltd had received a $64.2 million leasing contract from Petrobras for onshore drilling rigs and auxiliary equipment in Brazil.

The contract is for eight years, Sumatec said.

SALCON GETS 22 MLN RGT WATER TREATMENT CONTRACT

- Salcon Bhd (SLCN.KL) said on Thursday its Salcon Engineering unit had been awarded a water treatment and piping work contract worth 22 million ringgit.

MALAYSIAN PALM CLIMBS ON SUPPLY WORRIES, LOCAL DEMAND

- Malaysian crude palm oil futures jumped more than 2 percent on Thursday to a new high on a combination of concerns over global supplies from South America and surging demand from Asia.

For full story, pleased double click on [ID:nKLR303499]

INDIA BANS PALM-OIL IMPORTS AT ALL KERALA PORTS

- India has extended a ban on the import of palm oils to all ports in southern Kerala state after lobbying from producers of rival coconut oil, drawing criticism from a leading trade body.

For full story, pleased double click on [ID:nDEL224192]

KHAZANAH PLANS TO MERGE INDONESIA'S LIPPO, NIAGA

- Malaysia's state investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, plans to merge its two Indonesian banks, PT Bank Niaga (BNGA.JK) and Bank Lippo LPBN.JK, Lippo said in a statement on Thursday.

Malaysia's second-largest lender, Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings BUCM.KL, and its major shareholder, Khazanah, have shares in the two Indonesian banks.

For full story, pleased double click on [ID:nJAK272101]

MALAYSIAN BROKERS AND MARKET WATCHDOG DISAGREE ON NEW FEES

- The Malaysian Securities Commission and leaders of local stockbroking and remisiers' associations failed to reach full agreement in talks on Thursday over new brokerage fees for securities trading, the Malaysian Reserve said on Friday.

The commission made it clear at the end of the meeting that it would announce its decision within two days on whether to allow more time for the current commission rates to remain in 2008 and to implement the full liberalisation of brokerage rates after 2008, the financial daily said.

(Reporting by Jalil Hamid and Mark Bendeich)