Malaysia Hot Stocks - Factors to watch

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Here are news stories that may affect the Malaysian stock market on Monday:

MALAYSIA'S BUMIPUTRA-COMMERCE IN VIETNAM BROKERAGE JV

- Malaysia's CIMB Investment Bank, a unit of Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd BUCM.KL, has agreed to set up a securities joint venture in Vietnam with the financing arm of Vietnam's largest ship-builder, Vinashin, CIMB said on Friday.

CIMB Investment Bank would take a 40 percent stake in the joint venture, which was expected to start operations in mid 2008, the bank said in a statement to the Malaysian exchange.

MALAYSIA'S IJM & SINGAPORE'S CSC FORM JOINT VENTURE

- Malaysian builder IJM Corp (IJMS.KL) and Singapore engineer CSC Holdings (CSCH.SI) have formed a joint venture to carry out engineering and related work in Malaysia, IJM said on Friday. IJM Construction, a unit of IJM Corp, will hold 30 percent of the venture and CSC Holdings the rest, it added without giving any details of the projects to be undertaken by the venture.

MALAYSIA'S H.LEONG INDUSTRIES PLANS ISLAMIC BONDS

- Malaysian motorcycles to electronics manufacturer Hong Leong Industries (HLIB.KL) plans to issue up to 500 million ringgit ($150 million) in Islamic commercial paper and medium-term notes, the firm said on Friday.

The funds would be raised under the Islamic financial principle of musharakah, where the investors are technically treated as partners in a business venture with the issuer.

The tenor would be seven years and the funds would be used to refinance borrowings and for general investments, capital expenditure and working capital, Hong Leong Industries said.

MALAYSIAN PALM CLIMBS TO NEAR RECORD, PLANTATIONS FLOODED

- Malaysian crude palm oil futures rose 1 percent on Friday as fears that another wave of floods will hit palm oil estates boosted the market.

For full story, please double click on [ID:nKLR71010]

MALAYSIAN PROTEST CRACKDOWN MAY DELAY POLL PLAN

- Malaysia's recent dramatic crackdown on public protest could force the prime minister to delay plans for an early election next year, after the events embittered the opposition and soured the public mood.

For full story, please double click on [ID:nKLR182681]

MARC UPGRADES RATING OUTLOOK FOR MALAYSIA'S WCT GROUP

- For full text of statement, double-click on [nKLA006506]