Malaysia Hot Stocks - Factors to watch

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Reuters) - Here are news stories that may affect the Malaysian stock market on Monday.

EON CAPITAL EYES TIE-UPS WITH CHINA, MIDEAST BANKS

- Malaysian lender EON Capital (EONP.KL) is eyeing strategic tie-ups with a major bank in China and another in the Middle East in the second half this year, in a move to tap into fast-growing markets, the Star daily said on Monday, quoting Ng Wing-Fai, managing partner of Hong Kong-based investment firm Primus Pacific Partners, which has a 20 percent stake in the bank.

MALAYSIA'S TANJUNG TARGETS 100 MLN RGT FOR 2009 CAPEX

- Malaysian energy services firm Tanjung Offshore (TJGO.KL) has budgeted 100 million ringgit ($31.3 million) for capital expenditure in 2009, mainly for fleet expansion, the Business Times newspaper reported on Monday, quoting Manaing Director Omar Khalid.

MALAYSIA CONSIDERS REOPENING CONTRACT TALKS WITH IPPS

- The Malaysian government is considering reopening talks with independent power producers (IPPs) on the terms of generous supply contracts with Tenaga Nasional (TENA.KL), the monopoly power distributor, the Edge business weekly said on Saturday.

The government held talks with IPPs, including YTL Power (YTLP.KL), MMC (MMCB.KL) and Ranhill Utilities RANU.KL, for almost a year until early 2007 in a failed bid to persuade them to renegotiate the terms of their contracts.

Under 21-year contracts signed in 1994, Tenaga is obliged to buy a fixed amount of electricity from the IPPs even if it does not need the power. Tenaga, also a generator, is struggling because its fuel costs are rising and it cannot pass the costs on to consumers because electricity prices are heavily regulated.

MAYBANK DENIES NEED TO RAISE $1.1 BLN IN EQUITY

Malaysia's biggest lender, Malayan Banking (MBBM.KL), denied on Friday a media report that it might need to raise 3.6 billion ringgit ($1.13 billion) in equity after its purchase of Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII).

For full story, please double click on [ID:nKLA007326]

MALAYSIA BERJAYA PLACES LOAN STOCKS WORTH $58 MLN

- Malaysian resorts to property conglomerate Berjaya Corporation (BGRO.KL) has placed irredeemable convertible unsecured loan stocks (ICULS) worth 184.3 million ringgit ($58 million) with Goldman Sachs, the firm said on Friday.

For full statement, click here yID/48256E5D00102DF44825741A0024CEA7?OpenDocument

MALAYSIA'S BERJAYA LAND IN JV FOR MALDIVES RESORT