As of May 16 at 12.30 p.m., all Malaysian stock indices were winning. The top 4 are suddenly traditional utilities, industry, energy, and construction. However, in May, healthcare (gloves) 🧤, industry, technology, and consumption are all raging.
The next two weeks will be performance judgment day, and you will be free to decide who is swimming naked when the time comes.

Financial performance
• Total revenue: reached RM2.482bil, up 5.5% year over year. Despite a slowdown in market demand, it has continued to grow compared to the same period last year.
• Operating profit: reached RM26.9 mil, up 6.8% year over year.
• Profit before and after tax: Profit before tax was RM26.3 mil, YoY decreased by 11.4%; profit after tax was RM2.12 mil, YoY decreased by 12.7%. The decline was mainly due to reduced earnings of the associated company Straits Apex Group Sdn Bhd.
Investment and strategic trends
• Property purchase: The Group purchased industrial properties in Malacca at a total price of MYR 66.5 million, with plans to expand production capacity.
• Funding: Part of the purchase will be raised through a MYR 50 million loan from HSBC Malaysia Ltd.
• Singapore subsidiary expansion: Apex Pharma Marketing Pte Ltd leases additional warehouse space to support operational efficiency and new business growth.
Market and operational challenges
• Changes in market demand: Although the first quarter of 2023 brought record high revenue due to high incidence of respiratory diseases (Covid drugs), market demand showed signs of slowing in the first quarter of 2024.
• Affiliated company losses: At Straits Apex Group and Nex...

Scientex's performance is impressive! Profit and net profit reached RM1.11bil and RM131mil, respectively. Compared with the same period last year, Scientex's profit and net profit increased by 2.3% and 28.6%, respectively. The increase in earnings and net profit was mainly due to the property division.
The revenue of the packaging business in the latest quarter was RM635.8 mil, down RM19.3 mil from the same period last year. The main reason is that export market demand in the packaging sector has weakened due to weak market consumption. Furthermore, the performance of the industrial sector is impressive. The revenue of the industrial business was RM456.9 mil, an increase of 41.3% over the same period last year. Management also revealed that their affordable houses launched by Sungai Dua (Penang), Sungai Petani (Kedah), Ipoh (Perak), Jasin (Melaka), and Pulai (Johor) have all received enthusiastic responses.
Management revealed that demand in the packaging industry will grow in the packaging business's financial report for the next quarter (expected to end of June). At this stage, they are working to reduce operating costs and production waste in order to maintain the competitiveness of their products. They will also begin installing solar photovoltaic systems and plan to implement them at all local plants in the long term. As for the industry, the management list...