Group 1 - The General Authority for Competition (GAC) issued 22 non-objection decisions on economic concentration applications in December 2025 [2] - A joint venture (JV) was established between Ajlan & Bros Co. and Digital QFS to create a new digital bank [2] - Another JV was formed between Almajdouie Motors Co. Ltd and Girnar Software Private Ltd to provide digital services for the automotive sector [2] Group 2 - A JV was approved between Al-Ayuni Investment & Contracting Co. and Ramco Trading & Contracting Co. to offer construction and building services [3] - A JV between Indra Sistemas S.A. and EDGE Group PJSC was established to develop, manufacture, and sell military radar systems [3] Group 3 - GFH Financial Group received approval for the full acquisition of Harris Pye Engineering Group Ltd [4] - Nama United Financing Co. acquired 100% of Tawkelat Finance Co. [4] - United Fuel Co. Ltd acquired a 75% stake in Petrostar Aviation Co. Ltd [4] - Alkifah Holding Co. fully acquired Jussur Emdad Human Resources Co. and MaSa Services Company for O&M [4]

Market Performance - The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange experienced a rise, with the Tel Aviv 35 Index increasing by 1.16% to 3,738.33 points, marking a new record [1] - The Tel Aviv 125 Index rose by 1.64% to 3,794.16 points, and the BlueTech Global Index increased by 2.30% to 658.99 points [1] - The All Bond corporate bond index rose by 0.54% to 423.54 points, with total turnover reaching NIS 5.91 billion in equities and NIS 6.84 billion in bonds [1] Currency Exchange Rates - The shekel-dollar rate was set 0.723% lower at NIS 3.203/$, while the shekel-euro rate decreased by 1.153% to NIS 3.688/€ [2] Sector Performance - Construction stocks saw significant gains following the Bank of Israel's interest rate cut, with YH Dimri Construction and Development rising by 11.9%, the largest increase on the market [3] - Shapir Engineering and Industry rose by 9.62%, while Elbit Systems Ltd. increased by 5.27% after securing a $150 million contract in Europe [3] - Chip companies Camtek and Nova Ltd. rose by 11.61% and 11.72% respectively [3] Banking Sector - The banking sector faced declines after the unexpected interest rate cut by the Bank of Israel, with Bank Leumi falling by 2.20% and Bank Hapoalim decreasing by 2.35% [4] - Navitas Petroleum experienced the largest drop on the Tel Aviv 35 Index, falling by 4.88%, while Next Vision and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. fell by 2.65% and 2.82% respectively [4]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of strong cash positions for companies in today's volatile economic climate, highlighting five companies with robust cash balances [1]. Group 1: Characteristics of Cash-Rich Companies - A cash-rich company should have a net cash position, allowing it to maintain dividend payments during downturns and reduce financial risk [2]. - Companies with predictable business models and recurring income streams are typically better positioned financially [3]. - Prudent capital allocation, disciplined cost management, and conservative leverage ratios are essential for maintaining a strong cash position [3]. Group 2: Company Summaries - **Sheng Siong Group Ltd (SGX: OV8)**: Achieved a free cash flow (FCF) CAGR of 18.3% over the last decade, with a current FCF of S$221.9 million. It has a net cash position of S$393.7 million and an annualized dividend yield of 2.4% [4][5][6]. - **Wee Hur Holdings Ltd (SGX: E3B)**: Secured S$439.4 million in HDB construction contracts, with a net cash balance of S$99.1 million. The company has a dividend yield of approximately 1.4% [7][8][9]. - **PropNex Ltd (SGX: OYY)**: A leading real estate service company with zero debt and a cash position of S$136.8 million. It has an average FCF of S$54.1 million and a dividend yield of 4.2% [10][11][12]. - **Raffles Medical Group Ltd (SGX: BSL)**: A healthcare provider with a net cash position of S$283 million and an average FCF of S$118.3 million. The latest dividend yield is approximately 2.5% [13][14][15]. - **Riverstone Holdings Ltd (SGX: AP4)**: Generates an average FCF of RM 540 million, with a net cash position of RM$660.9 million. The company has a dividend yield of 4.7% [16][17]. Group 3: Investment Outlook - The five highlighted companies exhibit strong balance sheets and consistent dividend payments, making them attractive for income investors seeking reliable dividends and potential growth [18].

Report Industry Investment Rating - No information provided on the industry investment rating Core Viewpoints - Asia IG names were unchanged to 2bps tighter in the morning, with flows favoring higher - yielding issues in greater Asia and LGFV spaces [3] - Macau's gaming industry had solid GGR growth in 2025, and the 2026 target seems conservative [6] - China's PMI signaled a temporary improvement, with expected GDP growth decline from 5% in 2025 to 4.8% in 2026, and potential policy stimulus [3][10][11][15] Summary by Related Catalogs Trading Desk Comments - ARAMCO 35s tightened 1bp, FABUH 30 widened 5bps last Friday [2] - Chinese IG names had spreads changes of 5bps tighter to 4bps wider, NWDEVL Perps rose 0.2 - 1.9pts, VDNWDL 9 Perp increased by 1.4pts [2] - The buy recommendation on NWDEVL 5.25 Perp and NWDEVL 8.675 02/06/28 was changed to neutral, and a buy on VDNWDL 9 Perp was initiated [2] - Lai Sun Development's Chairman made a profit of USD11.3mn from trading LASUDE 26, and LASUDE 26 was up by 0.8pt [2] - Various bonds in different regions and industries had price and spread changes, such as Macau gaming, Chinese properties, JP, and SE Asia [2] Last Trading Day's Top Movers - Top performers included VLLPM 9 3/8 07/29/29 with a 3.3 price change, NWDEVL 5 1/4 PERP with a 1.9 change [4] - Top underperformers included FTLNHD 11.88 09/30/27 with a - 0.9 change, COSL 2 1/2 06/24/30 with a - 0.9 change [4] Macro News Recap - S&P (+0.19%), Dow (+0.66%) and Nasdaq (-0.03%) were mixed last Friday, and Trump made a statement about Venezuela [5] - 5/10/30 year UST yield was higher, with 2/5/10/30 year yield at 3.47%/3.74%/4.19%/4.86% [5] Desk Analyst Comments - Macau Gaming - Macau's GGR in Dec'25 increased 14.8% yoy to MOP20.9bn, and cumulatively in 2025, it increased 9.1% to MOP247.4bn, 84.6% of 2019 level [6] - In 2025, tourist arrival was 40.1mn, up 15% yoy and exceeding the 2019 record [6] - Macau government's 2026 GGR target of MOP236bn seems conservative [6] - MPELs and STCITYs are top picks, WYNMAC'27 and '29 are yield - pick - up plays, and neutral on MGMCHIs, SANLTDs, and SJMHOLs [7] Desk Analyst Comments - China Economy - China's manufacturing PMI rebounded in December but recovery was fragile due to seasonality [10][11][12] - Demand improved with new orders expanding and export orders approaching expansion, deflation pressure eased [10][11][12] - Service PMI remained in contraction, construction PMI rebounded [11][13] - Growth is expected to be under pressure in early 2026, potentially triggering policy stimulus [11][14][15] - Expect a 50bp cut in RRR and a 10bp cut in LPR in 1Q26, an additional 10bp LPR cut in 3Q26, and broad fiscal deficit at 8.5% in 2026 [11][14][15] Offshore Asia New Issues - No new offshore Asia issues were priced on the last trading day [17] - Pipeline issues include BOC Aviation, Export - Import Bank of India, and Hyundai Capital America with various tenors and coupon rates [18] News and Market Color - Onshore primary issuances suspended last Friday during the New Year Holiday [21] - China will broaden fiscal spending in 2026 and prioritize domestic demand [21] - Multiple corporate events such as China Jinmao's redemption, CTF Services' acquisition lapse, and rating changes [21]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call primarily discusses the **Chinese economy** and its performance indicators, particularly focusing on the **Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI)** for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors in December 2025. Core Insights and Arguments - **PMI Performance**: - The official manufacturing PMI rose to **50.1**, an increase of **0.9 percentage points (pp)** from November, surpassing market expectations (Citi/market: **49.3/49.2**) [4][8] - This marks the first expansion after **eight consecutive months of contraction** [4] - The non-manufacturing PMI also returned to expansion, climbing **0.7pp** to **50.2**, exceeding the consensus of **49.6** [5] - **GDP Forecast**: - The improving PMI data supports a **5% GDP growth target** for 2025, which has been maintained since June [6] - Incremental fiscal funds of approximately **RMB1 trillion** are anticipated as a likely ceiling for the year [6] - **Policy Support**: - Policymakers have pledged measured support for 2026, with a focus on the pace of policy deployment leading up to the National People's Congress (NPC) [6] - Recent government actions include renewing the trade-in program for durable goods and introducing new tax incentives for home purchases [6] - **Sector Performance**: - **Manufacturing Output**: The production index increased by **1.7pp** to **51.7**, driven partly by a low base from November [7] - **Demand Indicators**: New orders rose **1.6pp** to **50.8**, marking a return to expansion for the first time in six months [7] - **Export Orders**: New export orders gained **1.4pp** to **49.0**, the highest in nine months, indicating potential positive year-over-year export growth in December [7] - **Construction Sector**: Construction PMI jumped **3.2pp** to **52.8**, reflecting unseasonably warm temperatures and earlier policy measures [7] - **Price Indices**: - The purchasing price index eased by **0.5pp** to **53.1**, while the producer price index firmed **0.7pp** to **48.9**, which may alleviate some pressure on industrial profitability [7] - **Inventory Levels**: - Finished goods inventories increased **0.9pp** to **48.2**, indicating improving activity but still below the neutral mark of 50 [7] - **Services Sector**: - The services PMI edged up to **49.7**, remaining in contraction for a second consecutive month, reflecting ongoing weakness in domestic consumption [7] Additional Important Insights - The **uneven recovery** is highlighted by the performance disparity between large/medium-sized enterprises and small firms, with the latter showing signs of weakness [4] - The **January-February period** is identified as a critical window for potential rate or reserve requirement ratio (RRR) cuts [6] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and outlook of the Chinese economy as reflected in the PMI data and government policy responses.

Core Viewpoint - The construction of the North-South Corridor's new sections in Shanghai aims to alleviate increasing north-south traffic pressure in the city center and optimize the urban transportation network, supporting the development of key functional areas like North Bund and Lujiazui [1][2] Group 1: Project Overview - The North-South Corridor is a continuous flow passage in the eastern part of Shanghai, stretching 14.55 kilometers from the Zhonghuan Dabaishu Interchange to the north of the Yanggao South Road and Chengshan Road intersection [1] - The newly constructed sections cover approximately 6.35 kilometers and will feature a dual four-lane design with additional dispersal lanes for small passenger vehicles [2] Group 2: Technological and Environmental Aspects - The project will utilize Building Information Modeling (BIM) and digital twin technology for comprehensive digital management across planning, construction, operation, and maintenance phases [1] - Smart sensing and IoT systems will be employed for real-time monitoring and dynamic optimization of safety and environmental impacts [1] - The construction will emphasize prefabrication, the use of high-quality eco-friendly materials, and energy-saving processes to significantly reduce carbon footprints and ecological disturbances, promoting a "smart + green" construction model [1] Group 3: Community Impact - The construction unit has committed to researching and implementing new cover structures and air purification systems to ensure minimal disruption during construction and immediate benefits upon completion [2]

Group 1 - Pascal Grangé will retire in 2026 and has handed over his office as Deputy Chief Executive Officer effective 31 December 2025 [1] - The Board of Directors did not appoint a new Deputy Chief Executive Officer to replace Pascal Grangé, and Stéphane Stoll was appointed Chief Financial Officer on 1 August 2025 [1] - The termination of Pascal Grangé's executive office does not involve specific financial conditions such as severance benefits or non-competition indemnities [2] Group 2 - Pascal Grangé's fixed remuneration is €950,000, with potential variable remuneration subject to performance conditions [2] - The amounts proposed for Pascal Grangé's remuneration will be detailed in the Company's Universal Registration Document [3] - Pascal Grangé will serve as an advisor to the Group's senior management until his retirement, as per the terms of his employment contract [3] Group 3 - Bouygues operates in over 80 countries with 200,000 employees, focusing on construction, energies & services, telecoms, and media [4]

Core Viewpoint - The investment landscape is shifting from traditional tech giants like Nvidia to a broader range of companies involved in data storage, power supply, and construction, driven by the AI and data center boom [1][3][5]. Data Storage Sector - Data storage companies led the S&P 500 in 2025, with SanDisk's stock soaring nearly 580%, making it the best-performing stock in the index [3][5]. - Other notable performers in the data storage sector included Western Digital and Seagate Technology, ranking second and fourth respectively [3]. - Analysts expect continued growth in the data storage sector, with Pure Storage Inc. projected to rise 38% from its current price of $68 to $94 by 2026 [7]. Power Supply and Construction Stocks - Stocks related to data center construction and power supply are gaining popularity, with firms like Quanta Services Inc. being highlighted as key players [9]. - Other contractors in this space include MYR Group Inc., Primoris Services Corp., and MasTec Inc. [9]. - Companies involved in wiring solutions, such as Amphenol and Emcor Group Inc., are also seeing increased interest [10]. Broader Infrastructure Companies - Additional power infrastructure companies like Vistra Corp., Constellation Energy Corp., and Generac Holdings Inc. are recognized for their potential [12]. - Vertiv Holdings Co., which provides power systems and cooling solutions for data centers, is noted for its 40% increase in 2025 [13]. Software Sector - Long-term investors are eyeing the software sector, anticipating that improvements in large language models and application development will benefit this area [15]. - Despite a lackluster performance in 2025, with the S&P 500 software index rising only 12%, stocks like Snowflake Inc., Datadog Inc., and ServiceNow Inc. are considered attractive due to their valuations [15].

Group 1 - The Nordecon group company Tariston AS has signed a contract with the Estonian Transport Administration for the construction of the Päädeva–Orgita road section [1] - The construction project covers a road section located at kilometres 62.2 to 64.8 [1] - This contract signifies ongoing infrastructure development efforts in Estonia, highlighting the role of private companies in public projects [1] Group 2 - The collaboration between Tariston AS and the Estonian Transport Administration reflects a trend of public-private partnerships in the construction industry [1] - The project is expected to enhance transportation efficiency in the region, contributing to economic growth [1] - The completion of this road section is part of a broader initiative to improve national road networks in Estonia [1]

Core Insights - Tutor Perini Corporation has been awarded a change order valued at approximately $53 million for the City Center Guideway and Stations Project in Honolulu, HI [1] Company Summary - The awarded change order is significant as it allows Tutor Perini to design the rail segment that will extend the current terminus and connect Kaka'ako to Ala Moana [1]