https://www.scmr.com/article/u.s._supply_chain_managers_should_expect_higher_ocean_contract_rates_in_202

U.S. Supply Chain Managers Should Expect Higher Ocean Contract Rates in 2021, Says Drewry

As we move closer to the end of the year, Drewry reaffirms its view that manufacturers and retailers should expect ocean contract freight rates on most routes to increase – not fall – in 2021, following major market changes since the COVID-19 outbreak.

It is too early in the Q4 bid season to reach exact conclusions about 2021 rate changes. However, industry analysts say the signs are obvious in the spot market for ocean transportation that carriers have gained pricing power and are managing ship capacity to their advantage.

Based on the Drewry Container Freight Rate Insight, a service that tracks and provides average spot container freight rates on 700+ lanes globally and analyses market trends, analysts say they can clearly see that 2020 spot rates have exceeded 2019 spot rates by a large margin since March. The Global Freight Rate Index, a weighted average of all-in spot rates on East-West, North-South and intra-regional international routes, reached $2,540/40ft container in September, a 43% increase from September 2019.

“Some routes and regions stand out as benefiting from lower rates, but the vast majority are seeing rates rise – particularly Transpacific Eastbound -, where the increases are worryingly high for shippers and the rates are much more profitable for ocean carriers,” says Philip Damas, director and head of the supply chain advisors practice London-based Drewry.

The stratospheric increases in transpacific spot rates and the current shortage of capacity in Asia have led regulators in China and in the US to signal that they are watching the competition situation closely. China’s Ministry of Transport met most major carriers on 11 September and asked carriers why there were such large increases in transpacific rates and expressed “hope” that they would bring back ship capacity to the market.

In the U.S. the Federal Maritime Commission said on 16 September that it is “actively monitoring for any potential effect on freight rates and transportation service levels, using a variety of sources and markers, including the exhaustive information that parties to a carrier agreement must file with the agency.”



According to Damas, the Transpacific Eastbound route (rates up 180% year-on-year) and the North Europe-to-Asia route (rates up 130% year-on-year) stand out as routes where very high spot rates are likely to pull up contract freight rates in the forthcoming annual tenders.

“In other words, spot rates (now high) and contract rates (now relatively low) will converge – with contract rates on most routes expected to rise in 2021. The current gap between transpacific rates and spot rates is over $2,000/40ft container and intrinsically encourages carriers to minimise their capacity sold under (much lower) contract rates,” says Damas.

Particularly this year, shippers and forwarders should track the development of spot freight rates because they indicate the tightness of the market on some routes, they may be a leading indicator of contract rates, and they could point to future problems of capacity availability if ocean carriers prioritise (higher) spot cargoes vs (lower-rated) less profitable contract cargoes.
“Besides the risk of higher ocean rates, the other question on the agenda in 2021 is: which reliable providers should my company use to secure ship capacity?” Damas concluded.

https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/baltic

Q3 Baltic Rate up more than 100% Compared to Q2

https://www.chinapress.com.my/?p=2289767

Breaking News : Nov, 19 : 245 Covid cases linked to Glove Factory.

BAT confirms it will enter Malaysian vape market once regulatory framework firms up — CGS-CIMB

TheEdge Thu, Nov 19, 2020 03:49pm - 1 hour ago


KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 19): British American Tobacco (M) Bhd (BAT) has confirmed that it will introduce its vapes under the Vuse brand in the Malaysia market once the regulatory framework for the product category is finalised.

CGS-CIMB's analyst Kamarul Anwar said in a note yesterday that the tobacco group announced its planned foray into this growing market at a recent analyst briefing, which took place after the Budget 2021 tabling where it was announced that the government will impose an excise duty of 10% on electronic and non-electronic cigarettes, as well as 40 sen/ml on all e-cigarette and vape liquids from Jan 1 next year.

"As positive as we are on BAT’s decision to finally penetrate this growing market, there were a few details that were left unanswered. Chiefly, the timeline for BAT to launch its vapes is still uncertain. In fact, it is unclear whether there will be a need to amend the current law. The reason that vapes are illegal in the first place is because nicotine is one of the restricted products under the Poisons Act 1952," he wrote.

However, he said BAT's proposed foray into the vape industry was very positive.

"The group estimated that there are at least 1 million Malaysians who regularly vape, which is circa 20% of the number of smokers in the country. We postulate that many of these are former cigarette smokers, who have either been put off by the exorbitant prices or concerned about the health hazards from combustion-based cigarettes.

"There is also a growing number of young-adult vapers who have never even smoked a cigarette, deterred by decades of cigarette stigmatisation," he wrote.

Turning to its results for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2020 (3QFY20), he noted that the group's margins, which now stand at 25.9% versus an average of 29.2% from 1QFY18 to 3QFY20, were being eaten by value-for-money (VFM) cigarettes, which now command a 26% market share from a negligible percentage just a few years ago.

"The silver lining from this is that BAT said its premium cigarettes’ market share has continued to stay at the 55%-mark. Hence, much of the down-trading must come from the mid-tier segment. BAT plans to re-deploy its operating expenditure savings to do more marketing for Dunhill and its new VFM cigarettes, Kyo, with more activities to be launched in FY21F, in order to attenuate the squeezed margins," he wrote.

To recap, BAT announced that its 3QFY20 net profit was RM63.74 million, which was up 16.72% from the RM54.61 million posted in the immediate preceding quarter (2QFY20), while revenue increased 14.81% in the same period to RM627.52 million.

When compared to the corresponding quarter in the previous financial year, BAT's 3QFY20 net profit fell by 23.32% to RM63.74 million from RM83.13 million in 3QFY19.

9MFY20 net profit was down by 31.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) at RM169.12 million from RM248 million. Revenue for the nine months was down 10.34% y-o-y at RM1.66 billion from RM1.85 billion.

"We believe BAT has a better chance now of appealing to lapsed and new customers with its imminent entry into the burgeoning vape market. However, we maintain our FY20-22F forecasts as it is still too early to factor in vapes’ contribution," said Kamarul, adding that it is keeping its "add" call and target price of RM12.65.

Its FY21 to FY22F yields range from 7.3% to 8.1%, backed by the group’s commitment to pay out at least 90% of its reported net profit.

“The upside risks include more effective enforcement against cigarette smuggling and a speedy launch of its Vuse vape products. While the downside risks are more down-trading and smuggled cigarettes’ supply replenishing on the black mark,” added CGS-CIMB.

At 3.13pm, shares in BAT fell eight sen or 0.71% to RM11.18, bringing its market capitalisation to RM3.21 billion.

Top Glove will miss the Q1'2021 profit target caused by workers quarantine for two weeks. The share price will travel south until month of December and target price downgrade will follow after QR release. Frankly speaking, very tough time for Top Glove for remaining of this year.

13,000 workers under quarantine, sure will affect Top Glove production schedule. 70% of Top Glove's capacity is concentrated in Meru area, it will badly affect the production output and hence affect the P&L badly. Q1 FY2021, will not be able to meet the analysts' consensus earning. Must plan to protect your capital gains by reducing your glove portfolio.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/15/stock-market-futures-open-to-close-news.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.CopyToPasteboard

Dow futures jump 500 points as Moderna says it has a highly effective Covid vaccine as well

PKPD on Workers Hostels... so no workers can go to factory

It is better reduce exposure as the suspension of production for affected factory due to Covid19 may severely affect the share price.

The Teratai cluster, which is linked to Top Glove's facilities in Meru, Klang, saw 53 new cases today

Top Glove, the world's largest glovemaker which has played an instrumental role in supplying medical frontliners with personal protective equipment in the fight against Covid-19, is now finding the pandemic at its doorsteps.

The Teratai cluster, which is linked to Top Glove's facilities in Meru, Klang, saw 53 new cases today, bringing the total infections to 214.

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/551035

顶级手套（Top Glove）作为全球最大的手套制造商，在冠病疫情肆虐期间成了最重要的医疗用品供应商之一，但如今病毒却来到了该工厂的门前。

雪兰莪近日冒出的莲花感染簇群（Kluster Teratai）便是与巴生中路（Meru）的顶级手套厂有关。这个簇群今日新增53宗确诊病例，累计病例已达214宗。

巴生中路共有大约20间顶级手套工厂和员工宿舍。根据卫生部数据，这个簇群除了涉及巴生中路，还包括其他县区如瓜拉雪兰莪、八打灵及乌鲁冷岳。

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/551034

Top Glove, the world's largest glovemaker which has played an instrumental role in supplying medical frontliners with personal protective equipment in the fight against Covid-19, is now finding the pandemic at its doorsteps.

The Teratai cluster, which is linked to Top Glove's facilities in Meru, Klang, saw 53 new cases today, bringing the total infections to 214.

Health Ministry data showed the cluster is not limited to Meru, where some 20 of Top Glove's factories and its workers' hostels are located, but also includes other districts such as Kuala Selangor, Petaling and Hulu Langat.

However, it has not provided data on how many of those cases are directly linked to the factory workers.

For the workers who are keeping the glove factory running, walking through its gates every day is a daunting task.

Covid cases in U.S. could be near zero in 6 months, UBS economist says

If really true, glove stock prices should be peak and major correction is on the way with foresseable of ASP drops and slow in new orders.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/13/vaccine-could-add-1-percentage-point-to-us-gdp-in-2021-ubs-says.html

Covid cases in U.S. could be near zero in 6 months, UBS economist says

LONDON — The latest coronavirus vaccine developments have brightened the outlook for the U.S. economy, with UBS economists boosting their GDP forecasts for the country.

Pfizer and BioNTech announced Monday that their Covid-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective in preventing the infectious disease. The announcement fueled optimism that the pandemic could come to an end sooner rather than later, driving up stock markets globally.

UBS had originally estimated that the number of coronavirus infections in the U.S. would approach zero by the end of 2021, but the vaccine news has made the bank bring that forecast forward by six months.

“We might get a situation where reported cases of Covid in the United States fall very close to zero in Q2 (second quarter) of next year. That six month difference, that two-quarter difference matters a lot, it means an extra 1 to 1.25 percentage point gain in GDP next year,” Seth Carpenter, chief U.S. economist at UBS, told CNBC’s Joumanna Bercetche on Thursday.

He added that the vaccine news “was very encouraging” because the efficacy rate came in much higher than analysts were anticipating.

The United States has experienced more than 10 million Covid-19 cases since the pandemic started. The country has seen record highs this week in terms of coronavirus hospitalizations and daily infections, with 153,496 cases on Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

This comes as speculation mounts on whether the U.S. economy will be shut down once again. An advisor to President-elect Joe Biden has said that closing businesses for four to six weeks could help reduce the number of infections and get the economy on track until a vaccine is approved and distributed.

With cases surging in Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot asked residents on Thursday to cancel Thanksgiving plans and stay indoors.


Flourish logoA Flourish chart
Carpenter’s comments differ to the caution portrayed by experts such as White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci. He warned on Thursday that a vaccine may not be enough to help eradicate the disease.

“I doubt we are going to eradicate this. I think we need to plan that this is something we may need to maintain control over chronically. It may be something that becomes endemic, that we have to just be careful about,” he said.

Fiscal support
The performance of the U.S. economy in 2021 will also depend on how much fiscal stimulus is approved. Talks between Democrats and Republicans have not yielded a deal, and there’s more uncertainty in the aftermath of the presidential election.

Carpenter believes U.S. policymakers will disappoint markets by providing a lower-than-expected support package.

“We are actually a little bit pessimistic here relative to where the market is, so we have written down about a $450 billion package that comes in Q1 (first quarter) next year,” he said. In speaking with clients, he said markets are expecting a round of stimulus similar to the first one, totaling $1 trillion.

UBS assumes that Republicans will retain control of the Senate. If the Senate were to be led by Democrats, the bank believes the stimulus could be twice as much, but below $1 trillion.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/health/covid-19-vaccine-updates-us-aims-to-immunise-20-million-in-december-who-says-trust-in-vaccines-vital/story-wCWZOblb2VdnqOhP3IypsL.html

Many countries across the globe are witnessing a resurgence in their daily coronavirus (Covid-19) cases and deaths. Cities such as New York in the US, Turin in Italy and London in the UK have been placed under stringent lockdowns due to the possibility of a second wave of the outbreak.

Apart from imposition of lockdowns, governments have also increased testing and surveillance to detect those infected at the earliest which in turn would help curb the spread of the disease. But there seems no other way to bring a complete pause to the pandemic other than a vaccine - which is safe, affordable and effective.

Also Read| Covid-19: Deaths, cases breaking global records

Speaking to news agency AFP, a World Health Organisation (WHO) expert said that public distrust risked rendering even the most effective treatments useless against the Covid-19 crisis.

With less possibilities of a sharp drop in the global caseload which has already infected over 53 million people and killed 1,309,408, here are the latest updates on the coronavirus vaccine: 

1. Operation Warp Speed chief adviser Moncef Slaoui during a press briefing at the White House said that United States hopes to immunise 20 million citizens in December and a minimum of 25 million each month next year. Slaoui added that he hopes two vaccines in the final phase of trials developed by Pfizer and Moderna would soon be approved for emergency use next month.

2. On Friday, software giant Microsoft in its blogpost said that hackers from North Korea and Russia were trying to steal valuable data from companies engaged in the research and development of coronavirus vaccines. Microsoft added that majority of these attacks were unsuccessful.

3. The first phase trials of another vaccine of Biological E, a Hyderabad-based biopharmaceutical, will begin at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, from Monday. People between the ages of 18-55 can volunteer to receive the shot.

4. COVAX - formed by the WHO and vaccine alliance Gavi to provide equitable access to the coronavirus vaccine - has exceeded an interim target of raising more than $2 billion to buy and distribute vaccines for poorer countries.


5. South Korea-based GL Rapha will produce 150 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine per year. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) on Friday said that the South Korean firm is expected to begin production next month.

6. According to news agency Bloomberg, Serum Institute of India Ltd’s (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla pointed out that if the final-stage trial data shows AstraZeneca’s candidate gives effective protection from Covid-19, the SII might get authorisation by December. SII is ramping up the production of AstraZeneca’s vaccine and aims to have 100 million doses ready by next month.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/uk-coronavirus-live-latest-updates-lockdown-vaccine-b70728.html

UK coronavirus LIVE: Pfizer vaccine creator says he’s ‘confident’ next winter will be ‘normal’ with 300 million jabs set to roll out worldwide

By Harriet Brewis@HattieBrewis

A global mass-vaccination roll-out could help return the world to normality by next winter, the leading jab creator has said. Ugur Sahin, chief executive of BioNTech, which has announced promising preliminary results of its coronavirus vaccine with Pfizer, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr that the companies were aiming to distribute 300 million doses by April.

He added that if a high vaccination rate is achieved by autumn – “and I am confident that this will happen," he stressed – “we can have a normal winter next year”.His comments came amid Labour calls for social media firms to face financial and criminal penalties if they do not stamp out dangerous "anti-vax" content, amid a wide scale disinformation “churn-out” online.

It’s ‘absolutely essential’ to have a high vaccination rate before next autumn
Ugur Sahin, chief executive of BioNTech, said it was “absolutely essential” to have a high vaccination rate before autumn next year.“This winter will be hard. So we will not have a big impact on the infection numbers with our vaccine this winter,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.

“If everything continues to go well, we will start to deliver the vaccine end of this year, beginning next year.” Mr Sahin said the goal was to deliver more than 300 million doses before April next year, which could “already start to make an impact”, with a bigger impact expected during the summer.

He added: “What is absolutely essential is that we get a high vaccination rate before autumn/winter next year, so that means all the immunisation, vaccination approaches must be accomplished before next autumn.“I’m confident that this will happen, because a number of vaccine companies have been asked to increase the supply, and so that we could have a normal winter next year.”

Nov 13, 2020 • 3:47 pm CST
Copy link
South Korea Agrees to Produce Russia's COVID-19 Vaccine
GL Rapha, one of South Korea's leading biotechnology companies, including a subsidiary of Hankook Korus Pharm, announced an agreement to manufacture in the country more than 150 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine candidate.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) press release issued on November 13, 2020, stated the parties intend to start Sputnik V production in December 2020 and begin deliveries of the vaccine for export in January 2021. More than 150 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine produced in South Korea are scheduled to enter the global market.

According to RDIF, more than 50 countries have received applications for the purchase of over 1.2 billion doses of the Sputnik V vaccine.

—
Don Ward Hackett

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/science/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker.html

Why Mercator Poland Glove Stock dropped sharply on Friday ??? - 13% in single day. Any idea ??

https://www.investing.com/equities/mercator-wa

https://www.investing.com/equities/mercator-wa

Market Crash coming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g8FaKvRKMg&feature=youtu.be

Good afternoon,

News flash on Rubber glove sector - Covid-19 Vaccine mass product can only achieve by 2024

Recommendation: Overweight - maintained

Stock calls: Top Glove (Add, TP: RM9.20), Supermax (SUCB MK, TP:RM13.50), Hartalega (Add, TP:RM24.30) & Kossan (Add, TP:RM17.00)

*Key highlights of the news: *

1) Financial Times (FT) quoted Adar Poonawalla, CEO of world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, Serum Institute of India which highlighted that not enough Covid-19 vaccines will be available for everyone globally until end-2024 at the earliest.
2) He estimates that it will take 4-5 years for every single person globally to obtain vaccine, which should be a two-dose vaccine (similar to measles or rotavirus). This would indicate that the world would require at least 15bn doses.
3) Note that, Serum Institute is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, with a total capacity of 1.5bn pieces. It is currently producing vaccine for polio, measles and influenza.
4) It has partnered with five international pharmaceutical firms including AstraZeneca and Novavax to develop a Covid-19 vaccine and is committed to produce 1bn doses, which half is pledged to India. It is also looking to partner with Russia to produce the Sputnik vaccine.
5) Adar also commented that total commitment for Covid-19 vaccine far exceeded global production capacity of Covid-19 vaccine.
6) This is echoing what was said by WHO’s chief scientist, Souyma Swaminathan in May-20. He said that it would take 4-5 years for Covid-19 to be in control. However, other factors to consider are containment measures and virus mutations which could make a vaccine ineffective.
7) Peter Hale, executive director of Foundation of Vaccine Research in the US, stated that assuming that there are 2 or more vaccines that have at least 75% or more protection against infection, only ¾ of the world’s population could be vaccinated by mid-2023.

Comment: We believe that this is a *clear indication
I that there remains many hurdles leading to the discovery of a Covid-19 vaccine, and post the discovery of it. This is given that it is nearly impossible to vaccinate everyone globally in a short time frame due to production capacity constraints even if a vaccine is found in the near term. As a result, we expect global glove demand to stay elevated in the longer term, which is positive for the Malaysian glove sector in terms of sales volume and ASPs.

Please let me know if there are any questions!

Warm regards,

Walter Aw, CGS-CIMB Research

I believe Dennis Soon, ex-analyst of Macquaries has intention to further upgrade Top Glove target price. But was asked to downgrade the target price and against her research findings. That was the reason why the original write up was very optimistic about the prospects of Top Glove and was amended at later stage by another analyst to downgrade Top Glove.

RM7.64,, Many buyers parking and waiting for Sellers.

Last week just updated in Bursa announcement. Independent auditor need 10 working days to come out with report. Actually, without CBP upliftment, the shipments can deliver to EU countries as shortages of gloves for frontliners to combat Covid Wave 2.

Company : VIZIONE HOLDINGS BERHAD (“VHB”) or (“the Group”)
Subject : OTHERS
Description : EXECUTION OF HEADS OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN VIP INDEX SDN BHD AND ANG
TECK LEONG (“ANG”), LIM KIAT YEE (“LIM”) AND RAVENDRAN A/L UTHRAPATHY
(“RAVENDRAN”) (COLLECTIVELY THE “VENDORS”)
1. INTRODUCTION
The Board of Directors of VHB wishes to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, VIP Index Sdn
Bhd (“VIP”) (Company No. 202001024252 (1380572-K) had on 2 September 2020 entered into a
Heads of Agreement (“HOA”) with the Vendors to acquire 2,307,754 ordinary shares in SSN
Medical Products Sdn Bhd (“SSN”), representing 51% of the total equity of SSN for a total
consideration of Five Million Ringgit (RM 5 million) in cash (“the Proposed Acquisition”).
2. SALIENT TERMS OF THE HOA
VIP shall acquire in cash the following shares of SSN from the Vendors for a total consideration of
RM5 million, representing in total 51% of the total equity of SSN.
Vendors No of Shares
Ang Teck Leong 2,019,285
Lim Kiat Yee 196,350
Ravendran A/L Uthrapathy 92,119
2,307,754
The Proposed Acquisition is conditional and subject to a financial and legal due diligence on SSN
to be undertaken by VIP to the sole satisfaction of VIP.
The parties herein shall within ninety (90) days following the date of the HOA or as the parties
may mutually agree upon (“Expiry Date”), enter into the definitive agreements in respect of the
Proposed Acquisition. VIP and the Vendor agree, covenant and undertake that they will not, and
will ensure that their related parties and corporations will not, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit
or entertain any discussion, negotiation, agreement or arrangement or otherwise deal in any way
with any other person other than the other party in connection with the Proposed Acquisition or
any part thereof at any time prior to the Expiry Date.
3. INFORMATION ON SSN
SSN, Company No.: 199701026395 (441893-K), was incorporated in Malaysia with its registered
office in Annex A, Centre Court, 2nd Floor, Lot 2, Jalan Enggang, Kawasan Perindustrian PKNS,
Hulu Kelang 54200, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.
Its principal activity is the manufactures and sale of latex and nitrile surgical as well as
examination gloves. It also manufacture male condoms. It also produces specialty gloves like
long arm gloves and high risk gloves, which are niche markets in which it is a significant player. It
has been in operation for 21 years where it has garnered a reputation for its products.
It exports around 80% of its products with the bulk going to the United States of America,
China, Germany and other European Countries.
Presently it has 9 manufacturing lines with a total capacity of over 500 million gloves and 150
million condoms per annum. SSN intend to expand its capacity to well over 1 billion gloves with
new additional manufacturing lines to cater to demand for its products.
SSN is also exploring new opportunities in other high value added medical disposables.
4. INFORMATION ON THE VENDORS
Ang, age 41, is a businessman.
Lim, age 61, is a businessman.
Ravendran, age 58, is a businessman.
5. RATIONALE OF THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION AND FUNDING
According to the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA), approximately
187 billion units were produced in 2019 by around 200 factories belonging to its members.
Depending on the trajectory of the global pandemic, MARGMA anticipates international
demand could reach 345 billion units this year, compared to 298 billion units in 2019. Of this
total, Malaysia is aiming to export around 225 billion units.
This Proposed Acquisition will enable the Group to participate in this profitable sector and
diversify its earnings on a broader base of industries.
The Proposed Acquisition will be funded via internally generated funds and bank borrowings.
6. FINANCIAL EFFECTS
This Proposed Acquisition will not have any effect on the issued and paid-up share capital and
the substantial shareholders’ shareholdings of VHB as this Acquisition does not involve any
issuance of new shares in VHB.
6.1 Net assets (“NA”) and gearing
The Proposed Acquisition is not expected to have any major material effects on the NA and
gearing of the Group for the financial year ending 30 November 2020.
6.2 Earnings and EPS
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Proposed Acquisition is expected to contribute
positively to the earnings and earnings per share of the Group for the foreseeable future.

6.3 Convertible securities
The Proposed Acquisition is not expected to have any effect on the existing Warrants and
ICULS of VHB.
6.4 Highest Percentage Ratio
The highest percentage ratio applicable to the Acquisition pursuant to Paragraph 10.02(g) of
the Main Market Listing Requirements of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad is approximately
0.868%.
7. INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS, MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND/OR PERSONS CONNECTED WITH
THEM
None of the Directors and/or major shareholders of VHB and/or persons connected to them has
any interest, either direct or

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/01/federal-health-advisors-predict-four-coronavirus-vaccine-trials-backed-by-us-could-fail.html?__source=androidappshare


Federal health advisors predict four coronavirus vaccine trials backed by U.S. could fail

KEY POINTS
A top group advising U.S. health officials predicted Tuesday that four late-stage coronavirus vaccine trials backed by the United States could fail to provide positive results.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a draft report that lays out a plan for distributing a coronavirus vaccine if one is approved. It said the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed expects to support up to seven phase three trials and it assumes four of them will fail.

According to a study published in the scientific journal Biostatistics, vaccines for infectious diseases have a 33.4% success rate of making it through clinical trials and to regulatory approval.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/merkel-warns-that-coronavirus-pandemic-likely-to-get-worse-in-coming-months-112550363.html?guccounter=1

erman chancellor Angela Merkel warned at a press conference in Berlin that the coronavirus pandemic is likely to get worse in the coming months.

“We have to expect that a lot will become even more difficult in the coming months… than in summer, when we were able to be outside,” Merkel said at her summer press conference today (Friday 28 August).

She added that the rise in infections is worrying. “It is serious, it remains serious, and please keep taking it seriously,” the chancellor said.

Her appeal today echoes her words at the beginning of the pandemic, when she made a rare national TV address to stress the importance of observing rules to try and get the pandemic under control.

READ MORE: German economy shrank by 9.7% in second quarter as pandemic peaked

Germany has been battling a significant increase in coronavirus infections in August, at points reaching daily new case tallies not seen since the height of the pandemic in April.

The country had 1,737 new infections on Saturday (22 August), the highest peak since April. Johns Hopkins University data showed 1,561 new cases reported in the 24 hours to Friday morning (28 August).

Merkel said today that the government will do “everything so that our children are not the losers of the pandemic. Schools and daycare need to be the most important things.”

The chancellor also said that the government would prioritise job preservation, keeping the economy going, or restarting it in areas where it was stalled by the pandemic, as well as maintaining social cohesion.

Merkel said today that Germany can afford all the measures it is putting in place to help the economy, but that the crisis was a challenge "for our financial strength."

The German government will borrow nearly €218bn (£195bn, $258bn) this year to fund the raft of economic aid measures to keep the economy afloat, and has said it will also need to take on additional debt in 2021 as well.

READ MORE: Germany to take on more debt in 2021 to weather coronavirus fallout

The government in Berlin and Germany’s state leaders held a video-conference on Thursday to discuss new rules to tackle the surge in COVID-19 cases, with Merkel ruling out any further relaxation of restrictions, saying that “additional loosening of restrictions cannot be justified."

After the five-hour video meeting, they agreed on a minimum fine of €50 for people not wearing face masks in compulsory zones, including on public transport and in shops.

The ban on big events, such as concerts and sports matches, will be extended to the end of the year. Private parties and travellers returning from high-risk areas are two particular reasons for the jump in infections, she said,

"We have decided today, and this is new, to call for travel to designated risk areas to be avoided wherever possible," Merkel said on Thursday.

Merkel declined to answer a question today about how often she had been tested for coronavirus, responding that she had been in quarantine already, and the 14 days were long, even when you’re keeping busy at home.

READ MORE: Germany extends short-time work support until end of 2021

Germany has been offering mandatory, free-of-charge tests for people arriving back from high-risk countries and areas since the beginning of August.

This will change on 15 September, however, when the government will end free tests for people coming back from low-risk countries. Those returning from high-risk places will have to immediately go into home quarantine and are allowed to take a test only after five days — and leave quarantine if they are negative.

Merkel, who took questions from journalists online and in person at the press conference today, also said that Brexit trade-deal negotiations were entering a "decisive phase" in the coming weeks.

She declined to comment on the recent claim by Richard Grenell, the former US ambassador to Germany, that Donald Trump had “charmed” her in their meetings. “He did what… me?,” she said, before adding that she does not comment on private conversations.

AHB's mobile medical hub is niche market that offer huge potential to growth to combat Covid19. If AHB is able to achieve RM100mil revenue, then based on 15% net profit margin, the share price should easily reach RM1.00 with market capital of RM230mil. By comparison, LKL's specialize on medical and healthcare bed is currently trade closed to RM400mil market capital Vs AHB's current market capital of RM 75mil. If at RM400mil, AHB should worth at least RM1.70.

LKL last reported revenue was RM 54.95mil with net profit of RM4,35 million only

Heard very strong orders for Medical Hubs from oversea clients and local authority.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51665497

Coronavirus vaccine: When will we have one?
By James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent

When will we have a coronavirus vaccine?
A vaccine would normally take years, if not decades, to develop. Researchers hope to achieve the same amount of work in only a few months.

Most experts think a vaccine is likely to become widely available by mid-2021, about 12-18 months after the new virus, known officially as Sars-CoV-2, first emerged.

That would be a huge scientific feat and there are no guarantees it will work.

Four coronaviruses already circulate in human beings. They cause common cold symptoms and we don't have vaccines for any of them.

Once CBP issue upliftment of shipment ban, it will jump above RM30.

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/08/10/coronavirus-vaccine-election-moderna-clinical-trials-newday-cohen-sot-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/coronavirus/

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/08/11/russia-coronavirus-vaccine-sanjay-gupta-newday-vpx.cnn

LONDON (Reuters) - An announcement by Russia on Tuesday that it will approve a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing prompted alarm among global health experts, who said that with no full trial data, the vaccine is hard to trust.

Intent on being first in the global race to develop a vaccine against the pandemic disease, Russia has yet to conduct large-scale trials of the shot that would produce data to show whether it works - something immunologists and infectious disease experts say could be a "reckless" step.

"Russia is essentially conducting a large population level experiment," said Ayfer Ali, a specialist in drug research at Britain's Warwick Business School.

She said such a super-fast approval could mean that potential adverse effects of a vaccine may not be picked up. These, while likely to be rare, could be serious, she warned.


Russian President Vladimir Putin said the vaccine, developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, was safe and that it had been administered to one of his daughters.

"I know that it works quite effectively, forms strong immunity, and I repeat, it has passed all the needed checks," Putin said on state television.

Francois Balloux, an expert at University College London's Genetics Institute, said it was "a reckless and foolish decision".

"Mass vaccination with an improperly tested vaccine is unethical," he said. "Any problem with the Russian vaccination campaign would be disastrous both through its negative effects on health, but also because it would further set back the acceptance of vaccines in the population.”

SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

His comments were echoed by Danny Altmann, a professor of Immunology at Imperial College London, who said the "collateral damage" from deploying any vaccine that is not yet known to be safe and effective "would exacerbate our current problems insurmountably".

Even as Russia declared victory, more than half a dozen drugmakers around the world are in the process of conducting large-scale, advanced human trials of their potential COVID-19 vaccines, each with tens of thousands of volunteer participants.

Several of these frontrunners, including Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, say they hope to know if their vaccines work and are safe by the end of this year.

All are expected to publish their trial results and safety data and submit them to regulators in the United States, Europe and elsewhere for scrutiny before any licence could be granted.

The Russian vaccine's approval by the Health Ministry comes before trials that would normally involve thousands of participants, commonly known as a Phase III trial. Such trials are usually considered essential precursors for a vaccine to secure regulatory approval.

Peter Kremsner, an expert at Germany's University Hospital in Tuebingen who is working on clinical trials of a vaccine candidate from CureVac, said Russia's move was "reckless".

"Normally you need a large number of people to be tested before you approve a vaccine," he said. "I think it's reckless to do that if lots of people haven't already been tested."

Experts said the lack of published data on Russia's vaccine - including how it is made and details on safety, immune response and whether can prevent COVID-19 infection - leaves scientists, health authorities and the public in the dark.

"It is not possible to know if the Russian vaccine has been shown to be effective without submission of scientific papers for analysis," said Keith Neal, a specialist in the epidemiology of infectious diseases at Britain's Nottingham University.

(Reporting by Kate Kelland; Additional reporting by Caroline Copley in Berlin; Editing by Alison Williams)

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2020/08/11/scientists-ask-without-trial-data-how-can-we-trust-russia039s-covid-vaccine

https://www.time24.news/2020/08/fauci-doubts-the-safety-of-corona-vaccinations-developed-in-china-and-russia.html

Leading US disease expert Anthony Fauci has raised concerns about the safety of corona vaccines developed in China and Russia. “I hope that the Chinese and Russians will actually test the vaccine before giving it to anyone,” said Fauci at a congressional hearing on Friday when asked if the United States would use the vaccine if it was available before others. According to the virus expert, the United States will not be dependent on other countries to obtain vaccines.

Fauci expressed doubts about the approach taken by China and Russia: “Claims that you have a vaccine ready for sale before testing it are at best problematic.” Several Chinese companies in particular are at the forefront of the global vaccine race, while Russia has said it will be able to make one vaccine available to the public by September.

Two Chinese companies, Sinovac and Sinopharm, have initiated trials in Brazil and the United Arab Emirates. Another vaccine has already been given to members of the Chinese military without going through the final test phase.

Three coronavirus vaccines developed by western companies are also in the third and final test phase. China and Russia are accused of trying to steal vaccine research information from other countries. Beijing and Moscow deny the allegations.

Putin claims first coronavirus vaccine without providing evidence
Unlike similar vaccines being developed elsewhere, Russia has moved ahead with approving a version before completing so-called phase three clinical trials.
[20:30, 8/11/2020] Seeing The Miracle: Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which is financing the vaccine trials, applauded the vaccine in a statement on Tuesday saying it would help countries emerge from the crisis of the pandemic.

Last week, Dmitriev told NBC News that the vaccine is a "copycat" of the Ebola vaccine developed five years ago by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute and a tweaked version of an earlier vaccine against the Middle East respiratory syndrome virus.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-zealand-moves-fast-to-lock-down-auckland-after-surprise-covid-outbreak-following-weeks-of-no-cases-2020-08-11?mod=mw_latestnews

Russia unveils covid vaccine ‘Sputnik V’, claiming breakthrough in global race before final testing complete


https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-unveils-coronavirus-vaccine-claiming-victory-in-global-race-before-final-testing-is-complete/2020/08/11/792f8a54-d813-11ea-a788-2ce86ce81129_story.html

https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2020/08/613279/who-covid-19-pandemic-will-be-lengthy

Numbers are abit too low if based on current ASP... Not a good guidance

Supermax capacity is around 25% to 28 % production capacity of Top Glove, how to make 70% of Top Glove profit ????

WARSAW (July 22): Some investments take time to pay back.

Poland’s Mercator Medical SA bought its first factory producing latex gloves in Thailand in 2006, and tripled its capacity over the next 10 years. Initially, the investment didn’t help its market valuation, oscillating around the US$25 million mark in recent years. But demand for medical supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic changed all that.

Mercator shares rose 72% on Monday, after company reported second-quarter net income of US$54 million, four-times more than its cumulative profits in the last decade. The stock got another boost on Tuesday, ending 16% higher, and was Warsaw’s second-most traded stock after management said record earnings weren’t a one-off. The gains bring this year’s rally to 3,277% — surpassing its bigger Malaysian peers — and valuing the company at US$924 million.

Even so, the company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Wieslaw Zyznowski, dubbed the “Polish rubber king,” isn’t considering cashing out of his 76% stake. Instead, he plans to invest in new production facilities in Thailand and expand into complementary businesses.

“During the war, we should prepare for peace,” Zyznowski, who has a PhD in philosophy, said on a videoconference on Tuesday. “We are working on scenarios for the company for the time when Covid-19 will be eventually tamed.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-21/polish-gloves-maker-mercator-sees-a-3-277-gain-amid-pandemic

Your figures for Top Glove is obviously too low and not accurate at all

Amazon USA retail glove prices for June increase 100% to 150% compare to May.

Thanks to your uncle.

https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2020/06/11/top-glove-achieves-record-breaking-net-profit-of-rm-350-billion/

Following the growth of its organic expression, Top Glove has secured its position as the world’s largest manufacturer of nitrile gloves. This comes after it secured its position as the world’s largest manufacturer of natural rubber gloves and surgical gloves.