AI Picks & Reit Rallies: Stocks and Gold Grab Investor Attention

SGX:F03.SI: Food Empire

UOB Kay Hian analysts favor Food Empire for strong FY2025 earnings growth driven by passing coffee prices and initiatives from Ikhlas Capital. Shares trade at $2.43, above the $2.40 target.

SGX:558.SI: UMS

UMS is backed for healthy FY2025 growth from new orders and valuation re-rating via its dual-listing on Bursa Malaysia debuting August 1. Target price is $1.73.

SGX:E28.SI: Frencken

Frencken is highlighted for robust semiconductor-driven demand, though its target price of $1.40 signals potential downside.

SGX:BN2.SI: Valuetronics

Valuetronics is supported for new customers, a ~5.9% yield, and a net cash balance equal to 53% of its market cap. Target price stands at $0.83.

SGX:OIL.SI: Oiltek

Oiltek, newly on the Mainboard and seeking a Bursa Malaysia listing, is preferred for earnings growth from big contract wins. Shares trade at $0.895, topping the $0.86 target.

SGX:OYY.SI: PropNex

PropNex, Singapore’s largest property agency, is seen benefiting from residential tailwinds. Target price is $1.35, suggesting limited upside.

SGX:5LY.SI: Marco Polo Marine

Marco Polo Marine is expected to gain from fleet expansion and shipyard growth. Target price is $0.066.

SGX:LCC.SI: Lum Chang Creations

Lum Chang Creations, newly listed, is projected for strong FY2025 earnings via a robust orderbook. Shares have met the $0.39 target.

SGX:CSE.SI: CSE Global

CSE Global is liked for earnings growth tied to data centre contracts, but target price of $0.61 signals potential downside.

SGX:OV8.SI: Sheng Siong Group

Sheng Siong is one of UOB’s top picks, backed by record-high store expansions driving revenue growth. Target price is $1.97, with shares near that level.

US:BTC: Bitcoin

Gold hovered near US$3,370 an ounce, holding weekly gains despite U.S. job strength pushing the dollar and Treasury yields higher. Rate cut expectations have softened, with the first full cut projected in October.

HK:3115.HK: Hang Seng Index

C-Reits surged 14.2% in 1H 2025, outpacing Singapore (6%), Malaysia (10.8%), Japan (10.1%), India (10.1%) and Australia (10%). They still lagged Hong Kong Reits (22%) and Philippine Reits (14.6%) on total returns.

Data Centre Reit Struggles While STI and KDC Shine Amid Investor Caution

SGX:N1DC.SI: NTT DC REIT

NTT DC REIT, backed by cornerstone investor GIC, ended its first trading week at US$0.95, down 5% from its US$1 IPO price despite being 4.6 times subscribed. Concerns over 100% payout-based yields, tenant concentration risks — with its top 10 tenants making up 62.6% of rent and its largest tenant, widely assumed to be Tesla, contributing 31.5% — and rising interest rates weighed on sentiment.

SGX:BN4.SI: Keppel DC REIT

Keppel DC REIT surged 4.1% last week, outperforming the Straits Times Index (STI). Maybank initiated coverage with a “Buy” and a 12-month target price of S$2.40, citing growth from AI-driven cloud migration and digitalisation trends. KDC closed Friday at S$2.28, reflecting a 2024 DPU yield of 4.1%.

SGX:M44U.SI: Mapletree Industrial Trust

Mapletree Industrial Trust, another data centre-focused player, remains among the top-performing components of the iEdge S-Reit Index over the past decade, with a total return of 133.6%, despite broader S-Reit headwinds from rising rates.

SGX:S27.SI: Straits Times Index (STI)

The STI closed at 4,189.50 on Friday, up nearly 2.5% for the week and maintaining levels above 4,000 since July 2. Its five-year total return reached 99.3%, far outpacing the iEdge S-Reit Index’s 4.6% return over the same period.

SGX:I91.SI: iEdge S-Reit Index

The iEdge S-Reit Index underperformed the STI with a 5.2% total return year-to-date and only 4.6% over the past five years, compared to 54.4% in the five years before the pandemic. Rising global interest rates remain a key drag on S-Reits.

Hong Kong Midday Movers: Tech, Pharma, and Corporate Headlines Shake Markets

HK:07399.HK:XI2CSOPMSTR
Surged 3.7% to HK$21.46, topping ETF gainers.

HK:09399.HK:XI2CSOPMSTR-U
Climbed 3.2% to US$2.712 in U.S.-dollar trading.

HK:07552.HK:XI2CSOPHSTECH
Rose 3.0% to HK$1.504 as tech ETFs advanced.

HK:07311.HK:XI2CSOPCOIN
Gained 2.8% to HK$8.305 on crypto-linked strength.

HK:07376.HK:FI CSOP BTC
Added 2.4% to HK$3.856, tracking Bitcoin.

HK:3115.HK:Hang Seng Index
Dropped 284 points, or 1.1%, to 25,383 at midday as tech stocks dragged.

HK:02269.HK:WUXI BIO
Jumped over 4%, hitting a new high on strong momentum.

HK:03690.HK:MEITUAN
Slipped 2.5% to HK$131 amid market weakness.

HK:01810.HK:XIAOMI
Fell 2.3% to HK$57.1 during tech-led declines.

HK:00388.HK:HKEX
Dropped 2.2% to HK$438.4 as the exchange operator tracked the market slide.

HK:09988.HK:Alibaba
Lost 2.2% to HK$117.7 alongside other tech heavyweights.

HK:00700.HK:Tencent
Declined, adding to Hang Seng losses.

HK:01357.HK:MEITU
CLSA raised its target to HK$14.1, rating Outperform, expecting 65–72% net profit growth and 25% revenue jump for 1H25.

HK:09618.HK:JD-SW
Facing rising expenses as its Ceconomy acquisition plan will heighten capital needs, according to CLSA.

HK:02020.HK:ANTA SPORTS
Chairman Ding Shizhong said AI-driven product orders exceeded RMB2 billion in 2024, showing robust digital demand.

HK:01928.HK:SANDS CHINA LTD
UBS rated Neutral after 2Q property EBITDA grew 1% YoY to USD566 million, in line with forecasts.

HK:00005.HK:HSBC HOLDINGS
Repurchased 5.1 million shares worth HKD519 million, while JPMorgan flagged softer growth versus STANCHART.

HK:02888.HK:STANCHART
Expected by JPMorgan to post stronger 2Q growth than HSBC as interest rate sensitivity remains lower.

HK:09888.HK:BAIDU-SW
BOCOMI kept a Buy with a HKD96 target, citing AI monetization offsetting ad revenue weakness.

HK:00016.HK:SHK PPT
Named by HSBC Research as a preferred Hong Kong stock pick for current market positioning.

HK:00012.HK:HENDERSON LAND
Highlighted by HSBC Research as a key stock to watch amid sector resilience.

HK:00002.HK:CLP HOLDINGS
Listed by HSBC Research among top Hong Kong equities to favor.

HK:03908.HK:CICC
Selected by HSBC Research as a preferred financial sector play.

HK:00023.HK:BANK OF E ASIA
Also favored by HSBC Research as part of its top five Hong Kong stock picks.

HK:09885.HK:UBTECH ROBOTICS
Target price lifted by CCBI to HKD115, rating Outperform on AI optimism.

HK:00386.HK:SINOPEC CORP
JPMorgan kept a Neutral rating, raising target price to $4.

HK:03330.HK:LINGBAO GOLD
Gained over 6% after projecting at least 75% 1H net profit growth.

HK:02007.HK:COUNTRY GARDEN
Reportedly agreed to creditor restructuring terms, easing market concerns.

HK:01109.HK:CHINA RES LAND
HSBC Research raised target price to $43.2, keeping a Buy rating.

HK:02678.HK:TEXHONG INTL GP
Surged nearly 18% to a nine-month high with 1H net profit set to jump 60%.

HK:01486.HK:KINGBOARD HLDG
Soared more than 12% as 1H profit is projected to grow over 70% YoY.

HK:01952.HK:EVEREST MED
Dropped over 6% following a top-up share placement at a 10% discount.

HK:02501.HK:LEADS BIOLABS-B
Skyrocketed 106.9% on debut, closing at $72.4.

HK:06639.HK:OSL GROUP
Plunged over 10% after pricing shares at more than a 15% discount, raising HKD2.34 billion.

HK:01038.HK:CKI HOLDINGS
Signed a deal to sell UK rail assets, with Victor Li highlighting buy-and-sell strategies as crucial for growth.

US:NVDA:Nvidia
Over USD1 billion in Nvidia chips allegedly smuggled into China; Nvidia confirmed these products are unauthorized and unsupported.

HK:09618.HK:JD-SW
Also pursuing a EUR2.2 billion acquisition of electronics retailer Ceconomy, expanding in Europe.

HK:03690.HK:MEITUAN-W
Merchants raised concerns about forced participation in delivery price wars at a company forum, underscoring market strain.

HK:01211.HK:BYD COMPANY
Launched Seagull 06 with “God’s Eye C” tech, priced from RMB139,800, with Pakistan local assembly targeted for next year.

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