KUALA LUMPUR: Stocks in focus after recent corporate announcements include SP Setia, HIL Industries, VSolar, Nestcon and KPJ Healthcare , according to JF Apex Research.

       S P Setia's subsidiary Setia HC Ventures Sdn Bhd has incorporated a unit, Setia City Healthcare Sdn Bhd, to develop and operate an ambulatory care centre.

       HIL Industries received its shareholders’ approval at the extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday to undertake residential development joint ventures (JVs) on five parcels of land in Sungai Buloh, Klang and Jugra in Selangor.

       Vsolar said it has accepted an RM96.27mil job to procure and supply parts to RA Integration Links Sdn Bhd to complete an overhaul of 50 sets of six-car light rail vehicle on the Ampang Light Rail Transit line.

       Nestcon has bagged two subcontracts worth a combined RM90.4mil for the construction and completion of subgrade works under the East Coast Rail Link project in Kota Bahru, Kelantan.

       They were awarded by China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd.

       KPJ Healthcare is establishing an RM3bil sukuk wakalah programme to finance its expansion, as well as for working capital requirements and general corporate purposes.

       Thus, its total borrowings would swell to RM4.84bil, bringing the group’s gearing ratio to 2.2 times versus 0.87 times a year prior.

       Meanwhile, JF Apex expects the FBM KLCI to take a breather and trend sideways below the resistance of 1,600 points. The index had shed 1.09 points to 1,563.2 in the previous session.

       On the US market, equities posted slight gains overnight despite high inflation data as investors look forward to the corporate earnings season.

       European stocks climbed after US inflation data and the Federal Reserve's comments.