Dr Michael A. Yoshikami, President & Chief Investment Strategist at YCMNET Advisors in California gave his views on Jim Rogers' comments on fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Nuclear continues to be important, as there are not many alternatives, solar energy is still inefficient. Expects major revision in how nuclear is regulated, and to safety procedures.

After more investigations n regulation in next 12 months, uranium and nuclear stocks should bounce back after that, rather than 2-3 years.

Crude oil price to climb, depending on economic growth picking up from emerging markets. Currently  factor in $10-15 fear premium to oil price.

Ireland scenario is an indictment of problems in Europe (Portugal and Greece downgraded recently by S&P). Euro continues to be under pressure against other stronger currencies, not just dollar.

In terms of US private sector employment, he expects next 6-12 months stabilisation of jobs. Company earnings are bouncing back, improving but don't get too excited. Unemployment rates are still high above long term averages.

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Maybank IB Research Analyst Mohshin Aziz discussed the basis for his target price of RM8 for this stock, which falls between the low of RM5.70 target price by another research house and high of RM10 target price by CIMB Research. He also talked about the generous margins in this industry, and how PetChem and other petrochemical players are stepping in due to supply shortfall as a result of Japan's earthquake. Japan is a major petrochemical producer in the region and contributes an estimated 7.5% of Asia's total supply. He views the recent BASF plant announcement as a red herring; minimal impact on PetChem's share price as it has been mentioned in its prospectus previously.

Petronas Chemicals Group’s share price has been climbing steadily since March 15th, hitting a 52-week high on Wednesday at RM7.22. CIMB Research had raised Pet Chem’s target price for the stock from RM7.25 to RM10 on Monday.

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Next View Sdn Bhd Chief Market Strategist Benny Lee expects crude palm oil (CPO) futures to rebound in the near term due to steep drop in prices in the past one month. As market is slightly oversold below averages, price would realign to averages. Market has factored in March data, as well as Feb data. CPO March exports expected to remain same as last month.

Gold, crude oil have formed a bearish reversal pattern ie double-top chart formation. Both have strong support from current uptrend. Gold and crude oil prices are near averages so not oversold, unlike rubber futures. Both are expected to trade sideways, with near term correction. Uptrend to continue as bull trend not completed.

Currently, wider spread between soybean and CPO - about 10%. Soybean prices strong in past one week, CPO should be able to catch up in near term.

This week, he expects CPO futures to trade as high as RM3,400 per tonne,with support at RM3,200.

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Michael McCarthy, Chief Market Strategist at CMC Markets, Sydney says Australia Federal Government faces a difficult situation over the proposed carbon tax: though there is broad electoral support for climate change, govt is caught between this and difficulties of nuts and bolts of agreement. Carbon tax start date slated for July 2012. Markets are asking who will it apply to; at the moment, focus is on electricity generation and coal mining business. Agriculture sector supplies 40% of carbon emissions, unclear how it'll be included yet.

Voters also have hip pocket considerations to think about - job loss, increased costs, and Aussie has a hung parliament which makes it difficult to push something like this through.Hence, final deal is difficult to forecast.

McCarthy has a less optimistic view on Aussie shares, and expects range trading market for the next nine months on the back of metal and oil strength. ASX 200 to reach 5,250 at year end. Again, difficult call due to macro factors. 

Though tough call on the Shanghai index, should have strong upward trend on back of company profit figures. Should push through key psychological resistance level soon. China government's main concern is excess growth.

Looking at US consumer confidence levels, US Fed Reserve has been doing most of the heavy lifting ie stimulating monetary sytem. Wouldn't be surprised by minor fiscal stimulus programmes in terms of job creation. 

Though recent numbers were not good, key indicators of US economy's health would be employment numbers and housing market. Latter causing concern globally. Until unemployment falls rapidly, and signs of improvement in housing market, would focus on those measures in response to the current situation.

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Maybank IB Research Group Chief Economist Suhaimi Ilias thinks Bank Negara is unlikely to raise rates in May though Feb CPI surprised on the upside at 2.9%. As Bank Negara has been ahead of the curve in raising interest rates, next rate hike expected in Sept or Nov.

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Darryl Guppy, CEO of Guppy Traders.com says Japan's Nikkei 225 is not in good shape, testing support at 9,000. If it falls below 9,000, Nikkei's downside target from 7,500 to 7,000. Meanwhile, oil can fall towards $94 and still be on a long term uptrend. When the price of oil goes above $100, the trend changes, the price becomes much more volatile.

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Group MD and Founder of Supermax Corp Bhd, Dato Seri Stanley Thai is of the view that latex is overspeculated, and talked about latex prices over the last 10 years.

As a result of volatility in oil prices, cost of synthetic nitrile materials are rising, even so, manufacturers' margins for synthetic nitrile still pretty good. Margins would be squeezed, especially for nitrile glove producers.

He hopes subsidies for natural gas would be reduced slowly (if at all), and across the board, not on selective basis. Supermax plants have a dual system which can use biomass instead.

He also talked about what shareholders have to look forward to. Supermax has a 20% profit after tax div policy, and any further upside would be enjoyed by shareholders in the form of special dividends.

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Dodge O. Dorland, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Landor & Fuest Capital Managers in New York talks about the protests in London. It is likely to feel impact of cuts next month. London will have to deal with the short term to get to the other side.

He also explains why QE3  in the States is not likely. For upcoming US March employment figures on Friday, he expects non-farm payroll to rise, with the jobless rate holding steady at 8.9%. He expects a positive bias for market trading this week, as there are positive capabilities to look through.

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Lee Cheng Hooi, Equity Markets Head of Retail Research at Maybank IB Research is of the view that Bank Negara is clamping down on certain areas of concern like credit cards and housing loans. Banking stocks remain sluggish in the short term, like most of the key market stocks for now. He foresees trading next week to be range bound and lacklustre. For the next three months, he is cautiously optimistic, however if parliament is dissolved for general elections, it would be a good last selling opportunity. 

For today, he likes defensive stocks like Carlsberg, which he favours over GAB in terms of price action. He's also thinking of upgrading Carlsberg's target price next week.

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Tim Mulholland of China-America Capital Company says that Portugal is likely to need a bailout, and we'll have better indication if Spain needs a bailout in the April debt auction. The market is looking ahead at US earnings announcement which he expects would be under pressure due to rising commodity cost that cannot be passed on to customers.

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