Stocks to watch: SGX, Keppel Corp, Plastoform

THE following stocks may be in focus on Friday:

Market observers played down speculation about the Singapore Exchange (SGX) exploring strategic deals, saying that commercial tie-ups or narrowly targeted acquisitions are much more likely than a merger of market operators.

Keppel Corporation's CEO Loh Chin Hua said in the group's annual report that "although the winter in the offshore business is expected to persist for some time, we remain confident of the longer term fundamentals of the sector". He pointed to other markets to explore such as for gas and production solutions.

Plastoform Holdings' auditor said there is a material uncertainty about the speaker manufacturer's ability to remain a going concern. In its report, Foo Kon Tan cited Plastoform's HK$7.6 million (S$1.36 million) net loss in 2016, negative operating cash flow and the 2014 loss of a major customer as the bases for its opinion.