Stocks in Asia are poised for gains as investors monitored progress on the path to a coronavirus vaccine on the final day of a record month for global equities. Oil is in focus. Stock futures traded higher late Friday in Japan and Hong Kong. On Sunday, the U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said the federal government hopes to quickly review and approve requests from two big drugs makers for emergency approval of their Covid-19 vaccines. The pound ticked higher in early trading as Brexit talks continue.

Myanmar-focused Yoma Strategic Holdings' full-year net loss has widened to US$60.5 million, from US$36.9 million a year ago. This comes amid a higher share of losses of joint ventures, an increase in the cost of sales, administrative expenses, as well as income tax expenses, showed results released by the mainboard-listed group on Saturday.

First Real Estate Investment Trust (First Reit) will restructure the master lease agreements of its 11 Indonesian hospital assets leased to former parent company Lippo Karawaci (LPKR). The trustee of First Reit on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with LPKR, in which all the LPKR master lease agreements are extended to Dec 31, 2035, with an option for a further 15-year term by mutual agreement.

Mainboard-listed steel dealer BRC Asia's full-year net profit fell 35.5 per cent to S$20.4 million, from S$31.6 million a year earlier, amid disruptions due to Covid-19. Revenue for the 12 months ended Sept 30, 2020 dropped 32.9 per cent to S$612.4 million, from S$913.3 million a year ago, on "substantially lower sales volume due to severe disruptions during and after the 'circuit breaker'," it said in a bourse filing on Saturday.

Food and beverage (F&B) play Jumbo Group is looking to acquire a 75 per cent interest in popular dumpling noodle stall Kok Kee Wanton Noodle for S$2.1 million in cash and shares. This will mark the group's first inorganic expansion since it listed in 2015.

Thai Beverage Public Co (ThaiBev) said in a post-earnings conference call on Thursday evening that it does not expect a huge jump in sales in the months ahead as the pandemic's impact lingers. Still, analysts remain upbeat about the company's road to recovery.

Shares in Catalist-listed Biolidics rallied for a third consecutive day on Friday, advancing more than 20 per cent by the closing bell. This comes after the medtech firm announced it will distribute Covid-19 test kits in Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines.

Source: SGX Masnet, The Business Times, Bloomberg, Channel NewsAsia, Reuters, PSR