Bursa ends slightly lower on lack of fresh catalysts

Free Malaysia Today

12 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR : The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) ended the week slightly lower today, as investors await fresh catalysts, mainly the ongoing trade negotiations between Malaysia and the US.
UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Sedek Jantan said the benchmark index touched an intraday high of 1,541.94 before retreating in the afternoon session, reflecting intermittent profit-taking and a lack of conviction amid external policy uncertainty.
Despite the subdued tone, he noted that the underlying momentum remains intact, as valuations continue to look attractive relative to 2024 levels, particularly for long-term investors with a value bias.
'Telecommunications stocks led the gainers, buoyed by balance sheet improvements and investor optimism over earnings quality.
'Conversely, the utilities sector came under pressure, with investors locking in gains following a notable two-week rebound,' he told Bernama.
On the regional front, Sedek said the market shows early signs of portfolio reallocation by US-based institutional investors.
'This trend, if sustained, could provide structural support for regional equities, Malaysia included, as tariff risk escalations and a pivot towards looser monetary conditions increase the relative appeal of Asia,' he said.
At 5pm, the FBM KLCI eased 0.45 points or 0.03% to 1,536.07 from yesterday's close of 1,536.52.
The benchmark index had opened 1.36 points higher at 1,537.88 and hovered between 1,530.77 and 1,541.94 throughout the session.
However, the market breadth was positive, with 510 gainers outpacing 450 decliners.
A total of 532 counters were unchanged, while 926 were untraded and 10 suspended.
Turnover rose to 3.37 billion shares worth RM2.30 billion, compared with 3.25 billion shares worth RM2.45 billion yesterday.
Among the heavyweight counters, Maybank lost four sen to RM9.69, but Public Bank gained two sen to RM4.32, Tenaga Nasional was flat at RM13.96, while CIMB slipped two sen to RM6.68, and IHH Healthcare was seven sen lower at RM6.58.
In active trade, Zetrix AI and Dagang Nexchange garnered two sen each to RM1 and 32 sen, respectively. Tanco and NexG both improved 0.5 sen to 90.5 sen and 45 sen, respectively, while Sapura Energy reduced 0.5 sen to 3.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index gained 15.25 points to 11,543.58, the FBMT 100 Index expanded 15.61 points to 11,308.74, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index added 43.73 points to 11,552.47.
The FBM 70 Index increased 105.75 points to 16,761.35, while the FBM ACE Index improved 21.60 points to 4,538.17.
By sector, the financial services index fell 14.25 points to 17,608.13, the industrial products and services index inched up 0.55 points to 154.09, while the plantation index fell 10.81 points to 7,450.45.
The energy index inched up 1.0 point to 737.62.
The Main Market volume inched higher to 1.36 billion units worth RM1.99 billion from 1.32 billion units valued at RM2.17 billion yesterday.
Warrants turnover rose to 1.7 billion units valued at RM2.03 million from 1.69 billion units worth RM190.86 million previously.
The ACE Market volume rose to 318.83 million units valued at RM107.58 million, versus 241.47 million units worth RM86.17 million yesterday.
Consumer products and services counters accounted for 161.98 million shares traded on the Main Market; industrial products and services (201.87 million), construction (109.35 million), technology (265.10 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (81.56 million), property (228.25 million), plantation (12.61 million), REITs (23.88 million), closed-end fund (15,500), energy (91.82 million), healthcare (55.13 million), telecommunications and media (49.04 million), transportation and logistics (33.85 million), utilities (43.83 million), and business trusts (132,600).