Bursa opens almost flat amid cautious sentiment
The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) had opened 0.10 of-a-point lower at 1,535.97, however, and rebounded shortly after.
At 10.18am, the benchmark index inched up 0.95 of-a-point to 1,537.02 from Friday's close of 1,536.07.
Market breadth was negative, with decliners outnumbering advancers 335 to 303, while 419 counters were unchanged, 1,352 untraded, and two suspended.
Turnover stood at 1.11 billion shares worth RM391.41 million.
Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said the local bourse may start the week on a softer note following Wall Street's decline, as concerns over a prolonged trade war continued to dampen risk appetite.
'However, last week's 25 basis points overnight policy rate (OPR) cut by Bank Negara Malaysia and the potential for further monetary easing should help cushion downside risks, particularly in property stocks amid lower mortgage rates.
'We also see this as a buying opportunity in REITs, which continue to offer attractive dividend yields compared to Malaysian bonds,' the brokerage said in a note.
It added that traders would be monitoring US data this week, including inflation, retail sales, and unemployment claims.
Among the heavyweights, Maybank rose 4.0 sen to RM9.73, CIMB added 2.0 sen to RM6.70, while Public Bank eased 1.0 sen to RM4.31. Tenaga Nasional and IHH Healthcare were unchanged at RM13.96 and RM6.58, respectively.
In active trade, Jiankun, UEM Sunrise, and Pharmaniaga edged up half-a-sen each to 3.0 sen, 76.5 sen, and 17 sen, respectively. Land and General slipped half-a-sen to 11 sen, and NationGate shed 2.0 sen to RM1.61.
On the broader index board, the FBM Emas Index rose 17.18 points to 11,560.76, the FBMT 100 Index gained 14.80 points to 11,323.54, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index climbed 22.91 points to 11,575.38.
The FBM 70 Index advanced 33.96 points to 16,795.31, while the FBM ACE Index dipped 2.30 points to 4,535.87.
By sector, the Financial Services Index gained 33.57 points to 17,641.70, the Plantation Index rose 35.15 points to 7,485.60, and the Energy Index edged up 5.35 points to 742.97. The Industrial Products and Services Index slipped 0.16 of-a-point to 153.93.
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Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Is TNB's Time of Use plan right for you? It depends on when you use power
KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — What if you could lower your electricity bill simply by changing the time you run your washing machine or air-conditioning? That's the idea behind Tenaga Nasional Berhad's new optional Time of Use (ToU) tariff — a pricing plan that rewards households for shifting their electricity use to off-peak hours. With just a few small changes in routine — such as doing laundry after dinner or setting your air-conditioner to run later at night — many households could reduce their monthly bill without cutting down on electricity use. But the amount saved depends on when you use power — and for some households, it may not be worth switching. But first, a short refresher on the concept. What is Time of Use? Under this plan, electricity is cheaper during off-peak hours and more expensive during peak hours. TNB defines peak hours as weekdays from 2pm to 10pm. Everything outside that — including all day on weekends and public holidays — is considered off-peak. This means the off-peak window lasts 16 hours each weekday and 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays. If you can shift a chunk of your usage into those cheaper windows, ToU might be worth considering. The plan is open to all households with a smart meter. It's also available to those with CT (Current Transformer) or Remote Meter Reading systems — which are usually used in bigger homes or mixed-use buildings. What are the electricity rates? If you opt for the ToU plan, your electricity rates will now depend not just on how much you use, but when you use it. For households that use up to 1,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) a month, electricity costs 24.43 sen per kWh during off-peak hours and 28.52 sen during peak hours. If you use more than 1,500 kWh, the rates increase to 34.43 sen off-peak and 38.52 sen during peak hours. In comparison, the standard domestic tariff is 27.03 sen per kWh if you use 1,500 kWh or less, and 37.03 sen if you go over. Households that consistently use more than 1,500 kWh a month are typically larger families living in bigger homes, or those with multiple air-conditioners, dryers, water heaters, or electric vehicles. Some may also operate small home-based businesses. These users fall into a higher tariff bracket — making the timing of their usage even more critical under the ToU plan. Are there extra fees? Yes, but they may not apply to everyone. When you sign up for ToU, you'll need to pay a one-time RM10 stamp duty as part of the agreement process. There is also a RM10 monthly Retail Charge under the ToU tariff. However, this charge is waived if your monthly usage is 600 kWh or less. Users in this low-usage category are also exempt from the Automatic Fuel Adjustment (AFA) charge. Households that consume up to 1,000 kWh a month are eligible for the Energy Efficiency Incentive, just like users on the standard tariff. What kind of households might benefit? Let's say you're a working couple with school-going children. You use about 1,000 kWh a month, and most of your appliances — air-conditioning, washing machine, maybe even an EV charger — are only switched on at night or on weekends. If around 70 per cent of your electricity usage happens during off-peak hours, your monthly bill under ToU could be lower than the flat-rate standard tariff — in this case, by a few ringgit. You benefit from ToU because your house is usually empty during weekday afternoons, and most high-energy use happens at night when the cheaper rates apply. No major lifestyle changes needed. What kind of households might not? Now imagine a stay-at-home family with young children. You use around 1,200 kWh a month, and a lot of that energy — air-conditioning, water heating, cooking — happens during the afternoon and early evening. If most of your electricity use falls during peak hours, ToU might not save you money. In fact, it could cost you more than the standard tariff since you're doing the bulk of your usage at the more expensive time of day. Real-life scenarios: Who saves, who doesn't Let's break down three common household types and compare what they would pay under the ToU tariff versus the standard flat rate. Scenario A: Working couple with schoolchildren Monthly usage: 1,000 kWh Usage pattern: 70 per cent off-peak (air-cond after 10pm, laundry and cooking at night or weekends) 30 per cent peak (some daytime activity) Under ToU: (Off peak) 700 kWh × RM0.2443 = RM171.01 (Peak) 300 kWh × RM0.2852 = RM85.56 Total = RM256.57+ RM10 Retail Charge = RM266.57 Under standard tariff: 1,000 kWh × RM0.2703 = RM270.30 Result: Saves RM3.73/month under ToU. Why it works: This family is out during weekday peak hours. Their existing lifestyle fits the ToU structure, so they save money without effort. Scenario B: Stay-at-home family with toddlers Monthly usage: 1,200 kWh Usage pattern: 70 per cent (Peak: afternoon air-cond, cooking, ironing) 30 per cent (Off-peak) Under ToU: (Peak) 840 kWh × RM0.2852 = RM239.57 (Off-peak) 360 kWh × RM0.2443 = RM87.95 Total = RM327.52+RM10 Retail Charge = RM337.52 Under standard tariff: 1,200 kWh × RM0.2703 = RM324.36 Result: Pays RM13.16 more/month under ToU. Why it doesn't work: Most electricity use happens during weekday afternoons and evenings — the most expensive time under ToU. Scenario C: EV-owning household Monthly usage: 1,800 kWh (includes ~400 kWh from EV charging) Usage pattern: 75 per cent off-peak (EV charged overnight, air-cond at night, weekend laundry) 25 per cent peak (some cooking, morning use) Under ToU (high-usage tier): (Off-peak) 1,350 kWh × RM0.3443 = RM464.80 (Peak) 450 kWh × RM0.3852 = RM173.34 Total = RM638.14+RM10 Retail Charge = RM648.14 Under standard tariff: 1,800 kWh × RM0.3703 = RM666.54 Result: Saves RM18.40/month under ToU. Why it works: EV charging and major appliance use happen overnight — taking full advantage of lower off-peak rates. How to check if ToU is right for you? Before switching, it's best to understand your actual electricity usage pattern. TNB recommends using its myTNB mobile app to monitor hourly usage and estimate your potential bill under both the standard and ToU tariffs. The app also allows you to track daily trends, set alerts, and assess whether your current lifestyle is already ToU-friendly. You can also use the online Electricity Bill Calculator on the myTNB website to simulate and compare bills. How to sign up? Applications opened on July 1. You can apply by emailing [email protected] visiting any Kedai Tenaga outlet. From August 1 onwards, you'll also be able to sign up directly via the myTNB app or website. Once approved, your ToU tariff will be activated within three to five working days. You'll need to stay on the plan for at least six months before switching back. So should I switch? If most of your electricity use already happens at night or on weekends — like if you work a regular office schedule and your air-cond only runs at bedtime — ToU could lower your bills without much effort. But if your routine centres around weekday afternoons, especially between 2pm and 10pm, the standard tariff may still make more sense. Start by tracking your usage. Whether it's your air-cond, rice cooker or washing machine — sometimes, saving on your electricity bill is simply a matter of timing.
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Bursa fines 7 Zetrix AI directors RM150,000 each for announcement breach
MyEG Services Bhd announced its name change to Zetrix AI Bhd, also changing its stock short name from MYEG to Zetrix, on June 30. (MyEG pic) PETALING JAYA : Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd has fined seven directors of Zetrix AI Bhd – formerly known as MyEG Services Bhd – RM150,000 each for failing to ensure three company announcements in 2023 were factual and accurate. Bursa said Zetrix AI and its directors had been publicly reprimanded for breach of the Main Market Listing Requirements. It said Zetrix had on July 7, 2023 announced, among others, that a notification letter dated July 4, 2023 from the home ministry confirmed the finance ministry's approval of the company's appointment as the government revenue collection agent and extended its role as the provider of online services for the immigration department. 'However, the July 7 announcement was inaccurate, false and misleading as the contents of the July 4 letter were inconsistent with the company's representations in the July 7 announcement,' it said in a statement. Bursa named the seven directors as Wong Thean Soon, Norraesah Mohamad, Jimmy Wong Abdullah, Wong Kok Chau, Mokhtar Shariff, Jeffrey Joakim and Mohaini Yusof. It said Zetrix AI and the directors had also failed to make an immediate announcement to clarify the inconsistency, but maintained its misrepresentation of matters in the company's subsequent announcements on Sept 13 and Sept 14 that year. '(This occurred despite) market concerns as reported by New Straits Times on Sept 12, 2023 in an article titled 'MyEG illegally renewing workers' permits', and by The Edge titled 'MyEG said to be charging fees for foreign worker permits despite contract suspension'. 'There were no reasonable justifications for the failure of the company and directors to ensure the announcements were factual and accurate, and comply with the directive. 'They had represented, among others, that the announcements were accurate and justified based on the past contract renewals and historical precedent in relation to the extension. 'In any event, it was evident that from May 23, 2023 to Jan 31, 2024, there was no evidence of any approval from the home or finance ministries for the company to be appointed as the collection agent for the government revenue and the extension,' it said. On June 30, the concessionaire for the Malaysia electronic-government MSC flagship application announced its name change to Zetrix AI, also changing its stock short name from MYEG to Zetrix.
BusinessToday
6 hours ago
- BusinessToday
Bursa Reprimands MYEG Now Zetrix, And Fines 7 Directors RM150,000 Each
Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad has publicly reprimanded Zetrix AI Berhad (formerly known as MY E.G. Services Berhad) and imposed fines of RM150,000 each on seven of its directors for breaching the Main Market Listing Requirements. The regulatory action was taken due to the company's failure to ensure that its announcements were factual and accurate, and for failing to comply with a directive from Bursa Malaysia. Zetrix AI Berhad was found to have breached paragraphs 9.35A(1)(a) and (b) of the MAIN LR for issuing announcements on July 7, 2023, September 13, 2023, and September 14, 2023, that were deemed false and misleading. The company also breached paragraph 2.23(1) for failing to comply with a Bursa Malaysia directive dated August 15, 2023, which required an immediate clarification of the July 7 announcement. The seven directors were penalised for permitting the company to commit these breaches. The breaches relate specifically to the company's July 7, 2023 announcement, which claimed that the Ministry of Finance (MOF) had approved the company's appointment as a collection agent and extended its role as an online service provider for the Immigration Department of Malaysia. The Exchange's investigation found this representation to be inaccurate and misleading, as the contents of the official notification letter were inconsistent with the company's claims. Furthermore, the company's concession for Immigration-related services had expired on May 22, 2023, and there was no evidence of approval for the period between May 23, 2023, and January 31, 2024. Despite being aware of the inconsistencies and receiving a directive from Bursa Malaysia to clarify the matter, the company and its directors failed to do so and continued the misrepresentation in subsequent announcements. Bursa Malaysia emphasised that there was a 'serious dereliction of duties' by the directors, highlighting the importance of timely and accurate disclosure for maintaining market integrity and investor confidence. The penalised directors include Group Managing Director Wong Thean Soon, Executive Chairman Dato' Dr. Norraesah binti Haji Mohamad, Wong Kok Chau (Audit Committee Chairman), and Audit Committee members Datuk Mohd Jimmy Wong bin Abdullah and Mohaini binti Mohd Yusof. Independent Non-Executive Directors Dato' Sri Mohd Mokhtar bin Mohd Shariff and Dato' Mohd Jeffrey bin Joakim (who resigned on April 22, 2025) were also fined. Related
