KUALA LUMPUR – Bursa Malaysia opened the week in the red across the board on cautious market sentiment ahead of the total lockdown against Covid-19 to take effect tomorrow.
At 9.02am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI erased 23.64 points, or 1.48%, to 1,570.80 from 1,594.44 at Friday’s close.
The index opened 23.4 points weaker at 1,571.04.
Market breadth was negative, with losers outnumbering gainers 740 to 40, while 123 counters were unchanged, 1,279 untraded and 58 suspended.
Total volume stood at 525.94 million units worth RM184.68 million.
The ringgit, too, opened lower against the United States dollar due to cautious sentiment ahead of the lockdown.
At 9.01am, the local note declined to 4.1420/1500 against the greenback from 4.1320/1350 at the close on Friday.
An analyst said the sudden announcement on Friday of a total lockdown to combat the pandemic may cause some short-term volatility in the local market. – Bernama, May 31, 2021