KUALA LUMPUR – Bursa Malaysia opened slightly higher, with market sentiment lifted by the Pemerkasa Plus stimulus package unveiled last night to assist businesses and the rakyat as the Covid-19 lockdown takes effect today.
At 9.01am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI added 2.38 points, or 0.15%, to 1,585.93 from 1,583.55 at yesterday’s close.
The index opened 2.19 points higher at 1,585.74.
Market breadth was positive, with gainers leading losers 200 to 102, while 226 counters were unchanged, 1,605 untraded and nine suspended.
Total volume stood at 246.80 million units worth RM96.78 million.
The ringgit, too, opened higher against the United States dollar, fuelled by increasing oil prices due to lower production and ahead of US economic data expectations.
At 9.01am, the local currency rose to 4.1180/1240 against the greenback from 4.1220/1270 at the close yesterday.
ActivTrades trader Dyogenes Rodrigues Diniz said investors will pay close attention to the ISM Manufacturing purchasing managers’ index for the US dollar today. – Bernama, June 1, 2021