KUALA LUMPUR – Bursa Malaysia opened slightly higher but retreated thereafter, extending yesterday’s losses on continued profit-taking in selected technology, as well as consumer product and services counters, a dealer said.
At 9.15am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) shed 2.80 points to 1,568.06 from yesterday’s close of 1,570.86.
The index opened 0.23 of-a-point better at 1,571.09.
Market breadth was negative, with losers leading gainers 249 to 170, while 333 counters were unchanged, 1,445 untraded and 18 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 549.70 million units worth RM267.38 million.
Meanwhile, the ringgit opened at a multiple-week low against the US dollar today, as traders continued to offload emerging currencies on the US Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance on its monetary policy.
At 9am, the local note slipped further to 4.1415/1440 versus the greenback from 4.1390/1400 at yesterday’s close.
This was the lowest level last seen earlier this year on May 31, when the ringgit opened at 4.1420/1500 against the greenback. – Bernama, June 18, 2021