KUALA LUMPUR – Bursa Malaysia opened marginally higher today after its one-day break for the Aidiladha celebration, taking its cue from the better overnight performance of Wall Street.
The United States stock markets clawed back losses after a global rout on Monday as investors shifted their focus to economic growth and played down concerns on the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant, dealers said.
At 9.05am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) improved 0.64 of-a-point to 1,520.61, from Monday’s close of 1,519.97.
The index opened 1.40 points higher at 1,521.37.
However, market breadth was negative with losers edging past gainers 175 to 160, while 309 counters were unchanged, 1,599 untraded and 18 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 261.32 million units worth RM150.66 million.
Meanwhile, the ringgit opened lower against the US dollar today amid growing concerns over the spread of the Covid-19 Delta variant that has already triggered new lockdowns in several Southeast Asian countries, a trader said.
At 9.20am, the local note eased to 4.2325/2360 versus the greenback from Monday’s close of 4.2240/2265. – Bernama, July 21, 2021