KUALA LUMPUR – Bursa Malaysia was marginally lower in early trade today amid mixed regional performances, as concerns over the local daily number of Covid-19 cases, which reached a record high for the second day in a row yesterday, continues to weigh on risk appetites.
However, the positive sentiment on several states’ transition from Phase 2 to Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), coupled with positive overnight gains on Wall Street, helped to cushion the downtrend.
At 9.05am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 0.65 of a point to 1,495.13 from yesterday’s close of 1,495.78.
Meanwhile, the ringgit was slightly lower against the US dollar in the early trade, taking its cue from the projected downtrend in oil prices.
At 9.04am, the local note eased to 4.2165/2190 versus the greenback compared with 4.2140/2190 at yesterday’s close. – Bernama, August 6, 2021