KUALA LUMPUR – Bursa Malaysia reversed earlier gains to close in negative territory, with the benchmark index falling below the 1,400-psychological mark due to a lack of buying support, said an analyst.
At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slipped 4.39 points, or 0.3%, to settle at 1,397.5 after opening 5.5 points higher at 1,407.39.
The benchmark index moved between 1,395.81 and 1,410.76 throughout the day.
On the broader market, decliners outpaced gainers 499 to 343, while 412 counters were unchanged, 1,147 untraded, and 57 others suspended.
Total turnover increased to 2.28 billion units worth RM1.86 billion from yesterday’s 2.14 billion units worth RM2.06 billion.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng expects investors’ sentiment to remain jittery for the moment due to continuous selling by foreign funds and external factors such as increasing market risks and volatility in global markets amid the United States’ multi-year high inflation.
“On the other hand, the FBM KLCI remained in an oversold position after recent heavy selldowns. We expect the benchmark index to consolidate within the range of 1,390-1,405 towards the weekend,” he said.
Meanwhile, key regional indices ended mixed despite overnight gains on Wall Street.
“Gains are capped by growing fears that aggressive interest rate hikes this year by the US Federal Reserve and European and Asian central banks to cool inflation that is at multi-decade highs might tip the global economy into recession,” said Thong.
Regionally, Singapore’s Straits Times Index rose 0.14% to 3,120.79, Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index widened 0.95% to 26,422.05, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 0.49% to 17,165.87 and Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index went down 0.58% to 7,036.20.
Among Bursa Malaysia’s heavyweight stocks, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd added 2 sen to RM8.39, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd advanced 4 sen to RM5.15, Malayan Banking Bhd and Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd were flat at RM8.56 and RM4, respectively, while Public Bank Bhd slipped 6 sen to RM4.20, IHH Healthcare Bhd shed 1 sen to RM5.92 and Tenaga Nasional Bhd dipped 15 sen to RM8.25.
Of the actives, PT Resources Holdings Bhd and My E.G. Services Bhd went up 2 sen each to 43.5 sen and 85.5 sen, NWP Holdings Bhd was flat at 24.5 sen, Top Glove Corporation Bhd and Velesto Energy Bhd both edged down 0.5 sen to 58.5 sen and 11 sen, while Cnergenz Bhd gave up 4 sen to RM1.04.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index declined 28.01 points to 9,981.44, the FBM 70 eased 11.07 points to 12,155.58, and the FBMT 100 Index declined 25.40 points to 9,735.11.
The FBM Emas Shariah Index trimmed 31.92 points to 10,041.85, and the FBM ACE gained 4.15 points to 4,660.05.
Sector-wise, the energy index added 1.18 points to 671.5, the plantation index advanced 45.42 points to 6,504.5, the financial services index tumbled 41.28 points to 15,882.34, and the industrial products and services index eased 0.18 of-a-point to 169.97.
The Main Market volume appreciated to 1.46 billion shares worth RM1.57 billion from yesterday’s 1.31 billion shares worth RM1.77 billion.
Warrants turnover stood at 228.98 million units valued at RM41.72 million from 295.14 million units valued at RM45.78 million yesterday.
The ACE Market volume increased to 583.68 million shares worth RM251.01 million from 541.51 million shares worth RM243.68 million yesterday.
Consumer products and services counters accounted for 222.70 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (412.36 million), construction (37.38 million), technology (132.18 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (78.13 million), property (89.33 million), plantation (18.75 million), REITs (6.04 million), closed/fund (20,000), energy (203.97 million), healthcare (184.92 million), telecommunications and media (24.09 million), transportation and logistics (30.91 million) and utilities (20.44 million). – Bernama, September 29, 2022
