KUALA LUMPUR – Bursa Malaysia ended mixed after the last-minute rise of some key blue chips, despite the key index rising at the end of the day’s trading.
At 5pm, the benchmark FBM KLCI rose 3.04 points to 1,623.96 versus yesterday’s close of 1,620.92.
The index opened 2.88 points higher at 1,623.80 and moved between 1,617.92 and 1,625.52.
On the broader market, losers led gainers 724 to 457, while 412 counters were unchanged, 622 untraded and nine others suspended.
Total volume soared to 11.88 billion shares worth RM5.56 billion from yesterday’s 10.29 billion shares worth RM5.22 billion.
Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd economist Adam Mohamed Rahim said the gains in the FBM KLCI was led mainly by Sime Darby, which soared 7.4% or 17 sen to RM2.48.
Adam said sentiment on the local bourse also followed Wall Street’s advance to record highs overnight as investors anticipated that the US Federal Reserve and other central banks such as in Indonesia and Taiwan, which are having meetings this week will keep policies accommodative to help drive a post-pandemic global economic recovery.
Meanwhile the ringgit retreated from yesterday’s gains to end slightly lower against the US dollar.
An analyst said investors were cautious about the outcome of a two-day US Federal Open Market Committee meeting which kicked off today.
At 6 pm, the local note traded lower at 4.1120/1160 versus the greenback from 4.1110/1160 at yesterday’s close. – Bernama, March 16, 2021
