KUALA LUMPUR – Bursa Malaysia was lower in early trade as investors were spooked by the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) announced yesterday over a large part of Selangor and 15 localities in Kuala Lumpur.
At 9.10am, the benchmark FBM KLCI eased by 0.06 of-a-point to 1,534.17 from yesterday’s close of 1,534.23.
The market bellwether opened 0.53 of-a-point lower at 1,533.70.
On the broader market, losers outpaced gainers 210 to 145, while 262 counters were unchanged, 1,548 untraded, and 11 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 483.15 million units valued at RM186.83 billion.
Meanwhile, the ringgit opened lower for the fourth consecutive day against the US dollar this morning after a decline in Malaysia’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index coupled with lower oil prices weighed on the currency, a dealer said.
At 9.02am, the local note fell to 4.1635/1660 versus the US dollar from 4.1575/1600 at yesterday’s close.
The IHS Markit headline index dropped sharply to a near series low of 39.9 in June 2021 from 51.3 in the previous month, reflecting the stricter Covid-19 containment measures. – Bernama, July 2, 2021
