KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia extended its gains to close higher today, supported by strength in telecommunications stocks and a rebound in heavyweight banking counters, which kept the benchmark index in positive territory despite cautious overall market sentiment. IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said investor sentiment remained guarded as market participants awaited key US labour market data for fresh signals on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy direction, while continuing to monitor developments in West Asia for potential geopolitical risks. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 5.0 points, or 0.30 per cent, to 1,661.83 from Wednesday's close of 1,656.83. The benchmark index opened 1.99 points higher at 1,658.82 and moved between 1,657.77 and 1,666.26 throughout the session.
Key Takeaways FBM KLCI rose 0.3% to 1,661.83 , recovering modestly despite broad-based weakness across the broader market. Financials, telecommunications and selected blue chips supported the benchmark, while technology stocks faced profit-taking. Market breadth remained negative , with 642 decliners versus 425 gainers , suggesting investor sentiment stayed cautious. Technology counters including ViTrox, Kelington and UMS were among the biggest value losers despite strong year-to-date gains. The ringgit strengthened further against the US dollar , providing support to Malaysia's macro outlook. Market Overview Bursa Malaysia ended Thursday on a firmer note, with the FBM KLCI gaining 0.3% to 1,661.83 , as buying in heavyweight financial, telecommunications and plantation stocks offset weakness in the technology sector. Despite the benchmark's advance, overall market participation remained cautious. Declining stocks significantly outnumbered gainers, indicating inve...