KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index closed lower on Thursday amid profit-taking in big-cap stocks, as investors shifted their focus to smaller-cap counters against the backdrop of weaker regional market performance. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 7.26 points or 0.43 per cent to 1,669.57 from Wednesday’s close of 1,676.83. The FBM KLCI opened 2.61 points lower at 1,674.22 and moved between 1,666.34 and 1,674.44 throughout the day. On the broader market, gainers led losers by 579 to 489, while 565 counters were unchanged, 1,016 untraded, and 12 suspended. Turnover was slightly higher at 2.79 billion units worth RM2.84 billion from Wednesday’s 2.73 billion units worth RM2.76 billion.
The market dropped as anticipated, with the FBMKLCI closing 1.1% lower to 1,644.41. This was in line with the global equities' decline.
US equities closed near flatline Tuesday, after a choppy trading session, as US oil prices seesawed and investors looked ahead to Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen’s testimony.
Across the exchange, a total of 887.61 million shares, worth RM1.06 billion, were traded. Market sentiment was bearish, as decliners beat gainers by 506 to 249, while 220 counters were unchanged.
Leading the decliners were blue chips like Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd, while gainers were led by Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd. The top active stock was Tiger Synergy Bhd.
Across the region, Japan’s Nikkei fell 2.31%, while South Korea’s Kospi gained 1.52%. China stock markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holidays.
According to Bloomberg data, the ringgit strengthened to 4.1243 against the US dollar and traded at 2.9642 against the Singapore dollar.
Brent crude gained 2.3% to US$31.02 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 2.1% to US$28.52 per barrel.
The drop in the global market is largely due to the growing concerns about the health of the world's banks, particularly in Europe, pushing investors into safer assets such as the yen, which stood near a 15-month high versus the dollar.
US equities closed near flatline Tuesday, after a choppy trading session, as US oil prices seesawed and investors looked ahead to Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen’s testimony.
Across the exchange, a total of 887.61 million shares, worth RM1.06 billion, were traded. Market sentiment was bearish, as decliners beat gainers by 506 to 249, while 220 counters were unchanged.
Leading the decliners were blue chips like Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd, while gainers were led by Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd. The top active stock was Tiger Synergy Bhd.
Across the region, Japan’s Nikkei fell 2.31%, while South Korea’s Kospi gained 1.52%. China stock markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holidays.
According to Bloomberg data, the ringgit strengthened to 4.1243 against the US dollar and traded at 2.9642 against the Singapore dollar.
Brent crude gained 2.3% to US$31.02 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 2.1% to US$28.52 per barrel.
The drop in the global market is largely due to the growing concerns about the health of the world's banks, particularly in Europe, pushing investors into safer assets such as the yen, which stood near a 15-month high versus the dollar.
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