KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia rebounded to close higher on Wednesday on selective buying of defensive stocks after a volatile trading session. IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said consumer products and services stocks lifted the key index higher, overcoming lingering geopolitical concerns. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 3.08 points to 1,715.56 from yesterday’s close of 1,712.48. The benchmark index, which opened 1.91 points higher at 1,714.39, moved between 1,710.79 and 1,720.59 during the day’s trading. In the broader market, gainers outstripped decliners 550 to 476, while 612 counters were unchanged, 1,129 untraded, and 48 suspended. Turnover rose to 2.96 billion units valued at RM2.48 billion from 2.94 billion units valued at RM2.56 billion on Tuesday.
KUALA LUMPUR (March 29): The FBM KLCI fell 4.01 points or 0.2% on index-linked British American Tobacco (M) Bhd (BAT) and Petronas-related share losses.
BAT shares fell on speculation Malaysia may raise cigarette prices, a move which could affect BAT's sales volume. Petronas Dagangan Bhd and Petronas Gas Bhd shares declined on profit taking after both stocks rose yesterday.
At 5pm today, the KLCI closed at 1,750.41 points. BAT shed RM2.46 to RM45.44, Petronas Dagangan dropped 94 sen to RM23.90 while Petronas Gas was 16 sen lower at RM19.80.
BAT was Bursa Malaysia's top decliner. Petronas Dagangan and Petronas Gas were the second and eighth-largest decliners respectively.
“There was a knee-jerk reaction on BAT as a deputy minister had suggested that cigarette prices may be increased to RM21.50 per pack, while everyone will be monitoring how Petronas Dagangan will adjust to the weekly ceiling price (for petrol),” Maybank Investment Bank Bhd chartist Nik Ihsan Raja Abdullah told theedgemarkets.com.
Across Bursa Malaysia, 3.4 billion shares worth RM2.63 billion were traded. Gainers outpaced decliners at 522 versus 402 respectively.
Source: The Edge
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