KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index closed lower today, in line with most regional markets, as investors adjusted their risk exposure amid spiralling oil prices driven by the ongoing West Asia conflict, now in its second month. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) retreated by 24.75 points or 1.44 per cent to 1,687.90 from Friday’s close of 1,712.65. The market bellwether opened 10.57 points weaker at 1,702.08 and fluctuated between 1,682.79 and 1,702.38. The broader market was bearish, with decliners thumping advancers 956 to 371. A total of 373 counters were unchanged, 1,042 untraded and 134 suspended. Turnover expanded to 3.98 billion units worth RM4.85 billion from last Friday’s 2.97 billion units worth RM3.25 billion.
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 2): The FBM KLCI dropped 0.8 point to end at 1,754.78 points while the ringgit weakened against the US dollar as foreign selling continued on US interest rate hike bets.
Telekom Malaysia Bhd and British American Tobacco (M) Bhd share losses dragged down the KLCI as both KLCI-linked stocks fell among Bursa Malaysia major decliners.
Across Bursa Malaysia, there were 501 decliners versus 276 advancers. A total of 2.23 billion shares worth RM1.74 billion were traded.
“The weakness of the KLCI is due to the renewed foreign fund outflow and the market will continue to trend in a negative way in a couple of days due to the lack of fresh leads,” Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd senior analyst Kenneth Leong told theedgemarkets.com.
The KLCI posted losses for the 10th consecutive trading session today.
Earlier today, TA Securities Holdings Bhd wrote in a note that "as technical indicators for the local benchmark index turn more bearish following the sell-off for the past nine consecutive trading days (ended last Friday), sentiment is likely to stay weak, dampened by the deleveraging of the US government's balance sheet which strengthens the outlook for rising US interest rates ahead, hence encouraging foreign portfolio outflows back to developed markets."
Such sentiment has weakened the ringgit. At the time of writing, the ringgit had depreciated to 4.2343 against the US dollar.
The ringgit has weakened against the US dollar from 4.1888 on Sept 18 this year.
Source: The Edge
Comments
Post a Comment