KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed lower on Friday as buying interest shifted from index heavyweights to smaller-cap technology and telecommunications stocks as well as real estate investment trusts (REITs). At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 15.94 points, or 0.98 per cent, to 1,607.76 from Thursday’s close of 1,623.70. The benchmark index, which opened 1.13 points higher at 1,624.83, moved between 1,602.98 and 1,626.34 throughout the session. On the broader market, gainers outnumbered decliners 597 to 470, while 518 counters were unchanged, 1,258 untraded and 33 suspended. Turnover rose 3.13 billion units worth RM3.27 billion from 3.06 billion units worth RM3.03 billion on Thursday.
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 10): The FBM KLCI dropped 4.53 points or 0.26% today, taking a weak lead from the overnight lower closing on Wall Street following possible delays in its corporate tax cuts.
The benchmark index opened at 1,746.53 points this morning, and was trading between 1,740.94 and 1,748.94 points, before it ended the week at 1,742.28 points.
Inter-Pacific Securities head of research Pong Teng Siew told theedgemarkets that the KLCI traded between small gains and small losses today, mainly because investors were worried over the prospect of the landmark US tax bill which may be delayed until 2019.
“Uncertainties around the US tax plans was a huge trigger for its market, the US market was down last night and it is not surprising that we are experiencing some spillover negative effects,” he said.
Pong also noted some abnormalities on Bursa Malaysia today, as the strengthening of the ringgit against the US dollar to levels just below 4.20 sent export-oriented stocks upwards instead.
Across the board 3.11 billion shares worth RM2.14 billion were traded today. Decliners outpaced gainers at 503 stocks to 342 respectively.
The most actively-traded stocks today were Sumatec Resources Bhd, Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd, Malayan United Industries Bhd and Key Asic Bhd.
Stocks ending in negative territory were led by Kim Loong Resources Bhd, MISC Bhd, Genetec Technology Bhd, and Malayan Smelting Corp Bhd; whereas top gainers were export-oriented KESM Industries Bhd, Hartalega Holdings Bhd and Vitrox Corp Bhd.
Looking to major bourses, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 lost 0.82% or 187.29 points at 22,681.42 points while South Korea’s Kospi ended 7.62 points or 0.30% down at 2,542.95 points.
Source: The Edge

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