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.
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): The FBM KLCI climbed 2.32 points or 0.1% after Petronas Gas Bhd's share price spiked in the final trading minutes. The ringgit strengthened to a new one-year level against the US dollar at 4.1390.
At 5pm, the KLCI closed at 1,720.68 points. KLCI-linked Petronas Gas added 48 sen to RM17.14 to become Bursa Malaysia's top gainer.
Across Bursa Malaysia, decliners led gainers by 640 against 231 respectively. A total of 2.27 billion shares valued at RM2.37 billion exchanged hands.
Inter-Pacific Securities Sdn Bhd head of research Pong Teng Siew said that market breadth across Bursa Malaysia was still rather negative as corporate earnings growth failed to attract investors.
“It’s a continuity of trends," Pong told theedgemarkets.com.
In currency markets, the ringgit was traded at 4.1400 against the US dollar at 5:40pm. The ringgit had earlier today appreciated to its strongest level in a year against the US dollar at 4.1390.
The exchange rate today was between 4.1390 and 4.1533. Over the last one year, the exchange rate was between 4.1390 and 4.5002. Asian shares rose today. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.7% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbed 1.91%.
Reuters reported that Asian stocks rose to a 10-year high on Tuesday as investors took heart from further evidence of strength in the global economy, while the dollar hovered near a one-week high against its peers, thanks to higher US yields and a floundering euro.
Source: The Edge

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