KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended lower on Wednesday, as elevated United States (US) Treasury yields and weakness in technology stocks weighed on investor sentiment, an analyst said. However, gains in healthcare and telecommunications stocks provided some support to the broader local market. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 2.04 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 1,731.32 compared with Tuesday’s close of 1,733.36. The benchmark index opened 1.39 points weaker at 1,731.97, and fluctuated between 1,725.95 and 1,733.44 throughout the day. On the broader market, losers outpaced gainers 701 to 478, while 563 counters were unchanged, 1,131 untraded and 16 suspended. Turnover shrank to 3.31 billion units valued at RM2.92 billion from 3.74 billion units valued at RM2.91 billion on Tuesday.
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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