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 (Jan 5): The FBM KLCI closed 14.52 points or 0.8% higher as anticipation of Malaysia's 14th general election (GE14) in 2018 and a stronger ringgit drove investors’ sentiment.
At 5pm, the KLCI closed at its intraday high of 1,817.97 points.
In currency markets, the ringgit appreciated to 3.9975 against the US dollar at 5:50pm after trading between 3.9887 and 4.0055 today.
“The (stock market) rally is expected to firm up towards GE14 and people are buying on stronger ringgit," Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd retail research analyst Loui Low Ley Yee told theedgemarkets.com.
Low said Malaysian shares' "near-term performance depends on corporate results (announcements) in February." He said "if earnings are weak, there might be a (stock market) consolidation.”
Across Bursa Malaysia today, trading volume was 5.84 billion shares worth RM3.94 billion.
Notable gainers included Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, UMW Holdings Bhd and Axiata Group Bhd.
Sapura Energy Bhd was the most-actively traded counte with some 332 million shares transacted. Sapura Energy rose 9.5 sen to 81 sen.
Source: The Edge

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