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 (Aug 30): The FBM KLCI closed slightly lower today on profit taking in some index-related counters ahead of the National Day holiday tomorrow and due to disappointing earnings.
The KLCI closed 0.05% or 0.98 point lower at 1,819.66.
A look at the market breath saw the decliners leading gainers by 685 to 299, while 350 counters traded unchanged. A total of 2.63 billion shares worth RM2.96 billion changed hands in the open market.
Top gainers included British American Tobacco (M) Bhd, while Supermax Corp Bhd led decliners. Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd was the day's most active counter.
Hong Leong Investment Bank's head of retail research Loui Low said the KLCI was impacted by profit-taking activities in selected counters.
"There is also a sharp selldown in the broader market as earnings results have been mixed with a slight bias towards negative," Low said, citing Telekom Malaysia Bhd as an example.
He added that the selling pressure in the broader market has been ongoing for a while.
On the regional front, Japan's Nikkei 225 was up by 0.09% or 21.28 points to 22,869.50. The MSCI Asia Apex 50 was, however, lower by 0.18% or 2.29 points to 1,272.22.
Reuters reported that the Nikkei eked out small gains after touching a more than three-month high today as positive developments in trade negotiations underpinned sentiment, but investors wasted no time taking profits from the gains in late trade.
Source: The Edge
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