KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index rebounded from earlier losses to close at its intraday high on Wednesday, gaining 0.27 per cent in late trading as buying interest returned to selected heavyweights. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) advanced 4.48 points to 1,676.83 from Tuesday’s close of 1,672.35. The benchmark index opened 0.88 of-a-point lower at 1,671.47 and subsequently hit a low of 1,665.94 during the mid-morning session before gaining momentum toward closing. On the broader market, losers led gainers by 565 to 512, while some 526 counters were unchanged, 1,046 untraded, and 10 suspended. Turnover improved to 2.73 billion units worth RM2.76 billion versus Tuesday’s 2.66 billion units worth RM2.76 billion. Dealers said that investors were cautious following geopolitical developments in Asia.
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 9): Taking cue from the weak regional sentiment, the FBM KLCI dropped 13.33 points or 0.77% at the closing bell today, to end the week at 1,708.09 points.
The fall is smaller relative to other markets in the region. Across Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped 1.05%, South Korea's Kospi fell 0.31% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down 2.39%.
The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Thursday but investors did not breathe a sigh of relief simply because of the lingering concern another rate hike is possible as the American economy continues to show healthy growth, according to analysts.
Reuters reported that Asian stocks pulled back from a one-month high on Friday as the US Federal Reserve looked set to deliver another interest rate hike next month, paring gains made earlier this week after US midterm elections triggered a global equities rally.
On Bursa Malaysia, some 1.65 billion shares, worth RM1.81 billion, changed hands. Share prices were mostly lower, with losers leading gainers by 567 to 244, while 339 counters remained unchanged.
On a weekly basis, the benchmark index was down by 5.78 points or 0.34%.
“We are seeing a renewed volatility on the FBM KLCI alongside the weakness of the regional stock markets due to the fresh concern over the potential interest hike in US after the US Federal Reserve announced a hawkish tone on the interest rate direction,” Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd senior analyst Kenneth Leong told theedgemarkets.com.
He added that the weak China’s producer price index in October, which only expanded about 3.3%, its weakest reading since March this year, had also caused the negative sentiment.
Among the KLCI components, Leong said 24 out of the 30 component stocks were weighing down on the index, which is led by the decline in MISC Bhd that snapped its seven consecutive trading days' winning streak.
Shares of MISC dipped 52 sen or 7.5% at RM6.45 today, valuing it at RM28.79 billion.
Source: The Edge
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