KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index ended the day broadly lower, driven primarily by selling in construction and banking sectors, while healthcare stocks saw some buying interest, an analyst said. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd’s vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) finished in the red due to a lack of buying catalysts. He noted that key regional indices settled mixed as investor sentiment was influenced by rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. At 5 pm, the FBM KLCI weakened by 10.15 points, or 0.66 per cent, to 1,517.66 from Monday’s close of 1,527.81. The benchmark index opened 14.52 points lower at 1,513.29 and moved between 1,512.21 and 1,523.39 throughout the day.
Market Snapshot
- Singapore shares opened higher Friday with the FTSE Straits Times Index (STI) up 0.35% to 3,752.14 at 9:02 am.
- Trading saw 67 advancers and 25 decliners, with 41.66M securities valued at S$41.39M exchanged.
Key Headlines
- 2024 Growth Upgraded: Singapore's 2024 economic growth forecast increased to 3.5%, reflecting strong Q3 performance. 2025 growth set at 1-3%.
- Export Forecasts Adjusted: Non-oil domestic exports (NODX) for 2024 revised downward, with modest growth of 1% expected due to sluggish recovery in pharmaceuticals and shipbuilding.
Stocks to Watch
Thai Beverage (Y92.SG)
- Profit Dip: ThaiBev reported a 1% drop in net profit for the fiscal year, ending at 27.2 billion baht (S$1.1 billion) due to rising living costs affecting domestic sales.
- Stock Performance: Shares declined 1% to S$0.515 on Thursday.
BRC Asia (BEC.SG)
- Profit Boost Despite Revenue Drop: Net profit rose 11% to S$55 million, while revenue fell 21% to S$723.1 million, driven by lower steel prices and reduced international demand.
- Stock Movement: Shares closed 0.8% higher at S$2.39 on Thursday.
TSH Resources (TSH.SG)
- Profit Growth Amid Revenue Decline: Third-quarter net profit increased 12% to RM33.1 million (S$10 million), with a 22% revenue drop to RM231.9 million, largely due to weaker palm product earnings.
- Stock Reaction: Shares gained 2.9%, closing at S$0.355.
Lum Chang (L19.SG)
- Catalist Listing for Subsidiary: Plans to list Lum Chang Interior (LCI) aim to boost its market visibility and growth.
- Stock Status: Shares remained unchanged at S$0.305 on Thursday.
Insights
- Economic Growth: Revised forecasts highlight Singapore's robust performance but also acknowledge challenges in specific export-driven sectors.
- Corporate Moves: Companies like Lum Chang and ThaiBev are focusing on strategic adaptations to maintain growth in challenging conditions.
Keep an eye on the evolving market dynamics and corporate announcements for more opportunities.
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