KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed lower on Friday amid mixed regional market performance as investors turned cautious over a possible rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and upcoming US economic data that may influence the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate decision next week. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) pared most earlier losses to settle 4.55 points easier, or 0.28 per cent, to 1,616.52 from Thursday’s close of 1,621.07. The benchmark index, which opened 0.37 of-a-point lower at 1,620.70, moved between 1,609.67 and 1,621.25 throughout the day. The broader market was negative, with decliners outpacing advancers 604 to 439. A total of 550 counters were unchanged, 1,151 untraded, and 18 suspended. Turnover declined to 3.17 billion units worth RM2.24 billion from 4.48 billion units worth RM2.75 billion yesterday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-presiden...
Earnings Boost Sends Stock Higher
British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd (BAT Malaysia) saw its shares surge on Tuesday after reporting a strong second-quarter performance. The stock climbed as much as 10.5% to RM5.05 during morning trade before closing 7% higher at RM4.89, valuing the company at RM1.4 billion.
Profit Up Despite Lower Sales
For the quarter ended June 30, 2025, BAT Malaysia’s net profit rose over 40% to RM50.95 million, compared with RM36.28 million a year earlier. The gain came despite a 2.45% drop in revenue to RM624.75 million, as lower operating costs — driven by its exit from vapour product Vuse — offset the decline in sales.
The company declared a second interim dividend of 12 sen per share, totalling RM34.26 million, payable on September 4.
Regulatory Changes Loom
The government has announced plans to impose a full ban on open-system vape products, citing concerns over illicit substances and product tampering. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the proposal is under review, with assessments underway on legal and industry impacts, as well as government revenue considerations.
Open-system vapes allow users to manually refill liquid tanks, unlike closed-system devices with pre-filled cartridges.
Stock Still Down for the Year
Despite the sharp rise, BAT Malaysia’s shares remain down over 33% year-to-date, reflecting weaker overall sales performance amid regulatory uncertainties and shifting consumer trends.
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