KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended broadly lower on Wednesday, tracking declines across regional markets, with South Korea posting one of the sharpest drops as investors reacted to widening geopolitical fallout. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 13.73 points, or 0.80 per cent, to 1,698.22 from Tuesday’s close of 1,711.95. The benchmark index opened 0.52 of-a-point weaker at 1,711.43 and moved between 1,694.75 and 1,713.19 throughout the session. Market breadth was negative, with 945 losers trouncing 257 gainers, while 446 counters were unchanged, 974 untraded and 10 suspended. Turnover rose to 3.51 billion units worth RM3.79 billion from 3.31 billion units valued at RM3.67 billion on Tuesday.
Malaysia’s equity market closed lower on Wednesday as selling pressure in banking and utility stocks weighed on the benchmark index.
The FBM KLCI declined 0.80% to 1,698.22, slipping below the psychological 1,700 level, while broader market indices also weakened.
Mid- and small-cap stocks saw heavier losses:
FBM 70: 17,154.26 (-1.17%)
FBM Small Cap: 15,416.70 (-1.60%)
FBM Emas Index: 12,434.47 (-0.94%)
The decline suggests risk sentiment remains cautious, with investors trimming positions after recent market gains.
KLCI Movers
Top Gainers
PPB Group led the benchmark gainers.
| Stock | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| PPB | RM10.90 | +2.83% |
| Sunway | RM5.63 | +1.44% |
| Press Metal | RM7.40 | +0.82% |
| MR DIY | RM1.72 | +0.58% |
| IOI Corp | RM3.92 | +0.51% |
PPB’s rise helped cushion losses in the broader index, while gains in property and plantation stocks provided limited support.
Top Losers
Selling pressure was concentrated in utilities and consumer names.
| Stock | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| YTL | RM1.69 | -5.59% |
| YTL Power | RM2.67 | -4.64% |
| 99 Speedmart | RM3.44 | -3.10% |
| KLK | RM18.60 | -1.59% |
| Tenaga Nasional | RM14.16 | -1.53% |
The sharp drop in YTL and YTL Power was the largest drag on the benchmark index.
FBM 70 Movers
Top Gainers
Mid-cap energy stocks saw strong gains.
| Stock | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Hengyuan Refining | RM1.54 | +14.07% |
| United Plantations | RM30.20 | +2.03% |
| MRCB | RM0.305 | +1.67% |
| Hibiscus Petroleum | RM2.00 | +1.52% |
| CTOS Digital | RM0.765 | +0.66% |
The rally in Hengyuan suggests renewed interest in energy stocks, possibly linked to rising global oil prices.
Top Losers
| Stock | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Bumi Armada | RM0.355 | -6.58% |
| YTL Corp | RM1.69 | -5.59% |
| VS Industry | RM0.32 | -4.48% |
| SKP Resources | RM0.44 | -4.35% |
| Heineken Malaysia | RM22.80 | -3.80% |
Weakness in technology manufacturing and offshore energy stocks dragged the FBM 70 lower.
Malaysia REITs Movers
Top Gainers
| REIT | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Plintar REIT | RM0.98 | +1.03% |
| Alaqar Healthcare REIT | RM1.28 | +0.79% |
| Atrium REIT | RM1.38 | +0.73% |
| KLCC REIT | RM9.20 | +0.11% |
| Al-Salam REIT | RM0.465 | 0.00% |
Top Losers
| REIT | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| IGB Commercial REIT | RM0.615 | -3.15% |
| Axis REIT | RM0.315 | -3.08% |
| UOA REIT | RM0.85 | -2.86% |
| Sunway REIT | RM2.45 | -2.00% |
| AmFirst REIT | RM1.69 | -1.74% |
REITs traded mostly lower as investors remained cautious ahead of interest rate signals.
Most Active Stocks
Trading activity was concentrated in banking and energy names.
| Stock | Turnover | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maybank | RM459.7M | RM11.66 | -1.52% |
| CIMB | RM263.4M | RM7.95 | -0.87% |
| Press Metal | RM121.6M | RM7.40 | +0.82% |
| Public Bank | RM121.6M | RM4.84 | -1.02% |
| Tenaga Nasional | RM118.3M | RM14.16 | -1.53% |
The high trading volume suggests institutional repositioning in banking stocks.
Market Interpretation
Wednesday’s decline reflects profit-taking and cautious positioning by investors.
Key themes influencing sentiment include:
Global market volatility
Energy price uncertainty
Interest rate expectations
Despite the pullback, the benchmark index remains close to the 1,700 level, indicating that investor sentiment has not deteriorated significantly.
Investor Takeaways
• KLCI slipped below 1,700, ending the session at 1,698.22 (-0.80%)
• YTL and YTL Power were the biggest drags on the index
• PPB emerged as the top KLCI gainer (+2.83%)
• Energy stocks like Hengyuan surged, reflecting interest in the oil sector
• Bank stocks dominated trading volume, suggesting institutional repositioning
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