KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed higher, buoyed by Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) decision to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75 per cent, alongside positive cues from Wall Street. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 19.30 points, or 1.19 per cent, to 1,635.86 from Wednesday’s close of 1,616.56. The benchmark index opened 6.72 points higher at 1,623.28, and fluctuated between an intraday high of 1,642.44 and a low of 1,622.62 during the trading session. However, market breadth was negative, with losers outnumbering gainers 723 to 497, while 466 counters were unchanged, 1,075 untraded and 10 suspended. Turnover rose to 3.74 billion units valued at RM3.61 billion compared with yesterday’s 2.81 billion units valued at RM2.57 billion.
Hup Seng Industries Bhd's (KL ) shares surged after the company reported record quarterly profits and announced a special dividend. The biscuit maker's stock rose 9.1% to RM1.20 at its peak before settling at RM1.16, valuing the company at RM928 million with 1.7 million shares traded by 9:15 am. BIMB Securities upgraded Hup Seng to a “buy” with a target price of RM1.36, following stronger-than-expected quarterly results. The firm cited Hup Seng’s enhanced production capabilities and solid market positioning as key growth drivers. Earnings projections for FY2024F, FY2025F, and FY2026F were raised by 26.9%, 28.4%, and 30.1%, respectively, driven by an anticipated rise in sales from increased production and market reach. Festive season demand is expected to further boost sales momentum, BIMB noted. However, they cautioned about potential margin pressures due to rising palm oil costs.