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.
Thailand's manufacturing production index (MPI) rose by 1.79% in July from a year earlier, marking its first increase in three months, according to the country's industry ministry. This growth surpassed a forecasted 0.7% decline predicted by a Reuters poll, signaling a potential recovery for the sector. The rise was attributed to stronger exports, increased tourism, and higher public spending. Key Takeaways: Positive Turn in Factory Output : The July MPI showed a 1.79% increase, a reversal from a 1.63% decline in June, indicating a recovery in Thailand's manufacturing sector. The deputy director general of the Office of Industrial Economics, Krit Chansuwan, expressed optimism, expecting further growth in August based on higher import levels, which is a positive sign for future manufacturing and exports. Boost from Exports and Tourism : Thailand's export sector saw a notable improvement, with a 15.2% rise in July compared to the previous year, marking the biggest increas...