KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Bursa Malaysia opened lower on Monday morning as investors engaged in profit-taking following recent gains across previous trading sessions.
At 9:04 am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slid 2.45 points to 1,724.94 compared to last Friday’s closing figure of 1,727.39. The benchmark index had initially opened slightly higher, gaining 0.45 of a point to 1,726.94.
Despite the dip in the main index, market breadth remained positive, with gainers outpacing losers 149 to 133, while 348 counters remained unchanged, 2,215 untraded, and 27 suspended. Total market turnover stood at 135.93 million shares valued at RM60.92 million.
In a market commentary today, research house Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd noted that investors are grappling with mixed macroeconomic signals, balancing weak US retail sales figures against expectations of potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
“We also noticed market undertone has turned cautious, hence, expect the index to veer within the 1,725-1,735 range today,” Rakuten Trade stated.
Among heavyweights, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) and Public Bank Bhd held flat at RM10.60 and RM5.13, respectively. IHH Healthcare Bhd gained four sen to RM8.24, while CIMB Group Holdings Bhd dropped 10 sen to RM7.85 and Tenaga Nasional Bhd shed six sen to RM14.42.
On the active list, JAKS Resources Bhd added one sen to 11.5 sen. Oppstar Bhd, ES Sunlogy Bhd, and 3REN Bhd each rose by 1.5 sen to 75 sen, 41.5 sen, and 45 sen, respectively, while YGL Convergence Bhd picked up half a sen to 13.5 sen.
Top gainers included Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, which surged 10 sen to RM47.60, and MISC Bhd, which advanced eight sen to RM8.18. Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd rose five sen to RM4.55, while UWC Bhd and Frontken Corporation Bhd both added four sen to close early trades at RM6.74 and RM5.29, respectively.
Conversely, top decliners included Petronas Gas Bhd, which retreated 12 sen to RM17.30, and Riverview Rubber Estates Bhd, which fell 11 sen to RM2.97. APM Automotive Holdings Bhd, RHB Bank Bhd, and Stratus Global Holdings Bhd each slipped five sen to RM2.76, RM8.60, and RM2.85, respectively.
Across broader indices, performance was mixed. The FBM ACE Index added 9.17 points to 5,303.95, and the FBM 70 Index climbed 36.82 points to 18,330.01. The FBM Emas Shariah Index rose 10.71 points to 12,639.94, whereas the FBM Emas Index dipped 6.87 points to 12,808.57 and the FBMT 100 Index shed 6.91 points to 12,619.35.
Sector-wise, the Plantation Index gained 10.97 points to 9,338.38 and the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.41 of a point to 187.64. However, the Energy Index slipped 2.17 points to 777.29, while the Financial Services Index dropped 59.33 points to 20,276.70.
–NMT
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