FBM KLCI Trades Flat In Muted Early Session Amid Catalyst Deficit

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22  – Trading on Bursa Malaysia opened muted on Thursday, October 22, 2026, as investor activity remained subdued due to a lack of fresh market-moving catalysts.

At 9:15 AM, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) edged up 2.25 points, or 0.14 per cent, to trade at 1,604.52 compared to Wednesday’s close of 1,602.27.

The index had opened 2.49 points higher at 1,604.76 during early morning matching.

Market breadth in early trade was narrowly positive, with advancers edging decliners 188 to 161, while 266 counters traded unchanged, 2,285 remained untraded, and 18 were suspended. Total turnover stood at 202.13 million units valued at RM75.98 million.

Early Heavyweight Movements and Sectoral Performance

Trading activity across major blue-chip stocks and sector indices included:

• Heavyweight Financials & Utilities: Maybank gained three sen to RM9.98, Public Bank added two sen to RM4.75, and CIMB edged up one sen to RM7.15. IHH Healthcare held flat at RM7.94, while YTL Power slipped one sen to RM5.33.
• Top Market Gainers: UWC led the gainers, advancing 12 sen to RM7.42, while Vitrox and Westports jumped 10 sen each to RM10.78 and RM6.87, respectively. MISC recovered seven sen to trade at RM8.37.
• Top Market Decliners: Kim Loong fell eight sen to RM2.47, PPB Group slipped five sen to RM8.55, while Binastra and Southern Steel both lost four sen to RM2.76 and 42 sen, respectively.
• Active Counters: ACE Market debutant RedPlanet surged eight sen to 27 sen, JAKS Resources added half a sen to 17.5 sen, Zetrix AI held flat at five sen, and Ni Hsin dropped half a sen to 47 sen.
• Sectoral & Broad Indices: The Financial Services Index gained 30.22 points to 18,638.91, the Plantation Index added 9.57 points to 8,629.69, and the Energy Index edged up 0.38 points to 821.61. The FBM Emas Index rose 12.68 points to 11,968.54, while the FBM Mid 70 Index dipped 3.23 points to 17,208.37.

–NMT