Stock market data showed foreign funds were net buyers at RM123.1mil but local institutions were net sellers at -RM113.45mil and retail investors net sellers also at -RM9.65mil.
The ringgit firmed up against the US dollar at 4.2292 from 4.2382 the previous day. It was also stronger against the pound sterling at 6.4837 from 6.5167 while against the Singapore dollar, it was at 3.0340 from 3.0469.
Reuters reported the US dollar edged down from a 2-1/2-month high versus a basket of major currencies, although an increase in risk appetite in the wake of a new round of monetary easing from China limited the greenback's losses.
Global stock markets rallied after China on Friday cut rates for the fifth time this year, just a day after the European Central Bank signalled that it was ready to increase the scale of its stimulus measures.
At Bursa Malaysia, DiGi fell 10 sen to RM5.53 and erased 1.33 points from the KLCI after it posted a softer set of earnings for the third quarter ended Sept 30. Maxis lost five sen to RM6.70 while TM was down four sen to RM6.77 and Axiata shed two sen to RM6.32.
US light crude oil rose 26 cents to US$44.86 and Brent added 25 cents to US$48.24. Petronas Gas was down 32 sen to RM23.28 and wiped out 1.08 points, Petronas Chemicals fell eight sen to RM6.38 and Petronas Dagangan two sen to RM23.28.
Tenaga lost four sen to RM12.76, Genting Bhd
three sen to RM7.48 but Genting Malaysia gained three sen to RM4.43 and MISC added four sen to RM9.09.
Crude palm oil for third month delivery fell RM34 to RM2,294 per tonne. IOI Corp rose 12 sen to RM4.46 and it added 1.33 points to the KLCI but United Plantations lost 40 sen to RM26.40, KL Kepong 16 sen to RM23.16 and PPB Group fell four sen to RM15.86.
XOX’s recent share price surge saw it being queried by Bursa Securities. It fell 0.5 sen to 22.5 sen in active trade.
Maxis were mostly lower, with Hong Leong Bank down six sen to RM14.14, Public Bank lost four sen to RM18.60, Maybank lost two sen to RM8.57, CIMB was down one sen to RM4.90 and RHB Cap was flat at RM6.23.
However, on a more positive note, Sarawak-based CMSB added 17 sen to RM5.30 while Kawan gained 17 sen to RM2.82 and Apex Healthcare gained 16 sen to RM3.90.
Among the key regional markets,
Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.65% to 18,947.12;
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.15% to 23,116.25;
Shanghai’s Composite Index fell 0.5% to 3,429.58;
Taiwan’s Taiex ros e0.82% to 8,745.36;
South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.38% to 2,048.08;
Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.52% to 3,084.49.
Spot gold rose 69 cents to US$1,165.15.
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