Stock market data showed foreign funds were net buyers at RM43.74mil while local institutions emerged with net buying at RM3.59mil. However, local retailers decided to take profit, with net selling at RM47.33mil.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported the US dollar wallowed near its lowest levels since early December on Tuesday, kept under pressure by concerns that
US President Donald Trump was focusing more on protectionism and less on pro-growth economic policies.
While the ringgit closed higher against the US dollar, in line with the performance of Asian currencies, it weakened against the key currencies.
At 6pm, the ringgit was traded at 4.4330/4370 against the greenback from Monday's close of 4.4360/4400, according to Bernama.
The ringgit fell against the Singapore dollar to 3.1240/1273 from 3.1224/1259 on Monday and eased against the yen to 3.9143/9182 from 3.9039/9078.
The ringgit fell against the British pound to 5.5302/5369 from 5.5219/5287 and declined against the euro to 4.7606/7653 from 4.7572/7632.
Hong Kong stocks rose on Tuesday, led by a solid resources sector as a weaker US currency stemming from Trump's protectionist stance reduces costs to firms for raw materials imports. The benchmark Hang Seng index added 0.2%, to 22,949.86, while the Hong Kong China Enterprises Index gained 0.3%, to 9,759.26.
At Bursa, BAT was the top gainer, up RM1.96 to RM46.38 while PPB Group gained 24 sen to RM16.34 and IHH Healthcare was up 11 sen to RM6.42.
Axiata climbed 12 sen to RM4.84. BNP Paribas recently upgraded Axiata to a Buy with a target price of RM5.59 while Credit Suisse maintained its Neutral with a target price of RM5.
KESM jumped 22 sen to RM10.26 as analysts expected a strong pick-up in the technology sector.
CIMB was among the most active stocks, adding four sen to RM4.92.
AirAsia added five sen to RM2.49 after it refuted reports linking it to a Rolls-Royce plc bribery case. The low-cost carrier said it has had no dealings or transactions with the United Kingdom engine maker.
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