KUALA LUMPUR: The benchmark FBM KLCI ended easier on Thursday in range-bound trading as investors took some profits off the table.
At 5pm, the 30-stock index was down 0.35 of-a-point to 1,785.57. The market traded within a range of 5.89 points between an intra-day high of 1789.02 and a low of 1,783.13 during the session.
In the broader market, decliners outnumbered gainers with 419 counters ending higher, 459 closing lower and 389 counters remaining unchanged. Volume declined to 1.97 billion units, valued at RM2.17bil against the 2.36 billion units, valued at RM2.36bil, recorded yesterday.
Dealers said market sentiment was muted as investor awaited the UK election. They said all eyes now were on the UK elections, European Central Bank monetary policy decision and former FBI director James Comey’s speech, all of which were likely to spur massive volatility across the financial markets.
Trading was timid on the major FTSE 100 benchmark, which was up 0.1% by 0900 GMT ahead of results from Britain’s parliamentary elections and a rate decision by the European Central Bank.
On Bursa Malaysia, the top loser was United Plantations that fell 44 sen to RM28. Bursa Malaysia lost 26 sen to RM10.44 while Tasek fell 20 sen to RM12.80.
Hartalega
surged the most in more than three years. The glovemaker, which was the top gainer of the day, added 53 sen, or 8.13% to RM7, its highest in at least a year.
Allianz-PA rose 48 sen to RM12.68 and JF Technology was 40 sen higher at RM1.83.
Among heavyweights, CIMB Group closed 4 sen lower to RM6.67, Hong Leong Bank declined 18 sen to RM15.22, Genting Bhd fell 6 sen to RM9.75 and Tenaga Nasional Bhd shed 2 sen to RM14.18.
Elsewhere in the region, Asian shares closed mostly higher with Hang Seng increased 0.34% to 26,063.06 points, Nikkei 225 fell 0.38% to 19,909.26, Shanghai Composite was up by 0.32% to 3,150.33, South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.15% to 2,363.57, Taiwan Taiex gained 0.15% to 10,225.78 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.2% to 3,237.05.
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