KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia stayed higher at midday on continued buying activities in selected financial services, and consumer products and services sectors.
Maybank added 24 sen to RM12.24, Public Bank gained 6.0 sen to RM5.17, and Sime Darby put on 10 sen to RM2.30. These counters lifted the composite index by a combined 8.26 points.
At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 8.19 points to 1,755.73, from Tuesday’s close of 1,747.54.
The index opened 3.69 points higher at 1,751.23 and moved within a range of 1,745.51 and 1,755.73 during the morning trading session.
Market breadth was positive with 487 advancers edging past 415 decliners. Another 510 counters were unchanged, 1,273 untraded, and 11 were suspended.
Turnover totalled 1.32 billion units valued at RM1.30 billion.
Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd, in a research note today, said given the stronger ringgit at the close yesterday and the upcoming Chinese New Year, the brokerage firm believes the trading environment favours consumer stocks like Padini Holdings Bhd
in the near term, while Bermaz Auto Bhd and Betamek Bhd could benefit.
"We favour Hartanah Kenyalang Bhd following its recent share price pullback, as the Sarawak-based builder continues to secure contracts, including a record RM275 million Sibu prison award, lifting its total order book to RM567.7 million.
"Another Sarawak play, Reachten Holdings Bhd, saw growing buying interest, signalling a potential bottom or accumulation phase,” it said.
It said moving forward, the investment theme should remain focused on domestic-centric counters, driven by a strengthening ringgit (yesterday) and Visit Malaysia 2026.
Among other heavyweights, Press Metal Aluminium gained 7.0 sen to RM7.67, CIMB and Petronas Chemicals perked up 5.0 sen each to RM8.60 and RM3.32, respectively, while MISC gave up 11 sen to RM7.99, and CelcomDigi eased 4.0 sen to RM3.19.
On the most active list, Pharmaniaga and Tanco added 1.0 sen each to 31.5 sen and RM1.38, respectively. Zetrix AI gained 2.0 sen to 80.5 sen, while Velesto Energy and Borneo Oil were flat at 31 sen and 1.0 sen, respectively.
Of the top gainers, Hong Leong Industries was 72 sen firmer at RM18.16, Maybank rose 24 sen to RM12.24, Sunway Construction Group improved 22 sen to RM6.33, KSL widened 20 sen to RM3.25, and Boustead Heavy Industries was up 13.5 sen at 45 sen.
As for the leading decliners, Malaysian Pacific Industries was RM1.22 lower at RM30.98, BLD Plantation down 64 sen to RM14.90, Fraser & Neave lost 46 sen to RM32.72, Allianz Malaysia declined 30 sen to RM22.76, and Kuala Lumpur Kepong slid 20 sen to RM19.70.
On the index board, the FBM Top 100 Index rose 51.82 points to 12,650.51, the FBM Emas Index gained 50.73 points to 12,822.30, the FBM Emas Shariah Index was 12.79 points higher at 12,243.06, the FBM Mid 70 Index perked up 39.38 points to 17,548.79, and the FBM ACE Index went up 8.44 points to 4,757.20.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index jumped 158.04 points to 21,870.13, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.67 of-a-point to 175.98, the Energy Index advanced 1.76 points to 745.55, while the Plantation Index shed 0.79 of-a-point to 8,382.31. - Bernama
