KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended lower on Monday as investors took profit ahead of Bank Negara’s overnight policy rate (OPR) decision on Wednesday.
At 5pm, the FBM KLCI closed down 12.22 points, or 0.84% to 1,437.52, its intraday low.
Market breadth turned negative as losers overpowered the gainers on a ratio of 657-to-220 stocks. About 1.74 billion shares, valued at RM1.08bil, changed hands.
According to a Bloomberg survey, four economists expect a 25 basis points rate hike to 2.25% while one analyst expects the Bank Negara to stay on hold.
The central bank has signalled a more positive view on Malaysia’s economy amid signs of firmer economic growth which is supported by the easing of restrictions and reopening of international borders.
On Bursa Malaysia, Nestle tumbled RM1.90 to RM132.70, MPI fell 54 sen to RM27.40, PPB shed 32 sen to RM15.54 and Aeon Credit
eased 28 sen to RM13.62.
Amlex, which emerged as the top gainer on Bursa Malaysia, hit limit up. The manufacturing solutions provider surged 81.08%, or 30 sen to 67 sen with 2,600 shares traded.
Among the banks, Maybank fell two sen to RM8.60, Public Bank lost three sen to RM4.39, CIMB unchanged at RM5.03, RHB Bank declined two sen to RM5.71 and Hong Leong Bank jumped 12 sen to RM20.48.
Elsewhere in the region, Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed up 0.84%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.13%, South Korea’s Kospi closed down 0.22%, China’s CSI300 added 0.66% and Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.8%.
