KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI and ringgit fell in early trade Thursday as investors digested the supersized Federal Reserve hike and forecast more hikes ahead.
At 9.04am, the benchmark index fell 6.24 points, or 0.43% to 1,440.94. The index opened 2.31 points lower at 1,444.87.
The Federal Reserve raised rates by 75 basis points for the third time to a 3.00-3.25% range and forecasts more sizable rate hikes ahead in its fight to tame surging inflation.
Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 522.45 points, or 1.7%, to close at 30,183.78. The S&P 500 shed 1.71% to 3,789.93, and the Nasdaq Composite slumped 1.79% to 11,220.19.
The ringgit was marginally lower at 4.5685 against the US dollar, compared to its previous close of 4.5535.
TA Securities said persisting fears over the negative economic impact from the aggressive tightening campaign by the US Federal Reserve to cool inflation should continue to dampen sentiment in the near term.
“Better index support is at 1,430, with the July low of 1,408 acting as stronger support preventing a further selloff to next crucial support at 1,394.
“Immediate overhead index resistance will be from 1,480, then 1,500, followed by 1,512, with significant resistance from the August high near 1,528, and subsequently 1,540,” it said.
Meanwhile, Rakuten Trade reckoned regional volatility to heighten amid the weakness in the US market.
Therefore, they expect the index to trend within the 1,440-1,455 range and foresee some selling on the oil and gas stocks as the Brent crude dipped to below the US$90 per barrel following the rate hike overnight.
Among the losers on Bursa Malaysia, Nestle eased 30 sen to RM129.70, Panasonic Manufacturing
fell 30 sen to RM24, Batu Kawan declined 28 sen to RM21.52 and Hong Leong Bank lost 14 sen to RM20.66.
PETRONAS Gas added 14 sen to RM16.54, PIE gained 10 sen to RM2.99, Aurelius Technologies climbed five sen to RM1.80 and Maxis rose four sen to RM3.72.
