KUALA LUMPUR: Late buying interest lifted the FBM KLCI to close sharply higher at its intraday high on Monday, despite lingering investor caution amid mixed performances across regional markets.
The FBM KLCI ended the day up 13.87 points, or 0.92%, at 1,516.61, its intraday high. Earlier in the session, the benchmark index had dipped to a low of 1,488.89.
The broader market remained cautious, with 697 counters closing lower, 274 advancing, and 490 ending unchanged. Traded volume stood at 3.09 billion shares valued at RM1.91bil.
Dealers said market sentiment remained cautious amid heightened geopolitical tensions, as investors watched for possible Iranian retaliation following the US’s surprise strike on nuclear sites.
Malaysian Pacific Industries
, the biggest loser on Bursa Malaysia, tumbled 72 sen to RM19.78. Carlsberg slid 50 sen to RM19.16, Hong Leong Financial Group declined 40 sen to RM16.18 and Bursa Malaysia fell 31 sen to RM7.69.
Among the gainers, Nestle surged RM3.88 to RM76.40, Bintulu Port rose 26 sen to RM5.46, Public Bank added 21 sen to RM4.42 and CIMB climbed 15 sen to RM6.80.
Meanwhile, the ringgit was quoted at 4.2878 against the US dollar, down 0.81%, and at 3.3235 against the Singapore dollar, declining by 0.37%.
US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 25 cents to US$73.59 and Brent lost 23 cents to US$76.78 per barrel.
Key markets across the region ended mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.13%, South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.24%, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged down 0.11%.
In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.67%, while China’s CSI 300 Index gained 0.39% and the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.65%.
