UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors' Mohd Sedek said telecommunications counters led gains among FBM KLCI constituents.
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed lower yesterday on continuous profit-taking in selected heavyweights, led by the financial services and utility sectors.
At 5pm, the FBM KLCI fell 13.90 points or 0.91% to 1,511.50 from Tuesday’s close of 1,525.40 points. The benchmark index opened 1.63 points lower at 1,523.77 and moved between 1,510.14 and 1,526.29 throughout the session.
The market breadth was negative, with 727 decliners outpacing 335 gainers and 432 counters remaining unchanged, while 951 were untraded and eight suspended.
Turnover improved to 3.18 billion shares worth RM2.44bil, compared with 3.07 billion shares worth RM2.36bil on Tuesday.
UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd’s head of investment research, Mohd Sedek Jantan, said telecommunications counters led gains among FBM KLCI constituents, while consumer discretionary names bore the brunt of the sell-off.
However, across the broader market, all indices closed in negative territory, reflecting the cautious mood despite recent domestic interest rate cuts, he added.
“Adding to the subdued tone, Indonesia’s successful negotiation of a 19% tariff rate with the United States further dampened sentiment, as Malaysia awaits clarity on its tariff status currently set at 25%.
“This development highlights Malaysia’s diminishing competitive edge in regional trade, particularly against Vietnam and Indonesia,” he told Bernama.
Mohd Sedek also said market jitters intensified over US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on the European Union and Mexico, stoking concerns that such measures could rekindle inflationary pressures following the stronger consumer price index readings.
Among the heavyweights, Malayan Banking Bhd
fell 12 sen to RM9.53 and Public Bank slipped three sen to RM4.23.
