KUALA LUMPUR: Cautious sentiment lingered on Bursa Malaysia as softer regional markets kept investors on edge, with buying interest held back as investors refrained from taking larger positions.
The FBM KLCI closed up 1.76 points, or 0.11%, at 1,627.43, after moving between a high of 1,633.84 and a low of 1,626.23.
Despite the index’s gain, market breadth was negative, with losers outnumbering gainers by 604 to 482.
With roughly 1.25 times more decliners than advancers, sentiment across the broader market stayed subdued. Trading volume stood at 3.8 billion shares worth RM2.5bil.
Dealers said buying interest throughout the day was offset by pockets of profit-taking, keeping sentiment cautious. The index traded within a narrow range as investors continued to focus on corporate earnings.
Malaysian Pacific Industries
topped the gainers’ list, jumping 80 sen to RM31.50, followed by F&N, which added 56 sen to RM33.02. United Plantations gained 50 sen to RM26.80, while Heineken rose 42 sen to RM22.82.
Among the losers, Kuala Lumpur Kepong slipped 50 sen to RM20.76, Nestle fell 50 sen to RM113, Bintulu Port eased 34 sen to RM5.01, and Malayan Cement declined 16 sen to RM6.54.
On the forex market, the ringgit weakened 0.49% against the US dollar to 4.1522, its biggest drop in 15 weeks, though it remains up about 7.7% year-to-date.
The ringgit also inched down 0.48% against the Singapore dollar to 3.1895.
On the external front, MSCI’s Asia ex-Japan stock index inched up 0.12%.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed 0.1% lower at 50,323.91, while South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.94% to 4,089.25. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.71% to 26,384.28.
China’s CSI300 slipped 0.65% to 4,598.05, and the Shanghai Composite eased 0.46% to 3,972.04.
