KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI extended gains for a second straight session on Friday, tracking firmer regional markets, although broader market sentiment remained cautious.
The 30-stock index rose 4.86 points, or 0.28%, to 1,718.06, trading within an 11.47-point range between an intraday high of 1,719.95 and a low of 1,708.48. For the week, the benchmark index edged up 0.08%.
Market sentiment remained weak, with 675 losers outpacing 411 gainers, while 518 counters were unchanged on Bursa Malaysia. Turnover was active, with 3.72 billion shares traded valued at RM4.05bil.
Dealers said gains in the benchmark index were driven by selective buying in heavyweight stocks, although broader market participation remained subdued as investors stayed cautious amid the lingering Middle East conflict.
Among the gainers, PETRONAS Chemicals rose 78 sen to RM4.29, Kuala Lumpur Kepong gained 64 sen to RM19.36, MISC added 46 sen to RM8.70 and United Plantations climbed 28 sen to RM30.28.
In contrast, Nestle tumbled RM2.30 to RM105.80, Malaysian Pacific Industries
slid 94 sen to RM30.10, Allianz fell 52 sen to RM20.86 and Hong Leong Industries lost 40 sen to RM17.18.
AirAsia X was the most actively traded counter, with 166.32 million shares changing hands, falling 14 sen, or 9.86%, to RM1.28.
On the forex market, the ringgit eased 0.06% to 3.9472 against the US dollar but rose 0.08% to 3.0888 against the Singapore dollar.
According to Bursa Malaysia data, foreign investors remained net buyers on Thursday, purchasing RM159mil worth of local equities, while retail investors bought RM17mil.
Local institutions were net sellers, offloading RM176mil worth of shares.
Meanwhile, Brent crude was down 0.01% at US$85.40 a barrel while US crude oil was up 0.26% to US$81.22 per barrel.
MSCI’s Asia ex-Japan stock index rose 0.17%, with most regional bourses ending higher. Among the key regional markets:
Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed up 0.62% to 55,620.84;
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1.72% to 25,757.29;
China’s CSI300 Index added 0.3% to 4,660.44;
Taiwan’s Taiex fell 0.22% to 33,599.54;
South Korea’s Kospi advanced 0.02% to 5,584.87 and;
Singapore’s Straits Times Index rose 0.13% to 4,852.72 points.
