KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI ended marginally lower for a second consecutive session on Thursday, tracking mixed performances across regional markets.
The benchmark index finished almost flat, slipping 0.73 of a point to close at 1,745.58. The index traded within a 10.28-point range during the session, touching an intraday high of 1,750.63 and a low of 1,740.35.
Trading sentiment was evenly balanced, with 557 counters advancing, 600 declining and 612 unchanged, while total turnover stood at 3.91 billion shares valued at RM3.22bil.
Dealers said investors remained cautious amid mixed regional market performances, limiting buying momentum on Bursa Malaysia.
They added that profit-taking in selected heavyweights capped gains, although bargain hunting in defensive and consumer-related counters helped the benchmark index remain near the flat line.
Leading the losers, Tenaga Nasional fell 24 sen to RM14.48, while Heineken Malaysia
lost 22 sen to RM22.48. Fraser & Neave Holdings slid 16 sen to RM29, while United Plantations declined 14 sen to RM29.98.
Among the gainers, Nestle Malaysia jumped RM2.76 to RM102.40, while Allianz Malaysia added 88 sen to RM22.86. KGB-WB gained 59 sen to RM5.88, while KGB rose 58 sen to RM7.30.
In terms of fund flows, foreign investors sold RM19mil worth of equities on Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday while local retailers emerged as net buyers with total purchases valued at RM20mil.
Local institutions were largely neutral on Wednesday, with purchases and sales both amounting to about RM1.6bil, resulting in a near-flat net position.
Meanwhile, the ringgit slipped 0.02% against the US dollar to 3.9313, but rose 0.03% against the Singapore dollar to 3.0884.
The local currency also weakened 0.04% against the euro to 4.6039 and edged 0.01% lower against the pound sterling at 5.3143.
On the external front, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.98% to close at 62,654.05, while South Korea’s KOSPI rose 1.75% to 7,981.41.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was little changed at 26,389.04.
In China, the CSI 300 Index declined 1.68% to 4,914.60, while the Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.52% to 4,177.92.
