KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed lower on Friday, even as utilities, healthcare, and financial services sectors saw increased buying interest following the release of Malaysia’s second-quarter (2Q) gross domestic product (GDP) data.
At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slid 7.32 points to 1,727.39 compared with Thursday’s close of 1,734.71.
The benchmark index opened 0.01 of a point higher at 1,734.72 and fluctuated between 1,726.77 and 1,734.72 throughout the day.
On the broader market, losers trounced gainers 619 to 538, while 554 counters were unchanged, 1,117 untraded and 29 suspended.
Turnover eased to 3.50 billion units valued at RM2.59 billion from 3.51 billion units valued at RM3.05 billion on Thursday.
IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said FBM KLCI closed lower despite Malaysia’s stronger-than-expected 6.0 per cent GDP growth in 2Q 2026, underscoring the market’s forward-looking nature.
"Much of the positive growth narrative appears to have been priced in, while stronger domestic activity could reduce expectations for further monetary easing.
"Investors are therefore shifting their focus from headline GDP growth towards the sustainability of second half of 2026 growth and, more importantly, its conversion into corporate earnings,” he said.
Among the heavyweights, Maybank and CIMB Group
were flat at RM10.60 and RM7.95, respectively; Public Bank reduced three sen to RM5.13, Tenaga Nasional edged down two sen to RM14.48, and IHH Healthcare lost seven sen to RM8.20.
On the most active list, JAKS Resources and Tanco Holdings inched up 1.5 sen each to 10.5 sen and 26 sen, respectively; Key ASIC edged down half a sen to 7.5 sen, HHRG lost two sen to 13.5 sen, and Kronologi Asia perked up two sen to 12 sen.
Among the top gainers, Hong Leong Industries climbed 32 sen to RM18, Ranhill Utilities jumped 30 sen to RM2.66, Critical Holdings added 19 sen to RM2.11, Ideal Capital rose 17 sen to RM3.68, and Hong Leong Bank firmed 16 sen to RM22.50.
As for the top losers, Nestle dropped 80 sen to RM102.70, United Plantations slipped 42 sen to RM32.88, Malaysian Pacific Industries gave up 34 sen to RM47.50, Press Metal Aluminium slid 28 sen to RM7.70, and Dutch Lady Milk Industries shed 20 sen to RM31.50.
Trading in Hextar Global Bhd shares will resume at 9 am on Monday, Aug 17, pending a material announcement. The suspension took effect at 2.30 pm today and continued for the rest of the trading day, according to a Bursa Malaysia filing.
On the index board, the FBM ACE Index advanced 50.13 points to 5,294.78, the FBM Emas Index decreased 43.10 points to 12,815.44, and the FBMT 100 Index sank 46.44 points to 12,626.26.
The FBM Emas Shariah Index dipped 65.75 points to 12,629.23, and the FBM 70 Index declined 37.02 points to 18,293.19.
By sector, the Financial Services Index dropped 20.99 points to 20,336.03, the Energy Index eased 3.86 points to 779.46, the Plantation Index slid 46.26 points to 9,327.40, and the Industrial Products and Services Index edged down 2.25 points to 187.23.
Main Market volume appreciated to 1.80 billion units valued at RM2.23 billion compared with 1.77 billion units valued at RM2.64 billion on Thursday.
Warrants turnover narrowed to 903.76 million units worth RM128.03 million versus 956.43 million units worth RM137.35 million previously.
The ACE Market volume expanded to 791.17 million units valued at RM237.96 million from 784.66 million units valued at RM267.74 million yesterday.
Consumer products and services counters accounted for 242.12 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (332.99 million), construction (228.77 million), technology (425.83 million), financial services (56.50 million), property (192.42 million), plantation (25.28 million), real estate investment trusts (12.34 million), closed-end fund (17,000), energy (67.40 million), healthcare (51.11 million), telecommunications and media (42.07 million), transportation and logistics (68.15 million), utilities (63.48 million), and business trusts (1.31 million). - Bernama
