KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia remained higher at midday supported by continued buying in selected heavyweight stocks, particularly in the consumer products and services, telecommunications and media, as well as industrial products and services sectors, ahead of the tabling of Budget 2027.
At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 6.08 points, or 0.38 per cent, to 1,607.09 from Thursday’s close of 1,601.01.
The benchmark index opened 1.93 points higher at 1,602.94 and moved between 1,600.55 and 1,609.94 during the morning trading session.
On the broader market, gainers outnumbered losers 478 to 469, while 502 counters were unchanged, 1,379 untraded and 13 suspended.
Turnover stood at 2.03 billion units worth RM1.34 billion.
99 Speed Mart Retail rose 15 sen to RM3.27, CelcomDigi gained five sen to RM2.52, and Press Metal
Aluminium added seven sen to RM7.19. These three counters collectively lifted the composite index by 4.32 points.
Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said Budget 2027 takes centre stage today, with investors monitoring measures to support strategic industries and household spending.
"99 Speed Mart Retail could benefit from higher Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) allocations under Budget 2027, potentially boosting spending at value retailers,” it said in a note today.
Among other heavyweights, Sunway Bhd and Gamuda put on seven sen each to RM4.38 and RM5.02, Axiata added five sen to RM1.64, while Petronas Gas decreased 38 sen to RM17.42, and Petronas Chemicals was five sen lower at RM4.21.
In active trade, Zetrix AI and V.S Industry edged up half a sen each to eight sen and 33.5 sen, Dagang Nexchange slipped half a sen to 52 sen, Top Glove fell three sen to 84.5 sen, and XiDeLang was flat at half a sen.
Among the top gainers, Mi Technovation garnered 62 sen to RM6.70, United Plantations rose 52 sen to RM30.92, Kuala Lumpur Kepong gained 18 sen to RM20.72, Malaysian Pacific Industries added 32 sen to RM43.82, and TMK Chemical climbed 16 sen to RM2.77.
Fraser & Neave led the top decliners, falling 18 sen to RM20.46, Genting Plantations declined 16 sen to RM5.58, Allianz Malaysia lost 12 sen to RM20.04, FCW erased 11 sen to RM1.70, and Negri Sembilan Oil Palms gave up 10 sen to RM5.35.
On the index board, the FBM Mid 70 Index advanced 114.79 points to 17,651.86, the FBM Emas Index expanded 52.87 points to 12,082.63, the FBM Top 100 Index strengthened 53.38 points to 11,858.49, the FBM Emas Shariah Index rose 65.50 points to 12,125.33, and the FBM ACE Index put on 30.89 points to 5,625.67.
Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.82 of a point to 179.65, the Energy Index eased 0.04 of a point to 839.30, the Plantation Index gained 44.24 points to 8,914.03, and the Financial Services Index edged down 0.51 of a point to 18,377.94. - Bernama
