KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia’s key index stayed higher at midday, supported by selective bargain hunting and optimism surrounding Budget 2027, and in line with the rebound on Wall Street.
At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 7.87 points, or 0.48 per cent, to 1,616.32 from Friday’s close of 1,608.45.
The benchmark index, which opened 3.34 points higher at 1,611.03, moved between 1,608.91 and 1,619.30 during the morning trading session.
In the broader market, however, losers outnumbered gainers 662 to 318, while 483 counters were unchanged, 1,364 untraded and 12 suspended.
Turnover stood at 1.96 billion units, worth RM1.33 billion.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng believes the benchmark index remains oversold while the government’s development allocations and consumer-support measures could sustain interest in infrastructure, utilities, banking and selected consumer counters.
"For the rest of today, we expect the benchmark index to hover within the 1,600-1,615 range,” he said.
Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said the FBMKLCI is poised to track global technology strength, with
sentiment supported by robust earnings and positioning post Budget 2027 announcement.
"The semiconductor and automation space could remain in focus, with semiconductors, AI and high-value investments among the government’s key priorities,” it said.
Among the heavyweights, Maybank and Public Bank added 12 sen each to RM9.93 and RM4.69, respectively. CIMB rose four sen to RM7.30, and Tenaga Nasional increased six sen to RM12.94, but IHH Healthcare was two sen lower at RM7.88.
In active trade, Zetrix AI and JAKS Resources fell half a sen to eight sen and 17.5 sen, respectively. VS Industry slid two sen to 32.5 sen, Genting lost 35 sen to RM1.53, while Nationgate rose four sen to RM2.15.
Among the top gainers, Nestle soared 78 sen to RM90.94, MISC firmed 36 sen to RM7.95, Vitrox appreciated 24 sen to RM11.24, Kuala Lumpur Kepong and KESM inched up 14 sen each to RM20.76 and RM4.64, respectively.
United Plantations led the top decliners, falling 26 sen to RM30.44, Genting Malaysia declined 20 sen to RM1.29, Malaysian Pacific decreased 18 sen to RM43.90, Negri Sembilan Oil sank 14 sen to RM5.15 and YTL Power shed 13 sen to RM5.57.
On the index board, the FBM Mid 70 Index declined 142.43 points to 17,540.68, the FBM Emas Index expanded 8.32 points to 12,107.15, the FBM Top 100 Index strengthened 17.58 points to 11,888.98, the FBM Emas Shariah Index narrowed 11.55 points to 12,118.23, and the FBM ACE Index dropped 63.24 points to 5,591.33.
Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index contracted 0.91 of a point to 179.84, the Energy Index eased 2.80 points to 834.77, the Plantation Index weakened 13.47 points to 8,876.79, and the Financial Services Index spiked 185.08 points to 18,609.90. - Bernama
