KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed the morning session higher, in line with gains across most regional markets as buying interest in banking heavyweights supported the local bourse ahead of Bank Negara Malaysia’s monetary policy decision later today.
At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 19.95 points, or 1.23 per cent, to 1,636.51 from Wednesday’s close of 1,616.56.
The benchmark index opened 6.72 points higher at 1,623.28, fluctuating between an intraday high of 1,637.82 and a low of 1,622.62 throughout the trading session.
In the broader market, losers outnumbered gainers 643 to 447, while 422 counters were unchanged, 1,249 untraded and 10 suspended.
Turnover stood at 2.37 billion units worth RM1.66 billion.
Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd said Wall Street's post-election rally, falling oil prices and bond yields, and a softer US dollar index could provide a more supportive external backdrop for the FBM KLCI and encourage foreign inflows.
"Nevertheless, subdued market sentiment, November earnings uncertainty, domestic political noise and portfolio adjustments ahead of the FBM KLCI's phased expansion from 30 to 50 constituents could temper sentiment.
"Moreover, Malaysia's growing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI)-related and data centre investments leaves sentiment vulnerable to a global AI capex reassessment, tighter US regulatory scrutiny and shifting investment flows,” it said in a note today.
Among the heavyweights, Maybank rose 26 sen to RM10.16, CIMB expanded 24 sen to RM7.15, and Public Bank advanced 18 sen to RM4.95. Tenaga Nasional was eight sen lower at RM13.06, and IHH Healthcare fell three sen to RM7.75.
In active trade, AirAsia improved 10 sen to 55.5 sen, Capital A gained three sen to 26 sen, Jaks Resources eased half a sen to 12.5 sen, and GIIB dropped six sen to 35.5 sen. Aizo was flat at 6.5 sen.
Nestle led the top gainers, rising RM1.34 to RM94.84, Hong Leong Bank gained RM1.24 to RM22.48, and Fraser & Neave added 40 sen to RM21.36. Hong Leong Financial gained 34 sen to RM17.80, and United Plantations was up by 52 sen to RM30.52.
Among the top losers, MPI fell RM1.60 to RM39.02, Vitrox lost 38 sen to RM10.52, and Hengyuan Refining
dropped 58 sen to RM3.04. UWC lost 55 sen to RM6.65, and Petronas Chemicals slipped 39 sen to RM4.31.
Separately, in a Bursa Malaysia filing today, the exchange has suspended intraday short selling (IDSS) for Mega Fortris Bhd for the rest of the day after its share price breached the prescribed price limit, falling more than 15 per cent, or 15 sen, from its reference price.
IDSS activities for the counter are scheduled to resume on Friday, Nov 6, 2026, at 8.30 am.
Mega Fortris was among the top losers, shedding 38 sen to RM2.16, with 8.04 million shares traded.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index surged 78.85 points to 12,156.83, while the FBM Top 100 Index soared 91.79 points to 11,976.87.
The FBM Mid 70 Index tumbled 94.22 points to 17,417.03, the FBM Emas Shariah Index plunged 69.52 points to 12,034.91, and the FBM ACE Index declined 47.70 points to 5,373.08.
Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged down 2.56 points to 175.65, while the Energy Index fell 22.48 points to 805.44. The Financial Services Index leapt 574.61 points to 19,160.93, while the Plantation Index rose 53.30 points to 8,815.18. - Bernama
