FBM KLCI Ends Morning Session Higher On Buying In Selected Heavyweights

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia stayed higher at midday, supported by persistent buying in selected heavyweights, led by plantation and healthcare counters.

At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 6.04 points, or 0.37 per cent, to 1,629.39 from Tuesday’s close of 1,623.35.  

The benchmark index, which opened 0.59 points firmer at 1,636.94, moved between 1,623.94 and 1,637.10 during the morning session.  

In the broader market, however, losers outnumbered gainers 480 to 425, while 521 counters were unchanged, 1,432 untraded, and 21 suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.93 billion units worth RM1.40 billion. 

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said the FBM KLCI maintained its uptrend to break above the 1,620 level after a weak opening.

“Nonetheless, buying action picked up, spearheaded by bargain hunting on banking stocks, possibly by local funds.

“For today, we anticipate the index to stay resilient and gravitate to between the 1,620-1,630 range,” he said. 

Among the heavyweights, Maybank edged up one sen to RM9.97, Public Bank rose five sen to RM4.75, CIMB gained 10 sen to RM7.60, and IHH Healthcare added six sen to RM8.04. However, Tenaga Nasional fell six sen to RM12.98. 

In active trade, Ecosys increased 52.5 sen to 79.5 sen, Top Glove climbed 3.5 sen to 89 sen, and Ni Hsin went up 1.5 sen to 40.5 sen, while Zetrix AI dropped one sen to 5.5 sen and JAKS Resources shed half a sen to 14.5 sen. 

Of the top gainers, Malaysian Pacific Industries jumped 76 sen to RM41.92, United Plantations surged 30 sen to RM30.90, Kuala Lumpur Kepong advanced 24 sen to RM21.08, and MISC and Mentiga Corporation climbed 21 sen each to RM8.13 and 79 sen, respectively. 

Samaiden Group led the top decliners, falling 26 sen to RM2.81. Solarvest and Pekat Group each decreased 21 sen to RM3.89 and RM2.70, respectively, while Critical Holdings lost 17 sen to RM2.65 and Fraser & Neave Holdings erased 12 sen to RM20.04. 

On the index board, the FBM Mid 70 Index gained 37.07 points to 17,515.07, the FBM Emas Index increased 38.39 points to 12,145.13, the FBM Top 100 Index notched up 39.37 points to 11,937.83, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index improved 16.24 points to 12,090.71.

However, the FBM ACE Index slid 33.75 points to 5,451.60.

Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.92 of point to 180.62, the Plantation Index increased 58.74 points to 8,871.86, the Energy Index trimmed 4.07 points to 830.99, and the Financial Services Index added 110.10 points to 18,876.28.

-- BERNAMA