FBM KLCI Ends Morning Session Firmer Lifted By Banking, Telco Stocks

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session higher, lifted by persistent buying in heavyweights, particularly in the banking, telecommunications (telco), and plantation sectors, amid continued investor interest and optimistic sectoral outlooks.

At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) improved 9.75 points, or 0.66 per cent, to 1,493.02 from Thursday’s close of 1,483.27. 

The benchmark index opened 1.63 points lower at 1,481.64 and moved between 1,480.52 and 1,493.69 during the session.

On the broader market, gainers surpassed decliners 309 to 271, with 396 counters unchanged, 1,447 untraded and 29 suspended.

Turnover stood at 906.42 million shares worth RM540.48 million.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd anticipates meaningful order flows to Malaysian glove manufacturers, driven by the widening tariff differential with Chinese gloves, as well as easing of raw material costs — factors expected to bolster demand and support margin expansion.

In a note today, the stockbroking firm also noted that following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Malaysia, both countries signed 31 memoranda of understanding and agreements across various sectors, including tourism, plantation, technology, and construction.

Bernama reported yesterday that investor sentiment is improving amid the president tour of Southeast Asia — encompassing visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia — strategically aimed at reinforcing economic ties amid escalating trade tensions with the United States.

Among heavyweights, Maybank advanced 7.0 sen to RM9.94, Public Bank put on 5.0 sen to RM4.38, CIMB Group and IHH Healthcare climbed 5.0 sen each to RM6.81 and RM6.90 respectively, while Tenaga Nasional added 2.0 sen to RM13.50.

As for the actives, Tanco Holdings perked up 3.0 sen to 89 sen, Widad Group added 1.0 sen to 4.0 sen, and Ingenieur Gudang edged up half-a-sen to 3.5 sen, while HB Global shed 2.0 sen to 7.0 sen, and Bina Puri was flat at 34.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index rose 64.80 points to 11,065.11, the FBMT 100 Index advanced 69.05 points to 10,853.15, the FBM Emas Shariah Index increased 56.14 points to 10,870.08, and the FBM 70 Index jumped 91.55 points to 15,518.96, while the FBM ACE Index slipped 8.56 points to 4,549.57.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index surged 139.10 points to 17,920.01, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.12 of-a-point to 144.35, the Energy Index gained 6.39 points to 661.74, and the Plantation Index soared 61.72 points to 7,204.87.

-- BERNAMA