Bursa Malaysia Ends Lower, Tracks Regional Losses On Trade Jitters

By Siti Noor Afera Abu and Danni Haizal Danial Donald

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed lower on Monday, reversing last week’s gains, as regional markets weakened amid renewed investor caution ahead of the July 9 tariff deadline, analysts said.

The local bourse tracked losses across Asia as investors awaited United States President Donald Trump’s final decision on trade deals.

At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 12.65 points, or 0.82 per cent, to 1,537.54, down from last Friday’s close of 1,550.19.

The benchmark opened 5.45 points lower at 1,544.74 and touched an intraday low of 1,534.67 in early trade.

Market breadth was negative, with 754 decliners outpacing 260 gainers. A total of 466 counters were unchanged, while 944 were untraded and 19 suspended.

Turnover rose to 3.57 billion shares worth RM2.49 billion, compared with 3.43 billion shares worth RM2.47 billion on Friday.

UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said trade tensions resurfaced after Trump reaffirmed his intention to impose unilateral tariffs on a broad range of countries.

“This has reignited uncertainty across global markets, dampening sentiment and triggering a risk-off tone,” he told Bernama.

He said all sectoral indices on Bursa Malaysia ended in negative territory.

“Nonetheless, total trading volume remained elevated, surpassing the three billion shares mark — signalling sustained retail and institutional participation despite prevailing uncertainty,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng described the day’s profit-taking as a healthy correction, allowing the market to consolidate its recent gains and establish a firmer base for a sustainable uptrend.

“We believe that as long as the benchmark index stays above the 1,530 level, the mid-term rally remains intact. As such, we expect the FBM KLCI to trend between 1,530 and 1,560 this week, marking its support and resistance levels,” he said.

Among heavyweights, Maybank and CIMB each slipped two sen to RM9.72 and RM6.75, Public Bank fell five sen to RM4.33, Tenaga Nasional dropped 26 sen to RM13.80, and IHH Healthcare eased three sen to RM6.72.

In active trade, NexG rose two sen to 42 sen, NationGate declined 15 sen to RM1.63, Zetrix AI fell 4.5 sen to 95 sen, while Tanco added half-a-sen to 89.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index declined 99.06 points to 11,518.66, the FBMT 100 Index dropped 97.47 points to 11,293.23, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index fell 117.09 points to 11,500.73.

The FBM 70 Index sank 163.59 points to 16,623.45, while the FBM ACE Index lost 52.78 points to 4,473.62.

By sector, the Financial Services Index narrowed 69.26 points to 17,721.96, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged down 1.67 points to 155.41, and the Plantation Index eased 3.73 points to 7,445.01, while the Energy Index ticked down 4.02 points to 737.59.

Main Market volume fell to 1.47 billion units worth RM2.16 billion from 1.96 billion units valued at RM2.25 billion on Friday.

Warrants turnover increased to 1.83 billion units valued at RM228.26 million from 1.20 billion units worth RM126.56 million previously.

ACE Market volume eased to 267.85 million units valued at RM112.77 million versus 274.38 million units worth RM90.83 million last Friday.

Consumer products and services counters accounted for 153.71 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (250.64 million), construction (132.18 million), technology (259.83 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (58 million), property (205.11 million), plantation (14.87 million), REITs (15.46 million), closed-end fund (4,000), energy (73.42 million), healthcare (171.72 million), telecommunications and media (26.74 million), transportation and logistics (23.95 million), utilities (88.33 million), and business trusts (156,700).

-- BERNAMA