Bursa Malaysia experienced a positive turn today as value-seeking investors stepped in, halting a six-day decline streak in the market.
By the end of trading, the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) edged down by 4.61 points, or 0.29%, closing at 1,615.08. Throughout the day, the index fluctuated within a 9.35-point range, reaching a high of 1,619.05 and a low of 1,609.70.
Market performance was closely matched, with 490 stocks gaining, 497 declining, and 511 remaining flat. Trading volume reached approximately 2.48 billion shares, valued at RM2.26 billion.
Among the top gainers, BLD Plantation surged by 52 sen to RM11.24, Sunmow increased by 35 sen to RM1.65, Malaysian Pacific Industries rose by 24 sen to RM26.46, and Bursa Malaysia itself climbed 22 sen to RM8.91.
On the downside, Nestle fell by RM3 to RM100, F&N declined by 32 sen to RM30.90, Hong Leong Industries dropped 20 sen to RM13.40, and Dutch Lady decreased by 18 sen to RM30.20.
New entrant OB Holdings on the ACE Market saw a modest increase of one sen (4.17%) to 25 sen, with 63.9 million shares traded.
Data from Bursa Malaysia indicates that foreign investors continued to sell equities on Monday, with total disposals amounting to RM118 million. In contrast, local institutions and retail investors bought equities worth RM88 million and RM30 million, respectively.
In the foreign exchange market, the Malaysian ringgit weakened by 0.21% against the US dollar, trading at 4.3715. It also depreciated by 0.1% against the Singapore dollar to 3.3021 and by 0.32% against the British pound to 5.6771.
Crude oil prices rose, with US West Texas Intermediate up by 46 cents to US$67.84 per barrel and Brent crude increasing by 44 cents to US$71.86 per barrel.
Regionally, MSCI’s Asia ex-Japan stock index declined by 0.13%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.77% to 38,903.68, South Korea’s Kospi was up 0.21% at 2,617.80, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose by 0.5% to 20,701.14. Meanwhile, China’s CSI300 Index dropped by 1% to 3,924.65, and the Shanghai Composite Index fell by 1.08% to 3,286.41.
Credit: Star Media Group