Bursa Malaysia extends gains at opening
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia extended gains to open firmer this morning on buying support for selected blue-chips, despite the escalating US-Russia geopolitical tensions.
At 9.07am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 3.1 points better at 1,872.99 from yesterday's closing of 1,869.89.
The index opened 2.24 points higher at 1,872.13.
Gainers slightly outnumbered losers 152 to 113, while 172 counters were unchanged, 1,445 untraded and 23 others suspended.
Volume stood at 264.27 million units valued at RM84.4 million.
US President Donald Trump reacted to a Russian threat to shoot down American missiles aimed at Syria by warning Moscow to "get ready" for US strikes.
"Wall Street retreated from gains as the US-Russia war of words over Syria on Wednesday spooked investors, overturning the good sentiment in the market brought by China," a dealer said, believing sentiment in the local market would be cheering more on China trade liberalisation.
Among heavyweights, Tenaga rose 12 sen to RM15.98, while both Public Bank and CIMB were flat at RM23.96 and RM7.20, respectively.
Maybank eased four sen to RM10.56 and Petronas Chemicals slipped one sen to RM8.50.
For actives, Sapura Energy earned four sen to 68.5 sen, while SKH Consortium, Sumated and UMW O&G inched up half-a-sen each to 10.5 sen, seven sen and 30 sen, respectively.
The FBM Emas Index was 18.7 points higher at 13,156.79, the FBMT 100 Index earned 18.47 points to 12,953.54, the FBM 70 gained 12.47 points to 15,860.71, the FBM Emas Shariah Index improved 41.04 points to 13,404.31, and the FBM Ace added 9.63 points to 5,567.22.
Sector-wise, the Finance Index fell 27.48 points to 18,211.54, the Industrial Index slipped 1.56 points to 3,233.38, but the Plantation Index perked 15.52 points to 8,052.37.
Gold futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives were untraded this morning on lack of buying interest.
Spot month April 2018 stood at RM167.35 a gramme, while May 2018, June 2018 and July 2018 all remained at RM167.65 a gramme.
Volume was nil, while open interest amounted to 64 contracts.
At 9.30 am, the price of physical gold was RM1.10 higher at RM162.88 a gramme from RM161.78 a gramme on Wednesday. — Bernama