Shares on Bursa Malaysia close lower
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended lower today on weak buying sentiment due to lack of fresh domestic catalyst and lingering volatility in the global capital markets.
The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) ended at 1,627.63 points, 2.93 points easier from Tuesday's close of 1,630.56.
After opening 2.47 points better at 1,633.03, the local index moved between 1,624.31 and 1,637.4 throughout the day.
Losers outpaced gainers 449 to 349 with 346 counters unchanged, 549 untraded and 16 others suspended.
Volume increased to 1.83 billion shares worth RM2.07 billion from 1.34 billion shares worth RM1.89 billion recorded yesterday.
In a note, Kenanga Research said the FBM KLCI's rebound yesterday, underpinned mainly by selective buying in quality blue chips, was not sustainable given the low trading volume.
"Overall, with the lack of fresh domestic catalyst and much volatility lingering in the global capital markets, the FBM KLCI is still expected to be subdued this week.
"Downside supports are located at 1,620, followed by 1,600, while resistance is capped at 1,640 and 1,662," it added.
Among heavyweights, TNB added four sen to RM14.20, Maybank fell 12 sen to RM7.66, Public Bank declined four sen to RM19.66 and Petronas Chemicals eased one sen to RM6.83.
On actives, RGB gained 1.5 sen to 27 sen, AirAsia X fell 2.5 sen to 39.5 sen, Hibiscus Petroleum was flat at 27.5 sen and APFT was half-a-sen higher at six sen.
On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index lost 5.61 points to 11,478.96, FBMT100 Index decreased 5.92 points to 11,189.74 and the FBM Emas Syariah Index rose 27.43 points to 12,111.97.
The FBM 70 gained 44.32 points at 13,391.98 and the FBM Ace was 2.39 points weaker at 4,981.15.
Sector-wise, the Industrial Index decreased 14.14 points to 3,072.65, Finance Index gave up 58.22 points to 14,163.34 and the Plantation Index added 40.31 points to 7,798.46.
Main Market turnover improved to 1.37 billion units worth RM1.98 billion from 908.66 million units worth RM1.81 billion recorded on Tuesday.
The ACE Market volume expanded to 224.11 million shares valued at RM39.49 million from 204.56 million shares valued at RM33.99 million yesterday.
Warrants rose to 236.43 million units valued at RM47.99 million from 227.83 million units valued at RM42.41 million.
Consumer products accounted for 53.74 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (176.03 million), construction (89.74 million), trade and services (461.03 million), technology (26.82 million), infrastructure (21.72 million), SPAC (367.27 million), finance (60.89 million), hotels (297,400) properties (67.43 million), plantations (18.99 million), mining (nil), REITs (29.53 million) and closed/fund (76,000).
The physical price of gold as at 5.00pm stood at RM166.12 per gramme, up 82 sen from RM165.30 at 5pm yesterday. — Bernama