Bursa Malaysia Ends Lower, Weighed By Profit-taking In Banking, Energy Stocks
By Siti Noor Afera Abu
KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s key index closed lower as investors locked in profits following three consecutive sessions of gains, with banking and oil and gas counters leading the decline.
At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 6.18 points, or 0.36 per cent, to close at 1,713.76 from Tuesday’s close of 1,719.94.
The benchmark index opened 0.72 of a point higher at 1,720.66, and moved between 1,712.88 and 1,724.83.
On the broader market, gainers led losers 590 to 475, while 604 counters were unchanged, 1,034 untraded, and 11 suspended.
Turnover expanded to 4.07 billion units valued at RM2.84 billion from 3.52 billion units valued at RM2.75 billion on Tuesday.
IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said despite the weaker headline index, market breadth remained constructive as healthcare, consumer and plantation stocks outperformed, reflecting a continued preference for defensive sectors amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
He said oil prices extended their gains for a third consecutive session after United States President Donald Trump threatened further military strikes on Iran, hours after the US resumed its blockade of Iranian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, reinforcing concerns over potential supply disruptions.
“Regionally, Asian equities advanced as the weaker US dollar and improving expectations for the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook supported risk appetite, particularly in semiconductor and technology-related shares,” he told Bernama.
Among heavyweights, Maybank eased four sen to RM10.96, CIMB lost six sen to RM7.71, Tenaga Nasional fell two sen to RM14.38, while IHH Healthcare rose 17 sen to RM8.62, and Public Bank was flat at RM5.05.
As for the active stocks, VS Industry added one sen to 22 sen, HHRG, Dagang NeXchange and PA Resources gained 1.5 sen to 16.5 sen, 44.5 sen and 20 sen, respectively. Tanco was flat at 31.5 sen and ACE Market debutant Enest slid 2.5 sen to 10.5 sen.
Of the top gainers, Nestle increased RM1.50 to RM92.00, Malaysian Pacific Industries perked up RM1.34 to RM45.74, Kluang Rubber climbed 35 sen to RM6.45, and UMS Integration put on 30 sen to RM8.31.
For top losers, Batu Kawan and LPI Capital erased 38 sen to RM21.32 and RM15.00, Petronas Gas decreased 26 sen to RM17.62, and Petronas Chemicals shed 21 sen to RM4.58.
Among the broader indices, the FBM Emas Shariah Index increased 10.74 points to 12,502.78, the FBM 70 Index garnered 88.76 points to 17,885.78, and the FBM ACE Index jumped 49.69 points to 4,911.75.
The FBM Emas Index declined 12.19 points to 12,649.73 and the FBMT 100 Index dropped 18.14 points to 12,480.52.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index slipped 85.10 points to 20,154.39, the Industrial Products and Services Index eased 1.76 points to 186.75, and the Energy Index slid 3.49 points to 770.16, while the Plantation Index leapt 70.54 points to 9,438.96.
The Main Market volume expanded to 2.30 billion units valued at RM2.50 billion compared with 1.84 billion units valued at RM2.45 billion on Tuesday.
Warrants turnover narrowed to 1.04 billion units worth RM140.74 million versus 1.12 billion units worth RM135.26 million previously.
The ACE Market volume surged to 721.07 million units valued at RM193.18 million from 557.33 million units valued at RM162.70 million yesterday.
Consumer products and services counters accounted for 156.02 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (507.72 million), construction (75.73 million), technology (291.65 million), financial services (86.49 million), property (919.89 million), plantation (43.52 million), real estate investment trusts (16.02 million), closed-end fund (193,900), energy (92.99 million), healthcare (42.33 million), telecommunications and media (19.59 million), transportation and logistics (27.18 million), utilities (29.10 million), and business trusts (14,800).
-- BERNAMA