Bursa Malaysia Higher At Midday, Supported By Tech Stocks
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia was higher at midday, supported by renewed appetite for technology stocks, in line with most regional market performances.
At 12.30 pm, the FBM KLCI soared 16.18 points to 1,748.84, compared with Tuesday’s close of 1,732.66.
The benchmark index opened 3.70 points higher at 1,736.36, and fluctuated between 1,732.68 and 1,750.41 during the morning trading session.
The broader market was positive, with gainers outpacing losers 606 to 394, while 484 counters were unchanged, 1,248 untraded and 12 suspended.
Turnover totalled 2.04 billion units worth RM1.83 billion.
Apex Securities Bhd said the technology sector is expected to remain in focus this week amid mixed regional semiconductor performance, while energy and transport-related counters may benefit from lower crude oil prices following the easing of US-Iran tensions.
It was reported that US President Donald Trump proposed a ban on Chinese data centre components.
“Besides, the financial services sector could continue to draw support from improving market sentiment,” it said in a report.
Among the heavyweights, Maybank and Tenaga Nasional rose 10 sen to RM10.88 and RM14.60, respectively, and CIMB Group added three sen to RM8.06, while Public Bank was one sen higher at RM5.27, and IHH Healthcare fell 11 sen to RM8.32.
Among active stocks, NationGate Holdings added eight sen to RM1.37, Inari Amertron gained 18 sen to RM2.39, VS Industry inched up one sen to 24 sen, while Zetrix AI was 1.5 sen lower at 72 sen, and HHRG slid half a sen to 11 sen.
Leading gainers included Malaysian Pacific Industries, which climbed RM1.80 sen to RM48.58, Nestle surged 60 sen to RM102.40, Pentamaster Corporation advanced 40 sen to RM5.69, United Plantations improved 34 sen to RM34.38, and Vitrox Corporation went up 33 sen to RM9.08.
On the losers’ list, Fraser and Neave lost 50 sen to RM27.32, Petronas Chemicals dropped 11 sen to RM4.54, while LPI Capital and Petronas Dagangan slid 10 sen each to RM15 and RM19.60, respectively.
The FBM Emas Index rose 111.76 points to 12,921.08, the FBM Top 100 Index surged 114.60 points to 12,755.31, the FBM Emas Shariah Index gained 138.68 points to 12,761.19, and the FBM ACE Index advanced 30.75 points to 5,048.19. The FBM Mid 70 Index accumulated 150.45 points to 18,361.95.
By sector, the Financial Services Index gained 100.45 points to 20,619.64, and the Industrial Products and Services Index added 1.56 points to 190.24. The Plantation Index appreciated 115.86 points to 9,493.17, but the Energy Index declined 2.99 points to 761.54.
--BERNAMA