FBM KLCI Stays Marginally Up At Midday; Market Breadth Negative

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s barometer index was marginally higher at midday as traders awaited the upcoming United States (US) Producer Price Index data for cues to gauge the Federal Reserve’s future interest rate moves, analysts said. 

At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) added 1.35 points to 1,634.90 from Friday’s close of 1,633.55.

The benchmark index, which opened 3.62 points higher at 1,637.17, moved between 1,632.37 and 1,642.56 in the morning session.

In the broader market, decliners outnumbered gainers 597 to 278, with 437 counters unchanged, 1,153 untraded, and nine suspended.

Turnover amounted to 1.34 billion units valued at RM964.02 million. 

Meanwhile, Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said that with Budget 2025 on the horizon, investor interest is expected to focus on the construction, property, building materials, utilities, and e-invoicing sectors.

“Additionally, the strengthening US dollar may shift attention toward export-oriented sectors such as gloves and technology.

“We also have a positive outlook on the plantation sector, as the uptrend in crude palm oil prices remains stable,” it said in a note today. 

Among the heavyweights, CelcomDigi added 7.0 sen to RM3.63, Public Bank and Petronas Gas increased 8.0 sen each to RM4.36 and RM17.70 respectively, Sime Darby rose 1.0 sen to RM2.45, and Hong Leong Bank advanced 8.0 sen to RM21.18.

As for the active counters, EA Holdings edged up half-a-sen to 1.0 sen, Key Alliance was flat at 1.0 sen, MYEG shed 2.0 sen to 90 sen, and Pertama Digital improved 1.5 sen to 29.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index decreased by 5.06 points to 12,277.69, the FBMT 100 Index dropped 0.85 of-a-point to 11,978.00, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index eased 27.11 points to 12,183.23.

The FBM 70 Index slid 41.03 points to 17,553.36 while the FBM ACE Index gave up 70.27 points to 5,078.50.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index climbed 53.38 points to 19,231.66; but the Plantation Index was 14.31 points easier at 7,187.10, the Industrial Products and Services Index fell 1.40 points to 174.67, and the Energy Index trimmed 5.37 points to 876.73.

-- BERNAMA