Bursa Malaysia Lower At Midday On Selling Activities

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia stayed lower at midday, weighed down by persistent selling activities in selected heavyweights, led by utilities, telecommunications and media, as well as consumer products and services sectors. 

At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 3.90 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 1,704.60, from Monday’s close of 1,708.50.

The benchmark index opened 1.73 points lower at 1,706.77, and moved between 1,701.07 and 1,707.52 during the morning trading session.

Market breadth was negative with losers outpacing gainers 613 to 349, while 521 counters were unchanged, 1,204 untraded and 67 suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.88 billion units valued at RM1.78 billion.

In a research note today, Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd said the FBM KLCI is expected to stabilise near the 1,700 level following its recent healthy pullback (-3.56 per cent from the year-to-date high of 1,771) amid optimism that the United States and Iran are moving closer to a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“That said, caution lingers amid the ongoing first quarter 2026 earnings peak, rising domestic political noise with speculation of early state polls and persistent foreign outflows (-RM1.39 billion over 10 straight sessions).

“Despite near-term volatility, we remain cautiously constructive on Malaysia, supported by its net oil exporter status, resilient trade linkages, exposure to the global tech upcycle, and a supportive fiscal backdrop,” it said.

Among heavyweights, Tenaga Nasional fell 16 sen to RM14.30, CelcomDigi gave up seven sen to RM2.99, 99 Speed Mart Retail was eight sen lower at RM3.33, Press Metal Aluminium added 14 sen to RM9.11, and Public Bank gained two sen to RM4.78. 

As for the active stocks, Zetrix AI gained 1.5 sen to 82 sen, Inari Amertron rose 22 sen to RM2.20, Oppstar widened 6.5 sen to 70 sen, Skychip slipped nine sen to RM2.83, and Sime Darby Property was flat RM1.46.

Among the top gainers included MI Technovation, which strengthened 19 sen to RM4.72, Malaysian Pacific Industries advanced RM1.44 to RM49.44, Allianz Malaysia gained 70 sen to RM21.50, Kelington was 31 sen firmer at RM7.64, and Chin Teck Plantations put on 18 sen to RM11.18. 

Among the top losers, Nestle fell 52 sen to RM95.28, Hong Leong Industries lost 28 sen to RM18.50, Ta Ann slid 20 sen to RM5.18, Petronas Dagangan and Fraser & Neave slipped 18 sen each to RM17.64 and RM28.62, respectively.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index trimmed 20.79 points to 12,659.55, the FBM Top 100 Index shed 16.17 points to 12,502.37, the FBM Emas Shariah Index erased 26.07 points to 12,581.77, and the FBM ACE Index eased 6.68 points to 4,715.04, while the FBM Mid 70 Index improved 29.45 points to 18,296.34.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index rose 3.03 points to 20,014.58, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.90 of a point to 198.62, the Energy Index reduced 2.21 points to 783.71, and the Plantation Index decreased 21.54 points to 8,504.73.

-- BERNAMA