Bursa Malaysia Ends Higher For Second Straight Day On Heavyweight Buying
By Siti Noor Afera Abu
KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s key index extended its rebound for a second consecutive day, closing more than one per cent higher,yh as investor sentiment remained buoyant amid improving regional market conditions and sustained buying interest in heavyweight counters.
At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose by 18.60 points, or 1.10 per cent, to 1,709.99 from yesterday's close of 1,691.39.
The key index opened 0.07 of a point weaker at 1,691.32 and moved between 1,685.57 and 1,711.20 throughout the session.
Market breadth was positive, with gainers outpacing losers 600 to 552, while 566 counters were unchanged, 991 untraded and 25 suspended.
Turnover declined to 3.93 billion units worth RM3.45 billion from 5.02 billion units worth RM3.91 billion on Monday.
IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said the benchmark index built on yesterday's strong momentum, supported by renewed foreign buying and easing geopolitical concerns.
He said banking stocks contributed significantly to the index's advance, with investors continuing to favour financial heavyweights amid expectations of sustained loan growth, healthy asset quality, and attractive dividend yields.
“The sector remained a key pillar supporting the broader market rally,” he told Bernama.
Mohd Sedek stated that Asian equities generally traded firmer as investors viewed the monetary policy adjustment by the Bank of Japan as a sign of improving economic fundamentals rather than a threat to growth.
“Looking ahead, market participants are expected to focus on upcoming corporate earnings releases, global monetary policy developments and foreign fund flow trends for further direction,” he added.
Among heavyweights, Maybank rose 24 sen to RM11.16, Public Bank perked up 13 sen to RM5.05, Tenaga Nasional added eight sen to RM14.56, CIMB was nine sen to RM7.78, and IHH Healthcare increased 10 sen to RM8.79.
Among the active stocks, Tanco added two sen to 15 sen, Pentech gained 5.5 sen to 31.5 sen, Hong Seng was flat at 1.5 sen, while ACE Market debutant Elsa gained 4.5 sen to 27.5 sen.
Of the top gainers, Nestle garnered RM2.30 to RM96.80, United Plantations rose 72 sen to RM32.22, Hong Leong Bank climbed 34 sen to RM22.00, and Malaysian Pacific Industries added 30 sen to RM49.30.
Among the top losers, Dutch Lady lost 54 sen to RM32.26, Press Metal fell 20 sen to RM8.20, Negri Sembilan Oil Palms shed 18 sen to RM5.24, and Ajinomoto was 16 sen weaker at RM15.24.
In a filing to Bursa Malaysia today, Vantris Energy Bhd said it will be officially uplifted from Practice Note 17 (PN17) status effective from 9.00 am on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index increased by 101.25 points to 12,662.18, the FBM Top 100 Index garnered 104.68 points to 12,499.39, the FBM Mid 70 Index advanced 17.78 points to 18,110.56, the FBM ACE Index improved 25.12 points to 4,776.99, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index climbed 52.97 points to 12,474.74.
By sector, the Financial Services Index leapt 292.90 points to 20,284.26, the Energy Index put on 4.17 points to 764.63, and the Plantation Index improved 50.35 points to 8,779.37, while the Industrial Products and Services Index erased 1.07 points to 188.57.
The Main Market volume narrowed to 2.05 billion units valued at RM3.05 billion from 2.93 billion units valued at RM3.45 billion on Monday.
Warrants turnover eased to 1.11 billion units valued at RM146.79 million from 1.36 billion units valued at RM187.84 million previously.
The ACE Market volume expanded to 766.52 million units worth RM254.78 million from 727.70 million units worth RM273.33 million yesterday.
Consumer products and services counters accounted for 239.77 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (366.04 million), construction (128.88 million), technology (377.83 million), financial services (104.31 million), property (396.17 million), plantation (22.64 million), real estate investment trusts (27.39 million), closed-end fund (360,200), energy (112.82 million), healthcare (131.02 million), telecommunications and media (51.72 million), transportation and logistics (46.92 million), utilities (47.72 million), and business trusts (11,500).
-- BERNAMA