Bursa Malaysia Closes Lower Amid Weak Global Risk Sentiment

By Durratul Ain Ahmad Fuad

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended lower on Wednesday, as weakening global risk sentiment weighed on investor confidence, an economist said.

At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 9.58 points, or 0.56 per cent, to 1,717.69, from Tuesday’s close of 1,727.27.

The benchmark index, which opened 0.33 of-a-point lower at 1,726.94, traded between 1,716.47 and 1,727.50 throughout the session.

Market breadth was negative, with losers outpacing gainers 840 to 366, while 518 counters were unchanged, 993 untraded and 15 suspended.

Turnover rose to 4.15 billion units worth RM4.29 billion, compared with 3.36 billion units worth RM3.24 billion on Tuesday.

IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said sentiment remained fragile following a broad sell-off in global semiconductor and technology stocks amid surging bond yields and persistent inflation concerns, raising expectations that major central banks could keep interest rates higher for longer.

“Investor caution was further amplified by renewed geopolitical tensions after US President Donald Trump threatened possible military action against Iran, raising concerns over potential disruptions to global energy markets and broader financial stability,” he told Bernama.

Locally, he said, selling pressure was seen across technology, financial and export-oriented counters as investors maintained a defensive stance amid external uncertainties.

Among heavyweights, Maybank and Public Bank fell two sen each to RM11.06 and RM4.77 respectively, CIMB shed eight sen to RM7.76, Tenaga Nasional slipped six sen to RM14.46, and IHH Healthcare eased one sen to RM8.99.

On the most active list, Main Market debutant SkyeChip rose RM1.33 to RM2.21, while Zetrix AI and VS Industry edged down half a sen each to 83 sen and 19.5 sen respectively. Capital A eased one sen to 43 sen, while Hong Seng Consolidated was flat at one sen.

Among top gainers, Malaysian Pacific Industries advanced RM1.00 to RM44.20, Fraser & Neave gained 50 sen to RM29.22, Sunway Construction rose 30 sen to RM7.60, Coastal Contracts added 19 sen to RM1.48, and Kelington Group climbed 16 sen to RM7.14.

As for top losers, Petronas Gas fell 52 sen to RM17.20, Petronas Dagangan shed 38 sen to RM18.82, Wasco declined 20.5 sen to 89.5 sen, while VSTECS and PPB Group slipped 18 sen each to RM5.75 and RM10.30, respectively.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index slipped 86.20 points to 12,717.50, the FBMT 100 Index lost 81.47 points to 12,558.61, the FBM Mid 70 Index declined 166.98 points to 18,208.94, the FBM Emas Shariah Index fell 91.45 points to 12,643.71, and the FBM ACE Index edged down 48.63 points to 4,657.96.

Sector-wise, the Plantation Index rose 39.73 points to 8,660.67, the Industrial Products and Services Index rose 0.42 of-a-point to 199.29, the Financial Services Index slipped 70.65 points to 20,012.41, and the Energy Index weakened 10.56 points to 792.49.

The Main Market volume strengthened to 2.32 billion units valued at RM3.93 billion, from 1.67 billion units valued at RM2.74 billion on Tuesday.

Warrants turnover rose to 1.15 billion units worth RM140.12 million, from 831.30 million units worth RM108.30 million on Tuesday.

The ACE Market volume decreased to 685.47 million units valued at RM223.24 million, from 853.98 million units valued at RM394.67 million previously.

Consumer products and services counters accounted for 293.48 million shares traded on the Main Market, followed by industrial products and services (428.45 million), construction (205.44 million), technology (687.22 million), financial services (70.26 million), property (186.87 million), plantation (33.75 million), real estate investment trusts (12,29 million), closed-end fund (23,200), energy (145.98 million), healthcare (93.22 million), telecommunications and media (81.87 million), transportation and logistics (30.75 million), utilities (47.59 million), and business trusts (32,200).

Bursa Malaysia and its subsidiaries will be closed on May 27 in conjunction with the Aidiladha public holiday and will resume operations on May 28.

The exchange and its subsidiaries will also be closed on June 1 and 2 for the King’s Birthday and Wesak Day holidays, before resuming operations on June 3.

-- BERNAMA