Bursa opens firmer as KLCI rises 5.01 points in early trade
Advancing counters outnumbered decliners 224 to 158, while trading value reached RM98.78 million.
Malaysia’s benchmark equity index reached 1,635.88 at 9.10 am on Oct 5, gaining 5.01 points or 0.31 per cent. Bursa Malaysia followed gains on Wall Street, where softer US payroll growth reduced expectations of an immediate Federal Reserve rate increase.
The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) began trading at 1,633.42, up 2.55 points from the previous close of 1,630.87. Across the market, 337 counters were unchanged, while 2,054 were untraded and 24 suspended. Trading volume reached 206.30 million shares.
Thong Pak Leng, Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research, said sentiment remained sensitive to interest rates and developments in West Asia. He cited an elevated US 10-year yield of 5.28 per cent and Brent crude’s settlement price of US$102.25 per barrel.
Thong expected tentative stabilisation in a 1,625-1,635 range on Oct 5, with bargain hunting providing some support despite underlying caution.
Among individual stocks, Samaiden rose 19 sen to RM3.03 and UWC added 16 sen to RM7.73. IHH Healthcare lost six sen to RM7.74, while Nestle fell 32 sen to RM89.20, leading the decliners.
Sector indices also advanced. Financial Services rose 97.59 points to 19,138.10, while Energy climbed 2.57 points to 835.60. Plantation added 2.23 points to 9,058.78.
