FBM KLCI advances despite broader market declines
The benchmark gained 7.87 points at midday, with Budget 2027 optimism and selective bargain hunting supporting sentiment.
Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark posted a 0.48 per cent gain at the midday break on Oct 12, despite declines across the wider market. At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) stood at 1,616.32, an increase of 7.87 points against Friday’s closing level of 1,608.45.
Bernama attributed the advance to selective bargain hunting, optimism over Budget 2027 and a recovery on Wall Street. The opening level was 1,611.03, representing a 3.34-point rise, before the benchmark traded within a morning range bounded by 1,608.91 and 1,619.30.
Market breadth remained negative: 662 counters fell, compared with 318 that gained. Prices were unchanged for 483 counters; 1,364 saw no trading and 12 were suspended. Transactions worth RM1.33 billion involved 1.96 billion units.
Among heavyweight counters, a 12 sen increase put Maybank at RM9.93, while Public Bank also gained 12 sen, reaching RM4.69. CIMB finished the morning at RM7.30 after adding four sen. Tenaga Nasional gained six sen, reaching RM12.94, whereas IHH Healthcare ended two sen lower, at RM7.88.
The Financial Services Index reached 18,609.90 after gaining 185.08 points. Other sector indices retreated: Energy closed the morning at 834.77, down 2.80 points, while Plantation ended at 8,876.79 after losing 13.47 points.
