FBM KLCI gains 0.37 per cent at midday on heavyweight buying
Decliners outnumbered advancing counters on the broader market, with trading turnover at 1.93 billion units worth RM1.40 billion.
Buying interest in plantation and healthcare heavyweights helped lift Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark at midday on Oct 14. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) stood at 1,629.39 at 12.30 pm, a gain of 6.04 points, equivalent to 0.37 per cent, against the previous close of 1,623.35.
Market breadth was negative despite the benchmark’s advance: 480 counters declined and 425 rose. A further 521 showed no change, while 1,432 were untraded and 21 suspended. Shares traded numbered 1.93 billion units, valued at RM1.40 billion.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng said bargain hunting in banking stocks had driven the pickup in buying, with local funds possibly involved. His expectation was for the benchmark to remain resilient and move within the 1,620-1,630 range.
CIMB traded at RM7.60 after a 10 sen rise, while Public Bank was at RM4.75, up five sen. Maybank’s one sen advance took it to RM9.97. IHH Healthcare rose to RM8.04, adding six sen, but Tenaga Nasional was six sen lower at RM12.98.
Among active counters, Ecosys was up 52.5 sen at 79.5 sen and Top Glove gained 3.5 sen, reaching 89 sen. Zetrix AI traded at 5.5 sen after losing one sen. Malaysian Pacific Industries was among the leading gainers, rising to RM41.92 after adding 76 sen.
The largest decline was recorded by Samaiden Group, down 26 sen at RM2.81. Sector indices were mixed, with the Plantation Index advancing 58.74 points to 8,871.86 and the Energy Index falling 4.07 points to 830.99.
