Bursa malaysia: Bursa Malaysia experienced a decline at midday, influenced by ongoing profit-taking activities and a weakened risk appetite, as the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) braces for further volatility due to significant external and domestic challenges. At 12.30 pm, the FBM KLCI decreased by 2.71 points to 1,712.08 compared to the previous close of 1,714.79.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the benchmark index began the day 1.65 points lower at 1,713.14, fluctuating between 1,710.44 and 1,714.50 throughout the morning session. The market's broader landscape was negative, with 537 decliners surpassing 424 gainers. Meanwhile, 519 counters remained unchanged, 1,319 were untraded, and 25 were suspended, resulting in a turnover of 2.59 billion units valued at RM1.46 billion.
Apex Securities Sdn Bhd cited external pressures, notably the escalation in West Asia, which has driven oil prices to approximately US$97 per barrel, potentially reigniting inflationary concerns just as markets had anticipated a more dovish approach from the US Federal Reserve. The risk of further military conflict is also poised to maintain elevated volatility in the near term.
The stockbroking firm expects the FBM KLCI to remain range-bound in the short term as investors weigh domestic supportive factors against lingering external uncertainties, with a keen focus on developments in West Asia. Global bond yield movements and upcoming US inflation data are anticipated to offer further insights into the Federal Reserve's policy trajectory.
The firm expressed caution despite Monday's positive close, highlighting that elevated crude oil prices and rising US Treasury yields could sustain inflationary pressures and dampen risk appetite. In the corporate sphere, significant movements were observed among heavyweights; Maybank fell by 2.0 sen to RM10.56, CIMB decreased by 3.0 sen to RM7.97, while Tenaga gained 4.0 sen to RM13.88.
Active stocks included Zetrix AI, which increased by 4.0 sen to 31 sen, and Cuscapi, which gained 1.5 sen to 6.0 sen. Among the top gainers, United Plantations rose 86 sen to RM33.06, while Nestle advanced 42 sen to RM94.32. Conversely, Malaysian Pacific Industries led the top losers, dropping 38 sen to RM39.44.
On the index board, the FBM Mid 70 Index climbed 9.79 points to 17,786.65, and the FBM ACE Index increased 12.69 points to 5,271.00. However, the FBM Emas Index reduced by 10.35 points to 12,650.14, and the FBM Top 100 Index fell by 13.03 points to 12,454.02. The FBM Emas Shariah Index slightly increased by 4.45 points to 12,414.98.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index dropped 34.60 points to 20,154.14, while the Plantation Index gained 33.88 points to 9,422.56. The Industrial Products and Services Index saw a minor decline of 0.23 of a point to 186.73, and the Energy Index eased by 1.67 points to 807.54.