Jakarta:Bursa Malaysia The market remained positive at midday, bolstered by buying in selected heavyweight stocks across key sectors such as consumer products and services, telecommunications and media, and industrial products and services, in anticipation of the presentation of Budget 2027.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) increased by 6.08 points, or 0.38%, to 1,607.09, compared to Thursday's closing at 1,601.01. The index began trading 1.93 points higher at 1,602.94 and fluctuated between 1,600.55 and 1,609.94 during the morning session.
In the broader market, the number of gainers slightly exceeded losers with 478 to 469, while 502 counters remained unchanged, 1,379 were untraded, and 13 were suspended. The total turnover reached 2.03 billion units valued at RM1.34 billion.
Notable movements included 99 Speed Mart Retail, which rose 15 sen to RM3.27, CelcomDigi gaining five sen to RM2.52, and Press Metal Aluminium adding seven sen to RM7.19, collectively boosting the composite index by 4.32 points.
Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd noted that Budget 2027 is the focal point today, with investors observing measures aimed at supporting strategic industries and household spending. They highlighted that 99 Speed Mart Retail might benefit from increased allocations under Budget 2027, potentially enhancing expenditure at value retailers.
Other significant stock movements included Sunway Bhd and Gamuda, each adding seven sen to RM4.38 and RM5.02, respectively. Axiata increased by five sen to RM1.64, whereas Petronas Gas and Petronas Chemicals declined, losing 38 sen to RM17.42 and five sen to RM4.21, respectively.
In active trading, both Zetrix AI and V.S Industry rose by half a sen to eight sen and 33.5 sen, respectively. Meanwhile, Dagang NeXchange slipped half a sen to 52 sen, Top Glove decreased by three sen to 84.5 sen, and XiDeLang remained stable at half a sen.
Among the top gainers, Mi Technovation climbed 62 sen to RM6.70, United Plantations increased by 52 sen to RM30.92, Kuala Lumpur Kepong rose 18 sen to RM20.72, Malaysian Pacific Industries gained 32 sen to RM43.82, and TMK Chemical advanced 16 sen to RM2.77.
On the downside, Fraser and Neave led the decliners, falling 18 sen to RM20.46. Genting Plantations dropped 16 sen to RM5.58, Allianz Malaysia lost 12 sen to RM20.04, FCW decreased by 11 sen to RM1.70, and Negri Sembilan Oil Palms declined by 10 sen to RM5.35.
On the index board, the FBM Mid 70 Index rose 114.79 points to 17,651.86, the FBM Emas Index increased by 52.87 points to 12,082.63, the FBM Top 100 Index strengthened by 53.38 points to 11,858.49, the FBM Emas Shariah Index climbed 65.50 points to 12,125.33, and the FBM ACE Index gained 30.89 points to 5,625.67.
Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.82 of a point to 179.65, the Energy Index eased by 0.04 of a point to 839.30, the Plantation Index added 44.24 points to 8,914.03, and the Financial Services Index slightly decreased by 0.51 of a point to 18,377.94.