KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index experienced a decline on its first trading day of 2025, affected by profit-taking activities and aligning with broader regional market trends. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) closed at 1,632.87, marking a decrease of 9.46 points or 0.58 percent from its previous close.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the market was closed on Wednesday for the New Year holiday, reopening Thursday with the index initially down 1.01 points at 1,641.32. Throughout the day, the index fluctuated between 1,629.23 and 1,641.32. Decliners outpaced gainers by 580 to 449, while 496 counters remained unchanged, with 830 untraded and 11 suspended. Turnover increased to 2.64 billion units valued at RM1.97 billion, compared to Tuesday’s 2.41 billion units valued at RM2.06 billion.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd’s equity research vice-president, Thong Pak Leng, stated that geopolitical tensions contributed to a cautious trading atmosphere in Asia as traders began reallocating assets for the new year. He noted that the benchmark index struggled to maintain the 1,635 support level and anticipated further consolidation until new catalysts emerge. Thong expects the FBM KLCI to trend between 1,625-1,635 towards the weekend.
SPI Asset Management’s managing partner, Stephen Innes, attributed the subdued start to a slump in China’s stocks, impacting key exporters like Malaysia due to a slowdown in manufacturing. He pointed out that the disappointing data overshadowed previous positive readings in China’s construction and services Purchaser Managers Index. Innes mentioned that global trading remains calm, with many major international investors yet to return, leaving the market susceptible to holiday-thinned conditions.
Regional markets mirrored this trend, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 index falling 0.96 percent, China’s SSE Composite Index declining 2.66 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index easing 2.18 percent, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.16 percent.
Heavyweight stocks showed mixed performances. CelcomDigi and SD Guthrie added value, while Petronas Gas and MISC saw gains. In contrast, Maybank, Public Bank, CIMB, and Tenaga Nasional experienced declines. Active stocks like Velocity Capital and SNS Network rose, while others like Hubline saw slight decreases.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index, FBM Emas Shariah Index, and FBMT 100 Index recorded losses, while the FBM ACE Index surged. The sectoral indices presented varied results, with the Financial Services, Industrial Products and Services, and Plantation Indices experiencing declines, whereas the Energy Index climbed.
Market volumes indicated a decrease in the Main Market turnover but an improvement in warrants turnover. The ACE Market volume was slightly higher than the previous session. Consumer products and services, industrial products and services, and technology sectors saw significant trading activity.