Kuala lumpur: Bursa Malaysia opened higher on Thursday, reflecting optimism over a potential end to the US government shutdown, despite Wall Street’s mixed performance. At 9.10 am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 2.50 points to 1,634.11, after opening 2.18 points higher at 1,633.79, from Wednesday’s close of 1,631.61.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, market breadth was positive, with gainers outnumbering losers 178 to 165. Additionally, 271 counters remained unchanged, with 2,125 untraded and 10 suspended. The turnover totalled 129.38 million shares valued at RM60.08 million.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd noted that Wall Street’s mixed close was influenced by hopes for progress on the US government shutdown, which supported a risk-on sentiment. However, concerns over technology valuations limited gains. This optimism positively impacted the local bourse, particularly benefiting local technology stocks with high momentum.

Among heavyweight stocks, Maybank and Public Bank remained stable at RM9.94 and RM4.27, respectively. CIMB added one sen to RM7.60, while Tenaga Nasional gained four sen to RM13.44 and IHH Healthcare increased by six sen to RM8.30.

On the most active list, Borneo Oil, Tanco, and Dagang Nexchange were unchanged at one sen, 94 sen, and 30 sen, respectively. MMAG and VS Industry rose by half-a-sen to 8.0 sen and 47.5 sen, respectively.

Top gainers included Nestle, which increased by 90 sen to RM113.80, Fraser and Neave added 58 sen to RM31.62, Dutch Lady rose 32 sen to RM27.60, and VSTecs firmed by 15 sen to RM4.37.

Top losers were United Plantations, which fell 76 sen to RM25.48, Paragon decreased by 4.5 sen to 61 sen, while Pentamaster and Panasonic lost four sen each to RM3.84 and RM7.85, respectively.

On the index board, the FBMT 100 Index advanced 66.84 points to 11,909.46, the FBM Emas Index jumped 71.57 points to 12,156.15, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index rose 11.38 points to 11,878.12. Conversely, the FBM ACE Index declined by 0.81 of a point to 5,063.86, and the FBM Mid 70 Index weakened by 13.37 points to 16,942.09.

By sector, the Plantation Index strengthened by 5.94 points to 8,179.42, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up by 0.67 of a point to 168.40, the Financial Services Index increased by 12.17 points to 18,440.03, while the Energy Index decreased by 0.71 of a point to 757.38.