Kuala Lampur:Bursa Malaysia: Bursa Malaysia experienced an increase at the opening on Tuesday, aligning with Wall Street's positive overnight momentum. This rise came despite muted oil prices following a recovery in West Asia's crude exports, which countered a continued sell-off in US Treasuries.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose by 7.14 points, or 0.44 percent, reaching 1,638.89 from the previous close of 1,631.75. The index had opened 4.63 points higher at 1,636.38. In the broader market, gainers surpassed losers 272 to 202, with 364 counters unchanged, 1,944 untraded, and 13 suspended. Turnover stood at 440.19 million units valued at RM164.76 million.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd noted that the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite advanced by 0.2 percent, 0.7 percent, and 1.1 percent, respectively. Additionally, Brent crude oil was priced at US$100.3 per barrel, and the 10-year Treasury yield was at 5.3 percent. Locally, investors are expected to remain selective ahead of the Budget 2027 announcement, focusing on sectors potentially benefiting from the government's emphasis on AI infrastructure and projects like Tenaga Nasional Bhd's National Grid Backbone.

Efforts to reduce non-revenue water are also highlighted, with companies such as ISF Group Bhd and Ranhill Utilities Bhd potentially benefiting. Moreover, 99 Speed Mart Retail could attract renewed interest due to expected increases in consumer assistance allocations.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd's equity research vice-president, Thong Pak Leng, mentioned that Wall Street's positive close, led by AI-related stocks, helped offset concerns over escalating bond yields. He anticipates the index to fluctuate between 1,630 and 1,640, suggesting opportunities for bargain hunting.

Key movers among heavyweights included Maybank and Tenaga Nasional, which increased by four sen each, and CIMB, which rose by three sen. In active trading, Zetrix AI gained half a sen, while SLGC eased by 3.5 sen on its ACE market debut. Top gainers included Batu Kawan and Nestle, while HeiTech Padu led the decliners.

On the index board, the FBM Mid 70 Index, FBM Emas Index, and FBM Top 100 Index all experienced gains. Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services, Energy, Financial Services, and Plantation indexes also saw increases.