Kuala lumpur: Bursa Malaysia remained higher at midday, aligning with positive regional markets, amid improved global sentiment after the US Treasury announced plans to significantly increase buyback sizes for long-term debt to manage rising yields. The decision followed the recent climb of the 30-year Treasury yield to its highest level since 2007.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose by 5.97 points to 1,737.29 from Wednesday's close of 1,731.32. The benchmark index opened marginally higher at 1,732.11 and fluctuated between 1,732.11 and 1,739.13 during the morning session. Despite the positive trend in the benchmark index, the broader market faced slight negativity with losers outnumbering gainers 513 to 508, while 557 counters remained unchanged, 1,294 were untraded, and 16 were suspended. Turnover was recorded at 2.28 billion units valued at RM2.07 billion.
Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd noted that the FBM KLCI is likely to remain within a range due to persistent external and domestic challenges, including heightened tensions in West Asia, the peak August results season, and ongoing foreign outflows. In regional markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose by 1.14% to 25,786.32, Japan's Nikkei 225 increased by 1.38% to 66,224.67, and South Korea's KOSPI Composite Index surged by 5.93% to 6,854.72. However, Singapore's Straits Times Index experienced a decline of 0.38% to 5,672.37.
Among major stocks, Maybank fell by four sen to RM10.60, Public Bank decreased by one sen to RM5.14, while Tenaga Nasional increased by two sen to RM14.42. CIMB Group and IHH Healthcare each gained five sen, reaching RM7.96 and RM8.35 respectively. On the active list, IJM Corporation rose by 11 sen to RM2.80, CBH Engineering Holding increased by 6.5 sen to 85.5 sen, YTL Corporation added 18 sen to RM2.40, and JCY International inched up by one sen to 52.5 sen. Land and General remained unchanged at 18 sen.
In terms of top gainers, Nestle surged by 80 sen to RM104.80, YTL Power International increased by 24 sen to RM5.12, Mi Technovation rose by 17 sen to RM6.42, and Hong Leong Bank climbed by 16 sen to RM22.84. Conversely, Malaysian Pacific Industries fell by 98 sen to RM45.12, United Plantations decreased by 30 sen to RM31.70, Dutch Lady Milk Industries dropped by 24 sen to RM31.70, Petronas Chemicals Group slid by 22 sen to RM4.47, and Ayer Holdings shed 20 sen to RM7.30.
Among broader indices, the FBM Mid 70 Index improved by 90.99 points to 18,225.26, the FBM Emas Shariah Index rose by 37.98 points to 12,673.11, and the FBM Emas Index increased by 45.47 points to 12,850.21. Additionally, the FBM Top 100 Index rose by 48.50 points to 12,668.37, and the FBM ACE Index increased by 30.62 points to 5,333.34. Sector-wise, the Plantation Index jumped by 54.48 points to 9,335.64, and the Financial Services Index appreciated by 11.29 points to 20,303.64, while the Industrial Products and Services Index slightly declined by 1.24 points to 188.31, and the Energy Index was lower by 1.35 points to 776.12.