KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia experienced a positive session by midday, with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rising 0.30 percent, driven by consistent buying in select heavyweight stocks as year-end window-dressing activities continued to influence the market. The benchmark index increased by 4.91 points to reach 1,633.05, following Friday’s close at 1,628.14, amid a trading range of 1,624.92 to 1,633.53.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the broader market displayed a competitive edge with 444 gainers compared to 436 decliners, and 494 counters remained unchanged. Additionally, 1,038 counters were left untraded, and 67 were suspended, contributing to a turnover of 1.45 billion units valued at RM903.23 million.
Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd suggested that solar-related counters, such as Solarvest, present trading opportunities following Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s inclusion in the shortlist to develop a 500-megawatt solar plant in Kedah as part of the fifth large-scale solar program. The brokerage maintains a positive outlook on export-oriented sectors like technology and gloves, which are expected to benefit from the strong US dollar environment. They also highlighted healthcare and consumer products and services sectors as offering stability amid year-end market fluctuations.
Among the heavyweights, Maybank saw an increase of eight sen to RM10.18, IHH Healthcare rose by three sen to RM7.26, and CelcomDigi moved up one sen to RM3.66. Press Metal gained two sen to RM4.90, while Public Bank experienced a decline of three sen to RM4.54. CIMB and TNB each decreased by two sen, closing at RM8.13 and RM14.72, respectively.
In terms of active stocks, Vanzo increased by one sen to 21 sen, JCY International added half-a-sen to 57.5 sen, and Supermax climbed three sen to RM1.31. SNS Network, however, saw a slight decline, easing one sen to 66 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index improved by 44.39 points to 12,526.14, while the FBM Emas Shariah Index and the FBMT 100 Index increased by 55.14 points and 41.39 points, respectively. The FBM 70 Index advanced 81.24 points, and the FBM ACE Index edged up 1.90 points. Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index rose 12.47 points, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up slightly, and the Energy Index also noted a minor increase. In contrast, the Plantation Index saw a decrease of 4.65 points.