Kuala Lumpur: The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) ended the morning trading session on a slightly lower note, influenced by continuous selling in selected heavyweight stocks and a decline in oil prices due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. At 12.30 pm, the benchmark index decreased by 0.37 of-a-point, or 0.02 percent, to 1,516.24, compared to Monday’s close of 1,516.61.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the FBM KLCI opened 2.36 points lower at 1,514.25 and fluctuated between 1,511.09 and 1,519.06 during the session. Despite the decline in the main index, the broader market showed positive signs with 528 gainers surpassing 327 decliners, while 393 counters remained unchanged, 1,190 were untraded, and 41 were suspended. The turnover reached 1.56 billion units worth RM865.60 million.
At the time of writing, Brent crude oil prices fell by 2.42 percent to US$69.75 per barrel. Public Investment Bank Bhd noted that oil prices have almost returned to levels before the Iran-Israel escalation began over a week ago, following an initial six percent rise in response to the tensions. The decline in oil prices accelerated sharply after Iran announced a missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, used by the United States military.
Among the heavyweights, Maybank rose by 15 sen to RM9.82, Tenaga Nasional increased by four sen to RM14.34, while Public Bank decreased by 14 sen to RM4.28, CIMB fell by four sen to RM6.76, and IHH Healthcare dropped nine sen to RM6.76. In terms of active stocks, Cuckoo and Dnonce Technology remained unchanged at RM1.08 and three sen, respectively, NexG added one sen to 36 sen, and Tanco gained 1.5 sen to 93.5 sen.
Oil and gas-related stocks also saw active trading, with Reservoir Link dropping 10 sen to 33 sen, Hibiscus Petroleum declining 15 sen to RM1.68, and Velesto Energy remaining unchanged at 18.5 sen. On the index board, the FBM Emas Index increased by 9.94 points to 11,299.12, the FBMT 100 Index rose by 4.90 points to 11,088.80, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index climbed by 46.39 points to 11,258.30. The FBM 70 Index gained 40.49 points to 16,112.58, and the FBM ACE Index rose by 23.27 points to 4,401.12.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index declined by 30.32 points to 17,642.47, and the Energy Index decreased by 17.90 points to 728.05. In contrast, the Industrial Products and Services Index increased by 1.34 points to 148.72, and the Plantation Index added 0.64 of-a-point to 7,231.19.