Kuala lumpur: The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is likely to trade sideways next week as profit-taking activities may emerge in leading blue-chip counters in the near term. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng noted that the benchmark index is expected to move within the 1,740-1,760 range next week, after it maintained levels above 1,730-1,740 this week. According to BERNAMA News Agency, in the previous close, the FBM KLCI pared losses and finished in positive territory due to late buying as regional markets ended mostly lower. This was attributed to concerns over the United States rate outlook, alongside heightened tensions in Iran that dampened risk appetite. The index was also undergoing consolidation after its recent climb, though underlying fundamentals and sentiment remained encouraging. During the trading week just ended, the FBM KLCI futures traded slightly higher, tracking the underlying cash market, in light of short trading due to the Chinese New Year (CNY) holidays. The market was closed on February 17 and 18 for the CNY holidays. On a Friday-to-Friday basis, the February and March 2026 contracts added 6.0 points each to 1,746.0 and 1,726.50. The March and September 2026 contracts both climbed 7.5 points to 1,731.5 and 1,719.50. Turnover for the week dipped to 20,360 lots from 39,076 lots in the preceding week, while open interest increased to 49,706 contracts from 43,523 contracts previously. The FBM KLCI rose 13.29 points to 1,752.83 from 1,739.54 a week earlier.