Post by : Rameen Ariff

KUALA LUMPUR – Bursa Malaysia opened higher on Tuesday, lifted by positive Wall Street performance and optimism over easing US-China tensions and a potential end to the US government shutdown. At 9.19am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) climbed 3.54 points to 1,610.72 from Friday’s close of 1,607.18. Investors are closely watching the market, expecting bargain hunting to keep the index range-bound between 1,605 and 1,620. The Bursa Malaysia trading session reflected investor confidence following the upward momentum seen in global markets overnight.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng noted that Wall Street’s broad gains encouraged investor sentiment in Malaysia. “We believe bargain hunting activities will emerge anytime soon; hence, expect the index to hover between the 1,605-1,620 range today,” he said. The positive trend in Bursa Malaysia aligns with global market movements, as investors focus on constructive economic indicators while factoring in ongoing credit and geopolitical risks. Bargain hunting in Bursa Malaysia is expected to continue, supporting steady market performance throughout the day.

Active trading on Bursa Malaysia saw mixed performance across several stocks. MMAG and EA Holdings remained flat at 59 sen and half-a-sen, respectively, while Computer Forms edged up half-a-sen to 11 sen. Dagang Nexchange and PA Resources gained one sen each to 28 sen and 18 sen, respectively. Leading gainers on Bursa Malaysia included Nestle, which surged RM1.40 to RM106.40, Malaysian Pacific Industries, up 64 sen to RM29.56, MI Technovation, 14 sen firmer at RM2.84, and Tenaga Nasional, rising 12 sen to RM13.22. The activity reflects selective buying momentum in Bursa Malaysia as investors seek value in key sectors.

Meanwhile, top losers on Bursa Malaysia included Batu Kawan, down 30 sen to RM19, Fraser & Neave, which slipped 12 sen to RM28.02, and Hong Leong Financial and Petronas Dagangan, both decreasing eight sen to RM17.0 and RM22.14, respectively. These declines indicate cautious selling alongside targeted gains in specific Bursa Malaysia shares. Overall, market participants in Bursa Malaysia are balancing optimism with measured risk-taking as global economic developments influence trading patterns.

Sectoral performance on Bursa Malaysia was mixed. The Financial Services Index added 10.61 points to 18,203.05, while the Plantation Index fell 5.11 points to 7,855.75. The Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.31 points to 171.36, and the Energy Index gained 3.60 points to 792.53. The broader Bursa Malaysia indices also showed upward movement, with the FBMT 100 Index rising 40.13 points to 11,782.15, the FBM Emas Shariah Index up 61.61 points to 12,118.88, the FBM ACE Index gaining 47.96 points to 5,326.85, and the FBM Emas Index strengthening 44.57 points to 12,049.48. These gains demonstrate Bursa Malaysia’s steady recovery, supported by global market cues and local investor activity.

Analysts predict that Bursa Malaysia is likely to maintain its upward momentum in the near term, supported by global optimism and local market fundamentals. Investors continue to watch key sectors and bargain opportunities on Bursa Malaysia as geopolitical developments and economic updates shape market sentiment.

#Business News