15 hours ago
KLCI Inches Higher At Midday While Broader Market Stays Mixed
Bursa Malaysia's benchmark index edged up at midday on Friday, supported by gains in blue-chip counters, although broader market sentiment remained cautious ahead of key economic data and global developments.
As at 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI rose 2.00 points to 1,550.99, after moving between 1,547.70 and 1,551.78 throughout the morning session. The marginal gain of 0.13% kept the index hovering near its recent high, as investors selectively picked up index-linked stocks.
In contrast, the FBM 70 slipped 33.88 points to 16,798.65, down 0.20%, while the FBM ACE and small-cap stocks also showed mixed performances. The FBM Emas Shariah Index dipped 0.04% to 11,633.61, weighed down by declines in Shariah-compliant counters, while the broader FBM Emas Index added 6.93 points to 11,624.63.
The FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index (F4GBM) gained 0.61 points to 940.70, reflecting modest interest in ESG-aligned stocks amid continued focus on sustainability-themed investing.
In terms of actives, Borneo Oil remained the most traded stock with 734.81 million shares unchanged at 0.005 sen. Zetrix rose 2 sen to 99.5 sen with 728.80 million shares done, while Nexgram climbed 0.5 sen to 39.5 sen. Natgate gained 7 sen to RM1.74, while UCrest slipped 1 sen to 8.5 sen.
Sentiment remained cautious despite the index's uptick, with investors keeping an eye on global cues including US labour market data and the direction of interest rates. Market activity is expected to stay range-bound heading into the weekend. Related
