KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Bursa Malaysia closed mixed on cautious trading today, with composite index ending in positive territory supported by last-minute buying interest, dealers said.   

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained a boost 10 minutes before the trading closed, finishing at 1,776.82, up 0.26 of a point from Friday’s close.

The barometer index fluctuated between 1,780.27 and 1,773.56 throughout the day amid weak regional sentiments.   

Mercury Securities Research Head Edmund Tham said sentiments were pressured by mounting concerns over external developments especially by Washington’s lack of progress in resolving the US budget stalemate.   

“This issue will remain weighing on the sentiments until it is solved as the market was directionless due to lack of fresh catalyst to spur the market,” he told Bernama.

Tham said the uncertain condition has curbed risk appetite as reflected in the subdued interest in blue chips but third liners remained active.

On the scoreboard, the Finance Index soared 58.95 points to 16,574.43, the Plantation Index rose 14.14 points to 8,363.97, but the Industrial Index shed 0.6 of a point to 3,060.82. 

The FBM Emas Index increased 12.62 points to 12,364.3, the FBMT100 was 14.7 points better at 12,103.87, the FBM 70 Index surged 70.37 points to 14,138.67 but the FBM ACE Index lost 45.32 points to 5,332.28.   

Decliners led advancers 428 to 296, with 316 counters unchanged, 570 untraded and 15 others were suspended.

Turnover improved to 1.622 billion shares worth RM1.232 billion from Friday’s 1.58 billion shares worth RM1.44 billion. – Bernama