KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 ― The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) opened slightly lower this morning on a lack of buying interest and in line with the weaker overnight performance of Wall Street.
At 9.10am, it eased 1.72 points to 1,675.05 after opening 4.78 points weaker at 1,671.99.
Of the heavyweights, Petronas Chemicals declined five sen to RM6.73, Maxis fell four sen to RM6.61, Telekom declined six sen to RM6.50 and Maybank was down two sen to RM8.39.
Among actives, XOX inched upward half-a-sen to 24 sen, 1 Utopia was flat at five sen, Wintoni trimmed one sen to 5.5 sen and DPS Resources edged downward half-a-sen to 11 sen.
In a research note today, JF Apex Securities Bhd said it expects the key index to remain pressured, with support at 1,645 points following the lacklustre performance of Wall Street.
“The US market tumbled after oil prices dropped below US$40 per barrel and weak manufacturing data,” it added.
Meanwhile, European equities were mixed, amid weak inflation data in the region, and the possibility of further stimulus to be announced by the European Central Bank later today.
In terms of market breadth, the decliners-to-gainers ratio was at 145 to 100, with 184 counters unchanged, 1,340 untraded and 15 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 142.24 million shares worth RM39.71 million.
On the scoreboards, the FBM Emas Index improved 24.18 points to 11,717.18, the FBMT100 Index was up 22.08 points to 11,400.28 and the FBM Emas Syariah Index rose 23.94 points to 12,605.47.
The FBM 70 edged up 34.47 points to 12,975.75 and the FBM Ace improved 37.53 points to 6,647.32.
On a sectoral basis, the Finance Index eased 25.41 points to 14,164.85, the Industrial Index added 13.91 points to 3,301.36 and the Plantation Index gained 4.54 points for 7,501.74. ― Bernama
