KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 ― The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) opened lower this morning, with Petronas-linked stocks among the top losers after oil prices edged lower.
At 9.08am, the FBM KLCI was 6.03 points easier at 1,681.83, versus yesterday's close of 1,687.86. It opened 6.55 points lower at 1,681.31.
However, gainers outpaced losers 122 to 116, with 137 counters unchanged,1,361 untraded and 28 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 103.32 million shares worth RM42.4 million.
Petronas Gas fell 32 sen to RM21.98, Petronas Dagangan declined 26 sen to RM24.50 and Petronas Chemicals declined 16 sen to RM6.70.
The global benchmark Brent Crude ended six days of gains yesterday to close 2.9 per cent lower at US$39.65 (RM163.63) a barrel.
AllianceDBS Research said the FBM KLCI's movement showed that market players are unwilling to play a more aggressive buying game.
“An analysis of the overall market action yesterday revealed that buying power was weaker than selling pressure. As such, the FBM KLCI will likely trade below the 1,684.53 level today,” it said in a note.
Among heavyweights, Maybank was two sen lower at RM8.76, TNB rose eight sen to RM13.38 and Public Bank lost four sen to RM18.66.
Among the actives, Borneo Oil gained half-a-sen to 14 sen, while SKH Consortium, AirAsia X and Sterling Progress were flat at seven sen, 28.5 sen and 3.5 sen respectively.
On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index lost 31.89 points to 11,623.57, the FBMT100 Index fell 32.64 points to 11,340.65 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index declined 26.39 points to 12,312.95.
The FBM 70 shed 7.55 points to 12,778.92 and the FBM Ace inched down 4.29 points to 5,580.55.
Sector-wise, the Plantation Index was 13.12 points lower at 7,826.41, the Industrial Index was down 22.42 points for 3,262.01 and the Finance Index contracted 35.05 points to 14,304.39. ― Bernama
