KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 ― The bellwether FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) opened lower today in line with its regional peers and Wall Street's mixed overnight performance.
At 9.07am, the index was 2.54 points lower at 1,699.87 from yesterday's close of 1,702.41. It opened 1.74 points weaker at 1,700.67.
In a research note, JF Apex Research said the FBM KLCI is expected to remain flat and hover around 1,700 points today.
“US markets were mixed following flat oil prices and investors are awaiting comments from the Federal Reserve over the timing of any interest rate hike,” it said in a research note today.
On Bursa, losers edged gainers 98 to 96, while 140 counters were unchanged, 1,411 untraded and 58 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 94.44 million shares worth RM55.79 million.
Among heavyweights, TNB rose six sen to RM8.87, IHH Healthcare gained five sen to RM6.54, while Maybank declined three sen to RM8.87.
Public Bank shed eight sen for RM18.50 and Petronas Chemicals fell two sen to RM6.68.
Of the actives, Bison Consolidated surged seven sen to RM1.17, Key Asic and XOX both edged up half-a-sen to 22.5 sen and 13.5 sen respectively, while AirAsia eased one sen to RM1.88.
The FBM Emas Index depreciated 17.98 points to 11,794.17, the FBMT100 Index declined 17.88 points to 11,494.79 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index gave up 9.64 points for 12,435.89.
The FBM Ace increased 23.27 points to 5,644.74, but the FBM 70 depreciated 22.82 points to 13,070.77.
Sector-wise, the Plantation Index rose 13.06 points to 7,877.69, the Finance Index advanced 56.68 points to 14,437.42 and the Industrial Index contracted 5.93 points to 3,264.33. ― Bernama
