KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — Bursa Malaysia closed lower today as sentiment was soured by rising geopolitical worries following US’ missile attacks on Syria.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 2.2 points to 1,739.52 from Friday’s close of 1,741.72.
The key index opened 1.99 points lower at 1,739.73 and hovered between 1,736.72 and 1,741.68 throughout the day.
Market breadth was negative with 469 losers and 430 gainers, while 380 counters were unchanged, 447 untraded and 19 others suspended.
Volume decreased to 3.66 billion units worth RM2.1 billion from Friday’s 5.22 billion units worth RM3.39 billion.
A dealer said the US attacks on Syria last week prompted stern responses from Syria allies including warning of a possible response “with force” to any new aggression.
“Increased geopolitical risks prompted investors to favour safe-haven bets such as government debt,” he said.
Regionally, major Asian markets were mixed with Japan’s Nikkei 225 gaining 133.28 points to 18,797.88 while Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index eased 17.22 points to 3,269.39 and Hong Kong Hang Seng declined 5.12 points to 24,262.18.
On the local front, the FBM Emas Index increased 2.91 points to 12,416.27, FBMT100 Index improved one point to 12,041.56 and the FBM 70 jumped 62.12 points to 14,738.87.
The FBM Ace increased 51.71 points to 6,245.65 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index went up 7.09 points to 12,890.02.
Sector-wise, the Finance Index gained 13.47 points to 15,717.51 and the Industrial Index added 2.06 points to 3,260.5 while the Plantation Index fell 56.71 points to 8,107.07.
Of the heavyweights, Maybank decreased one sen to RM8.99, Public Bank lost two sen to RM19.98 and Petronas Chemicals eased five sen to RM7.73.
TNB and Sime Darby added two sen each to RM13.70 and RM9.34, respectively.
Among actives, Key Alliance gained 1.5 sen to 9.5 sen, EAH and Tiger Synergy added one sen each to 9.5 sen and six sen, respectively, Johan perked four sen to 37 sen and SKH earned half-a-sen to 16 sen.
Bursa Malaysia has issued an unusual market activity (UMA) query to Willowglen MSC Bhd due to the sharp rise in price of the company’s shares, which closed 30 sen higher at RM1.32.
Main Market turnover decreased to 2.04 billion units worth RM1.9 billion from Friday’s 3.27 billion units worth RM3.09 billion.
Volume on the ACE Market fell to 1.47 billion shares valued at RM182.61 million from 1.70 billion shares valued at RM256.32 million.
Warrants contracted to 129.91 million units worth RM15.13 from 248.69 million units worth RM35.67 million.
Consumer products accounted for 108.6 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (419.28 million), construction (146.37 million), trade and services (692.93 million), technology (152.17 million), infrastructure (7.58 million), SPAC (1.51 million), finance (153.86 million), hotels (972,000), properties (338.48 million), plantations (19.11 million), mining (10,000), REITs (2.32 million) and closed/fund (26,600). — Bernama
