KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — Bursa Malaysia opened marginally lower but quickly reversed course, with investors remaining active in the market ahead of crucial Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the United States.

At 9.05am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) advanced 0.53 of-a-point to 1,606.41 versus yesterday’s close of 1,605.88.

The barometer index opened 0.13 of-a-point easier at 1,605.75.

In the broader market, gainers led decliners 229 to 141, while 327 counters were unchanged, 1,671 untraded and 23 others suspended.

Turnover amounted to 311.67 million units worth RM149.0 million.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng noted that the FBM KLCI maintained its strength above the 1,600 mark, supported by persistent accumulation of blue chips.

“For today, we anticipate trading participation to be similar to yesterday’s, as investors await the crucial CPI data from the US,” he told Bernama.

Therefore, the index is expected to hover within the 1,600 to 1,610 range again, he added.

Meanwhile, crude oil prices have softened, with Brent crude now trending at US$82 per barrel due to a build-up in US inventory.

Among heavyweights, Maybank dropped two sen to RM9.86, Public Bank remained unchanged at RM4.17, CIMB gained two sen to RM6.81, TNB stayed flat at RM12.44, while Petronas Chemicals declined three sen to RM6.94.

Sin-Kung Logistics emerged as the most active counter, gaining half-a-sen to 13.5 sen, followed by Top Glove, which added 11 sen to RM1.07. TWL remained unchanged at 2.5 sen, and Jaks Resources decreased half-a-sen to 12.5 sen.

The exchange meanwhile has approved MAHB’s request for suspension in the trading of all the company’s securities, effective from 9am to 5pm today, pending the release of a material announcement.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index gained 27.37 points to 12,164.50, the FBMT 100 Index was 27.27 points better at 11,768.44 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index added 29.44 points to 12,361.78.

The FBM 70 Index soared 135.32 points to 17,183.56 while the FBM ACE Index accumulated 10.09 points to 5,334.50.

Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.29 of-a-point to 193.75 while the Financial Services Index erased 4.94 points to 17,526.13, the Plantation Index eased 23.85 points to 7,410.74, and the Energy Index shed 0.37 of-a-point to 985.50. — Bernama