Kuala Lumpur, December 2 – Bursa Malaysia ended Friday trading day lower, with the FBM KLCI shed 9.71 points or -0.65% at 1,481.80. The benchmark index moved in tandem with regional peers.
On a macro-view, even though with the encouraging news on China plans to further scale back its strict anti-COVID measures, most Asian bourses retreated in negative territory. Traders were in cautious mood ahead of key U.S. payrolls data that is expected to factor into monetary policy.
It should be notable that uncertainty over the path of U.S. inflation also weighed on Asian stocks. The PCE inflation index, which is used by the Federal Reserve’s as its preferred inflation gauge, has remained well above the central bank’s target range in October.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was the laggard today with the index slid 1.59% and in a weekly basis, it dropped nearly 2% this week alone. Indeed, a slew of weak economic data has ramped up fears over a Japanese economic slowdown, as the land of the rising grapples with inflationary pressure and a weak currency.
** The FTSE BM KLCI opened at 1,489.36. The index fluctuated between 1,479.70 – 1,489.36.
** 541 counters are gainers, 416 counters are unchanged, while 406 counters are decliners.
** Total volume of 3.346 billion shares changed hands; while Turnover of RM 2.283 billion
** The Top 5 Gainers: NESTLE (138.00, +0.50); HEIM (25.98, +0.50); DIN045801028 (102.50, +0.50); CARLSBG (23.34, +0.36); AEONCR (13.32, +0.30)
** The Top 5 Losers: MPI (30.20, -1.50); KLK (20.80, -0.60); PANAMY (23.40, -0.50); HSI-HKH (1.29, -0.25); HEXTECH (13.20, -0.22)
** The Top 5 Active: ASB (0.19, +0.015); MQTECH (0.055, +0.005); VELESTO (0.16, +0.01); INFOM (0.825, +0.005); BJASSET-WB (0.01, +0.005)
Singapore’s Straits Times Index (STI) ceded 29.92 points or -0.91% to 3,262.81; Hong Kong’s HSI dropped 61.09 points or -0.33% at 18,675.35; Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index slid 448.18 points or -1.59% at 27,777.90; Shanghai’s SSE Composite Index down 9.33 points or -0.29% at 3,156.14; Korea’s Kospi Index shed 45.51 points or -1.84% at 2,434.33; Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index ceded 52.90 points or -0.72% at 7,301.50.
