Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session mixed, with the key index rising by 0.39%, boosted by sustained buying interest in selected heavyweights.
At lunch break, the benchmark FBM KLCI index had increased by 5.69 points to 1,477.24, from Tuesday’s (Dec 6) closing at 1,471.55.
The market bellwether opened 0.09 of a point easier at 1,471.46, and moved between 1,466.46 and 1,477.86 throughout the morning session.
On the broader market, losers led gainers 474 to 344, while 381 counters were unchanged, 1,056 untraded, and 10 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 1.85 billion units valued at RM958.54 million.
Hong Leong Investment Bank said trading conditions may remain choppy in the near term, as investors await more policy leads from the unity Government, the upcoming US Federal Open Market Committee meeting, and the vote of confidence on the prime minister when Parliament convenes on Dec 19.
“However, the downside risk is limited in anticipation of further economic reopening in China,” it said in a research note on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Bursa heavyweights Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) rose eight sen to RM8.69 and IHH Healthcare Bhd strengthened eight sen to RM5.90, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd jumped 14 sen to RM5.71, Public Bank Bhd was unchanged at RM4.45 and Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd was flat at RM8.56, and Digi.Com Bhd declined two sen to RM3.78.
Among the actives, Dataprep Holdings Bhd edged up half a sen to 31.5 sen and Solution Group Bhd rose 2.5 sen to 34.5 sen, Borneo Oil Bhd was unchanged at two sen and MQ Technology Bhd was flat at 6.5 sen, whereas Advance Synergy Bhd lost half a sen to 18 sen and SMTrack inched down half a sen to 6.5 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index improved 26.41 points to 10,609.41, the FBMT 100 Index went up 34.55 points to 10,310.49, the FBM Emas Shariah Index eased 5.14 points to 10,762.54, the FBM 70 earned 22.90 points to 12,953.67, and the FBM ACE expanded by 27.90 points to 5,527.39.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index soared 126.09 points to 16,565.51, the Industrial Products and Services Index ticked down 0.55 of a point to 182.22, the Plantation Index improved by 14.46 points to 6,739.49, and the Energy Index trimmed 11.73 points to 794.09.
