Kuala Lumpur, December 20 – Moving in tandem with the regional peers, Bursa Malaysia edged lower on Tuesday. The benchmark index, FBM KLCI shed 9.77 points or -0.66% at 1,467.32.
In a surprise move, Bank of Japan (BoJ) tweaked its bond yield controls – a move that will allow long-term interest rates to rise more. The central bank’s decision was interpreted as a signal that the forces which drove the yen to three-decade lows this year may be beginning to turn.
Meanwhile, BoJ has kept broad policy settings unchanged as it widened the allowable band for long-term yields to 50 basis points either side of that, from 25 basis points previously.
As a result of this move, Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index slid 2.46% at 26,568.03.
Other Asian bourses also slumped following the negative cue of Wall Street performance overnight as well as Tokyo Stock Exchange.
** The FTSE BM KLCI opened at 1,473.73. The index fluctuated between 1,465.58 – 1,476.23.
** 328 counters are gainers, 401 counters are unchanged, while 544 counters are decliners.
** Total volume of 2.774 billion shares changed hands; while Turnover of RM 1.782 billion
** The Top 5 Gainers: HLFG (18.78, +0.28); LEBTECH (0.93, +0.21); MSNIAGA (1.45, +0.17); PANAMY (23.00, +0.16); MASTER (2.59, +0.15)
** The Top 5 Losers: MPI (30.56, -0.50); PCHEM (8.18, -0.33); PPB (17.18, -0.28); FANG-2XL (4.73, -0.25); BKAWAN (21.62, -0.24)
** The Top 5 Active: LEFORM (0.235, +0.02); ASB (0.185, -0.02); SERBADK (0.015, 0.00); SUNVIEW (0.595, -0.02); YEWLEE(0.43, +0.005)
Singapore’s Straits Times Index (STI) down 3.47 points or -0.11% to 3,253.14; Hong Kong’s HSI slid 258.01 points or -1.33% at 19,094.80; Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index nosedived 669.61 points or -2.46% at 26,568.03; Shanghai’s SSE Composite Index shed 33.35 points or -1.07% at 3,073.77; Korea’s Kospi Index dropped 18.88 points or -0.80% at 2,333.29; Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index ceded 109.60 points or -1.54% at 7,024.30.
