At closing, Malaysian stock exchange’s benchmark composite index fell 5.77 points to settle at 1,603.20 points, from Tuesday’s close of 1,608.97 points
During the trading day, the index fluctuated between the low of 1,598.93 points and the high of 1,605.01 points, reflecting a gap of 6.08 points.
This morning, the stock market already opened lower, shedding 5.78 points due to weaker overnight US market as cautious investors await the release of November Consumer Price Index (CPI) that is widely expected to sway the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision next week.
As at 9:10am, the benchmark index fell 5.84 points, then continued to spiral down to below the 1600-point support level in late morning. As at 10:25am, the benchmark KLCI lost 9.00 points to 1,599.96 points.
Towards midday, the key index regained some lost grounds, giving up just 6.43 points to conclude the half-day session. At closing, the index recovered 0.66 of a point from midday, losing 5.77 points intraday to close at 1,603.20 points, just three points above the 1600-threshold.
On the broader market, decliners outnumbered gainers by 652 to 419, while 489 counters were unchanged, 917 untraded.
Exchange-wide turnover decreased to 2.59 billion (2,587,094,300) shares/units valued at RM2.46 billion (RM2,461,267,821) from nearly 2.74 billion (2,738,812,200) shares/units valued at over RM2.64 billion (RM2,638,652,685) recorded on Dec 10.
Three exchange-maintained sector indices and three FBM suite palm oil indices registered an intraday decline of over 1.00%.
The Health Care Index recorded the biggest drop of 1.69%, settling at 2,294.88 points, followed by the Industrial Products & Services Index which shed 1.25% to close at 174.00 points, and the Plantation Index which gave up 1.09% to end the day at 7,641.19 points.
The FBM suite of palm oil indices included the US dollar-denominated index, FBMAPUSD, which decreased 1.48% to close at 11379.29 points; Malaysian ringgit-denominated index, FBMAPMYR, which slid 1.39% to settle at 17,523.89 points; and lastly, the non-capped FBMPALMOIL-NC index which trimmed 1.30%, closing at 12,519.25 points.
The Technology Index registered the biggest index gain, rising 0.50% to close at 62.40 points, followed by the Financial Services Index which added 0.26% to settle at 19,152.66 points, and the Telecommunications & Media Index which went up marginally by 0.10% to end the day at 542.73 points.
Main board-listed technology firm Dagang Nexchange Bhd (DNex) was the most actively traded counter at midday, registering a volume of over 106 million (106,090,300) shares/units, rising four sen to RM0.395. At closing, DNex was still the most active counter, surging 4.5 sen to close at RM0.40 on a volume of over 132 million (132,344,500) shares/units.
Semiconductor manufacturer Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd was the second-ranking gainer which climbed 34 sen to settle at RM25.70.
Aurelius Technologies Bhd, a Main market industrial listing, added 17 sen to RM3.22 on a turnover of 374,000 shares/units at midday. Aurelius managed to climb to the fourth spot on the top gainers’ list at closing, gaining 26 sen, or 8.52%, to close at RM3.31 on a turnover of 830,400 shares/units.
United Plantations Bhd recorded the biggest intraday loss of 48 sen today to become the top decliner, settling at RM31.12 on a volume of 292,700 shares/units. Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd slid 28 sen, closing at RM21.32.
Corresponding to the sector index which declined 1.69% intraday, health-related stock IHH Healthcare Bhd decreased 28 sen, or 3.8%, to close at RM7.16 on a volume of 12,302,500 shares/units. Sunway Bhd also shed 28 sen, or 5.88%, to settle at RM4.51 on a volume of 25,589,300 shares/units.
Notably, IHH at midday shed 33 sen to RM7.11, registering 5,741,000 shares/units which is half of the closing turnover, and recovered five sen towards closing, giving up just 28 sen intraday.
At midday, main board’s industrial conglomerate Sunway Bhd, decreased 18 sen to 11,226,400 shares/units. Towards closing, Sunway Bhd traded further down by ten sen, shedding 28 sen intraday.
