Malaysian stock exchange’s benchmark index today surged 6.67 points to settle at 1,608.75 points, after four consecutive days of decline during the week that saw the index trimming a cumulative 11.17 points.
Throughout the trading day, the key index moved within a range of 8.24 points, from 1,603.74 points to 1,611.98 points.
Regional markets mostly traded downward as the Mainland and Hong Kong stock markets plunged nearly 2%.
This morning, the benchmark index opened 1.78 points higher. As at 9:10am, the key index continued to rise 3.54 points, and moved up by 4.21 points in late morning as at 10:54am. At midday, the index climbed 6.94 points points, reaching 1,609.02 points. During the half-day session, the key index moved between 1,603.74 points and 1,610.06 points, reflecting a range of 6.32 points. The half-day volume amounted to over 1.59 billion (1,592,951,400) valued at nearly RM1.04 billion (RM1,036,092,845).
The exchange’s sector indices rallied accordingly in line with the nearly 7-point surge of the composite index. The Health Care Index recorded the biggest percentage increase, rising by 2.87% to settle at 2,333.66 points, followed by the Technology Index which added 2.18% to close at 63.70 points, and the Construction Index which advanced 1.16%, closing at 307.06 points. Notably, at midday, the health sector index already climbed 1.18% while the Construction Index added 1.04%.
Meanwhile, the Energy Index decreased marginally by 0.50% to 820.00 points, followed by the REIT Index and the Plantation Index which fell 0.36% and 0.25%, respectively. The REIT Index settled at 858.22 points whereas the Plantation Index closed at 7,635.05 points. (REIT: Real Estate Investment Trust)
The FBM suite of palm oil indices also decreased. The US dollar-denominated index (FBMAPUSD) lost 0.50%, the ringgit-denominated index (FBMAPMYR) gave up 0.16%, and the non-capped index (FBMPALMOIL-NC) slid 0.18%.
Healthcare listing Top Glove Corporation Bhd was the most actively traded stock today, registering a turnover of 69,945,500 shares/units, advancing nine sen intraday to settle at RM1.41.
Main board’s technology listing Vitrox Corporation Bhd added 27 sen to settle at RM3.81 on a volume of 1,890,200 shares/units while utilities listing Petronas Gas Bhd traded up 22 sen to close at RM17.32 on a turnover of 1,642,700 shares/units.
Long-standing foodstuff distributor Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd recorded the biggest intraday gain of RM1.22 today to return to the RM100.00 level for the first time in 30 days.
Consumer goods listing PPB Group Bhd shed 12 sen, closing at RM12.58 on a volume of 410,000 shares/units.
Utilities firm Tenaga Nasional Bhd surged 22 sen to reach RM13.78 at midday, recording a turnover of 777,200 shares/units. At closing, Tenaga retreated by six sen from midday, adding just 16 sen intraday to settle at RM13.72 on a volume of 3,119,500 shares/units which expanded by more than 2.3 million.
At midday, Bursa Malaysia Bhd, the exchange company, increased 16 sen to RM8.88 on a volume of 399,600 shares/units. Towards closing, the exchange company’s stock prices continued to surge by four sen, rising 20 sen intraday to end at RM8.92 on a volume of 1,409,300 shares/units.
Midday gainer Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd rose 11 sen to RM5.06 on a volume of 3,962,300 shares/units. Towards closing, Press Metal retreated by one sen to rise just ten sen intraday, closing at RM5.05 on a volume of 9,238,700 shares/units.
Leap market’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) listing Hydropipes Bhd gained five sen to close at RM0.30 on a volume of 63,100 shares/units. The 5-sen raise reflected a 20% premium over its IPO issuance price of RM0.25.
On the broader market, gainers outnumbered decliners by 611 to 488, while 477 counters were unchanged, 925 untraded.
Exchange-wide turnover increased to nearly 2.79 billion (2,785,135,650) shares/units valued at over RM2.40 billion (RM2,401,580,453), from 2.22 billion (2,216,326,600) shares/units valued at more than RM1.19 billion (RM1,188,687,111) recorded on Thursday.
