Kuala Lumpur stock exchange’s benchmark index at midday advanced 3.71 points to 1,601.04, after retreating for two days on Monday and Tuesday.
This morning, the key index opened unchanged at 1,597.33 points from Tuesday’s close.
During the half-day session, the index moved from 1,594.75 points to 1,602.38 points, representing a gap of 7.63 points.
As at 9:21am, the key index fell 2.58 points to 1,594.75 points. Towards late morning, the index recovered slightly, narrowing the loss to 2.35 points to reach 1,599.68 points as at 10:23am.
The key index picked up towards midday to conclude the half-day session above the 1600-point support level.
The Health Care Index recorded the biggest gain, rising 1.56% to 2,335.58 points at midday largely due to rallies of glovemakers. Hartalega Holdings Bhd was up nine sen to reach RM3.92 (+2.35%), Supermax Holdings Bhd added eight sen to RM1.18 (+7.27%), Top Glove Corporation Bhd advanced six sen to RM1.37 (+4.58%), and lastly Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd climbed three sen to RM2.65 (+1.15%). However, Hextar Healthcare Bhd, also a glove manufacturer, was unchanged at RM0.185 at the conclusion of the half-day session.
The Energy Index gave up 0.63% to 811.50 points while the Technology Index shed 0.51% to 63.79 points.
Carlo Rino Group Bhd, largely a handbag and footwear retailer, debuted today on the ACE market and was the most actively traded stock, recording a volume of 80,403,000 shares/units at midday. The shares of Carlo Rino traded down 4.5 sen to RM0.225 as at 12:30pm, from its listing price of RM0.27. During the half-day session, the stock price moved between RM0.215 and RM0.25.
Tenaga Nasional Bhd was among midday top gainers, advancing 22 sen to RM14.02 on a volume of 3,477,400 shares/units .
Meanwhile, Hong Leong Bank Bhd recovered from yesterday’s retreat to gain 18 sen to RM20.30 at midday, recording a turnover of 200,600 shares/units. Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd also recovered from Tuesday’s decline and climbed 18 sen to RM18.12 at midday on a moderate volume of 41,700 shares/units.
United Plantations Bhd registered the biggest gain during the half-day session, rising 64 sen to RM33.04 on a volume of 296,900 shares/units.
Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd recorded the biggest midday decline of 32 sen to RM26.08 on a volume of 35,600 shares/units.
Ace market’s construction listing Jati Tinggi Group Bhd rose 6.5 sen to RM0.47 on midday on a volume of 14,184,000 shares/units. Local media reported that Jati on Tuesday engaged in talks with Public Bank Bhd over an RM14.88 million solar power project that has sent its shares up. At midday, Public Bank’s shares traded at RM4.51, down one sen, on a volume of 3,091,700 shares/units.
During the half-day trading session, decliners led gainers by 429 to 384, while 527 counters were unchanged, 1,131 untraded and 10 suspended.
Exchange-wide midday turnover stood at 1.35 billion shares/units valued at RM941.73 million.
