The stock market ended the trading session on a slightly firmer note, supported by selective buying in plantation, technology, and banking counters, while profit-taking in consumer and industrial names capped broader upside.
At the closing bell, sentiment remained stock-specific as investors rotated into index-heavy plantation and semiconductor-linked names, even as selling pressure persisted in select consumer staples and mid-cap industrial stocks.
Leading the gainers was United Plantations Bhd, which rose 74 sen to RM33.70 on 643,700 shares traded, reflecting continued strength in plantation counters. Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd followed, adding 46 sen to RM46.96 on 476,400 shares, as semiconductor sentiment remained supportive.
Nestlé (Malaysia) Bhd edged higher by 30 sen to RM95.30 on 65,200 shares, while Hong Leong Bank Bhd gained 28 sen to RM22.00 on 408,300 shares, supported by steady interest in financial heavyweights.
Kelington Group Bhd also advanced, rising 24 sen to RM7.52 on heavy turnover of 5,394,800 shares, making it one of the most actively traded gainers of the session.
On the downside, Hong Leong Holdings Industries Bhd led the decliners, slipping 26 sen to RM18.74 on 1,840 lots traded. Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd eased 24 sen to RM27.66 on 3,510 shares, while Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd fell 18 sen to RM32.32 on 3,690 shares.
TMK Chemical Bhd dropped 17 sen to RM2.47 on 2,291,300 shares, reflecting weakness in selected telecom-related counters. XL Holdings Bhd declined 13.5 sen to RM0.75 on very heavy turnover of 6,641,900 shares, highlighting continued volatility in lower-priced stocks.
Market analysts noted that the session reflected a balanced but cautious tone, with gains in plantation, banking, and semiconductor stocks offset by weakness in consumer and selected mid-cap counters. Overall market breadth remained mixed, with trading activity concentrated in a few high-volume names.
