Bursa Malaysia closed the morning session of July 1 on a firmer note, supported by selective buying in heavyweight counters, particularly within the utilities sector, amid broadly range-bound trading conditions.
At 12:30pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 1.47 points to 1,665.53 compared to its close of 1,664.06 on June 30.
The broader indices also edged higher in tandem, with the FBM 70 gaining 47.99 points to 17,965.45, while the FBM EMAS and FBM SHA indices added 17.33 points and 9.47 points to 12,402.44 and 12,293.32, respectively, reflecting steady but measured participation across the broader market.
Market sentiment remained mildly constructive, with 468 gainers outpacing 410 decliners. A further 459 counters were unchanged, while 1,284 were untraded and 14 suspended, underscoring cautious but stable trading momentum.
Buying interest was concentrated in selected large-cap names, with YTL Power International Bhd emerging among the most actively traded gainers, rising 31 sen to RM4.49 on 24.7 million shares, while Critical Holdings Bhd surged 32 sen to RM1.41.
Other gainers included Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, KESM Industries Bhd and Ayer Holdings Bhd, which posted modest advances amid thin but targeted flows into defensive and infrastructure-linked stocks.
On the downside, profit-taking was seen in several defensive counters. Nestlé (M) Bhd led the laggards, slipping RM1.32 to RM92.14, followed by Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Gas Malaysia Bhd and Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, which all edged lower in subdued trading.
Overall, the mid-session performance reflected a market still lacking strong directional catalysts, with gains concentrated in selective heavyweight and utilities-linked counters, while broader participation remained measured ahead of fresh cues in the afternoon session.
