Bursa Malaysia opened slightly higher on Thursday, with the benchmark FBM KLCI edging up in early trade as investors took a selective approach across broader indices.
At 9.17am, the FBM KLCI rose 4.12 points or 0.25% to 1,660.95 from its opening level of 1,658.82. The index traded between 1,657.77 and 1,661.83 in the first minutes of the session.
Broader market performance was mixed, with gains in large-cap benchmarks offset by weakness in mid and small-cap indices. The FBMT100 added 12.02 points or 0.10% to 12,187.44, while the FBMEMAS rose 11.80 points or 0.10% to 12,360.92.
However, the FBM70 slipped 59.88 points or 0.33% to 17,856.49, while the FBMSCAP edged down 1.95 points or 0.01% to 15,420.67.
Sector-wise, trading was uneven. Consumer Products and Services led gains, rising 1.90 points or 0.39% to 494.11, suggesting early interest in defensive plays. Construction was largely flat, slipping 0.03 points to 282.48.
Energy stocks were softer, with the Energy Index down 2.59 points or 0.34% to 753.96, while the BMQ and BMQS indices also declined 0.47% and 0.53% respectively.
Among active counters, Velocity topped the volume chart after rising 0.015 to 0.075 with more than 100 million shares traded.
GIIB was among the most actively traded but held steady at 0.510, while Liftech gained 0.010 to 0.250 and VIS climbed 0.050 to 0.350. Tanco slipped 0.005 to 0.170.
In the broader gainers list, Nestlé led with a 0.740 increase to 92.50, followed by CHB which rose 0.210 to 1.620. UTDPLT, EcoShop and Hong Leong Bank also posted modest gains.
On the losing side, MPI fell 0.900 to 48.10, while Fraser & Neave dropped 0.420 to 27.52. KGB, UWC and Pentamaster also declined in early trade.
