The stock market ended the session with more decliners than gainers as heavyweights including Nestle (M) Bhd and United Plantations Bhd weighed on market sentiment, with losers narrowly leading gainers at 548 to 538.
A total of 585 counters closed unchanged, while 1,031 counters remained untraded and 22 were suspended. Market activity improved, with total turnover rising to 3.52 billion units worth RM2.75 billion compared to 3.09 billion units valued at RM2.23 billion in the previous session.
Among the top decliners, Nestle fell RM1.22 to RM90.50, making it the biggest loser of the day with 154,100 shares traded. United Plantations declined 48 sen to RM34.54, followed by Allianz Malaysia Bhd, which shed 32 sen to RM20.64.
Other notable laggards included Chin Well Holdings Bhd, down 13.5 sen to 68.5 sen, and Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, which eased 10 sen to RM16.06.
Meanwhile, petrochemical and energy-linked counters led the gainers. Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s listed unit Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd jumped 44 sen to RM4.79, emerging as the top gainer with 11.63 million shares traded.
Petronas Gas Bhd advanced 42 sen to RM17.88, while Hong Leong Bank Bhd climbed 36 sen to RM22.24. Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd and Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd each gained 34 sen to RM29.28 and RM8.19 respectively.
Trading momentum strengthened during the session, supported by higher participation across the broader market despite continued pressure on selected consumer, plantation and financial counters.
