Bursa Malaysia ended the final trading week of July on a firmer footing, with the FBM KLCI gaining 23.88 points or about 1.4% from 1,701.02 on July 24 to 1,724.90 on July 31.
The index extended its gains for a third straight session on Friday, rising 4.50 points or 0.26% as bargain-hunting in blue-chip counters and broad-based buying supported sentiment. The KLCI traded between 1,715.67 and 1,730.12 during the session.
The broader market also finished higher, with the FBM Emas Index gaining 57.46 points to 12,751.79, the FBM Shariah Index rising 65.80 points to 12,596.29 and the FBM70 Index adding 167 points to 18,135.79.
Trading momentum was already evident at the start of the week, with the KLCI gaining 12.07 points or 0.71% on Monday to 1,713.09. Financial counters led the gains, although market breadth remained mixed with 531 gainers against 547 decliners.
The market then navigated mixed global cues and heightened Middle East tensions through the middle of the week before finding firmer footing towards Friday, with technology and blue-chip counters attracting interest. Zetrix and NationGate were among the actively traded counters.
For the month, the KLCI ended July about 3.65% higher, adding to the positive tone in local equities.
Meanwhile, Bursa Malaysia Bhd reported stronger financial results during the week, with second-quarter FY2026 net profit rising to RM71.77 million from RM57.05 million a year earlier. Its 1H FY2026 profit after tax and minority interest rose 15.2% to RM144.6 million.
Securities market average daily trading value also increased about 35% year-on-year to around RM3.3 billion during the first half, while Bursa Malaysia declared an interim dividend of 16.5 sen per share.
