Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session lower on Aug 3 as profit-taking in Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (PetChem), CelcomDigi Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) dragged the benchmark index by a combined 4.83 points, tracking weakness across most regional markets despite news that West Asia peace talks would resume.
At 12.30pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 2.08 points, or 0.12%, to 1,722.82 from its close of 1,724.90 on July 31. The index traded between 1,719.47 and 1,729.72 during the session.
The FBM 70 bucked the trend, adding 14.22 points, or 0.08%, to 18,150.01, the F4GBM slipped 0.80 point, or 0.08%, to 1,033.70, the FBM Emas eased 6.06 points, or 0.05%, to 12,745.73, the FBM Shariah declined 29.88 points, or 0.24%, to 12,566.41.
Market breadth was also negative, with 474 losers outpacing 392 gainers. Another 520 counters were unchanged, 1,344 untraded and 20 suspended. Turnover totalled 1.49 billion shares worth RM1.08 billion.
Among the top losers, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd fell 44 sen to RM27.46 on 22,800 shares. Ayer Holdings Bhd and Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd each lost 16 sen to RM7.20 and RM5.34, respectively, on volumes of 6,000 and 3,000 shares. PetChem dropped 15 sen to RM4.63 on 2.27 million shares, while TNB shed 12 sen to RM14.48 on 1.65 million shares.
On the upside, Nestlé (M) Bhd led the gainers, surging RM1.80 to RM102.90 on 97,800 shares. Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd rose 98 sen to RM46.98 on 56,700 shares, while AMMB Holdings Bhd gained 23 sen to RM6.99 on 6.61 million shares. Other top gainers include UWC Bhd, which climbed 15 sen to RM6.50 on 2.72 million shares, and Mi Technovation Bhd, which advanced 13 sen to RM5.71 on 1.34 million shares.
Among the morning session’s most actively traded counters, Hubline Bhd topped the list, slipping half a sen to three sen with 136.57 million shares changing hands.
Tanco Holdings Bhd added one sen to 27 sen on 36 million shares. Zetrix AI Bhd fell 1.5 sen to 73 sen with 29.34 million shares traded. NexG Bhd was unchanged at 27.5 sen on 21.19 million shares. Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd declined half a sen to six sen on 20.90 million shares.
