Bursa Malaysia flat as investors await 13MP and trade clarity

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended marginally higher amid cautious trading, as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) announcement and external developments.

The FBM KLCI ended flat, closing at its intraday high of 1,524.50, up 0.68 points or 0.04%, after dipping to a low of 1,516.96 earlier in the day.

In the broader market, losers outnumbered gainers with 570 stocks ending lower and 377 stocks finishing higher. A total of 2.65 billion shares were traded, with a value of RM2.07bil.

Dealers said market sentiment is likely to remain subdued due to lingering uncertainties surrounding the ongoing US-Malaysia trade negotiations, coupled with anticipation ahead of the 13MP, which is set to be tabled on Thursday.

They noted that investors are holding back as they await clearer direction on policy and economic outlook.

Among the gainers on Bursa Malaysia, British American Tobacco jumped 43 sen to RM5.32, PETRONAS Chemicals gained 28 sen to RM4.07, Chin Tek rose 27 sen to RM9.76 and Hong Leong Bank added 26 sen to RM19.03.

Conversely, Nestle slid 40 sen to RM87.40, F&N fell 30 sen to RM28.60, Allianz lost 28 sen to RM17.42 and United Plantations declined 22 sen to RM21.78.

On the forex market, the ringgit weakened 0.08% against the US dollar to 4.2375, and 0.09% against the Singapore dollar to 3.2924.

Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was firmer by 0.04%.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 dipped 0.05% to 40,654.70, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.36% to 25,176.93.

South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.74% to 3,254.47, China’s Shanghai Composite added 0.17% to 3,615.72, and the CSI300 Index inched up 0.02% to 4,151.24.