Late buying lifts FBM KLCI amid mixed regional markets

KUALA LUMPUR: Last-minute buying lifted the FBM KLCI into the black, reversing last Friday’s decline amid a mixed regional market performance.

The FBM KLCI edged up 1.21 points, or 0.07%, to 1,618.78. During the session, the benchmark moved within an 11.38-point range, hitting a high of 1,621.26 and a low of 1,609.88.

Losers outpaced gainers 611 to 533, with 530 counters unchanged. Overall turnover was active, with 5.8 billion shares traded for a value of RM5.24bil.

Dealers said investors' attention remained centred on upcoming corporate earnings, keeping the market in a narrow band.

They added that selective buying in index heavyweights helped keep the FBM KLCI marginally higher despite weaker sentiment across the broader market.

Among the gainers, Hong Leong Bank surged RM1.22 to RM22.22, Malaysian Pacific Industries jumped 88 sen to RM31.66, F&N rose 82 sen to RM33.44 and Dutch Lady gained 54 sen to RM29.04.

On the other hand, Hong Leong Industries slid 58 sen to RM14.42, PETRONAS Chemicals fell 33 sen to RM2.92, Ajinomoto lost 18 sen to RM13.60, and YTL declined 15 sen to RM2.31.

In currency markets, the ringgit strengthened 0.17% to 4.1405 against the US dollar. The local unit, however, eased 0.04% to 3.1725 against the Singapore dollar.

On the external front, MSCI’s Asia ex-Japan index rose 0.85%.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 slid 2.4% to 48,625.88, while South Korea’s Kospi eased 0.19% to 3,846.06. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 1.97% to 25,716.50.

In China, the CSI300 dipped 0.12% to 4,448.05, while the Shanghai Composite inched up 0.05% to 3,836.77.