BURSA MALAYSIA OPENS HIGHER, TRACKS WALL ST’S FIRM GAINS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index opened higher on Monday, tracking Wall Street’s gains after fresh demand for technology stocks propelled the US market.

At 9.10 am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) stood at 1,630.96, up 1.50 points from Friday’s close of 1,629.46. 

The index had initially opened 0.28 of-a-point higher at 1,629.74.

Across the broader market, gainers outpaced losers 278 to 159, with 361 counters unchanged, 1,555 untraded, and 10 suspended. 

Turnover stood at 318.51 million units, valued at RM181.36 million.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd noted that Singapore’s Prime Minister is visiting Malaysia today to formalise the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), prompting traders to refocus on Johor-related counters.

“Additionally, given the recent rise in crude oil prices, we expect continued trading opportunities in the Energy sector. 

"Data centre investments are also expected to boost earnings in the construction, building materials, and utilities sectors,” the brokerage said in a note.

This week, traders will monitor key economic data, including the Eurozone Consumer Price Index (CPI), China’s CPI, and the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI).

Among heavyweights, Maybank and Tenaga Nasional each gained two sen to RM10.16 and RM14.62, respectively. Public Bank added three sen to RM4.53, while CIMB was flat at RM8.11. However, IHH Healthcare fell seven sen to RM7.21.

In active stocks, Velocity Capital and Careplus rose one sen each to 8.0 sen and 27 sen, respectively. Harvest Miracle increased 1.5 sen to 20.5 sen, and MYEG was half-a-sen firmer at 99 sen. Aimflex declined half-a-sen to 15 sen.

On the broader index, the FBM Emas Index gained 28.73 points to 12,562.37, the FBM Emas Shariah Index rose 22.27 points to 12,568.76, and the FBMT 100 Index climbed 27.02 points to 12,229.91.

The FBM 70 Index added 100.18 points to 18,967.52, while the FBM ACE Index increased 17.33 points to 5,489.89.

By sector, the Energy Index rose 5.56 points to 856.86, the Financial Services Index jumped 32.80 points to 19,055.87, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.08 of-a-point to 174.53, and the Plantation Index gained 5.91 points to 7,604.42.

-- BERNAMA