BURSA MALAYSIA ENDS MORNING SESSION FLAT WEIGHED DOWN BY GLOBAL UNCERTAINTIES

By NurulJannah Kamaruddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended almost flat in the morning session weighed down by global trade war uncertainties and their possible impact on US inflation.

At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) trimmed 1.36 points to 1,590.92 compared to yesterday’s close of 1,592.28. 

The market barometer opened 0.63 of-a-point higher at 1,592.91 and fluctuated between 1,590.07 and 1,595.01.

Losers outnumbered gainers 448 to 379, while 465 counters were unchanged, 1,027 untraded and 22 suspended.

Turnover totalled 1.84 billion units worth RM1.12 billion.

An analyst noted that volatilities persisted despite the relief provided to the market by the delayed implementation of reciprocal tariffs by US President Donald Trump.

Additionally, regional markets were mixed, thus offering limited impetus to the local market.

At home, he added that the release of Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) data was limited, having already been factored in.

The Malaysian economy grew 5.1 per cent in 2024, within the government's target range of 4.8 per cent to 5.3 per cent year-on-year. The GDP expanded by 5.0 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024 (4Q 2024).

Among the heavyweights, CelcomDigi led the laggards, losing 27 sen to RM3.60, Petronas Chemicals declined nine sen to RM4.01 and 99 Speed Mart dipped seven sen to RM2.13.

Meanwhile, IHH, Press Metal and Sunway each rose seven sen to RM7.28, RM5.03 and RM4.69, respectively, helping to curb the further decline in the main index.

Dialog led the active counters, shrinking 31 sen to RM1.50, while Harvest Miracle was flat at 14.5 sen.

YBS International dipped 14.5 sen to 62.5 sen and Aizo lost half-a-sen to 11.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index slid 20.97 points to 12,106.17, the FBMT 100 Index was 22.01 points weaker at 11,807.36 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index fell 58.33 points to 11,874.76.

The FBM 70 Index trimmed 80.02 points to 17,855.33 and the FBM ACE Index dwindled 44.27 points to 5,174.97.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index was 49 points stronger at 19,294.24 and the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.06 of-a-point to 164.23.

The Plantation Index eased 5.27 points to 7,476.38, and the Energy Index declined 20.89 points to 797.47.

-- BERNAMA