BURSA MALAYSIA REMAINS HIGHER AT MIDDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia maintained its positive tone at midday, supported by buying interest in most heavyweights as market sentiment continued to improve, analysts said. 

At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) advanced 0.79 per cent or 12.10 points to 1,525.70 from Tuesday’s close of 1,513.60.  

The benchmark index opened 3.10 points higher at 1,516.61 and moved between 1,514.65 and 1,525.73 throughout the morning trading session.  

Market breadth, however, was negative, with decliners leading gainers 413 to 318, while 416 counters were unchanged, 1,322 untraded, and 46 suspended.  

Turnover stood at 2.16 billion shares worth RM1.17 billion.

Maybank Investment Bank Bhd said that with April 2, 2025, approaching, tariff-related headlines would be crucial in shaping global market sentiment. 

Technically, it expects the benchmark index to range between 1,505 points and 1,525 points today, with supports remaining at 1,470 points and 1,440 points.

Meanwhile, MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd said that going into the second quarter of calendar year 2025 (2Q 2025), it expects that markets would continue to be volatile due to uncertainties stemming from the United States (US) trade policies.

The bank expects that there may be some moderating or tailwind factors, such as the expectation of the US rate cuts this year.

“This should engender a weaker US dollar, which may entice foreigners to return to our markets. However, given the indecisiveness of US policies, it is not a given.

“Hence, for our 2Q 2025, we are looking at a couple of ‘what-if’ scenarios surrounding possible US economic growths and its impact on the Malaysian economy and equities market,” it said in its “MIDF Market Outlook Second Quarter (2Q) 2025: Buckle Up Your Seat Belt” report. 

Of the heavyweights, Axiata and Maxis surged 13 sen each to RM1.91 and RM3.39, respectively. Public Bank added 5.0 sen to RM4.49, while CIMB and CelcomDigi perked up 6.0 sen each to RM7.06 and RM3.51, respectively. 

As for the actives, ACE Market debutant Chemlite Innovation Bhd fell 2.0 sen to 23 sen, Reneuco added half-a-sen to 5.5 sen, Wawasan Dengkil rose 2.0 sen to 25 sen, Pertama Digital fell 2.0 sen to 13.5 sen, and Borneo Oil was flat at 1.0 sen. 

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index soared 64.46 points to 11,415.96, the FBMT 100 Index gained 69.29 points to 11,177.71, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index increased 63.02 points to 11,153.21.

The FBM 70 Index recovered 24.40 points to 16,330.96, but the FBM ACE Index fell 20.22 points to 4,725.58.  

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index jumped 135.05 points to 18,558.82, the Industrial Products and Services Index slid 0.17 of-a-point to 153.15, the Plantation Index grew 12.39 points to 7,450.06, and the Energy Index gained 0.99 of-a-point to 755.57.  

-- BERNAMA