BURSA MALAYSIA STAYS POSITIVE AT MIDDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia stayed positive at midday as buying momentum persisted throughout the morning trading session, led by the healthcare, industrial and consumer products and services counters, analysts said. 

At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) strengthened 10.93 points, or 0.67 per cent, to 1,631.80, from Wednesday’s close of 1,620.87.

The benchmark index opened 0.81 of-a-point higher at 1,621.68, and moved between 1,621.68 and 1,633.86 during the session.

Market breadth was encouraging with gainers leading decliners 738 to 330. Meanwhile, 461 counters were unchanged, 1,044 untraded, and 16 suspended.

Turnover stood at 2.57 billion units, valued at RM1.72 billion.

In a note, Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd (HLIB) said it maintains a constructive view on the FBM KLCI as it enters a seasonally strong fourth quarter.

“We see scope for a retest of the 1,625-1,640 resistance zone ahead of the Oct 10 tabling of Budget 2026, which is expected to balance people-friendly measures with fiscal prudence.

“Improving risk sentiment and the potential return of foreign inflows further support a positive bias into year-end, with room to erase the current year-to-date (YTD) decline of 1.3 per cent,” it said. 

Among heavyweights, IHH Healthcare jumped 31 sen to RM8.25, CIMB rose 9.0 sen to RM7.54, Tenaga gained 12 sen to RM13.22, Petronas Chemicals bagged 8.0 sen to RM4.33, and Maybank improved 4.0 sen to RM9.99.

In active trade, ACE Market debutant Camaroe and VS Industry were 2.0 sen better at 16 sen and 62 sen, respectively, Pharmaniaga added half-a-sen to 29 sen, SNS advanced 5.0 sen to 74 sen and CBHB increased 4.5 sen to 51.5 sen. 

Other than IHH Healthcare, notable top gainers were Malaysian Pacific Industries, which jumped 86 sen to RM29.76;  UWC, 39 sen higher at RM4.24; Vitrox, 35 sen firmer at RM4.30; and Allianz, 34 sen stronger at RM18.74.

As for the top losers, Nestle slid 66 sen to RM96.74, Hume Cement Industries shed 13 sen to RM3.30, United Plantations erased 12 sen to RM22.90, Plenitude was 8.0 sen weaker at RM2.23, and Kuala Lumpur Kepong declined 8.0 sen to RM20.54. 

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index accumulated 92.01 points to 12,147.78, the FBMT 100 Index rose 89.71 points to 11,879.25, the FBM Emas Shariah Index advanced 99.77 points to 12,178.17, the FBM 70 Index leapt 172.90 points to 17,021.79, and the FBM ACE Index firmed 77.99 points to 5,281.27.

By sector, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 1.48 points to 173.98, the Energy Index was up 0.68 of-a-point to 779.03, the Plantation Index grew 4.78 points to 7,7792.89, and the Financial Services Index soared 125.60 points to 18,535.37.

-- BERNAMA