BURSA MALAYSIA UP 0.33 PCT ON FIRMER RISK APPETITE AT MID-DAY

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- The benchmark index for Bursa Malaysia rose 0.33 per cent at mid-day on firmer risk appetite, as more investors returned after the year-end break, with buying seen in selected heavyweight counters.

At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 5.65 points to 1,675.41, up from Friday’s close of 1,669.76.

The FBM KLCI index had opened slightly lower at 1,669.08.

Market breadth was positive, with gainers outpacing losers 518 to 435. Some 503 counters were unchanged, 1,199 remained untraded, and 17 were suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.48 billion shares worth RM1.15 billion.

The benchmark index earlier slipped to 1,669.76 on profit-taking in CIMB and IHH, both down 15 sen, but buying interest later returned, underpinning a rebound.

By mid-day, IHH climbed 12 sen to RM8.72, CIMB Group gained 15 sen to RM8.25 and Press Metal advanced 10 sen to RM7.15, while Maybank and Public Bank each added four sen to RM10.48 and RM4.53, respectively.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd, in a note, said market sentiment may turn negative in the near term due to the Venezuelan situation. However, looking beyond external concerns, “Visit Malaysia 2026” is expected to benefit the consumer, tourism and real estate investment trusts sectors.

Meanwhile, on the most active list, Insights Analytics rose 33 sen to RM1.46, Tanco was unchanged at RM1.18, Zetrix AI fell half a sen to 80.5 sen, Pharmaniaga was flat at 28 sen and Capital A gained 1.5 sen to 42.5 sen.

Among the top gainers, Hong Leong Financial Group surged 44 sen to RM19.42, Kuala Lumpur Kepong gained 18 sen to RM19.98, Dutch Lady rose 18 sen to RM31.34, Malayan Cement was 17 sen higher at RM7.96 and Hong Leong Bank added 16 sen to RM22.44.

Of the top decliners, Hong Leong Industries eased 38 sen to RM16.22, Petronas Dagangan was 28 sen lower at RM19.78, and LPI Capital fell 18 sen to RM14.48.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index added 61.61 points to 12,318.06, the FBM Top 100 Index rose 59.70 points to 12,118.36, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index gained 39.71 points to 12,106.21.

The FBM Mid 70 Index gained 168.33 points to 17,020.80, and the FBM ACE Index added 1.36 points to 4,924.63.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index increased by 160.01 points to 19,750.00, the Energy Index gained 2.99 points to 769.76, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 1.70 points to 173.86, and the Plantation Index rose 6.20 points to 8,277.29.

-- BERNAMA