BURSA MALAYSIA SLIPS AT MIDDAY ON PROFIT-TAKING

By Zufazlin Baharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia remained easier at midday, as profit-taking activities in selected blue-chip counters persisted, led by the healthcare counters. 

At 12.30 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slid 4.16 points to 1,747.14, from Monday’s close of 1,751.30.

The index opened 4.16 points higher at 1,755.46 and fluctuated between 1,745.61 and 1,761.57 during the morning trading session.

Market breadth was negative with 430 decliners edging past 425 gainers. Another 479 counters were unchanged, 1,317 remained untraded, and 11 were suspended.

Turnover totalled 1.38 billion units valued at RM1.12 billion.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research, Thong Pak Leng told Bernama that market players are booking their profits following the FBM KLCI’s positive performance yesterday.

The benchmark index started the week on a high note yesterday, underpinned by the start of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah cash distribution programme, while Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s resounding win continued to lift sentiment across Asian markets today.

Among heavyweights, IHH Healthcare fell 13 sen to RM8.81, 99 Speedmart Retail Holdings lost 12 sen to RM4.03, Tenaga Nasional slid 16 sen to RM13.98 and Maybank edged down four sen to RM12.02, while Public Bank added three sen to RM5.11.

On the most active list, Zetrix AI declined one sen to 79.5 sen, MMAG Holdings, Pharmaniaga and Bina Puri remained flat at 4.5 sen, 30 sen and 29.5 sen, respectively, while Capital A rose one sen to 59 sen.

Of the top gainers, Fraser & Neave Holdings rose by 28 sen to RM33.28, Malaysian Pacific Industries gained RM1.10 to RM32.68, Chin Teck Plantations jumped 58 sen to RM11, Hong Leong Financial Group increased by 28 sen to RM22.68, and Axiata Group expanded 18 sen to RM2.37.

As for the leading decliners, Nestle slid 30 sen to RM111.30, Petronas Dagangan slipped 48 sen to RM20.24, Hong Leong Bank shed 16 sen to RM24.84, Negri Sembilan Oil Palms fell 15 sen to RM5.75, and Dutch Lady Milk Industries eased by 14 sen to RM33.

On the index board, the FBM Top 100 Index lost 21.56 points to 12,594.66, the FBM Emas Index fell 17.99 points to 12,766.56, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index was 16.45 points lower at 12,218.27, while the FBM Mid 70 Index rose 8.28 points to 17,498.67, and the FBM ACE Index gained 9.32 points to 4,738.64.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index tumbled 17.41 points to 21,707.54, and the Industrial Products and Services Index eased 1.08 points to 174.93, while the Energy Index gained 1.24 points to 740.85, and the Plantation Index advanced 22 points to 8,380.52.

-- BERNAMA