BURSA Malaysia opened mixed for the second consecutive day amid Wall Street’s weaker performance overnight as traders remained on the sidelines ahead of some economic data due for release later today. 

At 9.10 am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) added 2.07 points to 1,391.95 from 1,389.88 at Monday’s close.

The key index opened 0.99 of-a-point better at 1,390.87.

However, the broader market was negative with decliners surpassing advancers 136 to 124, while 215 counters were unchanged, 1,860 untraded and 40 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 254.18 million units worth RM63.79 million.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said the FBM KLCI was marginally lower yesterday following some late selling on financial services stocks in line with the weaker regional performances.

“The market rebounded today but we reckon the trading pattern to be similar to yesterday’s in the absence of any positive signs, thus anticipate the index to hover within the 1,385-1,395 range.

“We expect more follow-through selling on technology stocks after yesterday’s selling as sentiment on the sector turned cautious following a series of rate hikes in Europe,” he told Bernama. 

Among the heavyweights, Maybank and Public Bank rose two sen each to RM8.72 and RM3.88, respectively, CIMB perked up one sen to RM5.20, Tenaga Nasional eased one sen to RM9.17, while IHH Healthcare was flat at RM5.89.

Of the actives, Sapura Energy, Sarawak Consolidated and Tanco rose half-a-sen each to four sen, 44 sen and 55.5 sen, respectively, while DGB Asia and Classita were flat at one sen and nine sen, respectively. 

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index was 9.46 points better at 10,219.16, the FBMT 100 Index garnered 10.05 points to 9,924.29, and the FBM ACE Index dipped 29.58 points to 5,000.72, while the FBM Emas Shariah Index went down 1.35 points to 10,497.92, and the FBM 70 Index gave up 6.61 points to 13,371.39.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index increased 31.56 points to 15,453.11, the Industrial Products and Services Index was 0.02 of-a-point higher at 158.58, while the Energy Index gained 0.27 of-a-point to 781.38 and the Plantation Index edged up 4.53 points to 6,723.34. — Bernama