Malaysian Stock Market Opens Easier

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian stock market (Bursa Malaysia) opened easier on lack of catalyst, in tandem with global stock markets which were mildly mixed overnight, dealers said. At 9.06 am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 2.27 points softer at 1,726.39 from yesterday's close of 1,728.66. The index opened 2.88 points easier at 1,725.78. However, market breath was positive as gainers outpaced decliners 150 to 77 with 225 counters unchanged, 1,251 untraded and 16 others were suspended. Turnover stood at 180.38 million shares worth RM61.42 million. Public Investment Bank Bhd, in a note, said the FBM KLCI might trade sideways while foreign exchange movements were relatively muted. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 index declined 6.92 points to close at 2,368.39, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 29.58 points to end at 20,924.76 and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 15.25 points to finish at 5,833.93, said the investment bank. On the home front, the FBM Emas Index declined 9.11 points to 12,198.97, the FBMT 100 Index fell 11.58 points to 11,871.39 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index shed 8.49 points to 12,606.8. The FBM 70 added 1.39 points to 14,232.76 and the FBM Ace was 16.97 points higher at 5,319.45. Sector-wise, the Finance Index eased 12.73 points to 15,508.53, the Plantation Index declined 47.19 points to 8,126.95 and the Industrial Index was 1.96 points lower at 3,250.66. Among heavyweights, Maybank was one sen higher at RM8.81 while TNB and Public Bank were down two sen each to RM13.68 and RM19.92, respectively. Meanwhile, Sime Darby and IHH Healthcare were both flat at RM9.11 and RM5.98, respectively. Among actively-traded stocks were Frontken, MMAG, Palette, Priceworth and Karyon which rose one sen each to 24.5 sen, six sen, 7.5 sen, 17 sen and 24.5 sen, respectively. -- BERNAMA