KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 26): Bursa Malaysia rebounded to trade higher on Wednesday (Oct 26), with buying interest sparked by election play, and Wall Street’s rally after a slew of stronger-than-expected corporate earnings.
The FBM KLCI ticked up 4.97 points to 1,449.38 after eight minutes of trading, compared with Tuesday’s close at 1,444.41.
The barometer index opened 3.16 points higher at 1,447.57.
The broader market was positive, with gainers outpacing losers 166 to 94, while 221 counters were unchanged, 1,883 untraded, and 11 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 122.23 million units valued at RM65.19 million.
Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said traders are tuning to the 15th general election theme, with foreign investors remaining as net buyers in the past few days.
“The telecommunications and media sector may continue to stay active with the ongoing 5G roll-out, while waiting for the retabling of Budget 2023.
“For the election theme, we like construction, building materials, as well as selected banking stocks. Meanwhile, the technology sector may track the solid overnight gains in the Nasdaq,” the research house said in a note.
Commodities-related counters are also in the limelight, after crude oil traded above US$93 per barrel, while crude palm oil hovered above RM4,150 per tonne.
Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng, meanwhile, said Wall Street also gained on hopes that the US Federal Reserve will be less aggressive in raising rates, following signs that the US economy is cooling down.
The US stock market also received a boost from major players, as Coca-Cola, General Motors and Microsoft posted stronger-than-expected corporate earnings.
Back home, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) rose six sen to RM8.74, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd gained five sen to RM4.47, PPB Group Bhd was 20 sen stronger at RM16.80, Axiata Group Bhd added three sen to RM2.77, and Maxis Bhd too increased by three sen to RM3.60.
Of the actives, newly listed Betamek Bhd strengthened 26 sen to 76 sen, Yee Lee Pacific Group Bhd bagged 2.5 sen to 31 sen, and MAG Holdings Bhd was half a sen higher at 18 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index rose 29.04 points to 10,257.43, the FBM 70 perked 13.89 points to 12,121.28, and the FBMT 100 Index increased 29 points to 10,003.82.
The FBM Emas Shariah Index bagged 29.08 points to 10,241.20, and the FBM ACE added 12.24 points to 4,842.84.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index increased 37.76 points to 16,542.93, the Energy Index edged up 2.92 points to 681.28, the Industrial Products and Services Index rose 0.29 of a point to 175.38, and the Plantation Index was 20.33 points higher at 6,812.41.-BERNAMA