KUALA LUMPUR (April 20): Bursa Malaysia fell back into the red today after a slightly higher opening amid market concerns over daily Covid-19 confirmed cases staying above the 2,000 level for the fifth consecutive day.
At 9.05pm, the FBM KLCI had decreased 5.04 points to 1,595.25, compared with yesterday’s close at 1,600.29.
The barometer index opened 0.14 of a point higher at 1,600.43.
The overall market breadth remained negative with losers outpacing gainers 247 to 153, while 282 counters were unchanged, 1,484 untraded and seven others suspended.
Total volume stood at 299.94 million shares worth RM140.69 million.
Malacca Securities said market sentiment remained cautious despite the roll-out of the second phase of Covid-19 vaccination amid the current surge of the pandemic in the country.
Overseas, US stock markets retreated from their record high levels as the Dow was dragged down by the sell-off of technology shares, which posted their biggest decline in almost four weeks.
The Dow slid 0.36% to 34,077.63, the Nasdaq eased 0.98% to end at 13,914.77, and the S&P 500 slipped 0.53% to 4,163.26.
“While we are cautious about the overnight decline on Nasdaq, we expect the technology sector to capitalise on the announcement of Microsoft’s partnership under the ‘Bersama Malaysia Initiative’.
“Besides, the energy sector may also come into focus amid higher Brent oil prices that have recovered back to above US$67 (RM276.04) per barrel,” it said in a note.
Heavyweights Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (PetChem) had dropped 12 sen to RM7.78, while Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd declined eight sen to RM5.30.
Top Glove Corp Bhd stayed lower, losing six sen to RM5.40, while IHH Healthcare Bhd reduced four sen to RM5.33.
Meanwhile, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd and Genting Malaysia Bhd (GenM) rose two sen each to RM4.52 and RM2.86 respectively.
Among the active counters, Censof Holdings Bhd went up 13 sen to 51 sen, Advance Synergy Bhd was one sen higher at 16.5 sen, and PUC Bhd added half a sen to 13 sen, while Key Asic Bhd inched down half a sen to 17 sen.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index was 26.85 points easier at 11,760.35, the FBMT 100 decreased 27.41 points to 11,417.67, and the FBM 70 slid 3.95 points to 15,583.14.
The FBM Emas Shariah was down 37.45 points at 13,173.48, while the FBM ACE dropped 23.24 points to 8,546.94.
Sector-wise, the Plantation Index gained 2.60 points to 6,868.83, the Financial Services Index dipped 30.05 points to 14,997.45, and the Industrial Products and Services Index was 1.29 points weaker at 194.91.-The Edge Market