KL shares mixed at midafternoon

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia were mixed at mid-afternoon today but at 3.01pm the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 1.56 points better at 1,572.96, dealers said.

Sentiment remained cautious over the weaker-than-expected US economic data recently.

The US bourses were mixed but little changed and the Asian markets were expected to follow the latter's lead, a dealer said.

The Finance Index eased 17.32 points to 14,175.33 but the Plantation Index rose 20.62 points to 8,596.81 and the Industrial Index added 22.68 points to 2,838.41.

The FBM Emas Index advanced 6.03 points to 10,851.86, while the FBM Mid 70 Index shed 9.96 points to 12,135.65 and the FBM ACE Index slipped 23.75 points to 4,641.01.

Losers led gainers 380 to 279 while 311 counters were unchanged and 19 untraded.

Trading volume stood at 1.16 billion shares valued at RM794.375 million.

Among active stocks, Ariantec Global added 2.5 sen to 12 sen, Pan Malaysian earned half a sen to 5.5 sen, IFCA MSC advanced one sen to 12.5 sen while Metronic Global was flat at 12.5 sen.

Among heavyweights, Maybank lost eight sen to RM8.73, CIMB eased two sen to RM7.64, Petronas Chemicals shed four sen to RM6.72 while Sime Darby was flat at RM9.75. -- Bernama



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KL shares mixed at mid-day

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia trended mixed at midday today in line with the uncertain movement in regional markets, dealers said.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI was 2.32 points higher at 1,573.72, after opening 2.9 points higher at 1,574.3. A dealer said investors were cautious after the weaker-than-expected US economic data recently.

"Unexpected weakness in consumer sentiment adds to the overall caution," he said.

The Finance Index eased 2.47 points to 14,190.18 but the Plantation Index rose 20.42 points to 8,596.61 and the Industrial Index added 16.72 points to 2,832.45.

The FBM Emas Index advanced 12.55 points to 10,858.38, the FBM Mid 70 Index earned 4.86 points to 12,150.47 while the FBM ACE Index slipped 15.76 points to 4,649.

Losers led gainers 363 to 265 while 287 counters were unchanged and 21 untraded. Trading volume stood at 1.05 billion shares valued at RM658.48 million.

Among active stocks, Ariantec Global added 2.5 sen to 12 sen while Pan Malaysian, Metronic Global and IFCA MSC earned half a sen each to 5.5 sen, 13 sen and 12 sen respectively.

Among heavyweights, Maybank lost seven sen to RM8.74, CIMB eased two sen to RM7.64, Petronas Chemicals shed four sen to RM6.72 while Sime Darby was flat at RM9.75. -- Bernama



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KLCI rallies nearly 12pts at midday

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 29): Share prices on Bursa Malaysia rallied strongly at midday to send the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) surging 11.87 points to 1,568.60, dealers said.

The FBM KLCI's level was also the highest since July 18.

The market was rejuvenated from yesterday's losses as advances in regional bourses and a sharp decline in oil prices bolstered sentiment, the dealers said.

The Finance Index rose 100.36 points to 14,021.33 and the INDUSTRIAL INDEX gained 33.58 points to 2,890.80, while the PLANTATION Index increased 17.061 points to 8,639.66.

The FBM Emas Index gained 70.359 points to 10,852.26 and the FBM 70 Index increased 30.20 points to 12,242.53, with the FBM Ace Index increasing 19.13 points to 4,708.34.

Gainers led losers 432 to 243 while 309 counters were unchanged, 511 untraded and 33 others suspended. Turnover stood at 973.507 million shares worth RM1.012 billion.

For the actives, China Stationery was flat at RM1.39,IFCA MSC decreased half-a-sen to 13 sen, Compugates Holdings rose one sen to 11 sen and YTL Corporation improved five sen to RM1.63.

Among heavyweights, Maybank rose one sen to RM8.75, Sime Darby increased nine sen to RM9.66, and CIMB gained five sen to RM7.18, but Petronas Chemicals slipped 10 sen to RM6.70



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KL shares lower at mid-morning trade

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia were lower at mid-morning today, weighed down by losses in selective blue-chips like CIMB, Sime Darby, Genting and AirAsia, dealers said.

At 11.05am, the FBM KLCI was 1.29 points lower at 1,555.37, after opening 0.47 point higher at 1,557.13.

CIMB fell three sen to RM9.60, Sime Darby eased six sen to RM7.10, Genting lost two sen to RM10.52 and AirAsia declined one sen to RM3.57.

The Finance Index dropped 12.43 points to 13,855.24 and the Plantation Index fell 15.79 points to 8,588.12.

The Industrial Index, however, rose 0.57 point to 2,866.80.

The FBM Emas Index dropped 4.63 points to 10,774.0 and the FBM ACE Index decreased 2.18 points to 4,674.20.

The FBM Mid 70 Index was up 3.62 points to 12,199.38.

Losers led gainers by 317 to 284 while 280 counters were unchanged. Trading was mild with 495.231 million shares worth RM446.528 million traded.

Among active counters, IFCA MSC and Naim Indah added 1.5 sen each to 13 sen and 43.5 sen, respectively, SAAG Consolidated earned half sen to seven sen and Xidelang was unchanged at 40 sen.

Among heavyweights, Maybank rose two sen to RM8.72, Petronas Chemicals was unchanged at RM6.94 and Maxis was up one sen to RM6.00. -- Bernama



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KL shares remain in red at mid-afternoon

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia were lower at mid-afternoon today, weighed down by losses in finance and plantation counters due to lack of buying interest, dealers said.

At 3.01pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 1.5 points to 1.559.02, after opening 1.39 points lower at 1,559.13, in line with bearish tone in regional bourses.

The Finance Index lost 35.931 points to 13,914.06, the Industrial Index eased 20.69 points to 2,871.35 and the Plantation Index fell 58.84 points to 8,607.36.

The FBM Ace Index declined 63.37 points to 4,741.87 ,the FBM Emas Index declined 17.479 points to 10,802.16 and the FBM70 Index fell 14.29 points to 12,250.31.

Losers outnumbered gainers by 574 to 208 with turnover at 1.113 billion units valued at RM1.018 billion.

Among actives, IFCA MSC lost 2.5 sen to 12 sen, Naim Indah lost two sen to 43.5 sen, Green Ocean added one sen to 31 sen and Tiger Synergy was unchanged at 14 sen.

Of the heavyweights, Maybank declined one sen to RM8.70, Petronas Chemicals and Sime Darby was unchanged at RM9.64 and RM6.95, respectively, while CIMB fell five sen to RM7.19. -- BERNAMA



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KL shares in red at mid-day

Losses in selective bluechips and finance counters like Sime Darby, Genting, Maybank, Hong Leong Bank and CIMB pulled the FBM KLCI to negative territory at midday today.

At 12.30pm, the benchmark index declined 1.08 points to 1,559.44 after opening 1.39 points lower at 1,559.13 in line with weaker movements in other regional markets.

Dealers said investors remained on the sidelines following the overnight weak performance on the US market as weak data on European business activity and China's manufacturing sector prompted fears on global economic prospects.

Hong Leong Investment Bank said overall, the rebound from Feb 16's low of 1,549 points continued to be weak as the broader market turned more cautious and trading volume shrank, suggesting that the rally was running out of steam.

"The KLCI is still below our envisaged resistance channels of 1,570-1,580 points with the support level falls to 1,554 points," it said in a statement.

The Finance Index declined 42.99 points to 13,907.0, the Industrial Index slipped 18.06 points to 2,873.98 and the Plantation Index dropped 60.84 points to 8,605.36.

The FBM Emas Index eased 9.279 points to 10,809.91, the FBM ACE Index slipped 42.0 points to 4,763.24 and the FBM Mid 70 Index inched down 3.09 to 12,261.51.

Losers led gainers 515 to 206 on Bursa Malaysia while turnover amounted to 937.154 million shares worth RM811.777 million. Among active counters, IFCA MSC fell 2.5 sen to 12 sen, Naim Indah lost two sen to 43.5 sen, Green Ocean rose 2.5 sen to 32.5 sen and SAAG Consolidated was up half a sen to 7.5 sen.

Maybank fell one sen to RM8.70, Sime Darby was unchanged at RM9.64, Petronas Chemicals rose one sen to RM6.96 while CIMB lost seven sen to RM7.17. -- Bernama



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KLCI closes marginally lower

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 22): The FBM KLCI closed marginally lower, dragged down by PLANTATION [] stocks and doubts on Greece's ability to undertake austerity measures.

The FBM KLCI on Wednesday closed 3.26 points lower, or 0.21%, to close at 1.560.52, weighed down by plantation-related stocks — such as IOI Group (down 10 sen to RM5.34), PPB GROUP BHD [] (down 50 sen to RM17.14) and KLK (down 36 sen to RM23.64) — which brought the index down by 3.06 points.

A total of 2.32 billion shares were traded, valued at RM1.94 billion. Losers led gainers 541 to 302, while 298 counters traded unchanged.

Regionally, markets closed on a positive note, made upbeat by China's Production Manufacturing Index (PMI) numbers, which rose to 49.7 in February from 48.8 in January — the highest in four months.

Taiwan's Taiex was up 1.01% to 8,001.68, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.96% to 9,554.00, Shanghai's Composite Index up 0.93% to 2,403.59, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.33% to 21,549.28, and South Korea's Kospi increased marginally by 0.22% to 2,028.65. However, Singapore's Straits Index fell 0.97% to 2,995.59.

On Bursa Malaysia, top gainers included DUTCH LADY MILK INDUSTRIES BHD [] (up 40 sen to RM25.80), TAHPS GROUP BHD [] (up 39 sen to RM4.80), and CHIN TECK PLANTATIONS BHD [] (up 34 sen to RM9).

Among top losers were HARRISONS HOLDINGS (M) BHD [] (down 53 sen to RM3.17), after it received a letter of demand from Kastam DiRaja Malaysia for unpaid excise, import and sales tax amounting RM91.75 million.

PPB Group Bhd also continued its losing streak after Wilmar International Ltd — the world's largest palm oil firm — released its 4Q11 results, which missed analyst estimates. The stock was down 50 sen to RM17.14.

Most actively traded on Wednesday included The Media Shoppe (down half a sen to 11 sen, with 221.5 million shares traded), Green Ocean Corporation Bhd (down 2.5 sen to 30 sen), and IFCA MSC BHD [] (up one sen to 14.5 sen).



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Telcos give boost, as KLCI closes marginally higher

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 21): Telco stocks led the FBM KLCI to end on a higher note after a weak start earlier on Tuesday, and after Greece secured a second bailout from the European Central Bank (ECB).

The FBM KLCI on Tuesday was 3.94 points higher, or 0.21%, to close at 1,563.78, with telco stocks — like Maxis (up 17 sen to RM5.98), Axiata (up 4.0 sen to RM5.04) and Telekom (up 7.0 sen to RM4.93) — pushing the index up by 2.60 points.

Although it started on a weak footing, the index firmed up after the midday close, in line with regional bourses.

Volume traded was 1.89 billion shares, valued at RM1.75 billion. Losers led gainers 442 to 370, while 345 counters traded unchanged.

Regionally, markets closed on a positive note; however, Asian markets did not rally as expected, after Greece secured €130 billion (RM519.09 billion) for its second bailout.

"It's a relief for markets, broadly speaking, but it doesn't mean that this is the end of the line," said Thomas Lam, economist at DMG & Partners Securities in Singapore, in a report by Reuters. "It's a difficult process, but it's inching in the right direction."

Shanghai's Composite Index closed up 0.75% to 2,381.43, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.25% to 21,478.72, and Singapore's Straits Index increased marginally by 0.13% to 3,025.07. Japan's Nikkei 225 was down 0.23% to 9,463.02, Taiwan's Taiex fell 0.42% to 7,921.50, and South Korea's Kospi dropped 0.03% to 2,024.24.

On Bursa Malaysia, top gainers included United PLANTATION []s (up 70 sen to RM23.26), Panasonic Malaysia (up 68 sen to RM21.20), Fraser & Neave (up 26 sen to RM17.84), and MALPAC HOLDINGS BHD [] (up 25 sen to RM1.80).

Among top losers were British American Tobacco (down 90 sen to RM53.00), Dutch Lady (down 34 sen to RM25.40), CHIN TECK PLANTATIONS BHD [] (down 20 sen to RM8.66), KLK (down 14 sen to RM24.00), and Nestlé (down 12 sen to RM55.88).

The most actively traded stocks included IFCA MSC BHD [] (up 3.5 sen to 13.5 sen), Green Ocean (up 7.5 sen to 32.5 sen), and Naim Indah Corp (up 1 sen to 48.5 sen).



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