Careful sentiment in the market especially ahead of Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) announcement on the country's economic performance for the fourth quarter of 2020 today saw Bursa Malaysia open slightly lower this morning.
At 9.05am, the benchmark index of the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) declined 1.30 points to 1,595.55 from 1,596.85 when it closed on Wednesday afternoon.
Bernama reported that the key index started trading 5.34 points higher at 1,602.19.
Price movements in the market were negative with losers outpacing gainers by 224 to 194 while 237 counters were unchanged, 1,493 untraded and 14 others suspended.
Turnover was 204.39 million units worth RM91.94 million.
Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd in its note stated that market participants may reduce their trading activities before the long weekend break begins.
"Therefore, the FBM KLCI may be in a small range mode throughout today's session," he added.
The brokerage firm also expects the energy sector to continue to focus on strengthening Brent crude oil, which is trading above the US $ 60 a barrel.
"Also, recovery-themed sectors such as the banking, aviation and gaming sectors may still be in the minds of investors at least for this week," he added.
Meanwhile, Bursa Malaysia announced a half-day transaction on Thursday and closed on Friday in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.
Bursa Malaysia also said that today's trading will be open in the morning session only and there will be no trading in the afternoon session.
Bursa Malaysia and its subsidiaries will resume operations on February 15.
Among heavyweights, Maybank declined two sen to RM8.01, PBBank rose two sen to RM4.24, PChem declined 10 sen to RM7.46 and Tenaga rose five sen to RM9.80.
Among the most active counters, SAPNRG and DNex rose half-a-sen to 13 sen and 34.5 sen respectively while Kanger, AAX, Yongtai and IStone were all flat at 10.5 sen, two sen, seven sen, 23 sen and 24 sen.
The most profitable stocks, BAT added 46 sen to RM13.62, MPI rose 42 sen to RM36.70, Carlsbg rose 28 sen to RM22.62 and KAB was 24 sen higher at 1.26.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index fell 0.88 points to 11,617.66, the FBMT 100 Index fell 2.95 points to 11,342.27 and the FBM Emas Syariah Index was down 2.75 points to 13,050.21.
FBM ACE fell 22.61 points to 10,725.34 but FBM 70 rose 20.35 points to 15,181.50.
By sector, the Financial Services Index increased 1.72 points to 15,023.53 but the Plantation Index fell 22.69 points to 7,161.50 while the Industrial Products and Services Index fell one point to 179.33,
