The Malaysian stocks market experienced a reversal on Thursday, bringing an end to a two-day winning streak. The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBMKLCI) closed at 1,512.36, recording a slight decline of -0.05%.
Top Performers and Losers
During the session, Sunway Bhd (5211) emerged as the leading performer, with the real estate/construction company experiencing a significant increase of 3.4%. Following closely behind, firm YTL (4677) enjoyed a rise of 2.7%. Axiata Group (6888), a well-known player in the telecommunication services sector, secured the third spot with shares rising 1.5%.
However, the leisure/arts/hospitality firm Genting (3182) faced a downfall, experiencing a decline of -2.2%. Similarly, IOI Properties Group (5249), a real estate/construction company, witnessed a drop of -1.4%. Financial services company Hong Leong Bank (5819) also encountered a minor setback, as its shares fell by 1.0%.
Southeast Asia Market Overview
In other parts of Southeast Asia, the FTSE Straits Times Index (STI) in Singapore declined by 0.5%, while the Thailand SET Index reflects a drop of 0.7%. On the other hand, the Philippines’ PSEi Index shows a positive gain of 0.3%. It is worth mentioning that the stock exchange in Indonesia remained closed during this period.
Asia-Pacific Market Highlights
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index (HSI) experienced a significant decline of -1.3%, contrasting with Japan’s NIKKEI 225 Index (NIK), which soared by 2.1%. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index (SHCOMP) witnessed an increase of 1.3%, reflecting the performance of Chinese companies.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s KOSPI Composite Index (180721) added 0.4% to its value, and the S&P/ASX 200 Benchmark Index (XJO) in Australia saw a modest increase of 0.3%.
Currency Performance
On the currency front, the U.S. dollar (USDMYR) gained 0.2% against the Malaysian ringgit, reaching a value of 4.77. Similarly, the euro (EURMYR) also experienced a 0.2% climb, reaching 5.14 ringgit.
