KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 7): Bursa Malaysia ended mixed on Wednesday (Sept 7) with the key index rising slightly on bargain-hunting activities led by industrial products and services counters.

A downbeat regional performance also weighed on sentiment.

At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) added 3.08 points, or 0.21%, to 1,491.35 compared with Tuesday’s close of 1,488.27.

The benchmark index opened 2.35 points weaker at 1,485.92 and moved between 1,483.29 and 1,492.19 throughout the trading session.

On the broader market, decliners led advancers 477 to 348, while 428 counters were unchanged, 1,021 untraded, and eight others suspended.

Total turnover rose to 2.36 billion units worth RM1.61 billion from 2.19 billion units worth RM1.65 billion on Tuesday.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice president of equity research Thong Pak Leng reckons that the FBM KLCI would remain steady, supported by the improving fundamentals of the local economy.

"Nonetheless, market sentiments are still cautious given the increasing market volatility, both locally and regionally,” he told Bernama.

Hence, he expects the FBM KLCI to trend sideways, hovering in the 1,480-1,500 range for the remaining of the week with immediate support at 1,470 and resistance at 1,500.

Meanwhile, Bursa heavyweights Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) rose three sen to RM8.93, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd jumped 26 sen to RM9, IHH Healthcare Bhd climbed five sen to RM6.20, Public Bank Bhd shed two sen to RM4.64, and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd lost six sen to RM5.40.

Of the actives, Metronic Global Bhd fell 1.5 sen to six sen, Sapura Energy Bhd was one sen lower at four sen, while MyEG Services Bhd perked up two sen to 85.5 sen, Cengild Medical Bhd pushed up 3.5 sen to 54.5 sen, and UMediC Group Bhd grew four sen to 76 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index edged up 16.47 points to 10,585.37, the FBMT 100 Index strengthened 15.76 points to 10,333.3,  the FBM Emas Shariah Index increased 30.53 points to 10,664.58, the FBM ACE inched down 26.77 points to 4,773.62 and the FBM 70 dipped 3.26 points to 12,679.97.

Sector-wise, the Plantation Index was 0.48 of-a-point lower at 7,028.83, the Energy Index shrank 12.25 points to 709.19, the Financial Services Index slid 21.86 points to 16,713.03, while the Industrial Products and Services Index firmed 1.42 points to 185.05.

The Main Market volume climbed up to 1.54 billion shares worth RM1.34 billion from 1.32 billion shares worth RM1.38 billion on Tuesday.

Warrants turnover widened to 264.82 million units valued at RM38.42 million from 253.12 million units valued at RM38.21 million previously.

The ACE Market volume decreased to 559.39 million shares worth RM238.12 million from 612.76 million shares worth RM238.73 million on Tuesday.

Consumer products and services counters accounted for 152.63 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (673.07 million), construction (50.9 million), technology (119.45 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (44.77 million), property (132.6 million), plantation (16.81 million), REITs (1.88 million), closed/fund (nil), energy (145.64 million), healthcare (99.61 million), telecommunications and media (39.72 million), transportation and logistics (44.29 million), and utilities (19.29 million).