KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 4): The main index of Bursa Malaysia stayed guarded in line with regional markets as  early voting projections emerged in a rancorous US presidential election.

At 10am, the FBM KLCI had added 6.85 points to 1,468.30.

Gainers led losers by 484 to 215, while 365 counters traded unchanged. Trading volume was 1.39 billion shares valued at RM626.26 million.

The gainers included Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, MISC Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and Scientex Bhd.

The actively traded stocks included GD Express Carrier Bhd, XOX Bhd, Vortex Consolidated Bhd, Prestariang Bhd, Salcon Bhd, Luster Industries Bhd and Mah Sing Group Bhd.

The decliners included Pintaras Jaya Bhd, Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd, CI Holdings Bhd and Ipmuda Bhd.

Reuters said Asian share markets turned cautious today, paring sharp early gains as results of the US presidential election hinted at a close race with no clear winner yet in sight.

Investors initially wagered that a possible Democratic sweep could ease political risk while promising a huge boost to fiscal stimulus, hitting safe-haven US dollar and bonds, it said.

Rakuten Trade said traders were betting on a clear winner for the latest US presidential election as the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained by more than 550 points to end at almost the 27,500 mark.

“Nonetheless, the delay in Ant’s IPO on the Shanghai and Hong Kong exchanges may see some caution emerging in Asia’s largest markets which may cascade to regional bourses.

“Meanwhile, on the local front, the KLCI has been finding it hard to break out from its consolidation, hence we expect it to hover around the 1,470/75 region today amid rising [new] Covid-19 cases where the authorities may need to relook at the prevailing SOPs (standard operating procedures),” it said.