KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 30): Bursa Malaysia opened lower in early trade on Thursday (Dec 30) as a result of mild profit-taking and mixed performance on the global front, a dealer said.

At 9.05 am, the benchmark FBM KLCI had lost 1.45 points to 1,543.59 after the key index closed at 1,545.04 on Wednesday.

The index opened 0.31 of a point weaker at 1,544.73 on Thursday.

On the broader market, gainers led losers 136 to 106, while 182 counters were unchanged, 1,887 untraded and 53 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 81.02 million units valued at RM41.57 million.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd, in a research note, said as Omicron fears resurfaced, market sentiment on global equities was dampened.

“The local market is expected to track the mixed situation on the global front after it bucked the regional losses yesterday (Wednesday),” it said.

The firm said with concerns over the Omicron variant of Covid-19 gaining intensity, traders may focus on healthcare or glove-related stocks for near-term trade.

Meanwhile, traders are advised to look out for technology and telecommunications-related stocks on the back of 5G-related trading ideas.

Of the heavyweights, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) and Public Bank Bhd lost two sen each to RM8.13 and RM4.17 respectively, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (PetChem) and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd were flat at RM8.89 and RM5.43 respectively, while IHH Healthcare Bhd accumulated five sen to RM6.80.

Of the actives, KNM Group Bhd and Vinvest Capital Holdings Bhd advanced half a sen each to 15 sen and 43.5 sen respectively, Theta Edge Bhd perked up four sen to 90.5 sen, while Compugates Holdings Bhd was flat at 1.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Shariah Index increased 2.47 points to 12,056.71 and the FBM ACE gained 6.83 points to 6,369.80.

Meanwhile, the FBM Emas Index was 2.72 points lower at 11,192.49, the FBMT 100 Index went down 9.22 points to 10,886.72 and the FBM 70 declined 7.59 points to 14,217.49.

Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 0.05 of a point to 202.13, and the Plantation Index rose 1.21 points to 6,545.99, while the Financial Services Index erased 24.31 points to 15,596.74.