Key Takeaways:
- Bursa Malaysia gains as late buying lifts the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI to a 2025 high, closing 0.21% firmer.
- Market breadth narrowed with decliners outpacing gainers amid thinner year‑end participation and technical-driven moves.
- Key resistances cited at 1,690 and the psychological 1,700 level; turnover moderated to RM1.90 billion.
Bursa Malaysia ends year on firmer note as late buying lifts KLCI
Bursa Malaysia’s main index closed higher on Tuesday, reversing earlier losses to finish at a new high for the year as late buying and year‑end repositioning supported prices. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 3.54 points, or 0.21%, to 1,684.53 at the close, up from Monday’s 1,680.99.
Bursa Malaysia gains on year-end buying
The index had opened lower at 1,677.66 and slipped to an intraday low of 1,673.87 in the morning session before momentum returned in the final hour of trade, pushing the KLCI to the day’s high. Market participants and analysts attributed the recovery largely to late buying and window dressing ahead of the year‑end.
Despite the headline gain, market breadth was subdued. Decliners outnumbered gainers 536 to 463, with 544 counters unchanged. Trading activity narrowed marginally as turnover fell to 1.88 billion units valued at RM1.90 billion, compared with 2.03 billion units worth RM1.79 billion on Monday. Main Market volume widened to 1.18 billion units worth RM1.76 billion.
Kenneth Leong, head of research at Berjaya Research Sdn Bhd, noted that the final trading day of the year typically sees subdued participation. He said the FBM KLCI was likely to remain range‑bound with moves driven by technical factors as many investors stayed on the sidelines and fresh catalysts were scarce. Leong identified 1,690 as the immediate resistance level, followed by the psychological 1,700 mark.
Among heavyweight counters, Maybank rose six sen to RM10.50 and Public Bank added three sen to RM4.54, while CIMB held steady at RM8.23. Tenaga Nasional slipped 10 sen to RM13.78 and IHH Healthcare gained four sen to RM8.60. On the most active list, Tanco edged up to RM1.15 and MQ Tech remained unchanged at 8.5 sen.
Top gainers included MPI, which advanced 38 sen to RM32.88, and Hong Leong Industries, which climbed 30 sen to RM16.70. At the other end, Nestle fell RM2.30 to RM113.40 and Atlan shed 23 sen to RM2.90.
Sector performance was mixed. The Financial Services Index rose 89.80 points to 19,766.79 and the Plantation Index added 20.07 points to 8,342.19. The Energy Index also advanced, while the FBM ACE Index retreated 13.48 points to 4,861.30. The FBM Emas Index and FBM Top 100 Index recorded gains, reflecting selective strength among larger-cap names.
Volume by sector on the Main Market showed industrial products and services leading with 197.21 million shares, followed by consumer products and services at 184.26 million and technology at 147.61 million. Warrants turnover decreased to 423.74 million units, and ACE Market volume eased to 272.99 million units.
Analysts expect subdued trading to persist into the near term as market participants remain cautious ahead of the new year. With limited fresh domestic catalysts, short‑term movement may continue to reflect technical trading and portfolio rebalancing rather than a decisive change in market direction.
For now, the modest gain in the KLCI provides a constructive end to the trading day and keeps the index on a firm footing as investors head into the year‑end period.
