MALAYSIAN shares closed 0.3 per cent lower today due to profit-taking in selected blue chips, dealers said.
Dealers said volume was thin ahead of the traditional year-end holidays, adding that the bourse was likely to trade within the 870-890-points band tomorrow.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index lost 2.97 points to close at 873.43.
Volume was 305.70 million shares valued at RM449.69 million (US$128 million) while losers led gainers 243 to 212.
Dealers said the bourse lacked new leads to boost investors’ buying interest.
“There was some evidence of window dressing Monday but there’s likely to be more next week just before the year-end.” one dealer said.
Petra Perdana Bhd dropped 5 sen, or 3.7 per cent, to RM1.30, the most since November 26, on speculation lower crude oil will erode demand for exploration-related contracts. Dialog Group Bhd declined 1 sen, or 1.3 per cent, to 78.5 sen.
The crude oil contract for January delivery in New York, which expired last week, plunged 6.5 per cent to $33.87 a barrel on December 19, the lowest settlement since February 2004.
DiGi.Com Bhd, the Malaysian unit of Norway’s largest telephone operator Telenor ASA, slipped 40 sen, or 1.9 per cent, to RM20.80, the third day of declines. The company plans to allocate as much as RM1.3 billion (US$375 million) next year on capital spending, the Business Times reported, citing chief executive officer Johan Dennelind.
Green Packet Bhd, the wireless-infrastructure provider, jumped 9.5 sen, or 13 per cent, to 82.5 sen, its steepest climb since February 15. The company said it has fixed the issue price for the sale of as many as 70.4 million new shares at 70 sen each to private investors.
IOI Corp, the country’s second-biggest palm oil producer, added 8 sen, 2.3 per cent, to RM3.64, the biggest boost to the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index. Palm oil futures in Kuala Lumpur rose as much as 3.8 per cent, its first increase in three days.
PPB Group Bhd, the sugar and oil palm producer controlled by billionaire Robert Kuok, lost 35 sen, or 3.7 per cent, to RM9, the most since October 28. Malaysia’s government plans to cap sugar prices in February, allowing consumers to pay for the commodity at the same rate across the country, the New Straits Times reported, citing Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.
National carrier Malaysian Airlines was down 6.8 per cent at RM2.89, MMC Corp lost 1.5 per cent at 98.5 sen and Maybank shed 2.9 per cent to RM5.10.
Gamuda added 3.3 per cent at RM1.89 and Resorts World rose 1.4 per cent at RM2.24.
Tenaga Nasional was flat at RM5.90 while Telekom Malaysia added one per cent at RM3.02.
Dealers said volume was thin ahead of the traditional year-end holidays, adding that the bourse was likely to trade within the 870-890-points band tomorrow.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index lost 2.97 points to close at 873.43.
Volume was 305.70 million shares valued at RM449.69 million (US$128 million) while losers led gainers 243 to 212.
Dealers said the bourse lacked new leads to boost investors’ buying interest.
“There was some evidence of window dressing Monday but there’s likely to be more next week just before the year-end.” one dealer said.
Petra Perdana Bhd dropped 5 sen, or 3.7 per cent, to RM1.30, the most since November 26, on speculation lower crude oil will erode demand for exploration-related contracts. Dialog Group Bhd declined 1 sen, or 1.3 per cent, to 78.5 sen.
The crude oil contract for January delivery in New York, which expired last week, plunged 6.5 per cent to $33.87 a barrel on December 19, the lowest settlement since February 2004.
DiGi.Com Bhd, the Malaysian unit of Norway’s largest telephone operator Telenor ASA, slipped 40 sen, or 1.9 per cent, to RM20.80, the third day of declines. The company plans to allocate as much as RM1.3 billion (US$375 million) next year on capital spending, the Business Times reported, citing chief executive officer Johan Dennelind.
Green Packet Bhd, the wireless-infrastructure provider, jumped 9.5 sen, or 13 per cent, to 82.5 sen, its steepest climb since February 15. The company said it has fixed the issue price for the sale of as many as 70.4 million new shares at 70 sen each to private investors.
IOI Corp, the country’s second-biggest palm oil producer, added 8 sen, 2.3 per cent, to RM3.64, the biggest boost to the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index. Palm oil futures in Kuala Lumpur rose as much as 3.8 per cent, its first increase in three days.
PPB Group Bhd, the sugar and oil palm producer controlled by billionaire Robert Kuok, lost 35 sen, or 3.7 per cent, to RM9, the most since October 28. Malaysia’s government plans to cap sugar prices in February, allowing consumers to pay for the commodity at the same rate across the country, the New Straits Times reported, citing Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.
National carrier Malaysian Airlines was down 6.8 per cent at RM2.89, MMC Corp lost 1.5 per cent at 98.5 sen and Maybank shed 2.9 per cent to RM5.10.
Gamuda added 3.3 per cent at RM1.89 and Resorts World rose 1.4 per cent at RM2.24.
Tenaga Nasional was flat at RM5.90 while Telekom Malaysia added one per cent at RM3.02.
- AFP, Bloomberg
Comments