Kuala lumpur: Bursa Malaysia ended its trading session lower on Friday, marking a pause in its recent gains as investors exercised caution amid ongoing negotiations between Malaysia and the United States regarding a 20 per cent tariff rate.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) decreased by 6.56 points, or 0.43 per cent, closing at 1,533.76. This was a drop from the previous day's close of 1,540.32. The index began the day 1.66 points lower at 1,538.66 and fluctuated between 1,525.98 and 1,539.82 throughout the trading session.
The broader market saw more losers than gainers, with 601 counters declining against 356 advancing. Meanwhile, 479 counters remained unchanged and 1,090 were untraded, with 44 counters suspended. Turnover decreased to 2.86 billion shares valued at RM2.16 billion, compared to Thursday's 2.97 billion shares worth RM2.3 billion.
Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, noted that the absence of a domestic trade deal has left the FBM KLCI somewhat out of sync with the global risk rally. He suggested that potential developments next week, such as a favorable trade agreement with the US or progress in US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's meeting with Chinese officials, could positively impact the market.
Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Vietnam have secured deals with the US for lower tariffs, with Indonesia's exports subject to a 19 per cent tariff and Vietnam's general goods facing a 20 per cent tariff, with goods transshipped through Vietnam incurring a 40 per cent tariff.
Thong Pak Leng, vice-president of equity research at Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd, linked the FBM KLCI's decline to a regional sell-off. Markets across Asia ended lower as investors took profits ahead of significant upcoming events, including the US tariff deadline set by President Donald Trump and various monetary policy decisions.
Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell by 1.09 per cent to close at 25,388.35, Singapore's Straits Times Index dropped by 0.40 per cent to 4,255.81, and Japan's Nikkei 225 decreased by 0.88 per cent to 41,456.23. South Korea's Kospi, however, gained 0.18 per cent to 3,196.05.
Among heavyweight stocks, Maybank fell by nine sen to RM9.54, Public Bank decreased by two sen to RM4.29, and Tenaga Nasional dropped 34 sen to RM13.60. CIMB rose by five sen to RM6.75, while IHH Healthcare, CelcomDigi, and Press Metal each gained one sen.
In the broader market indices, the FBM Emas Index decreased by 44.35 points to 11,506.82, the FBMT 100 Index fell by 44.84 points to 11,269.72, and the FBM Emas Shariah Index declined by 51.98 points to 11,528.98. The FBM 70 Index eased by 51.3 points to 16,607.57, while the FBM ACE Index shed 3.49 points to 4,639.02.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index decreased by 51.35 points to 17,454.23, the Plantation Index fell by 35.17 points to 7,434.79, and the Industrial Products and Services Index was down by 1.02 points to 157.14. The Energy Index, however, rose by 1.17 points to 739.85.
The Main Market volume narrowed to 1.26 billion units valued at RM1.85 billion, with warrant turnover improving to 1.28 billion units worth RM218.03 million. The ACE Market volume fell to 313.89 million units valued at RM90.97 million. Consumer products and services accounted for 163.12 million shares traded on the Main Market, while technology counters saw 255.81 million shares traded.