Bursa Malaysia expected to trade range-bound this week

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia is expected to trade range-bound with an upside bias within the range of 1,555 to 1,590 points this week, said an analyst.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng predicts immediate support at 1,555 followed by 1,545.

“We are positive about the return of foreign funds to the region and anticipate that buying will continue this week. However, we do not discount the possibility of profit-taking activities.

“The benchmark index surpassed the stiff resistance of 1,570 and surged to a two-year high last Wednesday. Although there was a pullback after the rally, we interpret this correction as a healthy consolidation necessary to sustain the upward trend.”

While he anticipates a brief pause for the bulls following the strong rally, he said the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) has maintained its position above all exponential moving averages (EMA).

“The upward trajectory of the 20-day EMA suggests that the index is in consolidation mode with a positive bias.”

On Wednesday, Bursa Malaysia closed at a two-year high, with the key index rising 0.63 per cent to 1,571.48, driven by a positive outlook on the bourse.

On a Friday-to-Friday basis, the

FBM KLCI increased 27.59 points to 1,575.16 from 1,547.57 previously.

The FBM EMAS Index jumped 230.72 points to 11,826.79, the FBM 70 Index went up 358.39 points to 16,416.78, the FBMT 100 Index perked up by 213.50 points to 11,461.45, the FBM EMAS Shariah Index climbed 222.08 points to 11,991.95 and the FBM ACE Index advanced 203.03 points to 5,062.01.

The Plantation Index went up 27.3 points to 7,402.95, the Industrial Products and Services Index inched up 2.84 points to 187.33, the Financial Services Index rose 185.03 points to 17,303.81 and the Energy Index edged up 8.23 points to 977.42.

Weekly turnover declined to 19.55 billion units worth RM14.43 billion compared with 21.21 billion units worth RM15.66 billion in the preceding week.

The Main Market volume narrowed to 11.43 billion shares valued at RM12.71 billion from 12.51 billion shares valued at RM13.95 billion.

Warrants turnover decreased to 5.16 billion units worth RM702.34 million versus 5.38 billion units worth RM662.45 million.

The ACE Market volume eased to 2.93 billion shares valued at RM1.02 billion against 3.27 billion shares valued at RM1.04 billion previously.