Malaysian shares continued their upward trajectory on Thursday, with the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBMKLCI) rising by 1.0% to reach 1,477.26. This marked the second consecutive session of gains.
Top Gainers
During the session, YTL Power International emerged as the biggest leader, with its shares surging by 7.1%. Axiata Group, a telecommunication services firm, also had a strong performance, with its shares increasing by 4.6%. Gamuda, a company operating in the real estate and construction sector, secured the third spot among the top gainers, as its shares rose by 3.8%.
Top Losers
On the other hand, Petronas Dagangan, an energy firm, experienced the largest decline, with its shares falling by 2.2%. Mr. D.I.Y. Group (M), a retail/wholesale company, also faced a decline of 1.4%. Additionally, Press Metal Aluminium, a basic materials/resources company, saw its shares decrease by 1.0%.
Southeast Asia Stock Market Performance
In other parts of Southeast Asia, Singapore’s FTSE Straits Times Index fell by 0.9%, while the Thailand SET Index rose by 0.2%. The Philippines’ PSEi Index witnessed a notable increase of 1.6%, and Indonesia’s JSX Composite Index added 1.1%.
Asia-Pacific Stock Market Highlights
In the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong stocks remained steady, with the Hang Seng Index holding at 16,645.98. However, Japanese stocks saw a decline of 0.5% as reflected in the NIKKEI 225 Index. Similarly, Chinese stocks recorded a decrease of 0.4% in the Shanghai Composite Index.
South Korean and Australian Stock Market Performance
The KOSPI Composite Index of South Korean stocks declined by 0.8%. Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Benchmark Index of Australian stocks fell by 0.4%.
Currency Trends
In terms of currency exchange, the U.S. dollar climbed by 0.1% against the Malaysian ringgit, reaching 4.64. Similarly, the euro strengthened by 0.4%, with the EURMYR exchange rate reaching 5.08 ringgit.