<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3242805" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/c78c715b-bursa-week-2-241225.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" />
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed at a nearly 16-month high on Christmas Eve, extending its gains for a fifth consecutive session amid steady market participation and improving domestic sentiment.
Online equity broker Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd believes investment opportunities are becoming increasingly selective as the market transitions toward year-end, with traditional festive-driven consumption remaining a meaningful theme that could support selected sectors through year-end and into early 2026.
Its head of research, Kenny Yee, said market conditions remain constructive but disciplined towards the end of the year.
“We are seeing steady participation, which is a positive sign for overall market stability.
&#8220;A strengthening ringgit also acts as a solid catalyst, attracting the return of foreign funds,&#8221; he said.
In this environment, Yee said investors should focus on companies with clear demand drivers, resilient margins and recurring consumption rather than short-term market movements.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 1.67 points, or 0.10%, to 1,678.31 from yesterday&#8217;s close of 1,676.64.
The benchmark index opened 0.64 points lower at 1,676.0 before reversing course to hit an intraday high of 1,678.85 in early trade.
It later lost steam, slipping to a low of 1,673.64 in the early afternoon session, before edging back up toward the close.
The broader market was positive with gainers leading decliners 500 to 483.
A further 584 counters were unchanged, 1,206 untraded and 50 suspended.
Turnover increased to 2.04 billion units worth RM1.70 billion from 1.96 billion units worth RM1.81 billion yesterday.
Among the heavyweights, Maybank and Tenaga Nasional fell 6 sen each to RM10.48 and RM13.60, respectively, CIMB lost 7 sen to RM8.11, while Public Bank was flat at RM4.52. IHH Healthcare rose 5 sen to RM8.67.
On the most active list, Pharmaniaga and Velesto edged down 0.5 sen each to 29 sen and 27.5 sen, respectively. Tanco slid 4 sen to RM1.11 and Ekovest shed 2.5 sen to 28.5 sen, while Zetrix AI went up 0.5 sen to 82 sen.
Among top gainers, United Plantations rose 46 sen to RM29.86, Petronas Gas added 28 sen to RM18.28, Hong Leong Financial gained 22 sen to RM18.98, and Gamuda was 13 sen firmer at RM5.10.
As for top losers, Fraser &amp; Neave trimmed 54 sen to RM36.0, Malaysian Pacific Industries slipped 32 sen to RM32.42, Nestle eased 20 sen to RM115.10, and Petronas Dagangan dipped 14 sen to RM19.62.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index increased 4.43 points to 12,305.91, the FBM Top 100 Index climbed 7.06 points to 12,107.54, the FBM Emas Shariah Index advanced 28.60 points to 12,134.63, while the FBM ACE Index fell 4.27 points to 4,828.17 and the FBM 70 Index slid 12.96 points to 16,862.52.
By sector, the financial services index eased 41.52 points to 19,623.99, the industrial products and services index edged up 0.67 of-a-point to 174.01, the energy index perked up 0.50 of-a-point to 766.68, and the plantation index jumped 44.63 points to 8,278.91.
The Main Market volume dipped to 1.15 billion units worth RM1.55 billion from 1.29 billion units worth RM1.65 billion yesterday.
Warrants turnover jumped to 637.43 million units worth RM47.11 million against 485.53 million units worth RM60.47 million previously.
The ACE Market volume declined to 250.65 million units valued at RM95.02 million versus 262.36 million units valued at RM96.62 million yesterday.
Consumer products and services counters accounted for 193.20 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (236.05 million), construction (93.97 million), technology (138.64 million), financial services (46 million), property (127.07 million), plantation (11.46 million), real estate investment trusts (9.07 million), closed-end fund (14,300), energy (90.23 million), healthcare (135.18 million), telecommunications and media (30.35 million), transportation and logistics (24.89 million), utilities (19.52 million), and business trusts (169,300).
Bursa and its subsidiaries will be closed on Dec 25, 2025, in conjunction with Christmas Day and Jan 1, 2026, for the New Year’s Day holiday.

MatchPoint Times

Bursa closes at 16-month high on Christmas Eve

Investors should focus on companies with clear demand drivers, resilient margins and recurring consumption, says analyst.

Duo nabbed over viral video of person in headscarf allegedly drinking alcohol

Ketua mafia diburu ditangkap dalam ruang rahsia pangsapuri