The lack of buying catalysts in local stocks left Bursa Malaysia mixed at the start of the session.
At the opening, the FBM KLCI index started 0.49 points at 1,467.37 before rising 1.43 points at 1,468.31 compared to Wednesday's close at 1,466.88.
In the broader market, losses at 229 outpaced gains at 208, while 269 counters were unchanged, 1,549 untraded and 11 suspended.
Total revenue at 454.02 million units worth RM146.66 million.
According to Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd, local market players are expected to focus on the rescheduling of the 2023 Budget as a factor in the weakness of buying appetite.
Even so, banking stocks and defensive stocks are predicted to be options during this monitoring period while tourism stocks are expected to gain attention due to the easing of the zero Covid-19 policy.
Heavyweight stocks saw Public Bank Bhd add 1 sen to RM4.43, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) jumped 10 sen to RM9.17 and Hong Leong Bank Bhd climbed 14 sen to RM20.48 while Maybank was flat at RM8.65, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd was down 10 sen at RM8.45 and CIMB Group Bhd was down 2 sen at RM5.64.
Active stocks saw Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd up 1 sen at 18.5 sen, Comintel Corp Bhd up 19 sen at 88 sen and Borneo Oil Bhd up 0.5 sen at 2.5 sen while KNM Group Bhd remained at 5 sen and AHB Holdings Bhd fell 2.5 sen at 16 penny
On the index board, the FBM Emas index added 3.71 points at 10,547.37, the FBMT 100 index gained 8.32 points at 10,253.84, the FBM Emas Shariah index jumped 11.34 points at 10,698.4, the FBM 70 gained 3.62 points at 12,904.94 and the FBM ACE rose 11.52 points at 5,510.23
In terms of sectors, the Plantation index rose 2.22 points at 6,728.53, the Financial Services index fell 7.01 points at 16,476.55, the Products and Services index dropped 0.85 points at 180.52 and the Energy index fell 5.75 points at 782.64.
