KLCI moves above 1,600 as Malaysian shares gain in early trading
Gaining counters outnumbered losers 236 to 81, while turnover reached 154.28 million units valued at RM67.68 million.
Malaysia’s benchmark FBM KLCI reached 1,601.26 at 9.09am on October 21, 2026, advancing 1.68 points, or 0.10 per cent, after Wall Street’s overnight rise. Its previous closing level was 1,599.58, and it began the session at 1,603.41, up 3.83 points.
Market breadth was positive, with 236 counters rising and 81 declining. Another 224 were unchanged, while 2,320 had not traded and 20 were suspended. Trading volume totalled 154.28 million units, with a value of RM67.68 million.
Thong Pak Leng, vice-president of equity research at Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd, said low trading volume pointed to a cautious market mood. The brokerage expected the benchmark to trade between 1,595 and 1,605.
Among heavyweight counters, IHH Healthcare reached RM7.99 after an eight-sen gain. CIMB advanced two sen to RM7.17 and Public Bank edged up one sen to RM4.74. Maybank remained at RM9.95, whereas TNB dropped four sen to RM13.02.
Malaysian Pacific Industries topped the gainers, adding RM1.36 to reach RM41.38. Vitrox gained 24 sen to RM10.54. Among declining stocks, KESM lost 10 sen to RM4.36 and TM slipped six sen to RM7.64.
The broader FBM Emas benchmark climbed 25.73 points to 11,933.33, while the FBM ACE gained 43.30 points to 5,329.78. Financial services advanced 35.25 points to 18,594.22, but plantations declined 1.77 points to 8,583.37.
