Semicon-linked stocks among top losers

KUALA LUMPUR: Semiconductor-related and chip stocks were among the top losers early Friday after the disappointing Q3 earnings by ViTrox worried investors.

At 9.39am, the FBM KLCI was down 0.5 of a point or 0.03% to 1,570.61. Turnover was 398.10 million shares valued at RM172.64mil. There were 189 gainers, 182 losers and 271 counters unchanged.

Asian shares inched up, tracking small gains in world markets as positive earnings offset economic growth concerns, while sterling weakened as the prospect of a UK election added fresh uncertainty to Brexit dramas, Reuters reported.

In early trade in Asia, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was 0.13% higher. Australian shares added 0.66% and Japan’s Nikkei ticked up 0.15%.

Meanwhile, foreign funds were net buyers on Bursa at RM117mil on Thursday while local institutions were net sellers at RM117mil.

ViTrox fell 27 sen to RM7.80 with 191,300 shares done after its weaker set of third quarter results and prompted analysts downgraded it.

Pentamaster lost 11 sen to RM4.66 and MPI was down eight sen to RM11.42. However, KESM rose 19 sen to RM8.40.

Heineken was the top loser, down 28 sen to RM15.10 with 1,400 shares done while BAT lost 14 sen to RM19.24.

Aeon Credit 18 sen to RM15.80 while HLFG lost 10 sen to RM16.38.

Genting Plantations lost 12 sen to RM9.79, JadeM nine sen to RM1.10 and MAHB eight sen lower at RM8.

Rohas jumped six sen to 61.5 sen in active trade with 17.11 million shares done.

Takaful rose 34 sen to RM6.54 and its call warrants six sen higher to 20 sen after its strong set of third quarter results.

BIMB rose 15 sen to RM4.21, Petronas Gas 12 sen to RM16.52, Amway nine sen to RM5.70 and Petronas Dagangan eight sen to RM23.54.

Source: TheStar