KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed almost flat as widespread gains in most sectors were tempered by weakness in utilities and telecommunications.
At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 0.88 of-a-point to 1,538.42 from Monday's close of 1,537.54.
The benchmark index opened lower at 1,536.06 and fluctuated between 1,532.07 and 1,540.51 throughout the day.
On the broader market, gainers outpaced losers 569 to 466, while 498 counters were unchanged.
Turnover expanded to 3.83 billion units worth RM3.04 billion from 3.59 billion units worth RM2.49 billion on Monday.
Tradeview Capital fund manager Neoh Jia Man said market breadth remained positive, mirroring the performance of Asian markets.
"With no significant catalysts in sight, sentiment is expected to stay subdued leading up to the release of the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index on Friday, which could influence the outlook for a mid-year U.S. rate cut," he told Business Times.
SPI Asset Management managing director Stephen Innes said the FBM KLCI experienced minimal gains.
He said favourable impact of the easing US dollar on Asian risk, alongside the upward trajectory of oil, cocoa, and palm oil prices, which are likely to positively affect the overall index.
"However, local stock sentiment is being restrained due to anticipation surrounding month-end rebalancing and US inflation data. "The movement of the US dollar holds significant importance for local markets," added Innes.-ends-