Stocks on Bursa Malaysia closed mixed yesterday on mild profit-taking ahead of the long Chinese New Year weekend. However, losses were limited amid investor interest in smaller cap stocks. The market was supported by improved risk appetite after the International Monetary Fund said it was planning a large expansion in its lending pool to safeguard the global economy against the worsening Euro-zone debt crisis. The FBM KLCI ended 0.57 point lower at 1,516.81 after opening 1.58 point lower at 1,515.80. Gainers led losers by 378 to 370 while 325 were unchanged. Turnover increased to 1.936 billion shares valued at RM1.618 billion as compared with Wednesday’s 1.490 billion shares worth RM1.599 billion.
Stocks on BURSA Malaysia closed higher last Friday on good buying momentum as investors found bargains in heavyweight counters despite some profit-taking ahead of the extended weekend. Sentiment was lifted by a bullish regional performance after overnight gains on Wall Street and solid demand for Spanish and French bonds. The market was closed on Monday and Tuesday for the Chinese New Year celebrations. The FBM KLCI rose 5.85 points or 0.39% to 1,522.66 after opening 1.33 points higher at 1,518.14. Week-on-week, the key index lost 0.41 point from previous Friday’s 1,523.07. Market breadth was positive with gainers led losers by 512 to 249. Turnover was lower with 1.65 billion shares worth RM1.49 billion changed hands compared with 1.94 billion shares worth RM1.62 billion on Thursday. Total weekly volume declined to 7.96 billion shares worth RM7.86 billion from 8.6 billion shares worth RM8.5 billion last week. 
