Malaysian share prices closed flat on Tuesday after investors locked in early gains in the absence of fresh developments, following the global condemnation of North Korea's nuclear test, dealers said.
However the market had enough support from investor interest in Genting, which helped shore up market sentiment toward selected blue chips, they said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index closed up 0.33 points to 969.71 on turnover of 697.18 million shares worth 770.53 million ringgit (220 million dollars) while losers led gainers 376 to 306 with 326 stocks unchanged.
At the close, the ringgit was quoted at 3.6938/6988 to the dollar. "The market, after opening stronger on hopes that the North Korea nuclear test crisis would be resolved soon ... lost steam as investors looked for other leads to buy into the market," a local brokerage dealer said. He said market sentiment remained subdued as investors refused to take any significant positions ahead of any new developments on the North Korean nuclear issue.
"It seems that investors have fallen back to be cautious again on the nuclear issue and want new developments to ease their anxiety on the matter." However he believes that in the next few days, investor attention is likely to focus on domestic issues such as the country's economic growth and inflation.
Genting ended the session up 0.75 ringgit at 26.25, rising further on follow-through buying ahead of the close of bidding for a second casino resort in Singapore. Among select blue chips Tenaga fell 0.10 ringgit to 9.75, Telekom Malaysia was up 0.05 ringgit at 9.10 and Maybank was flat at 11.20.