KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 — Bursa Malaysia opened almost flat on Tuesday amidst cautious sentiments ahead of the re-tabling of Budget 2023 this Friday.

At 9.14am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) inched down by 0.10 of-a-point to 1,473.36 from Monday’s close of 1,473.46, after opening 0.65 of-a-point higher at 1,474.11.

However, on the broader market, gainers edged past decliners 167 to 152, while 284 counters were unchanged, 1,621 untraded and 11 others suspended.

Turnover amounted to 354.53 million units worth RM112.68 million.

In a research note today, Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd said the Budget 2023 re-tabling on Friday will remain a key focus as investors monitor a series of global economic data.

"The renewable energy, electric vehicles and construction sectors may gain momentum prior to the Budget 2023 re-tabling,” it said in a research note today.

It added that investors may continue to monitor geopolitical tensions as the European Union aims to adopt a new range of sanctions against Russia this week, as well as the United States President Biden’s visit to Ukraine.

In the meantime, Bursa heavyweights CIMB added one sen to RM5.43, and Maybank and Petronas Chemicals were flat at RM8.74 and RM8.20, respectively, while Public Bank lost one sen to RM4.15 and TNB eased one sen to RM9.85.

As for the actives, EG Industries perked 17 sen to RM1.03 sen, Revenue Group grew half-a-sen to 50.5 sen and Zen Tech International remained unchanged at 3.5 sen, while MMAG Holdings lessened half-a-sen to two sen and Barakah Offshore gave up one sen to 3.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index decreased 6.11 points to 10,718.72, the FBMT 100 Index went down 6.88 points to 10,385.90, the FBM Emas Shariah Index slipped 11.27 points to 11,063.51 and the FBM 70 Index dipped 35.45 points to 13,496.31, while the FBM ACE Index increased 33.98 points to 5,636.92.

Sector-wise, the Plantation Index shed 3.70 points to 6,810.73 and the Energy Index declined 0.7 of-a-point to 877.14, while the Industrial Products and Services Index climbed 0.04 of-a-point to 187.83 and the Financial Services Index gained 3.83 points to 16,069.18. — Bernama