Malaysian shares ended in the red on Friday, snapping yesterday's gains. Investor sentiment mirrored a downbeat regional performance.
The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI, the main gauge of Malaysian stocks, shed 13.57 points to end 0.1% lower at 1,701.02.
Malaysia's coincident index, which gauges current economic conditions, fell 0.3% month over month in May to 131.2 points from 131.6 points in April, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia. The reading missed the 0.5% growth forecast tracked by Trading Economics. On an annual basis, the index rose 2.5% to 131.2 points from 128 points a year earlier.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's leading index, which anticipates economic direction in the near term, ticked down 0.5% month over month in May. The pace of growth missed the Trading Economics forecast of 0.3%.
Malaysia completed a $1.5 billion dual-tranche global sukuk, or Islamic bond, issuance after attracting investor orders exceeding $9.5 billion, or 4.7 times the amount offered, the country's finance ministry reported. The sale comprised an $850 million sukuk, maturing in 5.75 years, and a $650 million tranche, with a 10-year tenor.
In corporate news, shares of Westports (KLSE:WPRTS) gained over 2% on today's close after it posted a profit attributable to owners of 360.9 million ringgit in the second quarter, up 56% from 231.6 million ringgit a year earlier. Earnings per share surged 56% to 0.105 ringgit, from 0.0679 ringgit a year prior.
Shares of Kerjaya Prospek Group (KLSE:KERJAYA) also rose over 2% on Friday's close after it secured a 52.5 million ringgit subcontract to carry out civil, structural, and basic low-voltage mechanical and electrical works for a data center project in Malaysia's Klang Valley.