Malaysian Stocks Close Flat, Genting and Dialog Group Lead

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBMKLCI) closed flat at 1,512.28 on Friday. Genting, a prominent leisure/arts/hospitality company, emerged as the top gainer during the session, with a 1.9% increase. Dialog Group, an energy firm, also performed well, adding 1.7% to their stock value. IOI Properties Group, operating in the real estate/construction sector, secured the third spot among the leaders on Friday, with shares gaining 1.4%.

However, Mr. D.I.Y. Group (M), a retail/wholesale firm, experienced the largest decline, falling 2.1%. Fraser & Neave Holdings, another company on the downward trend, saw their shares decrease by 1.0%. Sunway Bhd, a real estate/construction company, also witnessed a dip of 0.7%.

In Southeast Asia, Singapore's FTSE Straits Times Index (STI) fell by 0.1%, while Thailand's SET Index slipped by the same percentage. The primary stock exchanges in the Philippines and Indonesia remained closed during this period.

Moving to other parts of the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (HSI) fell by 0.8%, while the NIKKEI 225 Index of Japanese companies gained 0.1%. The Shanghai stock exchange in China was closed.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Benchmark Index rose by 0.1% to reach 7,644.80, whereas South Korea's Korea Exchange remained closed.

On the currency front, the U.S. dollar fell by 0.1% against the Malaysian ringgit to reach 4.77 ringgit, while the euro also fell by the same percentage to reach 5.14 ringgit.