KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 7): Frenzied trading interest in penny stocks has driven Bursa Malaysia's trading volume to 26.65 billion units — the highest ever level on the stock exchange. Indeed, this is the fourth record-breaking volume this week.

The volume of 26.65 billion today is double of 13.13 billion recorded on Monday. The daily volume has been above 13 billion each trading day, an evidence of robust trading activities among the retail investors as well as the proprietary day traders.

The FBM ACE and FBM Small Cap index have outpaced the benchmark FBM KLCI index this week.

The FBM KLCI dropped 1.6% week-on-week to end the trading week at 1,578.14 points. In contrast, the FBM ACE index rocketed 20.87% to 10,316.51 points, while the FBM Small Cap index was up 4.69% to 13,663.7 points for the week.

Looking at sector-based indices, sectors related to the pandemic thematic play have been the sought-after targets. On top of that, the steady climb in gold prices has also drawn investors' interest in jewellers and gold miners.

The Healthcare index, which counts rubber glove manufacturers as constituents, rose by 9.53% from last Friday to close at 4,301.4 points today. As for the Technology index, it climbed 13.15% to 54.74 points.

Stocks that has seen heavy trading interest throughout the week are Borneo Oil Bhd, XOX Bhd and Pegasus Heights Bhd.

Borneo Oil's five-day total volume stood at 3.72 billion shares. XOX saw 2.76 billion shares change hands, while Pegasus Heights saw 2.14 billion shares traded.

Of the top 20 most traded counters, only two did not exceed one billion shares change hands. (see chart)

Niche Capital Emas Holdings Bhd (NICE), LKL International Bhd, AT Systematization Bhd were among the top 20 actively traded stocks with trading volume of more than one billion.

For the top gainers, in terms of percentage, the list was also dominated by gold-, technology- and rubber glove-related stocks.

NICE finished 400% higher this week while Inix Technologies Holdings Bhd concluded the trading week 292% higher.

One notable mention is glove-dipping line HLT Global Bhd, which finished 72.6% higher for the week.

In value terms, it is no surprise that the big rubber glove manufacturers (Top Glove Corp Bhd, Supermax Corp Bhd, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd) were among the top gainers this week. On top of that, jewellers like Poh Kong Holdings Bhd and Tomei Consolidated Bhd were also on the list.

Shareholders of these companies should be popping champagne now as all of their share prices leapt to all-time highs although economic uncertainties remain on the horizon.

During the week, an increasing number of counters hit limit up. For example, today alone saw five counters reach their upper limits, with 12 seen yesterday.

Consequently, Bursa Malaysia has also stepped in to modify the upper limits of such counters, including the likes of Tomei, HLT and its warrants A (HLT-WA), Notion VTec Bhd and its warrants C (Notion-WC), ES Ceramics Technology Bhd and Oceancash Pacific Bhd.

Nonetheless, all stocks were heading north. Property developers and real estate investment trusts (REITs), travel and hospitality, construction and timber players constituted the top percentage losers this week.

YTL Hospitality REIT shed 18.42% this week, while Pasdec Holdings Bhd ended 19.6% lower this week.

Top losers, in terms of value, included consumer stocks which are well regarded as safe haven during economic downturn, such as Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd. Interestingly, rubber glove giant Hartalega Holdings Bhd also joined the ranks.