KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 26): Shares of Pharmaniaga Bhd and Duopharma Biotech Bhd fell today after a jump in the morning session, on the back of profit-taking after hitting multi-year highs yesterday.

Pharmaniaga fell 28 sen or 4.7% to RM5.68 at the time of writing after rising to RM6.19 earlier, with volume tapering to 8.1 million shares from 46.48 million yesterday.

Duopharma fell 17 sen or 4.57% to RM3.54, having hit a high of RM3.92 earlier today. Volume tapered to 36.65 million shares from 229.41 million the day before.

Both counters were the fifth and sixth biggest losers respectively on Bursa Malaysia.

The two counters have climbed in the past five weeks, seen as front-runners of the potential Covid-19 vaccine packaging and distribution activities in the country.

Also in the red today is Ho Wah Genting Bhd, which fell 6 sen or 4.92% to RM1.16. The company had announced that it is venturing into Covid-19 vaccine production and distribution as well.

Reversing yesterday’s trend, the counters fell today as shares of glove makers — whose products are in high demand during the pandemic — rebounded from yesterday’s sharp selling to emerge as top gainers again.

The sector’s gainers were led by Supermax Corp Bhd (up 90 sen or 5.45% to RM20.70), Top Glove Corp Bhd (up 60 sen or 2.36% to RM26), Rubberex Corp (M) Bhd (up 33 sen or 6.56% to RM5.36) and Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd (up 32 sen or 2.19% to RM14.96).

Interestingly, however, the shares of Bintai Kinden Bhd continued to rise after hitting limit-up yesterday. Shares of the company, which has inked a memorandum of understanding to develop the vaccine, rose 14.5 sen or 20.57% to 85 sen.

Edited by Lam Jian Wyn