KL shares open higher

KUALA LUMPUR: Shares on Bursa Malaysia opened higher today, lifted by buying support in selected blue-chips. At 9.03am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) stood at 1,710.55, up 10.6 points, after opening 6.52 points higher at 1,706.47.
RHB Research has maintained its short-term bearish outlook for the key barometer.
"Currently, we are eyeing the crucial resistance level at 1,725 points, which is the downside gap resistance of Dec 15. Conversely, the support levels are maintained at 1,666.50 points," it said in a note.
The FBM Emas Index increased 79.99 points to 11,751.21, FBMT100 Index gained 74.35 points to 11,491.14, FBM Ace rose 138.8 points to 5,657.56, FBM Emas Syariah Index improved 73.62 points to 12,154.96 and the FBM 70 advanced 94.85 points to 12,782.12.
Sector-wise, the Plantation Index rose 76.11 points to 7,505, Industrial Index was 4.18 points higher at 3,083.62 and the Finance Index added 111.09 points to 15,240.48.
Market breadth was positive with gainers leading losers by 339 to 38 while 72 counters were unchanged, 1,275 untraded and 15 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 216.69 million shares worth RM67.63 million. Among heavyweights, Maybank improved ten sen to RM8.67, TNB perked six sen to RM13.46, Public Bank rose 16 sen to RM17.66, Axiata added three sen to RM6.93 and Sime Darby increased by seven sen to RM9.15.
Of the actives, Minetech and Privasia were up one sen each at 10 sen and 14.5 sen, respectively, Asia Bioenergy gained half-a-sen to 13.5 sen, Systech perked 2.5 sen to 26 sen and IFCA MSC increased 3.5 sen at 74 sen.
The physical price of gold as at 9.30am stood at RM129.69 per gramme, up 25 sen from RM129.44 at 5pm yesterday. – Bernama