FBM KLCI ends on firm note, up almost 1%

KUALA LUMPUR: The key index on Bursa Malaysia ended the week on a firm note today, boosted by persistent buying momentum in selected blue-chips, led by banking and oil and gas stocks.
At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 16.5 points, or almost one per cent, to 1,862.58 after fluctuating between 1,849.71 and 1,862.58 throughout the day.
A dealer said the benchmark index was traded in positive territory throughtout the day, supported by foreign fund buying, ringgit appreciation and improved global sentiment.
The rise in FBM KLCI was mainly contributed by Petronas Chemicals and Maybank, whereby they soared 25 sen and 17 sen to RM6.21 and RM9.42 respectively.
The Finance Index reversed its recent losses to close 105.52 points stronger at 16,422.79, Plantation Index chalked up 85.02 points to 7,749.53 and the Industrial Index garnered 13.9 points to 3,416.16.
The FBM Emas Index jumped 96.01 points to 12,812.73, FBMT100 Index climbed 99.85 points to 12,487.52, FBM Emas Syariah Index advanced 92.17 points to 13,353.55 and the FBM 70 increased 68.94 points to 13,795.29.
However, the FBM Ace fell 22.17 points to 7,378.93.
On a sectoral basis, losers led gainers by 445 to 393, with 341 counters unchanged, 636 counters untraded and 18 others suspended.
Total volume decreased to 2.1 billion shares worth RM2.0 billion from 1.98 billion shares worth RM1.68 billion on Thursday.
Among actives, Nova MSC and Frontken inched up half-a-sen each to 23.5 sen and 29 sen repectively, DGB Asia added one sen to 13 sen and Vsolar gained two sen to 36 sen.
Of the heavyweights, TNB and Public Bank rose 12 sen each to RM14.60 and RM19.70 respectively, Axiata added one sen to RM6.99, and Sime Darby increased by three sen to RM9.28.
Main Market volume increased to 1.21 billion units worth RM1.78 billion from Thursday's 1.20 billion units worth RM1.45 billion.
Turnover on the ACE Market rose to 764.86 million shares valued at RM208.05 million from 701.65 million shares valued at RM208.1 million previously.
Warrants surged to 128.44 million units worth RM15.12 million from 71.59 million units worth RM13.98 million yesterday.
Consumer products accounted for 66.6 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (275.6 million), construction (120.89 million), trade and services (491.93 million), technology (90.5 million), infrastructure (10.2 million), SPAC (10.75 million), finance (67.15 million), hotels (926,000), properties (63.41 million), plantations (7.26 million), mining (94,500), REITs (2.76 million) and closed/fund (118,600). – Bernama