KL shares extend yesterday's gains to open higher
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia extended yesterday's gains to open higher today despite Wall Street's broadly lower overnight close.
At 9.05am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 1.84 points firmer at 1,743.31 from Monday's close of 1,741.47.
The index opened 0.97 of-a-point better at 1,742.44 at 9am.
On the broader market, gainers led losers by 121 to 89, while 182 counters remained unchanged with 1,459 untraded and 18 others were suspended.
Turnover stood at 89.74 million shares worth RM39.83 million.
In a note today, Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd said the pick-up in trading volumes on logistics players such as Century Logistics and Xinhwa, could be expected for today's trading.
Besides, it said, any balance Light Rail Transit Line Three contracts to be awarded may contribute to renewed trading interest among construction stocks.
"Meanwhile, mid- to large-capitalised stocks on the local front may still consolidate sideways ahead of the 2018 Budget, while lower liners within traders' radar that are related to technology sectors could still be traded actively," it said.
At 9.05am, Century Logistics was one sen higher at RM1.18 while Xinhwa was flat at RM1.14.
Among heavyweights, Maybank and Sime Darby gained five sen each to RM9.29 and RM9.16, respectively, Petronas Chemicals bagged three sen to RM7.53 while Tenaga eased two sen to RM14.28 and Public Bank was flat at RM20.46.
Of the actives, Maxwell added one sen to four sen, Greenyield inched up four sen to 25 sen, while Comfort Gloves gave up two sen to RM1.08 and Trive Property and its warrant were each half-a-sen lower at 21 sen and five sen, respectively.
Among gainers, PetDag went up 40 sen to RM24.38, Denko increased 27 sen to RM1.55, MAHB and KLK added 10 sen each to RM8.50 and RM24.50 respectively and Adventa was 8.5 sen better at 92 sen.
The FBM Emas Index improved 10.92 points to 12,527.75, the FBMT100 Index was 11.09 points firmer at 12,168.79 and the FBM Emas Syariah Index rose 14.64 points to 12,885.38.
The FBM 70 accumulated 7.24 points to 15,273.73 and the FBM Ace jumped 29.42 points to 6,996.02.
Sector-wise, the Plantation Index was 4.35 points better at 7,909.30, the Industrial Index perked 10.95 points to 3,223.49 and the Finance Index advanced 23.45 points to 16,313.07.
The physical price of gold as at 9.30am stood at RM168.60 per gramme, up 66 sen from RM167.94 at 5.00pm yesterday. — Bernama