Bursa M'sia ends on a firm note

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended on a firm note today, lifted by buying interest across the board and the performance of regional bourses, dealers said.
At the close, the key FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 19.04 points higher at 1,857.32, after moving between 1,841.78 and 1,858.23 throughout the day.
It opened 4.74 points better at 1,843.02 from Thursday's close of 1,838.28.
On the broader market, gainers outpaced losers by 824 to 193 with 288 counters unchanged, 587 untraded and 19 others suspended.
Volume increased to 2.36 billion units worth RM1.89 billion from 1.11 billion shares, worth RM1.07 billion on last Thursday.
A dealer said Asian stocks closed broadly higher in thin trading as markets in China, Hong Kong and the United States remain shut for the Lunar New Year holiday and for the Presidents' Day holiday.
"The rise on Asian bourses indicates improved confidence in global equities following a correction earlier in Feb, sparked by fears about rising inflation. Investors are focusing now on strong corporate earnings," he added.
On the local front, positive sentiment continued to lift the market on the back of Malaysia's strong gross domestic product growth in the last quarter of 2017 as well as a firmer crude oil prices.
The price of Brent oil stood at US$65.30, up from US$64.84 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate was at US$62.23, from US$61.55 previously.
Regionally, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.97% to 22,149.21, South Korea's Kospi improved 0.87% to 2,442.82 and Singapore Straits Times Index gained 1.24% to 3,486.22.
Of heavyweights, Maybank and Tenaga bagged four sen each to RM10.14 and RM14.74, respectively, Public Bank rose 14 sen to RM21.98, CIMB Group increased eight sen to RM7.09 while Petronas Chemicals was flat at RM8.10.
Among actives, PUC added two sen to 28 sen, Hibiscus warrant gained 1.5 sen to nine sen, Sino Hua-An rose five sen to 56 sen, Sapura Energy improved 3.5 sen to 72 sen and Hibiscus Petroleum bagged 9.5 sen to RM1.04.
The FBM Emas Index rose 149.51 points to 13,267.0, the FBMT 100 Index added 140.01 points to 12,969.59 and the FBM 70 jumped 200 points to 16,305.29.
The FBM Emas Shariah Index surged 169.62 points to 13,604.72 and the FBM Ace increased 166.04 points to 6,408.60.
Sector-wise, the Finance Index was 185.81 points higher at 17,780.22, the Industrial Index bagged 75.58 points to 3,278.24 and the Plantation Index advanced 51.14 points to 8,048.11.
The Main Market volume increased to 1.37 billion units, worth RM1.69 billion, compared with 601.53 million units, worth RM979.37 million, recorded last Thursday.
Volume on the ACE Market rose to 459.29 million shares, valued at RM110.72 million, from 221.85 million shares, worth RM45.74 million, previously.
Warrants volume was higher at 518.40 million units worth RM84.66 million from Thursday's 286.69 million units worth RM45.93 million.
Consumer products accounted for 53.03 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (389.95 million), construction (58.52 million), trade and services (623.99 million), technology (79.98 million), infrastructure (4.25 million), SPAC (646,000), finance (44.96 million), hotels (369,200), properties (87.03 million), plantations (23.25 million), mining (405,700), REITs (5.08 million), and closed/fund (nil).
The physical price of gold as at 5.00pm stood at RM162.95/g, down 97 sen from RM163.92 at 5.00pm last Thursday. — Bernama