KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia extended yesterday's gains to open higher today on continued buying interest in selected heavyweights and in line with most regional markets, dealers said.
At 9.10 am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) stood at 1,828.64, up 0.01 of-a-point, from yesterday's close of 1,828.63.It opened 2.61 points higher at 1,824.55.
Overall market breadth was positive with gainers leading losers 197 to 116, while 234 counters were unchanged, 1,285 untraded and 32 others suspended.
Turnover stood at 374.60 million shares worth RM98.52 million.
In a research note today, Maybank Investment Bank Research (Maybank IB) said the local bourse would likely stay volatile today.
“The rally in overnight US markets will lend support to the local bourse, but after rising for the fourth consecutive day, we believe the FBM KLCI is due for a correction. Technically, we expect the benchmark index to trade between 1,820 and 1,835 today. Downside supports are the 1,812 and 1,793 points,” it said.
Among heavyweights, Maybank and Public Bank slipped two sen each to RM9.86 and RM20.86, respectively, TNB was flat at RM15.82, while Petronas Chemicals added two sen to RM8.19.
Of the actives, Sumatec earned half-a-sen to 10.5 sen, UMW O&G eased half-a-sen to 38 sen, while NETX and Perisai Petroleum were flat at five sen and 7.5 sen respectively.
The FBM Emas Index was 5.63 points higher at 13,197.36, the FBMT 100 Index rose 3.50 points to 12,851.87 and the FBM 70 advanced 16.07 points to 16,436.36.
The FBM Emas Shariah Index went up 10.19 points to 13,628.70 and the FBM Ace perked 37.65 points to 6,843.83.
Sector-wise, the Finance Index improved 11.21 points to 17,257.47 and the Plantation Index gained 17.37 points to 8,092.60.But, the Industrial Index shed 1.75 points to 3,336.60.