KUALA LUMPUR: The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) ended on a firm note today with the benchmark FBM KLCI hitting more than a two-week high, dealers said. At close, the index on the local exchange rose 14.70 points to 1,764.44.
A dealer said despite the holiday-thinned trade, the local equities will stay buoyant at year-end, boosted by window-dressing by investors.
However, Hong Leong Investment Bank in its note earlier said overall, the market is likely to remain choppy.
“Moving forward, the trading will be stimulated by thin volume in a subdued market, due to profit-taking consolidation and persistent swings in crude oil prices,” the research house said.
Bursa Malaysia was closed yesterday for Christmas Day.
The FBM Emas Index gained 87.59 points to 12,102.21, the FBMT100 Index perked 86.61 points to 11,847.77 and the FBM 70 rose 49.12 points to 13,158.11.
The FBM Ace inched up 28.50 points to 5,678.56 and the FBM Emas Syariah Index surged 50.60 points to 12,529.01. On a sectoral basis, the Plantation Index improved 71.83 points to 7,830.79, the Industrial Index inched up 7.1 points to 3,178.98 and the Finance Index garnered 216.85 points to 15,716.02.
Gainers trounced losers 436 to 255, while 301 were unchanged, 750 untraded and 14 suspended.
Total volume fell to 846.49 million shares worth RM870.12 million from 1.05 billion shares worth RM995.56 million on Wednesday.
Of the heavyweights, Maybank gained 15 sen to RM9.16, TNB added four sen to RM13.90, Public Bank increased 56 sen to RM18.46 and Axiata rose one sen to RM7.
Among actives, Hubline was flat at four sen, Icon Offshore added two sen to 75.5 sen but Kronologi Asia was one sen lower at 28 sen.
Main Market volume declined to 607.93 million shares worth RM824.60 million from 655.49 million shares worth RM916.73 billion on Wednesday.
Turnover on the ACE Market fell to 151.80 million units valued at RM31.68 million versus 192.53 million units worth RM40.43 million previously.
Warrants decreased to 81.19 million shares worth RM13.23 million against 199.27 million shares worth RM38.05 million.
Consumer products accounted for 64.95 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (82.27 million), construction (33.48 million), trade and services (312.36 million), technology (8.42 million), infrastructure (14.07 million), SPAC (10.40 million), finance (19.64 million), hotels (5.37 million), properties (47.53 million), plantations (14.57 million), mining (3,000), REITs (2.12 million) and closed/fund (10,000). – Bernama