Bursa ends at intra-day high on positive sentiment

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed on a firm note with the FBM KLCI finishing at its intra-day high today on persistent buying interest amid positive external development, dealers said.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 10.84 points to 1,668.26, after fluctuating between 1,657.47 and 1,668.26.
The barometer index opened 0.22 of-a-point higher at 1,657.64.
A dealer said global market players reacted positively after the G20 finance ministers pledged in China over the weekend to use "all policy tools" to support global growth.
However, weaker oil prices, which fell to US$45.58 (RM185.50) per barrel due to supply concern, had curbed buying in the local equity market, the dealer added.
He said focus is now centered on meetings by key central banks, the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan, due later in the week.
"This will provide indication and catalysts as to the next direction of these two big economies as well as the global economy," he added.
Market breadth was positive with 415 gainers and 364 losers, while 362 counters were unchanged, 561 untraded and 22 others suspended.
Volume improved to 1.6 billion units worth RM1.57 billion from 1.38 billion units worth RM1.41 billion on Friday.
Of the heavyweights, Maybank rose seven sen to RM8.10, Public Bank advanced eight sen to RM19.38, IHH Healthcare put on 12 sen to RM6.60 and Petronas Chemicals added three sen to RM6.64.
However, TNB eased two sen to RM14.30.
Among actives, TH Heavy edged up 4.5 sen to 16 sen, INIX Technologies added one sen to six sen and KNM Group gained two sen to 42.5 sen.
On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index surged 72.77 points to 11,683.94, the FBMT100 Index soared 72.81 points to 11,380.03 and the FBM 70 climbed 80.88 points to 13,297.03.
The FBM Emas Syariah Index advanced 67.13 points to 12,283.49 but the FBM Ace declined 21.26 points to 5,419.13.
Sector-wise, the Finance Index soared 100.44 points to 14,202.08, the Industrial Index increased 23.84 points to 3,156.92, and the Plantation Index advanced 25.7 points to 7,600.2.
Main Market turnover rose to 1.11 billion shares worth RM1.5 billion from 934.39 million shares worth RM1.33 billion recorded on Friday.
The ACE Market volume increased to 286.29 million units valued at RM50.29 million from 265.69 million units valued at RM52.67 million previously.
Warrants improved to 209.78 million shares worth RM26.51 million from 177.45 million shares worth RM27.83 million on Friday.
Consumer products accounted for 85.48 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (225.07 million), construction (71.14 million), trade and services (510.44 million), technology (50.17 million), infrastructure (8.68 million), SPAC (4.67 million), finance (36.99 million), hotels (642,500), properties (71.54 million), plantations (33.84 million), mining (34,800), REITs (8.06 million) and closed/fund (1,600).
The physical price of gold as at 5pm stood at RM166.59 per gramme, down 80 sen from RM167.39 at 5pm last Friday. — Bernama