Bursa M'sia closes half-day trading on higher note

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia closed higher in half-day trading on the eve of Chinese New Year festive, supported by continued buying interest in selected heavyweights and low-liners, dealers said.
At close, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) finished at 1,838.28, up 3.35 points or 0.18 per cent, versus Wednesday's close of 1,834.93.
After opening 5.80 points better at 1,840.73, the local barometer moved within a narrow range of 1,837.99 and 1,842.73 in the morning session.
Affin Hwang Investment Bank Vice-President/Head of Retail Research Datuk Dr Nazri Khan Adam Khan said the volume transacted was healthy despite the half-day trading, following the better-than-expected Gross Domestic Product growth data announced by Bank Negara yesterday.
The Malaysian economy expanded by 5.9 per cent in 2017 versus 4.2 per cent in 2016.
He told Bernama that sentiment was supported by the stronger ringgit, which stood at 3.8, and the benchmark Brent crude oil futures which fetched US$62.33 a barrel.
Gainers outpaced losers 544 to 213 while 354 counters were unchanged, 781 untraded and 20 others were suspended.
Volume stood at 1.11 billion shares, worth RM1.07 billion, up from 1.93 billion shares, worth RM1.98 billion, recorded yesterday.
The FBM Emas Index improved 45.76 points to 13,117.49, FBMT 100 Index rose 39.50 points to 12,829.58 and the FBM 70 increased 104.07 points to 16,105.29.
The FBM Emas Shariah Index surged 60.39 points to 13,453.10 and the FBM Ace advanced 60.27 points to 6,242.42.
Sector-wise, the Finance Index was 13.62 points lower at 17,594.41, Industrial Index fell 4.72 points to 3,202.66 and the Plantation Index added 2.88 points to 7,996.97.
The Main Market volume fell to 601.53 million units, worth RM979.37 million, from Wednesday's 1.27 billion units valued at RM1.85 billion.
Volume on the ACE Market decreased to 221.85 million shares, valued at RM45.74 million, from 310.60 million shares valued at RM61.21 million yesterday.
Warrants volume decreased 286.69 million units, worth RM45.93 million, from Wednesday's 337.42 million units valued at RM64.98 million.
Consumer products accounted for 24.70 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (183.22 million), construction (19.87 million), trade and services (276.85 million), technology (32.63 million), infrastructure (2.85 million), SPAC (30,400), finance (27.70 million), hotels (231,200), properties (19.76 million), plantations (10.89 million), mining (79,800), REITs (2.67 million) and closed/fund (2,000).
Bursa Malaysia and its subsidiaries will be closed tomorrow (Feb 16) and will resume trading on Monday (Feb 19).
The physical price of gold as at 5pm stood at RM163.92/g, up RM1.29 from RM162.63 at 5pm yesterday. — Bernama