KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index rebounded from earlier losses to close at its intraday high on Wednesday, gaining 0.27 per cent in late trading as buying interest returned to selected heavyweights. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) advanced 4.48 points to 1,676.83 from Tuesday’s close of 1,672.35. The benchmark index opened 0.88 of-a-point lower at 1,671.47 and subsequently hit a low of 1,665.94 during the mid-morning session before gaining momentum toward closing. On the broader market, losers led gainers by 565 to 512, while some 526 counters were unchanged, 1,046 untraded, and 10 suspended. Turnover improved to 2.73 billion units worth RM2.76 billion versus Tuesday’s 2.66 billion units worth RM2.76 billion. Dealers said that investors were cautious following geopolitical developments in Asia.
Bloomberg data showed that shares in Hong Leong Bank, which was among the top 10 active FBM KLCI counters, traded 0.9% or 14 sen higher to settle at RM16.02 today, despite thin trading volume of 334,100.
"While the blue chip stocks have been pretty lifeless of late, several heavyweights, like Hong Leong Bank, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd — but especially Hong Leong Bank — contributed to the slight uptick in today's stock market," Inter-Pacific Securities Sdn Bhd's head of research Pong Teng Siew told theedgemarkets.com.
"Further, we had tech counters like ViTrox Corp Bhd and Pentamaster Corp Bhd, which traded up nicely," Pong added.
About 3.22 billion shares worth about RM1.99 billion were traded today.
Gainers outperformed losers with 426 against 362, while 477 counters settled unchanged.
Among the top gainers for the day were MESB Bhd, Pentamaster and ViTrox, while top losers included Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd, Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd and Lafarge Malaysia Bhd.
Across the region, Japan's Nikkei 225 grew 0.96%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was up 0.06%, while the Korea Composite Stock Price Index was down 0.05%.
Reuters reported Asian stocks rose to a 10-year high on Friday, on expectations of brisk global growth. This was despite investors holding off chasing shares higher ahead of US economic data and next week's Chinese Communist Party congress.
"MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.23%, having gained 3.7% so far this month. Japan's Nikkei edged up 1% to another 21-year high," the report said.
Source: The Edge
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