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.
At 5pm, the KLCI closed at 1,860.86 while Bursa Malaysia's plantation index rose 92.49 points or 1.16% to 8,083.96. The KLCI rose on bargain hunting today after the index fell 15.26 points yesterday.
Today, Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd analyst Nadia Aquilah told theedgemarkets.com that "the gain in plantation counters was in line with the rise in CPO futures". PPB Group Bhd and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd were among Bursa Malaysia's biggest gainers.
Earlier today, Reuters reported that Malaysian palm oil futures rose to their highest in seven weeks on Thursday morning, supported by firm demand ahead of an industry conference next week. It was reported that the benchmark palm oil contract for May delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was up 0.3 percent at RM2,566 (US$653.26) a tonne at the midday break, in line for a fifth day of gains. It earlier rose to RM2,568, its strongest level since Jan. 11.
Elsewhere, Asian shares were mixed today as the broader market took cue from Wall Street's overnight decline as fears of faster US interest rate hikes continue to weigh on investor sentiment. In China today, it was reported that the share market recouped losses to climb by midday Thursday as consumer and banking firms rose, after a private survey indicated the country's factory growth rose to a six-month high in February.
In China, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.65% while the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite climbed 0.44%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.56% while South Korea markets were closed for the Independence Movement Day holiday.
Source: The Edge
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