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.
KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): The FBM KLCI rose 8.45 points or 0.5% after investors bought Malaysian blue chips including Public Bank Bhd and MISC Bhd shares at the eleventh hour. The KLCI had erased losses in tandem with Asian share markets as Bursa Malaysia's technology, REIT and small cap indexes closed in the red.
At 5pm, the KLCI closed at 1,856.39 after falling to its intraday low at 1,841.47. At 5pm, Public Bank shares climbed 40 sen to RM23.52 while MISC increased 25 sen to RM7.30 among Bursa Malaysia top gainers.
Bursa Malaysia top decliners included Nestle (M) Bhd, Ajinomoto (M) Bhd and KLCC Stapled Group. Among Bursa Malaysia indexes, the largest decliner was the technology index at 2.29% followed by the REIT index at 2.09%. The small cap index was 1.06% lower.
The KLCI had tracked Asian share gains. Loui Low, who is head of retail research at Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd, said positive sentiment was seen across major regional equity indexes in the second half of the day.
“However, (in Malaysia) the market remains cautious ahead of the announcement and schedule of the 14th general election,” he told theedgemarkets.com.
Across Asian share markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's Kospi erased losses to close higher. Hang Seng rose 0.11% while Kospi climbed 0.42%.
Reuters reported that Asian shares were on the defensive on Tuesday after investors took profits in high-flying US technology shares on fears of stiffer regulation, as Facebook came under fire following reports it allowed improper access to user data.
The retreat came as investors braced for new Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's first policy meeting starting later in the day and amid concerns that US President Donald Trump could impose additional punitive trade measures against China.
Source: The Edge

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