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 (Dec 18): The FBM KLCI closed 1.41% or 22.16 points higher today at 1,599.11 points, together with some Southeast Asian peers, following the recent de-escalation in trade tensions between the US and China.
IHH Healthcare Bhd, Maxis Bhd and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd contributed to the rise in the local benchmark.
A total of 2.5 billion shares worth RM2.03 billion were traded across the local bourse today, with 382 counters registering gains while 389 counters declined; 481 counters closed unchanged.
Reuters wrote that Southeast Asian financial markets saw gains today, with Thailand leading the charge, after a recent run of upbeat data helped calm recession fears, while "phase-one" of a Sino-US trade deal has given some clarity to investors over their global outlook.
Besides the Thai index, where the climb was underpinned by gains in energy stocks amid firmer overnight oil prices, the news agency noted that Indonesian stocks were set to extend gains for a fourth consecutive session while Singapore tracked broader peers higher following upbeat US housing and manufacturing data. The Philippine benchmark, however, dipped after the central bank signalled further rate cuts amid flagging growth and lean global demand.
In a 2020 strategy note on Tuesday, TA Securities Head of Research Kaladher Govindan said the de-escalation in trade tensions between the two largest economies in the world is a good way to usher in 2020, while an expected recovery and stability in commodity prices will add to market optimism in 2020.
Asia Pacific bourses, however, were mixed. The Shanghai Composite index closed 0.18% or 5.38 points lower at 3,017.04 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index registered a gain of 0.15% or 40.50 points to 27,884.21 points.
South Korea's Kospi closed 0.04% or 0.92 points lower at 2,194.76 points, while the Nikkei 225 declined 0.55% or 131.69 points at 23,934.43 points.
Source: The Edge

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