FBM KLCI lifted by positive sentiment

BURSA Malaysia closed firmer yesterday, lifted by positive investor sentiment in selected counters, namely Malaysia Airports, Tenaga, Hartalega and Top Glove, said dealers.

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) recovered 5.38 points, or 0.33 per cent, to close at 1,627.44 points from 1,622.06 on Monday.

The index opened 2.06 points firmer at 1,624.12 and moved between 1,620.93 and 1,629.42 throughout the trading session.

However, market breadth was negative as losers outpaced gainers 443 to 406, while 412 counters were unchanged, 655 untraded and 32 others suspended.

Volume slipped to 3.73 billion

units worth RM2.47 billion against Monday’s 4.77 billion units valued at RM3.18 billion.

Shares of Malaysia Airport improved 29 sen, or 4.08 per cent, to RM7.40, Tenaga gained 12 sen, or 0.99 per cent, to RM12.28, Hartalega soared 34 sen, or 7.07 per cent, to RM5.15 and Top Glove rose 21 sen, or 4.62 per cent, to RM4.76.

Among heavyweights, Maybank added one sen to RM9.16, Public Bank improved six sen to RM22.60, Petronas Chemicals bagged five sen to RM8.95 and CIMB was flat at RM5.17.

Top gainers were Hartalega and Malaysia Airports followed by Dutch Lady, which strengthened 30 sen to RM64, and BAT, which rose 26 sen to RM36.52.

The FBM Emas Index was 28.16 points higher at 11,585.54, the FBMT100 increased 29.86 points to 11,398.96 and the FBM 70 added 6.65 points to 14,624.19.

The FBM Emas Shariah Index was 29.63 points better at 11,779.52 and the FBM ACE Index strengthened 37.07 points to 4,752.26.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index went up 6.22 points to 16,817.76, but the Plantation Index eased 16.41 points to 7,192.14, while the Industrial Products and Services Index gained 1.16 points to 170.15.

Main Market volume narrowed to 2.93 million shares valued at RM2.30 billion against 3.97 million shares worth RM3.04 billion on Monday.

Warrants turnover expanded to 340.60 million units worth RM41.06 million from 325.69 million units valued at RM41.06 million.

Volume on the ACE Market slid to 455 million shares valued at RM96.08 million versus 468.08 million shares worth RM91.89 million.

Meanwhile, the FBM KLCI futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended higher yesterday, in line with the underlying cash market.

April 2019 and May 2019 gained 4.5 points each to 1,626 and 1,627.50, respectively, June 2019 rose 6.0 points to 1,628.50 and September 2019 added 3.5 points to 1,622.50.

Turnover slightly decreased to 4,833 lots from 4,963 lots on Monday, while open interest slipped to 31,860 contracts from 31,988 contracts.