BURSA Malaysia rebounded to open higher today, in line with most regional markets.

At 9.25am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) advanced 6.82 points, or 0.48%, to 1,419.86 from Monday’s close of 1,413.04.

The benchmark index opened 0.18 of a point easier at 1,412.86.  

The market breadth was positive with advancers outpacing decliners 240 to 144, while 241 counters were unchanged, 1,772 untraded and 20 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 336.26 million units worth RM179.32 million.

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd reckons the local bourse is likely to witness heightened volatility on worries over the global economic downturn as Wall Street slides deeper into a bear market.

“The energy and plantation sectors could face further selldown as commodity prices have extended a downward trending move.

“On the other hand, with the ringgit having skidded past RM4.60 against the US dollar, we believe it should benefit export-oriented companies at least for the near term,” the brokerage said in a research note today.

Among the heavyweight stocks, Malayan Banking Bhd added one sen to RM8.60, Public Bank Bhd, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd all rose two sen to RM4.30, RM8.34 and RM5.32 respectively, while IHH Healthcare Bhd increased four sen to RM5.99 and Hong Leong Bank Bhd added two sen to RM20.60.

Of the actives, ACE Market debutant PT Resources Holdings Bhd went up 1.5 sen to 37.5 sen, Cnergenz Bhd jumped seven sen to RM1.09, Top Glove Corp Bhd gained one sen to 64.5 sen, Harvest Miracle Capital Bhd shed one sen to 13.5 sen and Velesto Energy Bhd edged down half-a-sen to 11.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index widened by 39.34 points to 10,133.04, the FBM 70 improved by 24.32 points to 12,294.59 and the FBM T100 Index earned 40.79 points to 9,880.25.

The FBM Emas Shariah Index garnered 51.75 points to 10,203.71 while the FBM ACE grew 11.45 points to 4,672.57.  

Sector-wise, the Energy Index was 1.69 points higher at 684.04, the Plantation Index went up 52.76 points to 6,654.93, the Financial Services Index was firmer by 23.33 points at 16,112.52 and the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.77 of-a-point to 170.67. — Bernama / Pic by TMRFILE