BURSA Malaysia was higher at mid-morning today on buying interest in most heavyweights led by telecommunications (telcos) and finance stocks.
At 11.05 am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) grew 10.07 points to 1,606.12 from last Friday’s close of 1,596.05.
The index opened 2.48 points stronger at 1,598.53.
On the broader market, winners led losers 614 to 292, with 401 counters unchanged, 1,135 untraded and 22 suspended.
Turnover stood at 1.83 billion units worth RM962.62 million.
Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd in a note said it favours the consumer, renewable energy, industrial products, and shipping sectors due to the stronger ringgit environment, as well as the financial sector which may be worth accumulating ahead of its results, given its decent dividend yield prospects.
On the technical outlook, it noted that resistance is expected around 1,611-1,616 and the support is set at 1,576-1,581, said the brokerage firm.
Among the heavyweights, CelcomDigi rose 13 sen to RM3.78, Maxis gained 11 sen to RM3.59, Hong Leong Bank ticked up 26 sen to RM19.40, Axiata added 6.0 sen to RM2.40, CIMB was 5.0 sen higher at RM7.35 and Sunway accumulated 8.0 sen to RM4.14
Most active counters include Cape EMS which eased by half-a-sen to 51.5 sen, while Barakah Offshore Petroleum strengthened by 2.5 sen to 7.5 sen, Hubline shed 1.0 sen to 7.5 sen, AHB put on 1.0 sen to 5.5 sen and AHB increased 1.5 sen to 18.5 sen.
Top gainers, Nestle bagged RM1.80 to RM111.30, MSM ticked up 46 sen to RM30.70, Apollo Food improved 34 sen to RM6.96 and Notion was 28 sen higher at RM1.98.
On the index board, the FBM Emas Index grew 94.42 points to 12,269.59, the FBMT 100 Index garnered 89.22 points to 11,896.81, the FBM 70 Index leapt 187.93 points to 17,916.93, the FBM ACE Index jumped 71.13 points to 5,448.79 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index soared 112.79 points to 12,441.28.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index expanded by 105.05 points to 18,158.88, the Energy Index was 11.27 points firmer at 932.91, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 0.91 of-a-point to 182.20, the Plantation Index appreciated 32.84 points to 7,106.76, and the Technology Index was 1.08 points higher at 72.23. — BERNAMA
