External sentiments spur mart

SHARE prices on Bursa Malaysia ended higher yesterday in line with regional bourses, riding on improved external sentiments, dealers said.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 5.27 points to close at 1,627.35, after opening 0.96 point lower at 1,621.12.

The benchmark FBM KLCI hovered between 1,619.97 and 1,627.35 during the whole trading session.

Major US equity indices rose between 0.9 per cent and 1.0 per cent last Friday.

The Finance Index increased 74.39 points to 15,000.56, the Industrial Index added 1.56 points to 2,785.07 and the Plantation Index rose 14.79 points to 7,917.68.

The FBM Emas Index increased 35.78 points to 11,058.29, the FBMT100 added 35.28 points to 10,912.92, the FBM Mid 70 Index rose 38.78 points to 12,013.11, but the FBM ACE Index was 7.03 points lower at 3,933.85.

Advancers led decliners by 326 to 296.

Total volume rose to 850.5 million shares worth RM1.4 billion from 831.6 million shares worth RM1.5 billion last Friday.

Of top gainers, British American Tobacco and Tasek-Pa rose 60 sen each to RM57.60 and RM14.60, respectively. Heavyweights Maybank gained 8.0 sen to RM9.15 and Sime Darby shed 2.0 sen to RM9.19.

Meanwhile, FBM KLCI futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives also ended mostly higher, riding on the improved cash market.

Spot month February 2013 rose 7.0 points to settle at 1,624, March 2013 increased 7.5 points to 1,619.5, June 2013 went up 8.0 points to 1,610 and September 2013 added 9.0 points to 1,603.5.

Turnover increased to 26,752 lots compared with 10,171 lots recorded last Friday, with open interest rising to 55,917 contracts from 39,179 contracts previously. Bernama