KL bourse buoyed by buying interest

SHARE prices closed higher yesterday, aided by strong buying interest in line with gains in most regional markets, dealers said.

Gains were mostly seen in British American Tobacco and UMW, which pushed the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) to settle 13.49 points higher at 1,637.64.

The benchmark index, which opened at 1,625.37, hovered between 1,624.79 and 1,637.63 throughout the day, amid market cautiousness about the general election.

The Plantation Index rose 25.13 points to 7,872.62 and the Industrial Index rose 21.48 points to 2,809.89.

The FBM Emas Index rose 87.01 points to 11,139.04, FBMT100 advanced 89.189 points to 10,995.35 and the FBM Mid 70 Index surged 92.101 points to 12,165.9.

Total volume rose to 1.01 billion shares worth RM1.98 billion from 895.99 million shares worth RM1.55 billion.

Advancers led decliners by 394 to 281, with 301 counters unchanged, 699 untraded and 60 suspended.

Among top gainers, British American Tobacco rose RM2.76 to RM61, Dutch Lady Milk Industries added RM1.60 to RM46 and UMW Holdings increased 50 sen to RM12.80.

Turnover on the ACE Market rose to 162.36 million shares valued at RM14.74 million from 157.57 million units worth RM14.93 million on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the FBM KLCI futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed higher in line with the cash market.

Spot month February 2013 was 14 points higher at 1,635.0, March 2013 rose 18.5 points to 1,635.5, June 2013 added 14.5 points to 1,620.0 and September 2013 increased 12 points to 1,614.0.

Turnover fell to 12,196 lots from 13,024 lots with open interest at 44,041 contracts from 46,583 contracts previously. Bernama