Bursa closes firmer boosted by positive sentiment
KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 – Share prices on Bursa Malaysia closed firmer today as investors took cue from the uptrend on regional bourses.
The favourable outcome of the general election in Greece, which saw pro-bailout political parties winning an adequate number of parliamentary seats to form a new government, served as a positive impetus for regional equity markets, dealers said.
Gains in heavyweights like British American Tobacco, Petronas Chemicals Group and Telekom Malaysia Bhd, pushed the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) to close 3.5 points higher at 1,582.73.
The barometer index, which opened at 1,583.35, fluctuated between 1,582.25 and 1,588.54 throughout the day.
Regionally, other bourses were also steadier with Japan’s Nikkei 225 up 1.9 per cent to 8,721.02, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng increased 1.0 per cent to 19,427.81 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index improved 0.47 per cent to 2,824.22.
On the local front, the Finance Index jumped 22.38 points to 14,146.91, the Plantation Index was 19.27 points higher at 8,432.78 and the Industrial Index appreciated 15.57 points to 2,759.62.
The FBM Emas Index rose 39.19 points to 10,822.02 and the FBM Mid 70 Index advanced 88.8 points to 11,874.51, but the FBM ACE Index declined 1.81 points to 4211.75.
Gainers thumped losers 500 to 236 while 281 counters were unchanged, 534 untraded and 14 others suspended.
Turnover softened to 941.093 shares worth RM1.637 billion from the 979.94 million units, valued at RM2.418 billion posted on Friday. – Bernama
