Bursa prices slightly higher at close
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 – Share prices on Bursa Malaysia remained slightly higher at close today as investors increased their holdings in selected bluechips and heavyweights, dealers said.
At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 4.8 points to 1,635.92 compared to yesterday’s closing of 1,631.12.
The benchmark index, which opened 2.37 points higher at 1,633.49, hovered between 1,632.87 and 1,637.8.
Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd in a Traders Brief here said, taking cue from improving external markets and a successful breakout above resistance of 1,635, the FBM KLCI is slated to retest an all-time high of 1,648 soon.
“Higher trading volume is crucial for a further advance towards 1,654 and 1,664, as otherwise, profit-taking will likely cap gains in the ongoing August reporting season,” it added.
Regionally, only Japan’s Nikkei 225 was on an uptrend with the index surging 77.85 points to 8,881.16, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 82.71 points to 19,989.84 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index declined 15.49 points to 3,052.25.
The Finance Index slipped 21.43 points to 14,690.29, the Industrial Index improved 22.23 points to 2,851.49 and the Plantation Index advanced 16.41 points to 8,678.3.
The FBM Emas Index chalked up 24.75 points to 11,194.96 and the FBMT100 was 25.68 points higher at 11,014.12, while the FBM70 eased 2.03 points to 12,335.4 and the FBM Ace Index dropped 21.37 points to 4,414.98.
Losers led gainers 357 to 348 while 360 counters closed unchanged, 546 untraded and 22 others suspended.
Total volume slipped to 1.232 billion shares worth RM1.756 billion from yesterday’s close of 1.414 billion shares valued at RM2.033 billion. – Bernama
