KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia rebounded to close higher today on last -minute buying, which helped push the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) into positive territory, dealers said.

The FBM KLCI ended 2.27 points higher at 1,788.66, after moving between 1,789.48 and 1,784.47 throughout the day.

Market breadth was positive, with 482 gainers and 323 losers, while 288 counters were unchanged, 492 untraded and 24 others suspended.

Turnover increased to 1.593 billion shares worth RM2.432 billion from the 1.402 billion shares worth RM1.944 billion yesterday.

A dealer said the market swung between gains and losses in the absence of fresh leads. "However, positive sentiment over analysts' expectation that US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke would reiterate previous remarks, that US monetary policy will remain accommodative, lent support to the market," he added.

Bernanke's remarks are expected as part of his testimony to a US congressional panel today and tomorrow.

On the scoreboard, the Industrial Index gained 9.49 points to 3,032.02 and the Finance Index increased 19.25 points to 17,142.06. The Plantation Index, however, fell 15.67 points to 8,437.02.

The FBM Emas Index rose 29.83 points to 12,479.93 and the FBM 70 Index garnered 69.8 points to 14,378.88, while the FBMT100 added 25.25 points to 12,212.10, with the FBM ACE Index gaining 33.84 points to 4,869.85.

Among actives, Eastland Equity lost eight sen to 58.5 sen, Flonic Hi-Tec rose half-a-sen to 10.5 sen and TDM added six sen to 83.5 sen. Of the heavyweights, Maybank was flat at RM10.50, CIMB earned three sen to RM8.42 and Axiata declined two sen to RM6.77.

Volume on the Main Market rose to 1.353 billion units worth RM2.387 billion from 1.216 billion units worth RM1.897 billion yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE market increased to 203.984 million shares valued at RM38.66 million from 159.989 million shares valued at RM42.198 million yesterday. Warrants improved to 34.618 million units worth RM5.09 million from 30 million units worth RM3.869 million previously.

Consumer products accounted for 43.355 million shares on the Main Market, industrial products 167.595 million, construction 110.617 million, trade and services 621.063 million, technology 53.477 million, infrastructure 26.823 million, SPAC 43.926 million, finance 52.258 million, hotels 1.745 million, properties 154.61 million, plantations 57.632 million, mining 102,000, REITs 20.092 million and closed/fund 30,300. — Bernama