KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia closed higher today amid positive sentiment on regional bourses, further supported by gains in most heavyweight stocks, dealers said. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) ended trading at 1,862.84 points, up by 2.41 points, after hovering between 1,860.6 points and 1,863.954 points throughout the day.

A dealer said most Asian stocks rose on China’s better trade figures and Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen’s promise to keep interest rates low until the US job market was healthy.

Viewing the US job market as being “far from satisfactory”, Yellen said the Fed would begin raising interest rates only when there was enough progress in restoring full employment, and with inflation backing up to its target of 2.0 per cent.

Her comments appeared to ease concerns that the Fed might move too quickly to raise interest rates.

In Bursa Malaysia, market breadth was positive as gainers led losers by 444 to 332, while 325 counters were unchanged, 516 untraded and 18 others suspended.

Turnover was higher at 1.81 billion shares worth RM1.97 billion from the 1.61 billion shares worth RM1.83 billion returned yesterday.

On the scoreboard, the Industrial Index rose 4.52 points to 3,180.71 points, the Finance Index 61.31 points to 16,999.6 points and the Plantation Index 49.19 points to 9,120.26 points.

The FBM Emas Index was 19.13 points higher at 12,883.94 points, the Ace Index 59.1 points to 6,603.98 points, the FBMT100 Index 18.33 points to 12,534.99 points, and the FBM 70 28.71 points to 14,019.36 points.

Among actives, PDZ Holdings gained 2 sen to 18.5 sen, 1Utopia and Astral Supreme were flat at 6.5 sen and 12.5 sen respectively, while Malaysia Airlines eased 0.5 sen to 22 sen.

Of the heavyweights, Maybank advanced 3 sen to RM9.81, TNB rose 1 sen to RM11.96, CIMB gained 1 sen to RM7.34, while Public Bank was flat at RM20.04.

Main Market volume was higher at 1.33 billion units worth RM1.85 billion, from yesterday’s 1.06 billion units worth RM1.71 billion.

Turnover on the ACE market declined to 438.76 million shares valued at RM107.09 million from the 526.49 million shares valued at RM116.82 million recorded yesterday.

Warrants widened to 35.72 million units worth RM3.61 million from yesterday’s 24.86 million units worth RM2.65 million.

Consumer products accounted for 94.88 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products 230.23 million, construction 41.03 million, trade and services 682.43 million, technology 68.95 million, infrastructure 13.07 million, SPAC 14.48 million, finance 49.91 million, hotels 2.47 million, properties 105.24 million, plantations 11.69 million, mining 240,400, REITs 15.29 million and closed/fund 56,500. — Bernama