KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia were higher in early trade amid mixed sentiment in Asian bourses, led by consumer stocks, dealers said.

Consumer stocks, BAT rose 40 sen to RM66.90, Hong Leong Industries added nine sen to RM6.79 and Karex Bhd gained eight sen to RM2.92.

At 9.26am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 2.19 points higher at 1,885.34 after opening 0.62 points better at 1,883.77.

Market breadth was positive as gainers led losers 178 to 123 with 213 counters unchanged, 1,122 untraded and 20 others were suspended.

Turnover stood at 256.04 million shares worth RM132.78 million.

On the scoreboard, the Finance Index increased 55.75 points to 17,526.32 but the Plantation Index dipped 51.37 points to 9,110.7 and the Industrial Index rose 6.82 points to 3,250.63.

The FBM Emas Index added 15.4 points to 13,132.74, the FBMT100 Index increased 12.44 points for 12,734.57, the FBM Ace rose 31.19 points to 6,785.52 and the FBM 70 advanced 4.82 points to 14,428.58.

Among actives, Sumatec Resources added 4.5 sen to 42 sen, KNM added three sen to RM1.09 and L&G increased two sen to 56.5 sen.

Of heavyweights, Maybank advanced two sen to RM10.02, Public Bank was flat at RM20.08 and Tenaga slipped four sen to RM12.50. — Bernama