KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 — Share prices on Bursa Malaysia continued its upward momentum to open higher today, lifted by buying of bluechips and selected heavyweights.

At 9.03am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) stood at 1,817.5, up 4.25 points, after opening 2.37 points higher at 1,815.62.

AllianceDBS Research said the FBM KLCI, which ended in a firm note on Friday, is likely to attempt higher levels again with the immediate overhead resistance at 1,831.41 points.

“A rise above 1,831.41 points should see the market gearing towards the next resistance zone, 1,838–1,858 points.

“The support is pegged at 1,796 and a fall below 1,796 points would put pressure on the index down to the subsequent support level of 1,779 points,” the research firm said in a note today.

On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index rose 25.13 points to 12,487.05 points, FBMT100 Index increased 22.84 points to 12,185.59 and FBM Emas Shariah Index improved 18.64 points to 12,999.61.

The FBM Ace perked 13.24 points to 6,646.09 and FBM 70 gained 3.55 points to 13,462.15. 

On a sectoral basis, the Finance Index chalked up 52.52 points to 15,909.71, the Industrial Index added 1.93 points to 3,280.53 while the Plantation Index increased 12.82 points to 8,036.16.

Gainers led losers 121 to 66 while 137 counters were unchanged, 1,398 untraded and 12 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 79.17 million shares worth RM35.73 million.

Among actives, TMC Life rose six sen to 70 sen while Asia Bioenergy, Pasukhas and RGB International inched up half-a-sen each to 19 sen, 26.5 sen and 16 sen, respectively.

Of heavyweights, TNB perked 10 sen to RM14.92, Maybank gained four sen to RM8.97, Public Bank increased 20 sen to RM18.98 and Sime Darby added two sen to RM9.55.

Axiata was flat at RM7.17. — Bernama