KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 ― The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) opened slightly higher this morning on renewed bargain hunting activities in line with the stronger performance on Asian bourses.

At 9.10am, the key index stood at 1,781.34, up 0.80 of a point, after initially opening 0.58 of a point easier at 1,779.96.

Market breadth was positive as gainers outpaced losers 139 to 77, with 146 counters unchanged, 1,406 untraded and 20 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 127.91 million shares worth RM39.56 million.                

On other scoreboards, the FBM Emas Index gained 3.34 points to 12,264.30, the FBMT100 Index rose 3.38 points to 11,948.94, and the FBM Ace expanded 65.09 points to 7,098.72.

The FBM Emas Syariah Index fell 17.36 points to 12,847.48 and the FBM 70 was 3.73 points lower at 13,233.19.

On a sectoral basis, the Finance Index increased 36.47 points to 15,890.23, the Industrial Index eased 11.13 points to 3,249.92, and the Plantation Index was 10.63 points lower at 7,742.82.

Among heavyweights, Maybank added four sen to RM9.13, TNB and Public Bank rose two each to RM14.64 and RM18.36 respectively, while Axiata was flat at RM7.03.

Of the active stocks, Puc Founder and Wintoni Group inched up two sen each to 18 sen and 42.5 sen respectively, while both Olympia Industries and Ingenuity Consolidated gained half a sen to 15.5 sen and 7.5 sen. ― Bernama