KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) closed slightly higher today, lifted by sustained buying momentum in most heavyweights, led by Maybank and Sime Darby.

At 5pm, the index was 2.55 points higher at 1,807.65, after fluctuating between 1,805.35 and 1,814.28.

For the heavyweights, Maybank jumped 14 sen to RM9.29, Sime Darby rose nine sen to RM9.03, with TNB flat at RM13.98, while Public Bank declined four sen to RM19.28. Axiata fell six sen to RM6.62.

Inter-Pacific Research Sdn Bhd Head of Research Pong Teng Siew said Bursa Malaysia and its regional peers rebounded from yesterday’s losses due to a stabilising global bond market.

“However, the market is still in a jittery mode. Investors are also monitoring the US non-farm payrolls data to be released tonight. That will provide pointers for the market’s movement next week,” he told Bernama.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.45 per cent to 19,379.19, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 1.05 per cent to 27,577.34 and Singapore’s Straits Times advanced 0.59 per cent to 3,452.92.

The Finance Index gained 60.25 points to 16,061.6, the Industrial Index added 2.09 points to 3,305.65 and the Plantation Index fell 15.46 points to 7,512.69.

The FBM Emas Index perked 11.55 points to 12,470.02, the FBMT100 Index bagged 9.58 points to 12,144.99, and the FBM Emas Syariah Index increased 4.42 points to 12,956.8.

The FBM Ace meanwhile, strengthened 79.9 points at 6,997.74 and the FBM 70 slid 18.22 points to 13,515.65.

Gainers led losers 461 to 315, with 325 counters unchanged, 684 counters untraded and 10 others suspended.

Total volume was slightly lower at 1.52 billion shares worth RM1.93 billion from yesterday’s 1.55 billion shares worth RM1.97 billion. 

Among actives, Kanger International added two sen to 26.5 sen, SKP Resources chalked up 10 sen to 94.5 sen, Frontken edged up half-a-sen to 27 sen and Nexgram was flat at 12 sen.

Main Market volume fell to 904.95 million units worth RM1.78 billion from 927.22 million units worth RM1.82 billion yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE Market depreciated to 519.59 million shares valued at RM121.67 million from 537.01 million shares valued at RM116.63 million yesterday.

Warrants rose to 92.08 million units worth RM25.72 million from yesterday’s 90.60 million units worth RM25.54 million.

Consumer products accounted for 46.25 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (268.75 million), construction (54.39 million), trade and services (336.66 million), technology (48.24 million), infrastructure (17.70 million), SPAC (6.49 million), finance (49.29 million), hotels (1.04 million), properties (56.78 million), plantations (13.34 million), mining (0), REITs (5.91 million) and closed/fund (47,000). — Bernama