KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 — Bursa Malaysia opened higher today after the extended holidays on buying interest led by industral and consumer-related shares.

At 9.09 am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 8.28 points better at 1,735.010, after opening 1.72 points higher at 1,733.290.

Market breadth was positive as gainers outpaced losers 183 to 64, while 119 counters were unchanged, 1,443 untraded and 11 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 71.97 million shares worth RM45.50 million.

A dealer said the receding debt crisis in Greece may cause a rise in local and global markets this week.

"Some stability may reign as the index traced out some key support in the 1,685 to 1,726 zone in the last fortnight.

RHB Retail Research said in the near-term bullish sentiment remained intact, given that the index has continued to stay above the 1,700-points threshold.

"Overall, we believe the rebound that started from July 9 may persist," it said in a note today.

Market breadth was positive as gainers outpaced losers 183 to 64, while 119 counters were unchanged, 1,443 untraded and 11 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 71.97 million shares worth RM45.50 million.

On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index increased 45.09 points to 11,933.53, the FBMT100 Index was 44.56 points higher to 11,621.97 and the FBM Emas Syariah Index improved 58.87 points to 12,384.67.          

The FBM Ace garnered 45.92 to 6,208.94 but the FBM 70 added 8.67 points to 12,807.51.         

On a sectoral basis, the Plantation Index was 18.50 points easier at 7,485.96, the Finance Index rose 59.00 points to 15,591.50 and the Industrial Index went up 24.40 points to 3,215.35.

For heavyweights, Maybank rose five sen to RM9.25, Public Bank increased 10 sen to RM19.08 while top gainers, United Plantations added 90 sen to RM27.48, Petronas Gas gained 48 sen to RM21.82 and Hong Leong Industries perked 15 sen to RM4.64. — Bernama