KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 — The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) closed in positive territory today, lifted by persistent buying in selected heavyweights led by Maxis, Maybank and RHB Capital.

At 5pm, the index stood at 1,682.37, up 10.21 points or 0.61 per cent, after moving between 1,667.16 and 1,682.37 through the day.

Maxis soared 30 sen to RM6.86, Maybank jumped 13 sen to RM8.45 and RHB Capital expanded 22 sen to RM5.78. The counters contributed 7.16 points to the index.

Of the heavyweights, Petronas Chemicals gained 6 sen for RM6.80. Public Bank was flat at RM18.38, TNB dropped 4 sen to RM13.32 and Axiata eased 1 sen to RM6.12.

Among actives, 1 Utopia and China Stationery both inched up 0.5 sen to 5 sen and 17.5 sen respectively. Instacom was flat at 32 sen and XOX edged down 0.5 sen to 30.5 sen.

Market breadth was positive in line with most regional markets despite slower factory activity in China in November.

Gainers thumped decliners 549 to 350 while 296 counters were unchanged, 584 untraded and 19 others suspended.

Volume decreased to 2.31 billion shares worth RM2.35 billion from 2.51 billion shares worth RM3.79 billion yesterday.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 expanded 1.34 per cent to 20,012.4, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng improved 1.75 per cent to 22,381.35 and Singapore’s Straits Times gained 0.49 per cent to 2,869.9.

On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index rose 67.03 points to 11,693, the FBMT100 Index was up 65.96 points to 11,378.2 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index advanced 74.66 points to 12,581.53.

The FBM Ace rose 66.4 points to 6,609.79, the FBM 70 appreciated 63.54 points to 12,941.28, but the Plantation Index depreciated 29.05 points to settle at 7,567.65.

Sector-wise, the Industrial Index added 14.96 points to 3,302.24 and the Finance Index gained 99.81 points to 14,200.63.

Main Market volume decreased to 1.40 billion units worth RM2.18 billion from 1.57 billion units worth RM3.6 billion yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE Market eased slightly to 730.6 million shares worth RM147.71 million from Monday’s 769.54 million shares valued at RM160.47 million. Warrants rose to 172.86 million units worth RM24.29 million from 165.38 million units worth RM24.81 million.

Consumer products accounted for 145.96 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (332.95 million), construction (49.39 million), trade and services (631.53 million), technology (61.97 million), infrastructure (11.1 million), SPAC (2.42 million), finance (58.23 million), hotels (1.47 million), properties (82.65 million), plantations (21.06 million), mining (7,600), REITs (4.95 million) and closed/fund (8,000). — Bernama