KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 — Continued buying momentum in most heavyweights pushed Bursa Malaysia to close higher today. The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) jumped 14.17 points to end at its intra-day high of 1,643.26 after hitting a low of 1,630.97 in the morning session. Regionally, a dealer said that most Asian stock markets were traded lower today on renewed concerns over China’s economic outlook. However, there were rising hopes among some investors that Beijing would take more steps to support growth in its economy.

After wrapping up its annual planning meeting yesterday, the world’s second-biggest economy said in a statement that it would be more proactive and flexible in using fiscal and monetary policy to keep growth in a “proper range”.

On the home front, heavyweights Maybank and Public Bank rose 4 sen each to RM8.25 and RM18.28, TNB increased 10 sen to RM13.10 and Petronas Chemicals advanced 13 sen to RM7.07.

Among actives, SMTrack eased 0.5 sen to 11.5 sen, Greenyield added 5.5 sen to 27.5 sen, XOX improved 1.5 sen to 21.5 sen while Priceworth went up 1 sen to 16.5 sen.

Earlier today Bursa Malaysia issued a query on unusual market activity to P.I.E. Industrial Bhd due to the sharp rise in its share price recently.

Market breadth was positive as advancers outpaced decliners by 470 to 353, while 338 counters were unchanged, 596 untraded and 12 others suspended. Total volume fell to 1.62 billion shares worth RM1.58 billion from 1.83 billion shares worth RM1.57 billion yesterday.

The FBM Emas Index rose 97.51 points to 11,504.56, the FBMT100 Index gained 96.99 points to 11,177.68 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index chalked up 112.77 points to 12,441.82. The FBM 70 rose 114.51 points to 12,946.77 and the FBM Ace was 24.94 points better at 6,334.99.

Sector-wise, the Industrial Index improved 15.97 points to 3,169.65, the Plantation Index increased 21.58 points to 7,374.24 and the Finance Index perked 88.06 points to 13,983.41.

Main Market volume slipped to 1.05 billion units worth RM1.45 billion from 1.26 billion units worth RM1.45 billion yesterday.

Turnover on the ACE Market rose to 421.97 million shares valued at RM98.53 million versus 328.93 million shares valued at RM82.85 million.

Warrants fell to 155.63 million units worth RM28.49 million against 237.46 million units worth RM43.34 million previously.

Consumer products accounted for 147.84 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (329.46 million), construction (25.98 million), trade and services (368.35 million), technology (34.16 million), infrastructure (9.67 million), SPAC (22.69 million), finance (29.98 million), hotels (763,800), properties (57.12 million), plantations (11.32 million), mining (27,000), REITs (8.17 million) and closed/fund (10,000). — Bernama