KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) remained higher mid-afternoon on buying support in selected heavyweights and in line with regional markets.

At 3.06pm, the key index was 12.93 points higher at 1,656.67 from last Friday’s close of 1,643.74. The index opened 8.91 points higher at 1,652.65 at 9am.

On the scoreboard, the FBM Emas Index expanded 74.39 points to 11,474.72, the FBMT100 Index increased 73.70 points to 11,187.39 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index improved 79.66 points to 12,247.78.

The FBM 70 gained 34.14 points to 12,665.80 and the FBM Ace added 8.61 points to 5,829.85.

Sector-wise, the Plantation Index was up 74.01 points to 7,796.82, the Industrial Index rose 21.45 points to 3,263.42 while the Finance Index increased 73.22 points to 13,909.92.

Gainers outpaced losers 449 to 280 with 310 counters remaining unchanged, 709 counters untraded and 15 others were suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.077 billion shares worth RM811.81 million.

Among heavyweights, Maybank improved five sen to RM8.56, TNB increased eight sen to RM13.28, Petronas Chemicals rose nine sen to RM6.99, IHH Healthcare was flat at RM6.49 but Public Bank declined two sen to RM18.48.

Among actives, Berjaya Corp inched up half-a-sen to 43 sen, Hubline and MMAG Holdings were flat at one sen and 6.5 sen, respectively and Tiger Synergy edged down half-a-sen to five sen. — Bernama