The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) settled 13.15 points higher at 1,716.34 against yesterday’s close of 1,703.19. The index moved between 1,705.62 and 1,716.34 throughout the day, after  opening 5.94 points better at 1,709.13. Market breadth was positive as advancers outpaced decliners 538 to 349 with 317 counters unchanged, 522 untraded and 10 others suspended. Volume rose to 2.02 billion shares valued at RM2.98 billion from the 1.81 billion shares worth RM2.31 billion transacted yesterday. A dealer said positive sentiment towards equities was still apparent,  as the United States Federal Reserve plans to defer raising interest rates and is likely to opt for two, rather than four times this year. “The positive performance of the local bourse today is reflected in the rise in long-overdue appetite for financial institution counters, compared to a more subdued stance a few months ago,” she added. For the heavyweights on Bursa Malaysia, Maybank rose three sen to RM8.91, TNB improved two sen to RM13.42, Public Bank advanced 10 sen to RM18.90, Petronas Chemicals garnered 14 sen to RM6.92 and IHH Healthcare gained 27 sen to RM6.75. Active stocks today included Anzo and Genetec which bagged 2.5 sen each to 30 sen and 15 sen respectively, CIMB increasing eight sen to RM4.88, while SMTrack declined 1.5 sen to eight sen and AirAsia eased two sen to RM1.76. ― Bernama