KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Bursa Malaysia was slightly higher at mid-day with buying interest noted in selected heavyweights and lower liners, dealers said.

The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) ended the morning session 0.33 of-a-point better at 1,644.91 from yesterday’s close of 1,644.58.

The key index, which opened 4.49 points easier at 1,640.09, moved within a 6.27 points range between 1,645.44 and 1,639.17 throughout the morning session.

Losers outpaced gainers 358 to 324, with 332 counters unchanged, 688 counters untraded and 12 others were suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.02 billion shares worth RM669.49 million.

Meanwhile, Maybank Investment Bank has maintained its ‘sell on rallies’ strategy recommendation for today.

Top weighted Maybank eased three sen to RM8.82, TNB added two sen to RM14.02, Public Bank gained four sen to RM19.00 while IHH Healthcare declined two sen to RM6.48. 

Among the gainers, Huat Lai rose 33 sen to RM4.48, Perusahaan Sadur Timah added 20 sen to RM6.08 and PIE Industrial improved 18 sen to RM13.16. 

Among actives, MTouche advanced half-a-sen to 16.5 sen, Vivocom was one sen up at 36.5 sen and AirAsia X was flat at 38 sen. 

The FBM Emas Index slipped 1.09 points to 11,501.46, the FBMT100 Index decreased 2.48 points to 11,188.89, the FBM70 fell 19.72 points to 12,958.76, but the FBM Ace jumped 46.20 points to 5,820.30 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index improved 5.10 points to 11,981.85.

On a sectoral basis, the Finance Index lost 40.91 points to 14,563.24, the Industrial Index trimmed 10.42 points to 3,068.52 while the Plantation Index soared 10.65 points to 7,518.63. — Bernama