KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 — Bursa Malaysia ended higher today on improved investor sentiment and following the release of weaker US jobs data, which will likely cause US policy makers to postpone any interest rate hike.

At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) finished 6.29 points higher at 1,678.08 from last Friday’s close of 1,671.79.

After opening 4.48 points weaker at 1,667.31, the local benchmark hovered between 1,667.31 and 1,679.57 throughout the day.

Gainers led losers 423 to 379, while 380 counters were unchanged, 474 untraded and 14 others suspended.

Volume rose to 1.56 billion units worth RM1.4 billion from last week’s 1.43 billion units worth RM1.53 billion. A dealer said US non-farm payrolls only rose by 151,000 jobs in August, significantly lower than market expectation of 180,000.

"The weaker-than-expected data has also effectively ruled out any imminent interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve,” he added.

The FBM Emas Index firmed 37.16 points to 11,787.97, the FBMT 100 Index increased 35.76 points to 11,498.52 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index rose 50.56 points to 12,442.03.

The FBM 70 rose 15.72 points to 13,623.54 and the FBM Ace was 35.83 points higher at 5,277.14.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index bagged 57.07 points to 14,436.43, the Plantation Index gained 32.52 points to 7,843.94 and the Industrial Index increased 4.59 points to 3,139.35.

Of the heavyweights, TNB and IHH improved two sen each to RM14.68 and RM6.61 respectively, as Maybank jumped 14 sen to RM7.89 and Public Bank eased six sen to RM19.84.

Among actives, Vivocom and AirAsia X were both one sen better at 23 sen and 41 sen.

Main Market turnover was higher at 909.88 million shares worth RM1.31 billion from 894.39 million shares worth RM1.45 million last Friday.

The ACE Market volume increased to 329.64 million units worth RM51.17 million from 212.11 million units valued at RM35.61 million last week.

Warrants declined to 315.15 million shares worth RM39.27 million from 325.32 million shares worth RM46.69 million.

Consumer products accounted for 71.95 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (228.48 million), construction (40.83 million), trade and services (351.09 million), technology (54.78 million), infrastructure (11.29 million), SPAC (18.26 million), finance (50.09 million), hotels (56,400), properties (54.21 million), plantations (21.53 million), mining (50,000), REITs (7.2 million) and closed/fund (1,100). — Bernama