KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — Bursa Malaysia ended higher today on improved investor sentiment supported by firmer risk appetite as well as extended rebound in oil prices.

At 5pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) finished at intra-day high, up 11.84 points at 1,689.92 from yesterday’s close of 1,678.08.

After opening 3.4 points weaker at 1,674.68, the local benchmark hovered between 1,673.10 and 1,689.92 throughout the day.

Gainers led losers by 412 to 341, while 419 counters were unchanged, 498 untraded and 14 others suspended.

Volume rose to 1.73 billion units worth RM1.57 billion from 1.56 billion units worth RM1.4 billion yesterday.

A dealer said the local equity market got a boost from the rebound in oil prices amid speculation of a production freeze by the world’s two largest oil producers, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

This, coupled with expectation that the Federal Reserve interest rate increase in September could be postponed, had brought about positive sentiment to local equity market as well as regional bourse, he said.

The FBM Emas Index firmed 81.96 points to 11,869.93, FBMT 100 Index rose 82.07 points to 11,580.59 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index surged 77.05 points to 12,519.08. The FBM 70 jumped 100.77 points to 13,724.31 and the FBM Ace was 67.53 points higher at 5,344.67.

Sector-wise, the Finance Index bagged 76.51 points to 14,512.94, Plantation Index gained 67.85 points to 7,911.79 and the Industrial Index increased 32.78 points to 3,172.13.

Of the heavyweights, Public Bank added six sen to RM19.90, IHH gained four sen to RM6.65 and Petronas Chemicals improved three sen to RM6.71. TNB was flat at RM14.68. Maybank fell two sen to RM7.87.

Among actives, Sanichi Technologies added one sen to nine sen and Iris Corp gained 2.5 sen to 18 sen. M3 Technologies warrant was flat at 3.5 sen.

Main Market turnover was higher at 967.84 million shares worth RM1.48 billion from 909.88 million shares worth RM1.31 million yesterday.

The ACE Market volume increased to 505.71 million units valued at RM57.58 million from 329.64 million units valued at RM51.17 million yesterday.

Warrants declined to 258.60 million shares worth RM34.26 million from 315.15 million shares worth RM39.27 million yesterday.

Consumer products accounted for 60.32 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products (277.99 million), construction (51.32 million), trade and services (352.86 million), technology (67.57 million), infrastructure (9.83 million), SPAC (28.91 million), finance (39.22 million), hotels (223,300), properties (47.53 million), plantations (20.31 million), mining (62,400), REITs (11.64 million) and closed/fund (49,000). — Bernama