KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Bursa Malaysia opened higher today despite the overnight fall on global markets and a decline in oil prices, a dealer said.

At 9.15am, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was 0.59 of-a-point marginally higher at 1,654.30, against last Monday’s close of 1,653.71.

The index opened 1.26 points higher at 1,655.56.

Market breadth was positive with gainers outpacing losers 130 to 108, while 166 counters were unchanged, 1,254 untraded and 20 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 94.69 million shares worth RM51.36 million.

Although Bursa Malaysia opened higher, the absence of a key catalyst and growing jitters ahead of the Budget 2017 to be tabled on Friday, might see selling pressure today, said the dealer.

Among regional bourses, Singapore’s Straits Times eased 0.05 per cent to 2,815.80, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.05 per cent to 16,899.05.

Of the heavyweights, Public Bank gained two sen to RM14.42 as Petronas Chemicals and IHH Healthcare each perked one sen to RM6.81 and RM6.41 respectively.

But, Public Bank and Maybank each remained flat at RM19.70 and RM7.70.

Of the gainers Hong Leong Financial and Mega First each improved eight sen to RM15.68 and RM2.06 respectively, with BP Plastics and UMW each rising six sen to RM1.61 and RM5.84.

The FBM Emas Index rose 8.17 points to 11,717.77, the FBM Emas Shariah Index gained 6.34 points to 12,375.35 and the FBMT 100 Index was 5.85 points higher at 11,412.34. The FBM 70 vaulted 13.46 points to 13,800.28.

However, the FBM Ace fell 4.74 points to 5,134.43.

The Plantation Index gained 8.79 points for 7,911.98, the Industrial Index declined 0.46 of-a-point to 3,098.98 and the Finance Index improved 22.36 points to 14,233.82. — Bernama