KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session slightly higher, backed by positive regional sentiment, that helped lift the risk appetite of investors.

At midday, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 0.29 of-a-point to 1,771.52, after fluctuating between 1,770.73 and 1,775.85 throughout the morning session.

The key index opened 0.95 of-a-point better at 1,772.18.

An improvement in oil prices coupled with the positive overnight performance of Wall Street, helped fuel interest in Bursa Malaysia today.

The overall market breadth was positive as gainers led losers 365 to 307, with 372 counters unchanged, 768 untraded and 59 others suspended.

Turnover stood at 730.86 million shares worth RM601.02 million.

Elsewhere, regional markets were also on an uptrend as Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.53 per cent to 20,236.14, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng chalked up 0.88 per cent to 25,910.58, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index improved 1.04 per cent to 3,249.27.

Among heavyweights, Public Bank gained two sen to RM20.28, Petronas Chemicals perked three sen to RM7.13, while both Maybank and Tenaga were flat at RM9.63 and RM14.14 respectively. 

However, Sime Darby eased four sen to RM9.57, and CIMB shed three sen to RM6.65.

Of the actives, Pasukhas inched up half-a-sen to 19 sen, Sapura Energy rose five sen to RM1.62, while both Key Alliance and Anzo were flat at four sen and 14 sen respectively.

The FBM Emas Index gained 5.04 points to 12,623.32, the FBMT100 Index slipped 2.46 points to 12,261.17 and the FBM Ace chalked up 51.34 points to 6,472.63, as the FBM Emas Shariah Index improved 17.13 points to 12,838.01. The FBM 70 bagged 4.81 points to 15,000.51.

The Finance Index gave up 50.75 points for 16,776.83 and  the Industrial Index shed 1.2 points to 3,263.71, but the Plantation Index rose 21.88 points to 7,921.78. — Bernama