KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 ― Bursa Malaysia ended the morning trading session higher, supported by continuous gains in selected industrial products and services counters amidst improved regional market sentiments, a dealer said.

At lunch break, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 7.07 points to 1,442.72 from yesterday’s closing of 1,435.65.

The index opened 2.32 points higher at 1,437.97, and subsequently moved between 1,437.82 and 1,443.98 during the session.

On the broader market, gainers surpassed decliners 394 to 321, while 408 counters were unchanged, 1,245 untraded and 20 suspended.

Turnover stood at 1.65 billion units worth RM827.14 million.

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng told Bernama that he expects the index to see a swift rebound and trend within the 1,435 -1,445 range today as broad-base accumulation may emerge.

Meanwhile, he noted that the decline in crude oil prices, attributed to additional supplies from Venezuela which resulted in Brent crude easing to US$88 per barrel from US$93 per barrel last week, should also lend some welcome reprieve.

At noon, Bursa heavyweights Petronas Chemicals added 13 sen to RM7.28, Press Metal and Public Bank rose three sen to RM4.83 and RM4.17, respectively, Maybank inched up four sen to RM9.0 and CIMB improved one sen to RM5.69.

Of the actives, Widad firmed four sen to 47 sen, Leform edged up one sen to 24 sen, MQ Technology and Sarawak Consolidated inched up half-a-sen to 54.5 sen, while Ekovest shed 1.5 sen to 45.5 sen.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index rose 45.49 points to 10,636.82, the FBMT 100 Index gained 46.14 points to 10,313.99, the FBM Emas Shariah Index strengthened by 37.20 points to 10,855.46, the FBM ACE Index increased 20.46 points to 5,067.77, and the FBM 70 Index added 43.60 points to 14,012.03.

Sector-wise, the Industrial Products and Services Index was 1.25 points firmer at 172.36, the Plantation Index put on 23.62 points to 6,880.86 and the Financial Services Index climbed 67.43 points to 16,248.54, while the Energy Index went down 2.61 points to 871.24. ― Bernama